Guide to Disney’s Riviera Resort | Dining, Amenities, & More

Hi there! Just a heads up- if you click on a link within this post I may receive a small commission. I appreciate your support of To Travel & Beyond and hope to bring you great recommendations for many years to come!

The Riviera Resort in the Walt Disney World resort is in a perfect location to be right in the middle of the Disney “bubble” while also in its own little area to really enjoy a vacation. At the Riviera Resort, you are a quick Disney Skyliner ride to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, steps away from delicious dining options with everything from Mediterranean-inspired cuisine to incredible pastries, and you have all the amenities actually to relax on your vacation.

The resort is Disney’s newest resort in Walt Disney World, is inspired by the French Riviera, and has a full list of amazing dining options on site. 

The Disney Riviera Resort restaurants are known for being incredible, the resort itself is known for being chic and grand, and the location is ideal for some families, couples, groups of friends, and more. If you haven’t considered a stay at the Riviera Resort, this will be a guide to determine if it’s meant to be. 

The Location

While not technically located within the Epcot Resort Area, because you can’t walk to Epcot, it is very close. Many rooms have a view of Spaceship Earth, and you can also see the Epcot fireworks in the evening. The resort is very easy to get to when driving into Disney World. It’s a short bus ride to Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom and it’s on the Skyliner. You can walk to Disney’s Caribbean Beach resort or any area of the Riviera Resort property without feeling like you can get lost (some Disney resorts are HUGE in overall space). 

The Rooms

One of the rooms we have stayed in was their smallest option; however, a lot of suites are available throughout the resort, with many options with balconies, so the rooms get a thumbs up from me. This is a Disney Vacation Club resort and a standard Disney resort, so you really get a mix of room sizes from the tower studios and deluxe studios to one, two and three-bedroom villas. Most of the larger multi-bedroom villas include a full kitchen, dining area, sitting area, and separate bedrooms. 

You can book a preferred or standard view of most rooms and really can’t go wrong with either since the “standard” views are views of Epcot and the “preferred” views of of the resort and pool. 

We recently stayed in a Tower Studio room in the Riviera, and reviews got it right- this is a tiny room. It sleeps two, is tucked into the resort tower, and has a Murphy bed as the only bed option. However, the bathroom was gorgeous, and I’m always a fan of balconies. There is a nice-sized desk, full-length mirror, coffee maker, and a decent amount of storage for such a small room. They were very thoughtful about using every inch. I didn’t think it was too bad, but I wouldn’t pay over $250 a night. 

Cost

The average room cost is $725 per night, which will vary significantly depending on the time of year and your room choice. 

It’s pricey and honestly doesn’t need to be based on what you get at the Rivieria Resort compared to other resorts. However, it’s the newest Disney resort, so the price will remain high and rooms will be sought after until another resort comes along. 

My personal opinion is that if I were to spend the regular room rate, I would much rather be within walking distance of Magic Kingdom or EPCOT. 

The Vibes

The Riviera Resort doesn’t scream Disney, but there are subtle and charming nods throughout. It’s an elegant and classy property with a French-style setting. The buildings are beautiful, and the property transports you to a French bistro, but with a “make it Disney” atmosphere. There is gorgeous artwork, especially the murals by the fountains, and the details (even if not all Disney-focused) are absolutely beautiful. If you are a fan of a few of the beloved Disney Characters, Rapunzel or Peter Pan, you have to check them out, it’s one of our favorite things to see on property! 

You can get to the murals through the walking path to the Skyliner from the middle of the main courtyard. There is a fountain down the center of the archway and two murals that extend the full length from left to right and above. 

Amenities

With two pools, one splash pad, a water slide, and a few jacuzzis, you have the amenities for a nice vacation. The main Riviera pool is perfect for families, while the second option, the Beau Soleil pool, is more geared towards a serene, relaxing, and great experience. I love that the jacuzzis in the smaller pool open early in the morning, it’s such a nice way to start a day. 

