Comments Off on Top Reasons to Love Disney’s Bay Lake Tower
Bay Lake Tower, located at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, rounds out my family’s Top 3 Most Favourite Deluxe Resorts within the Disney Vacation Club program. This property is Gorgeous! One of the most aesthetically appealing resorts in my opinion. The monorail running through the main resort is always jaw dropping!
In a nutshell, this resort gives you the best of two worlds; small footprint with plenty of fun things to do at Bay Lake Tower and all the food and action you could desire at the connected Contemporary Resort. Want to feel like you are living in a private, lakeside condo geared towards fun? Want to be on the Monorail System? Want to walk over to the Magic Kingdom? Bay Lake Tower is the place for you!
Top 6 Reasons I Love Bay Lake Tower
#6.Modern Rooms with Inlet Kitchenettes
At Disney’s Bay Lake Tower, we have one of our top three Deluxe Studios at Disney World. The modern décor was appreciated, and the separate inlet kitchenette ensured that hall traffic never interfered with kitchenette use. Feeling comfortable in your room is so important, especially when an afternoon nap is mandatory while on vacation!
#5 Transportation
Bay Lake Tower is situated upon the Monorail Loop which gives you the convenience of visiting Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort or Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort with ease. Such convenience opens the doors to additional dining, exploration, and fun! You can also take the Monorail to the Ticket and Transportation Center where you can then jump onto the Epcot Monorail Loop. Getting home from Epcot via Monorail transportation is a breeze when you are at Bay Lake Tower. We love being able to stay at a property that enables nightly dinners and snacks at Epcot’s World Showcase.
#4. Community Hall
We love all Community Halls but the one at Bay Lake Tower has a very special place in our memories. We were speaking with some Bay Lake Tower regulars and they told us that if we were to hang out at the Community Hall in the evenings at about 8 p.m., there would be a good chance of catching some time with Peter Pan!
Well, they were not wrong… Peter Pan coloured with my son for half an hour. They chatted like old pals. It just melted our hearts to see the joy on our son’s little face. Peter was in full character mode for the entire time. Then, to our surprise, we had Peter visit again the next evening. But on the third evening, we had an even bigger and more rare surprise… Mr. Smee showed up! He was so silly… he played hide-n-seek with my son, and they laughed so much!
Then, something even more rare happened and it was a highlight of the trip… Captain Hook arrived! Captain Hook coloured and played games with the kids for half an hour! It was truly magical…. Something truly heart touching and incomparable. My son talks about Peter, Mr. Smee, and his friend, Captain Hook to this day.
#3. On-Site Character Dining
Having a Character Dining Experience on-site is such a fun little treat. At the connected Contemporary Resort there is a wonderful restaurant called Chef Mickey’s. They serve an American-style buffet breakfast and dinner with all the big Characters present! We saw Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Minnie Mouse, and Pluto.
We really enjoyed the atmosphere in the restaurant; it was very busy, but we had lots of fun interactions with each character and Cast Members were in no rush to get us out.
The food was yummy too!
#2. Proximity to the Magic Kingdom
This resort is the closest property to Disney’s Magic Kingdom, and an easy 10-minute walk from the lobby of Bay Lake Tower to the entrance of the Park. You have your very own Walkway from Bay Lake tower to the Magic Kingdom! The best part is that you have your very own bag check and security stop that ONLY serves guests walking along the path. That means your time spent at security before entering the park is about 2-minutes!
We walked over to meet Pluto, and then had a wonderful Lobster Roll at Columbia Harbour House. It also means you can walk over in the morning, have some fun, and then walk back to Bay Lake Tower for an afternoon nap before heading back over for some evening fun!
The views from your balcony or from the Top of the World Lounge at Bay Lake Tower are also quite breathtaking!
#1. Amenities and Fun Galore!
So, we made it to the Number One Reason for loving Disney’s Bay Lake Tower Resort. This DVC resort offers guests a small, personal footprint that abounds with activities and fun!
Not one, but TWO pools, TWO aqua-play areas for kiddies, TWO regular slides, a kiddie slide, and fun fountain action! The big slide at the DVC Pool over at Bay Lake Tower was AWESOME!
When a resort location can offer an outstanding Counter Service such as the Contempo Café, an on-site Character Dining restaurant such as Chef Mickey’s, a Signature Dining experience such as California Grill, and an elevated table service restaurant such as The Wave, it stands heads above the competition.
