Disney's Riviera Resort
by the TopOfHotel team
Riviera is WDW's newest Deluxe resort (2019) on a European Riviera theme — the Disney Skyliner gondola floats you straight into EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, and Topolino's rooftop serves breakfast with Mickey as a painter under fireworks from two parks (though as a DVC, the cheapest Tower Studio is genuinely tiny).
Riviera is WDW's newest Deluxe resort (2019) on a European Riviera theme — the Disney Skyliner gondola floats you straight into EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, and Topolino's rooftop serves breakfast with Mickey as a painter under fireworks from two parks (though as a DVC, the cheapest Tower Studio is genuinely tiny).
In-Depth Review
If your family is focused on EPCOT and Hollywood Studios and you want to try the newest, most modern resort at Walt Disney World, Disney's Riviera Resort is an interesting way to close out the Deluxe list. It's a Deluxe Villa (DVC) property that opened in late 2019 on an upscale European-Mediterranean Riviera theme, inspired by Walt Disney's own travels along the Côte d'Azur. Guest reviews put it at around 8.8/10.
Rooms and decor
Straight talk before you book: Riviera is a DVC resort, and the cheapest room is the Tower Studio, which is genuinely tiny — it sleeps 2 on a Murphy fold-down bed with a parking-lot or garden view, and the cash rate runs steep for the space you get. Families of 4 to 5 will want to step up to a Deluxe Studio or larger, which come with a small kitchen. The exterior looks plainer and more closed-in than the upscale interior, but the upside is that the big villas have full kitchens — great for families who'd rather cook. Disney art tied to Fantasia, Lady and the Tramp and Tangled is hidden throughout for kids to hunt down, and Mickey in a painter's costume comes out to greet guests at the front of the resort now and then.
Food and amenities
The standout family meal is Topolino's Terrace – Breakfast a la Art, a character breakfast on the 10th-floor rooftop where Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy dress as artists — Mickey a painter, Minnie a poet, Donald a sculptor, Daisy a ballerina — and come to your table, all with fireworks views from two parks (EPCOT and Hollywood Studios). It's a premium-feeling character meal and a great one for photos. The main pool, the Riviera Pool, is zero-entry with a slide and the S'il Vous Play splash zone themed on European fountains and Fantasia for younger kids, plus a quiet pool called Beau Soleil.
Location and getting there
What makes Riviera special is the Disney Skyliner, a gondola system with a station right at the resort. You float over the water straight into EPCOT in about 9 minutes, then catch another line onward to Hollywood Studios. For kids, riding the gondola is like a free attraction every day, with good views in daylight and at sunset — reviews say children ask to ride it over and over. The honest catch: the Skyliner closes in lightning and high wind (common on Florida summer afternoons), you'll need a bus as backup, and there's no line to Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom.
Things to know before booking
This is a DVC, so the cheapest Tower Studio sleeps 2 on a fold-down bed and feels cramped for the cash price. The Deluxe Studio sleeps 5, but the fifth guest is on a small fold-down. The Skyliner is the headline perk, yet it shuts down in storms and skips Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom entirely — so plan a backup. Some reviews also mention echoey noise along the corridors. It's worth checking whether a cash booking is the best value, since DVC points or a points rental are often much cheaper per night.
Our take
After reading through a lot of real guest reviews, Riviera fits best for families focused on EPCOT and Hollywood Studios who want easy Disney Skyliner access and a new, upscale resort, plus small families or pairs (Tower Studio) or anyone who wants a villa with a kitchen and that Topolino's character breakfast under the fireworks. The trade-offs to weigh: it's a DVC where the cheapest room is very small and the cash rate runs steep for the space, and the Skyliner closes in wind or rain and doesn't reach Magic Kingdom. This is the most modern stay on the Deluxe list — scroll up to compare the in-depth reviews of each resort side by side.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- The Disney Skyliner has a station right at the resort and floats you straight into EPCOT in about 9 minutes, with a connection onward to Hollywood Studios. Kids get genuinely excited — riding the gondola is an attraction in itself.
- Topolino's Terrace serves Breakfast a la Art, a character breakfast on the 10th-floor rooftop where Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy come to your table dressed as artists, with fireworks views from EPCOT and Hollywood Studios.
- It's the newest WDW resort (2019), with a modern, upscale European Riviera theme — Disney art tied to Fantasia, Lady and the Tramp and Tangled runs through the property, and the lobby and rooftop are genuinely good-looking.
- The zero-entry Riviera Pool has a slide and the S'il Vous Play splash zone themed on European fountains and Fantasia for younger kids, plus a quiet pool called Beau Soleil.
- Rooms range from the Tower Studio (sleeps 2) up to a Grand Villa (sleeps 12 with a full kitchen); Deluxe Studios and up get a small kitchen, so it works well for families who want to cook.
- It's a DVC resort, so the cheapest room is the Tower Studio, which is genuinely tiny — it sleeps 2 on a Murphy fold-down bed with a parking-lot or garden view, and the cash rate runs steep for the space you get.
- The Disney Skyliner shuts down in lightning, high wind or storms — common on Florida summer afternoons — so you'll need a bus or car as backup, and there's no Skyliner line to Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom.
- The Deluxe Studio sleeps 5, but the fifth guest is on a small fold-down bed; the building exterior looks plainer and more closed-in than the upscale interior, and some reviews mention echoey noise along the corridors.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
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Insider Tips
- Take the Disney Skyliner into EPCOT or Hollywood Studios — kids treat the gondola ride as an attraction — but leave buffer time since it closes in wind or rain.
- Book Topolino's Terrace for breakfast (Mickey as a painter) on the 10th-floor rooftop with fireworks views from EPCOT and Hollywood Studios; it's a popular slot that fills fast.
- On a budget or traveling as a pair, the Tower Studio is the cheapest (just tiny); for 4 to 5 people you'll need a Deluxe Studio or larger.
- Check whether booking on cash is worth it — DVC points or a points rental are often much cheaper per night — and look for the hidden Disney art in the rooms for kids to find.