Are you planning a trip to Walt Disney World and don't quite know where to start? Well, I've taken the time to explore one of the most incredible resorts on property-- Disney's Riviera Resort . Even better? I know a secret that can help you save up to 50% off the room! Today, I'm going to cover everything you need to know, especially if you are traveling with a young child like me.
I had my daughter 8 months ago and so she is the perfect age to begin to take to the parks and resorts. She just started crawling and exploring, so having a resort where she can safely play both indoors and outdoors was something my husband and I were looking for. With the help of David's Vacation Club Rentals, we were able to book a magical staycation at a fraction of the cost. Check out their rental process here.
Now, let's go check into our 1 bedroom villa!
1 Bedroom Villa Room Information
Can accommodate a party of 5
1 king-size bed, 1 queen-size pull down bed, 1 single pull-down bed
Fully-equipped kitchen with full-size appliances, toaster, and coffee maker
Stacked washer and dryer
Full bathroom with bubble-jet tub and walk in shower with bench
Flat panel TV in living room and bedroom
Private porch or balcony
Check in: 4pm, Check out 11am
But how? you may be asking yourself. Well, with Davids Vacation Club Rentals, you are essentially renting points out from Disney Vacation Club members through their easy-to-use website. The setup is super simple! Right before you get to the resort everything will be linked to your My Disney Experience Account. No need to check in at the front desk, you can open the door using your phone! Now that's some Disney magic!
Why you should rent with David's on your next trip:
On average, guests can save 20-50% when they book with David's compared to booking the same room directly through Disney Central Reservations.
The reservation is booked in your name and can be linked to your My Disney Experience
You receive the same on-property perks as any other guest staying on Walt Disney World property, including Early Theme Park Entry
DVC guests also receive Extended Evening Hours at WDW Theme Parks! As Deluxe Resort guests, you can stay late after the parks close & continue enjoying the attractions on select nights set by Disney
Davids's not only includes Walt Disney World DVC Resorts, but it also includes Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii, and the new Villas at Disneyland Hotel at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim!
Customer Service is at the heart of the David's team. They are quite literally a DREAM to work with and their expertise shows!
The team at David's Vacation Club Rentals is available 7 days a week and would love to answer all your great questions about the rental process! You can reach them at team@dvcrequest.com, 800-610-5791, and by using the Live Chat feature on their website: https://dvcrequest.com/
The day of our check in we got to the resort around 12:30pm. That left us plenty of time to grab a quick bite at one of their many eateries, explore the grounds, shop, and soak in the sights and sounds of this beautiful resort before our room was ready. We did an online check in process which is done all through your MDE (My Disney Experience) App.
We got a text around 3:45pm that our room was ready and so we grabbed a quick coffee at le petit cafe located in the lobby, and then headed right up to our room. Usual check in time is 4pm, with a check out time of 11am.
I don't know what it is, but I am always so blown away by the rooms at Disney and their level of cleanliness. They always smell so good and hearing the sound of the Disney music on the tv just sets the tone for the entire stay. We soaked in a few moments in our room and checked out the balcony views before getting ready for dinner.
Fun fact, if you're looking for the scent of the Riviera- there is a store at Disney Springs that sells candles and oils, called Bowes. (Resort Signature is the scent of the Boardwalk, Riviera and Pop Century) We had 5-year wedding anniversary dinner plans at Wine Bar George, at Disney Springs and had the most delicious skirt steak and drinks. If you've never been to this restaurant, I highly recommend checking them out! If you're looking for a reservation you can either book on Open Table or through Disney.
We headed back to the resort right around sunset, and the views were just stunning. This resort is adjacent to Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort and also has access to the Skyliner which is so beautiful to see in the distance. We got our pajamas on and headed out to the balcony to watch the fireworks. Our view had an obstructed view of the fireworks, but the magic was still there and honestly it was perfect with the baby since the sounds weren't too loud.
Traveling with a baby? Here are some helpful tips:
Pack and plays are free for resort guests upon request
Bed rails are available on a first come first serve basis
Sometimes they can bring a full-size crib, however this is quite rare. renting one from an outside company might be easier and has a guarantee that you will get one.
Rent Baby Gear of Orlando:
foldable full size crib on wheels- 1-3 nights $70, 4-7 nights $90, 8-10 nights $110
Kingdom Strollers:
foldable full-size crib on wheels: 1-3 nights $75, 4-7 nights $95, 8-10 nights $115
One of the wonderful things about being in a 1 bedroom villa as opposed to a standard room, is the fact that we could put our baby down to sleep in the bedroom, and still be able to hang out and relax in the living room. This is a game changer, especially since she normally goes down around 7/8pm, leaving us plenty of time to watch a movie and unwind with some Mom and Dad time.
The next morning, we mobile ordered from Primo Piatto (their quick service option at the resort) This food is some of my favorite BY FAR, on Disney property. My go-to order is the Cinnamon Crumble 'French Toast' Bread Pudding, Served with Vanilla Custard. My husband had the Ciabatta Breakfast Sandwich with Egg, which was also delicious. The best part is picking up your mobile order and eating it all on the balcony overlooking the resort.
Next up was a quick little outfit change and a visit to the athletique fitness center. This gym has EVERYTHING. I get so excited for working out now and this gym had state of the art machines, weights, and more. We got a nice little workout in and then headed back to the room to change into our swimsuits.
There are two pools and a children's splashpad on property:
Riviera Pool: The resort’s feature pool. Riviera Pool offers stunning views of the Skyliner and the resort itself, especially during sunset. Themed after the Mediterranean and the Italian and French Riviera, it’s such a great place to grab a spot and unwind. - adjacent to the children's splash pad.
Beau Soleil Pool: This serene pool is perfect for those seeking a quieter experience.
Both pools are conveniently located near the quick-service restaurant Primo Piatto and the poolside bar Bar Riva.
After the pool, we gave Brooklyn a bath and got dressed and ready for a fun night at Magic Kingdom. Riviera has buses coming to pick guests up to bring them to Magic Kingdom every 20 minutes, and there are screens located at the bus stop to keep you on track. If you're visiting the parks with a little one I cannot recommend the baby care centers enough! There you can find baby essentials you might have forgotten, changing tables, quiet spaces for feeding, and more. Magic Kingdom's is themed to Alice in Wonderland and it's my favorite!
After our fun night at MK, we took the bus back. As soon as we entered the lobby I immediately bee-lined it to the gift shop, because let's be honest? Who doesn't want a cute souvenir representing their stay? This resort in particular has a TON of merch. Anything from ears, apparel, luggage and more. You can find it all here. I ended up picking up the cutest little painter Mickey key chain and an autograph book so Brooklyn can start collecting them.
There are always fun activities going on all around the resort including surprise character visits, marshmallows and smores, movies under the stars and more. Brooklyn loved doing all of these, especially quiet relaxing rides on the Skyliner. If you time it out perfectly, you can even catch the Epcot fireworks show from the Skyliner which is a must-do if you've never experienced it.
Overall, we had 3 absolutely incredible days that will last a lifetime. We are already looking into our next stay and you better believe we will be booking again with David's Vacation Club Rentals. Which resort should we stay at next?
If you have any questions about our trip, Disney resort stay with babies, or the process of booking write a comment down below and I'll answer them right away!
Taryn Xo.