You also get the typical Disney perks like poolside crafts and games (available at all Disney resorts), a really lovely gym (available only at moderate and deluxe Disney resorts), Disney transportation (all Disney resorts), and yard games (all Disney resorts). You’ll also find a few tucked-away spaces to relax- like the library and lounge. 

If you usually mix working with vacationing, the Voyageurs’ Lounge is the perfect lounge area to grab a coffee and work for a while. It’s usually quieter, has a decent amount of seating, and is near the lobby if any of your littles want to pop in for a visit. 

As a Disney World deluxe resort, guests will receive extra magic hours in every park, everyday, which is 30-minutes early access into every park, PLUS the additional benefit of extended evening hours. These hours are at select parks on specific days where you could have park access until as late as 1am. 

I already mentioned the Skyliner, but it should be included here as well. This is definitely an amenity in my eyes because it’s a huge benefit to pop onto the Skyliner and go to Epcot or Hollywood Studios, especially since you don’t have to fold the stroller if it’s a single or not a side-by-side double! 

Food

The Riviera Resort restaurants are some of the best on Disney property. Personally, the Riviera Resort is home to some of our favorite on-property signature dining. 

• Topolino’s Terrace -Flavors of the Riviera serves incredible French and Italian-inspired dishes at the top of the Riviera Resort. The outdoor terrace offers stunning views and delicious options for breakfast (or brunch) and dinner. The character meal for breakfast, though, is our absolute favorite! We took our daughter for the first time when she was two (her meal was free!) and she still remembers it, she’s six now! The breakfast options are so good that it will be difficult to pick an option! My favorites are the sour cream waffles and the Wood-fired Steak and Eggs. 
• The poolside Bar Riva for snacks and drinks is another great option. They have an open-air pool bar with indoor and outdoor seating with a Mediterranean vibe. I love their burrata salad, seasonal arancini, and the baked brie. To drink, I highly recommend the Hibiscus coconut soda if you want a refreshing and delicious non-alcoholic drink and the Aperol spritz if you want a cocktail. 
• Primo Piatto the quick-service restaurant for quick bites or a delicious dinner. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, you will find great options with indoor and outdoor seating, or you can takeaway back to your room or elsewhere! The blueberry-lemon pancakes are a breakfast fave with blueberry compote and lemon zest on top of delicious pancakes and the beef bolognese is a great lunch or dinner option. They also have late night options! I haven’t tried the tuna niçoise salad but I’ve heard amazing things! 
• Le Petit Cafe in the lobby offers coffee an espresso drinks, pastries and alcoholic drinks as well. Grab a latte and a macaron and head to the Lounge to relax for a bit after a few park days next time you are in Walt Disney World. 

As mentioned, Topolino’s is highly ranked on our list of all Disney dining locations, the menu is incredible and as a rooftop restaurant, it has amazing views of the resort, surrounding parks and Disney theme parks. Then Bar Riva is one of favorite options for a counter service! Get the Banana Bread from the le petit café in the lobby or Primo Piatto. It’s incredible! All of this to say, your taste buds will be happy at this resort! Bon appétit

Are you trying to determine which resort in Walt Disney World is right for your family? Check out the Ultimate Walt Disney World Resort Guide to learn everything there is to know about each resort – from cost to location, activities to perks.

Transportation

Hop on the Disney skyliner for easy access to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios or take the buses to Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Disney Springs.  

This is a small resort with very subtle nods to Disney. One building means you can get wherever you’re going within the resort, and you don’t need to leave, which is a park compared to most other Disney resorts. Depending on your location within the resort, you will either be directly next to the Skyliner Station, or a maximum of a 5-minute walk. 

It’s a quick trip to visit Mickey Mouse, the perfect spot for a day by the pool and steps away from amazing food. But keep in mind, if you are excited about the dining experience or even the resort vibe as a whole, you can always visit even if you don’t decide to stay at the Rivieria Resort. As both Disney resort guests and off-site guests can take advantage of the onsite dining, but it’s always helpful to have an advanced dining reservation. If everything else sounds like a great option for your family, it could be a great stay! 

Overall, we really liked this resort and will absolutely stay here again!

 Have you stayed at the Riviera Resort in Walt Disney World?