It also has a nice Pool Bar and Grill (The Sand Bar) and a conveniently located lounge, the Outer Rim Lounge, as well as Monorail access to all of the dining options at the Grand Floridian and Polynesian Village Resorts! Not to mention the proximity to the Magic Kingdom and easy transportation access to Epcot!
Beyond wonderful food options, there are also two separate shopping places on the Concourse at Contemporary Resort, as well as their Marketplace. They have a conveniently located Coffee Shop, Contemporary Grounds, to keep you full of caffeine for those late nights. And the Arcade located on Contemporary’s Concourse is one of the most fun on Disney’s Property!
Contemporary’s Concourse Arcade
In the Activity Yard, just outside the main back doors of Bay Lake Tower, you have Ping Pong tables, Bean Bag Toss, Giant Chess Games, a Mini-Putt Lawn, Giant Connect Four Games, and a Bocce Course!
So, for maximum action and a long list of options for dining, fun, and leisure, Bay Lake Tower is a top choice.
Verdict:
Of all the Walt Disney World Deluxe Resorts, Bay Lake Tower is my family’s #3 resort. It offers something for everyone, including fun, food and prime location on the Monorail; it is also the closest resort (within walking distance) to the Magic Kingdom.
You cannot go wrong with a stay at Bay Lake Tower.
Beach Club is my family’s 2nd most favourite Deluxe Resort at Walt Disney World. Let’s look at the main reasons why!
In a nutshell, this resort has a few key real estate factors going for it, namely, Location, Location, Location and Waterfront! If there was one place to be most comfortably situated in Disney World, it would be right here at Beach Club.
Want to feel totally relaxed, enjoy the best Resort Pool on property, and have convenient access to the parks? Beach Club Resort is the place for you!
Top 5 Reasons I Love Beach Club Resort
#5.Ambiance of Casual Elegance and Total Relaxation
At Disney’s Beach Club Resort, be prepared to be overwhelmed by the peaceful ambiance, the upscale elegance, and the relaxing feeling of being transported to a beach side resort somewhere on the New England coast. Coastal architecture is accented by lush grounds of green and several bodies of water. A seaside escape blending luxury and rural charm.
#4. Character Dining On-Site
Beach Club Resort is home to the famous Cape May Cafe which hosts Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast! This is an all-you-care-to-eat Character Dining experience that includes your favourite Disney characters in their beach attire! It’s always nice to have the Character Dining experience located right off your resort’s main lobby.
My son loves Donald! This is a fun, beach-themed dining experience… the outfits are just so cute!
#3. Dining Galore
This is one resort that puts you in the midst of a lot of dining options. We always look forward to the eating part of our Beach Club stays.
One of our favourite lunch spots happens to be right at Beach Club, and it’s their recently renovated Beaches and Cream Soda Shop. You definitely need advanced reservations for this place! Yummy Diner-Style meals to refill your energy stores after a morning in the pool! But, the best reason to love this place is because of their amazing ice cream desserts!
Another hidden gem that we love is Ale & Compass, located a short, covered walk from Beach Club, in the adjoining Yacht Club Resort. We love the atmosphere at this place, and of course, the food is wonderful! My favourite breakfast here is the Open-Faced Skirt Steak Sandwich…. And my favourite dinner choice is the Cabernet Braised Short Ribs… with Lobster Corn Chowder to start!
And, of course, we cannot forget about the all-you-care-to-eat Seafood Feast at Cape May Café! In addition, you have direct access to the Yachtsman Steakhouse, all of the wonderful options available at Epcot, and you are only a short distance away from Flying Fish and Trattoria al Forno on the boardwalk.
Seafood Feast at Cape May Café
#2. Location, Location, Location
Beach Club maintains its appeal largely due to having an amazing location in the Epcot Resort Area. Beyond the beautiful waterfront location of the property, you are literally at the heart of all the Disney action.
Epcot
Here are some of the location perks you will have at Beach Club Resort:
Walk to Epcot Skyliner Entrance (4-6 Minutes) – from the Skyliner, you can zip over to Caribbean Beach Resort, Riviera Resort, Pop Century, Art of Animation, or visit Hollywood Studios. The Skyliner offers fast travel to these locations.
