Disney4me Posted August 15 Report Posted August 15 Disney World is home to SO MANY beautiful resort hotels, and even more are on their way! Coronado Springs With over 30 hotels, it can be hard to choose where to stay. But the best part about these hotels is that you don’t have to be staying there to visit them! There are some we’d actually rather not stay at and just enjoy without the expense of staying over. For us, there is one specific answer to the following question: Which Disney resort is better for visiting than staying? Now, this answer may come as a shock because we’re always singing our praises about it, but the truth is, most of the time we’d rather just visit it. Our answer mainly comes down to a few things: dining options, atmosphere, location, cost, and room size. Bringing all of those factors together, the Disney resort we’d rather visit than spend a night at is Disney’s Riviera Resort. Chip at Disney’s Riviera Resort Let’s break down the factors that led us here… Dining Options One of the plus sides of this resort is its incredible dining locations, and you don’t need to be staying here to try them! Le Petit Cafe Named after the venue featured in the 1970 classic The Aristocats, Le Petit Cafe offers pastries and specialty coffees during the day and turns to offering light bites and cocktails in the evening. This dining location is a MUST for us whenever we’re in the area, and we particularly love their Almond Cold Brew and Raspberry Brioche! They are open from 6:30 AM to 9 PM each day. Le Petit Cafe Bar Riva Bar Riva is Riviera’s pool bar, but it’s not like any other Disney resort pool bar — this one is a lot more elevated. They offer covered seating with table service and quite a hefty menu of Mediterranean dishes. On the menu, you’ll find salads, pita, a burger, pasta, and even a seasonal pizza, as well as a few shareable plates. And the dessert is really where Bar Riva shines because they have a delicious Warm Cookie Skillet topped with gelato! This location is open from 11 AM to 10 PM each day. Riviera Cookie Skillet Primo Piatto Riveria’s quick-service location is on the ground level of the resort. We LOVE this dining location because they have so many different options — all of which are delicious — and a Coke Freestyle machine, so there is a plethora of drinks to choose from! Guests can find classic dishes, like chicken tenders or pizza, but they can also find more adventurous dishes, like the Croque Monsieur and the Mediterranean salad. Though it’s seen some price increases recently, we’d still go out of our way to grab a quick lunch or dinner here! They are open from 7 AM to 11 PM every day. Primo Piatto Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera The table-service restaurant at the Riviera offers two unique dining options — a character-dining breakfast with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy, and a more sophisticated dinner without the characters. It is located on the rooftop of the Riviera, so the fireworks view from here is spectacular. This dining location is open from 7:30 AM to 12:15 PM for breakfast and 5 PM to 9:30 PM for dinner each day. Topolino’s Terrace Atmosphere The atmosphere of the Riviera is also absolutely stunning. The resort itself is inspired by Europe, and you can see that through the architecture and the decor throughout the resort. The vibes are extremely welcoming and relaxing, so it’s perfect for a resort day away from the chaos of the Disney parks. Riviera Resort Lobby But it wouldn’t be a Disney resort without those magical touches. Walking to and from the Disney Skyliner, guests can walk under a tunnel featuring several Disney mosaic murals — one from Peter Pan and one from Tangled! These are absolutely jaw-dropping and add so much Disney magic to the already beautiful resort. Peter Pan Mural at Disney’s Riviera Resort Location One of the best parts of the Riviera is its location. The resort is located along the Skyliner route, meaning it’s just a ride away from EPCOT and a transfer away from Hollywood Studios. So, if you’re visiting the resort and want to take a quick trip to one of these parks, it’s easy-peasy! The Skyliner also has access to Caribbean Beach Resort, Pop Century Resort, and Art of Animation Resort. Skyliner Station at Disney’s Riviera Resort Cost Here’s where staying here becomes the downfall. It’s quite costly to stay here, especially if you have a longer stay. Since this resort falls into the Deluxe Villa category, it can cost roughly $500 per night to stay here during off-peak seasons, and that’s at the cheapest rate. Staying here during the holidays and in the summer can increase the price immensely — we’re talking about $1,000 a night or more. Disney’s Riviera Resort Room Size And the thing that really sealed the deal for visiting over staying at this resort was the room size. For the amount you’re paying to stay here, the room is severely undersized. It is much smaller than the other Deluxe Resorts, so you won’t have as much room to spread out. Model of Deluxe Studio at Disney’s Riviera Resort Taking all of those factors into consideration, visiting this resort is a MUCH better option than staying here. The only thing you’re really missing out on if you don’t stay here is Early Entry, Extended Evening Hours, and the fact that you can check another Disney hotel off of your list. For more Disney news, updates, tips, and tricks, be sure to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more! You’ve Only Got ONE More Month To Use This Disney World Hotel Perk Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Do you think the Riviera is a must-stay or a must-visit? Let us know in the comments below! View the full article Quote
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