Hollywood Studios
Walk to Hollywood Studios / Toy Story Land / Galaxy’s Edge (15-20 Minutes) – but I would choose Skyliner to get there even faster!
Walk to Boardwalk (8-12 Minutes) for food, live entertainment, and more – or just hop on the Friendship Boat that departs from Beach Club Resort’s Dock to Boardwalk.
You also still have your full bus service from the front of the resort to Parks and Disney Springs.
#1. Stormalong Bay! Best Pool on Property!
So, we made it to the Number One Reason for loving Disney’s Beach Club Resort. The pool at this resort really separates it from all others. Stormalong Bay is a huge pool and water fun area that has supervised gate access. You must be a guest at Yacht Club or Beach Club to enter the pool area.
Kids will play for hours in the sandy beach area of the pool. Yes, the Sandy Beach area of the pool. With a fully sand-bottomed pool made just for little ones and a full-sized sandbar running through the middle for beach play and sandcastles, be prepared to spend lots of time at the pool. Didn’t bring a pail or shovel? No worries. The kids’ meals at the Waterside Bar & Grill, Hurricane Hanna’s, are served in your very own sand pail with a shovel attached! Speaking of Hurricane Hanna’s, it is such a good Poolside Grill, it makes it easy to spend the entire day at the pool while having food and drinks delivered right to your lounge chair.
Did I mention the Beached Pirate Ship? Yup. Beached Pirate Ship at Beach Club…You climb to the crow’s nest to access the water slide tunnel that crosses the walkway and eventually dumps you into Stormalong Bay. Within the Pirate Ship, there is a small pool and a kiddie slide.
I feel like I may be forgetting something… oh yes, there is also a Vortex Pool area in Stormalong Bay where you can literally let the water swirl you in circles! Also, if you just feel like relaxing on the water, there is a Lazy River!
Verdict:
Of all the Walt Disney World Deluxe Resorts, Beach Club Resort is my family’s Second Most Favourite Resort. It just offers the best location at Walt Disney World, the best Resort Pool on property, and lots of great dining options!
Beach Club Resort is a welcoming retreat that puts you in the heart of all things Disney!
Comments Off on Top Reasons to Love Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
I thought I would start with my family’s absolute favouriteWalt Disney WorldDeluxe Resort: Animal Kingdom Lodge.
In a nutshell, this Disney Vacation Club resort is the most unique on property and it offers the most immersive experience with amazing amenities to satisfy the young and old alike.
Want to be transported to a whole new world and be totally enveloped in African themed food, fun, flora, and wildlife? Animal Kingdom Lodge is the place for you!
Top 9 Reasons I Love Animal Kingdom Lodge
#9.Special Tours
Starlight Safari, night vision goggles
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, be prepared for opportunities galore, including special behind-the-scenes tours. The resort offers guests 2 special tours:
‘Sense of Africa’ – breakfast followed by a private, small-group safari ride through the resort’s Savanna with time to speak with animal caregivers, and lots of up-close encounters with the resort’s star attractions, the animals!
‘Starlight Safari’ – under the cover of a night sky, enjoy up-close encounters with the Savanna animals on a safari ride and enjoy viewing the activity through night vision goggles
#8. Awe-Inspiring Lobby
This is a top-3 lobby on property that will definitely slacken your facial muscles when you first walk through the main reception doors.
Animal Kingdom Lodge Lobby
Jambo House has a much larger lobby than Kidani Village and it is very impressive.
Jambo House Lobby
The lobby boasts a soaring ceiling, rich woods, regional features, a flood of natural light, and an unobstructed view straight out onto the Savanna. It even has a functional rope bridge (Masai Bridge) spanning from one side to the other! In a word… AMAZING!
#7. Two Resorts in One
This is one resort that you never have to leave! We once stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge for 8-nights without ever visiting a Theme Park! You have access to not one, but TWO amazing, side-by-side resorts, Jambo House and Kidani Village. Two separate shopping areas, arcades, pool areas, community halls, activity programs, and Savannas with different animals. Animal Kingdom Lodge has twice as many fun things to keep the family busy!
Animal Tracking
#6. Unique, Educational Activities
Unlike activity offerings at any other Disney Resort, Animal Kingdom Lodge offers unique experiences that are fun, immersive, educational and culturally enriched. Yes, they still have the standard events like Movies Under the Stars and Fire Pit Marshmallow Roasting, but they have so much more to peak the mind and sense of community with the environment.
String of Memories Program: Ever heard of Beaded Activities or the String of Memories program? The string of memories program offers a selection of special activities like African Drum Playing, Animal Tracking, or Flamingo Behavior, to name only a few. These activities earn you special beads for your beautiful string of memories.
String of Memories
#5. Fun Pools and Kids’ Water Play Area
This resort offers guests the large Uzima Springs Pool (water slide and zero-entry) at Jambo House, and the smaller Samawati Springs Pool (kiddie’s slide and regular slide, as well as zero-entry) over at Kidani Village.
Uzima Springs Pool Slide
In addition to the Pool at Kidani Village, they also have an awesome oasis of water fun for the kids! Welcome to the Samawati Trading Company! Here, kids will frolic in the shaded water park for hours with dry and wet areas. This water play area is a hidden gem for the kids! From waterfalls and tipping buckets to water cannons and spitting snakes. This place is super fun!
#4. Dining – Boma, Sanaa, Mara, Jiko
Jiko’s Peri Peri Chicken… Yummy!
Animal kingdom Lodge has options to please everyone’s palette, but for those of you who do enjoy more of an African or Indian inspired menu, this resort will dazzle your taste buds! Our favourite buffet on property, BOMA. Yes, Boma even has Zebra Domes!
One of our favourite all-around restaurants offering amazing food and Savanna-view seating… Sanaa! Favourite Main Dish: Butter Chicken, Chickpea Wat, Basmati Rice Potjie Meal.
The Mara is a large Counter Service restaurant located at Jambo House. It offers a variety of American options as well as some African options for those who are a bit more adventurous! This is our typical order – Black Angus Cheeseburger Platter for Mom, Pepperoni Flatbread for Kiddo, and a hearty African Potjie for Dad.
Finally, one of our Top-3 favourite Signature Restaurants at Disney World, Jiko the Cooking Place.
#3. Concierge
Did you know that Animal Kingdom Lodge is the ONLY Disney Vacation Club property at Disney World that allows a DVC Member to use their points for booking at The Kilimanjaro Club? Yes, that’s right! An amazing perk to be able to stay in Concierge, located at Jambo House. The big question most people ask is about whether Concierge is worth the points… and my answer is always YES!The value just INCREASES as party size or appetites increase.
Love to: Snack often? Hydrate often with regular or adult-friendly beverages? Have access to specialty coffee all day? Have elevated service? Well, you get it all in Concierge. You have access to luxurious snacks and foods in the Kilimanjaro Club from morning to night, including beverages. It is amazing! From fresh vegetables, to stews and dinner samplings, you will not go hungry while staying in Concierge. Our favourite thing about Concierge is being able to save money on breakfasts each morning, while satisfying our lunch and sometimes dinner needs during resort days.
#2. Savanna View Balconies
In my family’s opinion, there is no better view than from an Animal Kingdom Lodge Savanna view room. People always ask if the Savanna View Rooms are worth the extra points, and my answer is always YES!
Animal Kingdom Lodge Savanna Balcony View
#1. Animals! Animals! And More Animals!
So, we made it to the Number One Reason for loving Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. The resort offers guests two separate Savannas with a host of different animals to be found on each. From wildebeests to giraffes, you can spend hours exploring the Savanna.
We watched these two addax challenging one another before running off in separate directions.
We were also lucky enough to watch this young Okapi.
Verdict:
Of all the Walt Disney World Deluxe Resorts, Animal Kingdom Lodge is my family’s #1 resort. It just offers so much of everything that we feel it is the best place for adults and kids to get away and enjoy all that a vacation should offer.
Animal Kingdom Lodge is truly a home away from home.
Disney’s brand-new Riviera Resort was on my radar for many months. I was delighted to stay there during opening week and am excited to share my thoughts about this property.
In a word, this Resort is simply IMPRESSIVE.
The Riviera Resort is a beautiful sight to behold upon arrival. It adds to the appeal of the skyline with a strong, sleek, stark profile, welcoming archways and lots of stonework. Appealing, colorful canopy window dressings dot the facade in a friendly beckon to guests.
Being a Disney Vacation Club property, it felt good to be welcomed home by the stately architecture, and of course, the wonderful staff.
The Lobby:
The lobby is satisfying and reasonably sized for a resort of less than 500 guest rooms. There are flairs of Italian and French design with pillars, marble, and modern light fixtures.
The entrance area feels almost piazza-like; an opulent place of gathering with access to shopping, a café, and a lounge. It feels warm and inviting, luxurious but understated with no one breathtaking feature that would drop your jaw upon sight, but the gestalt of the lobby is rewarding.
Quality and luxury would be the words best used to describe the first impressions.
The journey to our room was an adventure in art exploration with so many unique and thoughtful pieces adorning the walls.
The Guest Rooms:
The Deluxe Studio Preferred View room is immaculate. It feels more spacious than the majority of Deluxe Studios I have experienced, and the trims and finishing are truly upscale. The colour palette is a welcoming, cool but comfortable combination of muted pastels. The overall ambiance is soothing and rich.
Disney smartly replaced pullout sofa beds with in-wall Murphy beds; the full mattress is a welcomed comfort as I have lamented the lumps and bumps of worn sofa beds for years.
The couch itself is of a low-profile design that serves the purpose of providing a sitting area but that also takes up less living space as it sits tightly against the wall.
The bathroom, with its two showers, shines with marble. In fact, all surface tops are high-quality stone of one sort or another. The herringbone angling of the wood flooring at the entry area and hallway also conveys a feeling of comfort.
Warm, lavish colors mixed with impressive headboards, high-end light fixtures, luxurious fabrics and modern European furnishings embrace us with character.
Meanwhile, conveniences such as deep drawers built into the bed’s foot board, a suitcase den built smartly under the bed, and conveniently located plug and USB ports throughout the room ensure that our comfort needs while on vacation are aptly met.
The room is simply gorgeous.
The view from our balcony was very nice but I would probably not spend the additional Disney Vacation Club points for a Preferred view in the future. We stayed in a non-preferred room as well and found the balcony experience satisfactory. Our non-preferred view still enabled us to easily enjoy Epcot’s fireworks show.
Dining/Specialty Beverages:
The Riviera offers a dedicated quick service restaurant called Primo Piatto, as well as a Signature dining experience at Topolino’s Terrace, and a poolside food and drink venue called Bar Riva.
In addition, there is a specialty coffee and goodies spot located off of Primo Piatto, as well as Le Petit Café located in the lobby.
The quick service experience for me was perhaps the best resort-based quick service experience at Walt Disney World. Dishes were fresh and elevated.
The Riviera Burger, for example, was perfectly cooked (not overcooked) with satisfying combinations of texture and flavor from the portobello mushroom, garlic and aged cheddar, neatly packaged in a toasted brioche bun.
The Harissa-Spiced Chicken Salad on Pita was a perfect lunchtime sandwich.
The dinner offerings were such that I vowed to do the Disney Dining Plan on my next visit because I would be totally happy with eating quick service breakfast, lunch and dinner at the Riviera.
With meals like Shrimp Pasta and Grilled Hanger Steak, you could enjoy dinners at the Riviera’s quick service restaurant without longing for something better elsewhere.
Even the sides were authentically seasoned and prepared such as a simple but delectable Tomato Basil soup with olive oil drenched croutons, or the Romano & Herb Fries. The Riviera is a foodie’s delight.
Breakfast at Primo Piatto was also a pleasant surprise.
The Primo Piatto Breakfast Platter was a stalwart first choice with a plentiful serving of Scrambled Eggs over a Mascarpone Polenta, crisp Bacon, and wonderful Italian Sausage pieces. The flavors were rich and unique to the lands from which the offerings were hailed to have originated.
My son fell in love with the Blueberry Lemon Pancakes.
We were also fans of the salty, hearty French Ham and Swiss offering known as a Croque Madame.
Further, Primo Piatto did NOT feel like a fast food joint. It replicated the atmosphere of a European eatery that was roomy, comfortable and clean.
Watching the open kitchen prepare and hand-finish dishes prior to having them rushed off to tables was a pleasing part of the overall experience.
Primo Piatto, unlike our experience at other resorts, served all food with nice dishware and pleasingly weighted silverware versus plastics and papers. While we loved Primo Piatto, this article would be remiss if I did not gloat over the ambiance and quality of our experiences at the Signature dining location, Topolino’s Terrace.
Topolino’s Terrace
With its fresh pastas hanging behind glass doors while cheeses and peppers peered through viewing bunkers, the feeling was one of high-class, fresh authenticity.
The dining room itself was quite large when compared to other Signature dining rooms on property, and again, the classy choices of color, linens, the upscale light fixtures and the open-concept room with comfortable seating options were much appreciated.
The servers were amazing, creating a very personal and enjoyable experience.
A walk out onto the Terrace where you can lounge, have drinks, and relax, was incredible.
The food was delicious, fresh, and flavorful. While there were several mouth-watering options of interest, my Rigatoni with Braised Chicken Sugo, Dandelion Greens, and rich Parmigiano-Reggiano was as authentic and reminiscent of an Italian kitchen as I could get.
I literally used my spoon to breach etiquette and scoop up every ounce of my cream and chicken-drippings sugo.
My wife had a Seafood Pesto Linguine dish, and she was so impressed with the bold flavors and textures, opining that the mussels and squid were perfectly balanced by the sauce and greens.
Even our salads were pleasing to all senses.
The Romaine lettuce was crisp. The Watercress added a mild bitterness to the earthy flavor of the Acciuga, both offset by the sweet Ricotta Cheese and bursts of lemon.
The kids’ meal was also elevated with an expertly grilled chicken breast (and it tasted as though it had been wood-fire grilled), macaroni & cheese (white, aged cheddar) with toasted breadcrumb topping, and a nice mixture of fresh berries.
Of course, when you have a wonderful dinner, it is always nice to top it off with a shared dessert. We chose the Apple Tarte which was done as a Tatin. It was delicious!
The Apples and Caramelized Sugar, mixed with the Vanilla Gelato, Chocolate ribbon, and Chantilly was a perfect ending to an upscale dining experience.
I cannot comment on how the Blackberries may have balanced this dish because my son ate all of them!
Guests can also enjoy perhaps Disney’s best Character Dining experience for Breakfast at Topolino’s Terrace. It was completely un-rushed and elevated. The characters included Mickey, of course, and Donald, adorned in playful artist’s wardrobes with paint splatters and tools of their respective trades. Meanwhile, the girls, Daisy and Minnie, were sporting the latest European styles.
The breakfast show included music, singing, dancing, and multiple interactions with each character as they made their way playfully around the dining room.
The fixed price meal began with a mixed offering of shared baked goods.
The presentation was in keeping with the artist theme of the show complete with paint palette of dips, and paint spilling over the basket of goodies.
After your starters, you were asked to select an a la carte meal that had a variety of options from Spiced Sausage Hash to elevated Waffles to my choice, Wood-Fired Butcher’s Steak.
My wife’s Sour Cream Waffles with roasted Apples, Chantilly, and Orange Maple Syrup were a flavor delight with picture-perfect plating.
Meanwhile, my Wood-Fired Butcher’s Steak was a Signature breakfast dish expertly concocted, prepared and served.
This breakfast meal is my recommendation for anyone who enjoys steak that is perfectly seasoned and balanced with accompaniments such as Polenta, Tomato, Roasted Onions, Wild Mushrooms, and Watercress. The mushroom conserva was truly a pleasurable experience in my mouth, softened and slightly tart with vinegar but spruced up with a gentle perfume of spices and herbs; it wonderfully elevated the steak, which was already impressive on its own.
Want to grab a specialty coffee during the day or perhaps an adult nightcap?
Le Petit Café operates as a dual function Specialty Coffee bar by day and adult-friendly drinks bar by night, with an assortment of delectable treats.
The Café was quaint and warm with appealing hardwoods, taupe colour schemes, and a Parisian ambiance. We loved having the speciality coffees during the day, and of course, the Chocolate Banana Bread loafs were scrumptious!
It was a comfortable and inviting space to enjoy a moment of relaxation.
It also offered some awesome desserts and baked goods to complement your beverage.
Bar Riva, the poolside food and drink spot, has a full offering of alcoholic beverages and a small menu of food.
If you are looking for sundries or merchandise, La Boutique will satisfy your cravings.
On the other hand, if you are looking to kick back and enjoy an adventure-themed lounge, the Voyager’s Lounge will meet your needs. Sit back with a drink, read a book, or enjoy one of many available board games.
The lounge was relaxing and cozy, embracing you in dark, rich woods while surrounding you with a collection of books and travel paraphernalia. Sitting in the lounge was like being in a world traveler’s private den, representing a lifetime of travels, experiences, and knowledge.
Facilities and Activities:
The feature pool was picturesque and relaxing with its shimmering waters, clean, 90-degree angled cuts, infinity edges, and a wonderful view of the lake while being overlooked by the strong, stone facade of the resort itself.
A stone tower slide that could be a depiction of Rapunzel’s tower was fast, fun and twisty.
This is a view of the feature pool from atop Topolino’s Terrace.
Within the gated pool space there was also a small games area with a large Connect-Four and a beanbag toss field.
A nice feature was the convenient and fun Gelato Cart that sat at the ready alongside the pool. Gelato on a hot day without barely having to leave your lounge-chair? Yes, please!
For the kids, S’il Vous Play is a fun, interactive water play area based on scenes and characters from the film, Fantasia. The water cannons were powerful and responsive, while the kids’ slides and bubblers gave lots of options for getting wet and having fun.
My son loved the large, toppling bucket of water filled by a playful elephant. The characters and play area were whimsical and elegant.
Beau Soleil would be my pool of choice if without kids. Smaller, but elegant and almost fully surrounded by a privacy wall of greenery; you could easily melt away the hours in comfortable seclusion.
Families will enjoy the various games on the activity lawn, from life-sized soccer billiards to chess or bowling, as well as a dedicated Bocce court.
Kids (and even older ‘kids at heart’) may open the pool each morning with remote control speedboat racing. The Regatta Racing was so fun!
The Eventi room is also home to storytelling as well as various art and craft type of activities throughout the week.
The Eventi room also becomes home to some fun Monte Carlo Racing each afternoon. My son loved building Lego cars and racing them against other kids!
Theming & Grounds:
In keeping with Disney’s focus on creating an impression, the Riviera meets the mark for creating a relaxing, luxurious ambiance with a European air about the clean stone facades, the muted but welcoming colour palettes, a coffee shop turned wine lounge by evening to seemingly infinite pieces of interesting art. The resort leaves you feeling satisfied in more ways than one.
The Riviera stands impressively amidst a backdrop of greenery, stone archways, and water features. The property is spectacular with its manicured grounds, it’s dominating rooftop views, and the nicely incorporated waterfront promenade. Set against the skyline, Riviera is truly marvelous.
Find yourself in need of directions?
I loved these beautiful lamp / signage poles.
There were so many spots for sitting, relaxing, and enjoying the ambiance of the grounds in relative privacy.
I felt that while the resort may have catered more towards an adult crowd who would relish in the architecture and satiate on Mediterranean sun, water, drink and food, the resort did offer plenty of kid-friendly attractions and activities.
The staple Movie Lawn and Fire Pit were also present at the Riviera.
While the resort appears to have a relatively small footprint, it was comfortable and open with the majority of amenities conveniently located and easily accessed. It felt like a perfect spot to be connected to all of the action but from a distance.
We felt comfortably remote but intimately connected to all of the things the Disney World property in Orlando, Florida, has to offer.
Transportation:
While you may use the bus system to travel about Disney World from the Riviera Resort, I would highly recommend taking full advantage of the conveniently accessible Skyliner.
Riviera guests may take a direct route to Epcot which got us there in about 7-minutes, or an indirect route to Hollywood Studios, Art of Animation, or Pop Century via the Caribbean Beach Resort Transfer station.
Skyliner was a highlight of the Riviera stay. It allowed us to be quickly in the middle of all the action while remaining secluded in our Mediterranean-themed haven.
Verdict:
Two HUGE thumbs up!
I am so happy to be an owner at this wonderful resort. I would highly recommend considering it for your next home. I cannot wait to get back to this European Home Away from Home!
Comments Off on Riviera Opening Soon – Is it on your DVC radar?
Excitement is in the air as Disney World prepares for the opening of its newest deluxe property, Disney’s Riviera Resort!
December 16, 2019, will mark the day that this Vacation Club property opens its doors to occupants, sharing Disney’s vision of European inspired ambiance, tastes and sights.I don’t know about you, but I am very excited for this resort.Is Riviera on your radar?
While there are many pros that this resort can boast, I don’t want to talk about pools and activities because these items are expected and are certainly not exclusive to Riviera.It is also important to note that all pros and cons are currently based upon speculation.
The Pros
Newness of the property.New is always exciting and filled with possibility!
Grounds will be beautifully manicured, enveloping, and will hopefully play an active role in creating the European experience.
The potential of the food offerings both at Topolino’s Terrace and Primo Piatto are worthy of anticipation.
Location and Disney Skyliner transportation access.The resort is nicely located with beautiful water views, nighttime firework perspectives, and a geographical closeness to the expanding Hollywood Studios area, as well as to Disney Springs.
Murphy beds.If you are like me, traveling with my wife and son means that when we stay in a Deluxe Studio, Dad gets the pullout sofa-bed, and this is rarely comfortable.Having the space-saving, easy to access, full-sized mattress of a Murphy bed is a welcome addition to the allure of this resort.
Novel accommodation offerings.While the Tower Studios are not of interest to me, they certainly add some variety to travel options for those who travel alone or with only one other party member.Further, as our family’s travel needs change with time, it certainly may become a point of interest to us.
The Cons
Newness of the property.New may be exciting, but it also breeds uncertainty.Once there, will one wish to have chosen a different property?This will only be known after guests begin to stay and discuss their experiences.
A look at Topolino’s proposed menu has me wondering if the majority of options may be beyond the typical palette; you will not find any chicken parmigiana or spaghetti bolognaise on this menu.Further, with the absence of some stalwart, commonly enjoyed dishes, the re-visit value may simply mean one less dining option per stay in a location that already has little in the way of conveniently located sit-down options.
Location will strongly rely upon the success, reliability and speed of the Skyliner mode of transportation.Despite being part of the group of resorts known as the Epcot Area Resorts, Riviera lacks the immediate proximity that is enjoyed by other resorts such as Beach Club and Boardwalk.
Depth of dining options may be less than desirable.At many resorts, there are at least a handful of directly accessible, sit-down dining options.Riviera may only conveniently offer Topolino’s and nearby Sebastian’s Bistro.
No sign of a Community Hall as of yet.I know that this is an important point for our family.There is not a single trip that doesn’t have us spending time in the community hall, whether it be to colour, play games, or just relax.
When pondering whether to purchase a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) stake in Riviera, another con may be costs.At $188 per point and with an annual dues rate of $8.31 per point, Riviera is among the more expensive DVC options.Of course, another consideration to some is the fact that Disney has essentially reduced the resale value of the resort by blocking resale owners of Riviera from using their points at any other resort on property except Riviera.Does this mean that Riviera contracts may arrive to the resale market at a significant value?
As with all things Disney, change is something that occurs based on plans, expansions, customer feedback, and efforts to always optimize returns on investments.Consequently, the Riviera we become acquainted with in the months to come may not be the Riviera we come to love or hate in years to come.One thing this DVC property offers is a very long duration and lots can be improved upon or changed in the next 50-years of its contracted lifespan.
I look forward to preparing a follow-up article to this piece just as soon as I return from my opening week stay at Disney’s Riviera Resort.
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This property is Gorgeous! One of the most aesthetically appealing resorts in my opinion. The monorail running through the main resort is always jaw dropping!
Bay Lake Tower is situated upon the Monorail Loop which gives you the convenience of visiting Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort or Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort with ease. Such convenience opens the doors to additional dining, exploration, and fun! You can also take the Monorail to the Ticket and Transportation Center where you can then jump onto the Epcot Monorail Loop. Getting home from Epcot via Monorail transportation is a breeze when you are at Bay Lake Tower. We love being able to stay at a property that enables nightly dinners and snacks at Epcot’s World Showcase.
This resort is the closest property to Disney’s Magic Kingdom, and an easy 10-minute walk from the lobby of Bay Lake Tower to the entrance of the Park. You have your very own Walkway from Bay Lake tower to the Magic Kingdom! The best part is that you have your very own bag check and security stop that ONLY serves guests walking along the path. That means your time spent at security before entering the park is about 2-minutes!
My son loves Donald! 
Bar Riva, the poolside food and drink spot, has a full offering of alcoholic beverages and a small menu of food.
If you are looking for sundries or merchandise, La Boutique will satisfy your cravings.
The lounge was relaxing and cozy, embracing you in dark, rich woods while surrounding you with a collection of books and travel paraphernalia. Sitting in the lounge was like being in a world traveler’s private den, representing a lifetime of travels, experiences, and knowledge.
Verdict: