With Riviera Resort at Walt Disney World, DVC debuted the brand new Tower Studio room class. We’ll provide a video & photograph tour of the 2-person resort room, share our expertise spending the evening right here, comparisons to different lodging when it comes to worth for cash, and extra. (Up to date April 17, 2024.)
Our full Disney’s Riviera Resort Evaluation could be discovered right here, however we thought it worthwhile to handle the Tower Studio individually. Suffice to say, the resort as a complete is a blended bag, and just about conformed with all of my expectations. Quite a lot of different folks appear to find it irresistible (which is nice–totally different strokes for various of us!), however it’s not for me.
Whereas I wasn’t precisely bursting with pleasure and anticipation for Disney’s Riviera Resort earlier than it debuted, there was one exception to that: the Tower Studio. For a variety of causes, I believe this can be a actually intriguing room class, and a development that I selfishly hope Walt Disney World continues. So, did it reside as much as our expectations? Let’s have a look…
At solely 255 sq. ft in measurement, Tower Studios at Disney’s Riviera Resort are supposed for {couples} or solo vacationers. These rooms function a kitchenette (with mini-fridge and microwave), shelving, drawers, two ottoman, closets, and hidden pull-down queen-size mattress behind the love seat.
Tower Studios even have a modestly-sized balcony, spacious toilet, and huge flat-panel tv with on-demand programming. All this, plus upscale and trendy design. (In case you missed it within the laundry-list above, the mattress pulls down from the couch, making this a mixed-use or convertible room.)
In judging social media reactions, the Tower Studio is numerous Walt Disney World followers’ least favourite factor about Disney’s Riviera Resort. I gained’t even say they’re divisive. Apart from a handful of people that will reward something Walt Disney World does, the bashing is sort of unanimous. It’s additionally largely coming from individuals who have solely seen pictures or had a fast tour.
It’s simple to see why the Tower Studio is a lightning rod for criticism–that is the smallest resort room class at Walt Disney World–considerably smaller than any Worth Resort rooms–and it’s priced at as much as $778 per evening as of 2024. Nonetheless, these headline-grabbing tidbits don’t inform the entire story.
Whereas the Tower Studio has attracted numerous criticism, the excellent news (in our opinion) is that Disney did decide to proceed making this room class. The brand-new Villas at Disneyland Resort (VDH) have the identical class, now dubbed a Duo Studio as a substitute (pictured above). This room is even tinier (250 sq. ft) and we shared our expertise staying within the small studio at VDH right here.
Nonetheless, it additionally iterates upon the Tower Studio and makes use of the restricted footprint a lot better. The Duo Studio doesn’t really feel practically as small because the Tower Studio, which is just partly as a result of ours had a large balcony. The room itself makes use of much more intelligent space-saving design options–there isn’t a single sq. foot that’s wasted within the Duo Studio, which isn’t one thing I can say concerning the Tower Studio.
Provided that we’ve truly spent a number of nights in each a Tower Studio at Disney’s Riviera Resort and Duo Studio at VDH, hopefully we will inform extra of the story right here, providing credible perception into our expertise and the professionals & cons of those rooms. We’ve stayed in these rooms as a pair, and as a celebration of three with an toddler in a crib. From our perspective, there are each downsides and upsides!
Earlier than we provide our perspective, right here’s a video so you’ll be able to see your entire room and kind your personal first impressions:
We every ended up spending a good period of time on the balcony as each of us within the room was a tad claustrophobic after some time. Have in mind right here that we’re smaller folks used to smaller lodging.
One other difficulty on this regard is that the design isn’t significantly environment friendly with its restricted sq. footage. There are some befuddling design choices that basically exacerbate this. The dimensions of the residing space isn’t maximized and a number of other different areas are bigger than obligatory.
The obvious instance of that is with the toilet being disproportionately outsized relative to the residing space (we’d gladly take a rest room half its present measurement with all of that area reallocated to the residing space). Closets and storage may very well be condensed a bit to offer extra (non-flex) seating room, as properly.
Given how a lot space-maximizing designs have been emphasised with current room overhauls, we anticipated this room to be maximize each inch, however the regular DVC models are higher at that. Hopefully some tweaks could be made to enhance the Tower Studio’s use of area sooner or later.
The lighting additionally leaves loads to be desired, each in the principle residing space and within the toilet. The primary few pictures on this put up have been shot earlier than sundown–those that comply with have been shot at nightfall and are how the room regarded to the attention.
The darkish lighting is very disappointing as a result of the opposite rooms at Disney’s Riviera Resort (and up to date refurbishments, for that matter) are doing a greater job. After the solar goes down, the room is darkish even with all the lighting on. Maybe others will discover this moody and romantic, however we discovered it missing. At the least the feel from the ceiling lamp is good–perhaps extra recessed lighting shall be added to the cupboards and headboard down the highway.
We’d truly go a step additional and say that the design basically is a bit dreary and uninteresting. The Tower Studio could be very plain, with scant paintings and darker woods. It’s fairly the departure from different current resort room designs at Walt Disney World, that are overwhelmingly white and sterile.
The Tower Studio can be a pointy distinction to the Deluxe Studio at Riviera, which function considerably higher design. We’ll circle again to the opposite huge draw back on the finish of the put up…
Subsequent, the nice. The design of the room is upscale, the finishings and particulars are comparatively good, and the pull-down mattress is comfy. (I’d say “surprisingly” comfy, however we’ve had fairly good success with all of those new-ish pull-down beds at Walt Disney World.)
The lavatory, and bathe particularly, is certainly a standout. The mix of rainfall bathe head coupled with a wand is good, as is the marble and tile detailing. There’s greater than sufficient area within the bathe, which is certainly the important thing function that may set this room aside from decrease tier rooms.
The balcony can be very good, and one other huge benefit that the Tower Studio could have over Worth or Average Resort rooms. We had the center room on the fifth flooring (there are three Tower Studios on every flooring), and that provided a pleasant view of the Skyliner path to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and obstructed view of Spaceship Earth.
We haven’t seen a lot dialogue of the balcony, however that is arguably the primary promoting level and what differentiates the Tower Studio from options. I believe one of the best Tower Studio rooms can be the very best flooring, and left room. That ought to provide a reasonably candy view of Caribbean Seaside, DHS, plus unobstructed views of Spaceship Earth (and no parking zone). The decrease flooring rooms on the far proper are going to be the worst choice, with views of nothing however the parking zone.
The ultimate upside is that it’s probably the most economical strategy to keep at Walt Disney World’s latest resort, with direct entry to the Skyliner. In case you take the close by stairwell as a substitute of taking place the corridor to the elevator (heresy, I do know), you could be on the Skyliner to Epcot or Disney’s Hollywood Studios (by way of Caribbean Seaside) inside 5 minutes.
We all know numerous Disney Trip Membership members are frugal (we see you stocking up and taking house these free refreshments at Moonlight Magic!). No shade or disgrace there, as we’re additionally frugal. Therefore this keep.
Price looks as if a very good level to segue into the downsides of the Tower Studios at Disney’s Riviera Resort, as that is actually a double-edged sword.
We’ve seen numerous criticism concerning the money charges for these rooms being absurd, with costs beginning at $476 per evening and going as much as $778. No query, these costs are absurd. So too are nearly all Deluxe Villa Resort costs, particularly pre-discount. We’ve seen discounted charges of underneath $350 per evening within the Tower Studio, which continues to be fairly costly given the dimensions–and that you possibly can e book an everyday room at Wilderness Lodge for much less (similar dates).
All pointing to the very best rack fee costs does is reinforce the notion that full value at most Walt Disney World resort costs are astronomical. However we already knew that. We additionally know that, like Kohl’s, solely suckers are paying full value for these rooms. (Disney’s Worth Resorts can value $246 per evening…however there are additionally offers for as little as $79/evening rooms at those self same motels.)
The query thus turns into whether or not Tower Studios are definitely worth the discounted money fee, which ought to usually be within the $350-400/evening vary. For round that value, you possibly can do Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge, or just about any resort not on the monorail loop or within the Crescent Lake space.
For much less cash, you possibly can do Caribbean Seaside Resort or Gran Destino Tower (or probably Chronos Membership Degree for about the identical value), which I believe are fascinating comparisons. At Gran Destino, you’ll have a bigger room with barely decrease high quality however no balcony and, critically, solely bus transportation to the parks.
At Caribbean Seaside, you’ll have a bigger room, albeit decrease high quality finishings and no balcony. You’ll even have handy entry to 2 Skyliner stations, and you may stroll over to Disney’s Riviera Resort to make the most of the eating there. (Caribbean Seaside company are the most important winners from Riviera’s opening.)
Nonetheless, as soon as gross sales decide up and extra stock is said, most company staying in Tower Studios at Disney’s Riviera Resort are going to be Disney Trip Membership members, not cash-paying company. The true query right here is whether or not the Tower Studio is definitely worth the factors.
The nightly per level value of the Tower Studios vary from 11 factors on weeknights in Journey Season to 26 factors on a weekend in Premier Season. In case you’re a Disney Trip Membership member, your precise value goes to range relying on myriad elements, together with house resort, whether or not you bought instantly or by way of resale, and what yr you bought your membership.
We purchased over a decade in the past at Saratoga Springs by way of resale. Accounting for our preliminary buy value (prorated at some stage in our contract) plus annual dues, we’re paying a yearly value of ~$8 per DVC level that we personal. That may put the price of a Tower Studio at $88 to $208 for us. It’s simply and unquestionably price these prices.
In actuality, these are practically not possible to e book (for now) for those who don’t have house resort precedence at Riviera, in order that quantity can be deceiving, although. For the overwhelming majority of DVC members staying right here, it’ll be considerably increased.
What actually issues right here might be much less the greenback value/worth of the Tower Studio when changing factors, however slightly, the chance value. Right here, it’s price noting that each BoardWalk Villas and Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas each have rooms that require much less factors, and are full-sized studios.
In evaluating different full-sized choices, the Tower Studio usually is available in barely dearer than Saratoga Springs or Previous Key West (the latter having a number of the largest rooms DVC gives), and is often cheaper than every thing else. In some instances–like with Bay Lake Tower, Grand Floridian, and Polynesian–the Tower Studio is considerably cheaper.
Precise quantities range by season, however the Tower Studio tends to be about 4 factors cheaper than an ordinary Deluxe Studio at Disney’s Riviera Resort. It’s price noting that the Deluxe Studio sleeps 5 and is ~200 sq. ft bigger than the Tower Studio. (Deluxe Studio pictured under.)
Whether or not the Tower Studio is definitely worth the financial savings is a price judgment as much as the person couple. Personally, I don’t suppose so. If value is a matter, I’d slightly do Caribbean Seaside (I might most likely lease out my factors and are available out forward paying money at CBR) and even Gran Destino.
If value/factors is not any difficulty, I’d keep elsewhere or improve to a Deluxe Studio and have a bit extra respiration room. As famous above, I believe Disney’s Riviera Resort is a blended bag, however one of many positives is the design and format of the Deluxe Studio and 1-Bed room models. To me, the traditional studio is totally definitely worth the added value in factors.
Nonetheless, I believe there are sufficient frugal DVC members who will need (or want) to preserve factors to maintain the occupancy fee fairly excessive at these Tower Studios. That temptation coupled with low provide (solely 24 models, by my depend) is an excessive amount of to withstand. I’d hazard a guess that they’ll be a one and achieved for many company, who discover the identical points with them as we skilled.
Finally, the Tower Studios are neither horrible nor terrific in our view. We’d advocate the overwhelming majority of DVC members or common company spend extra for a Deluxe Studio or just e book a full-sized room at a distinct resort. It’s powerful to convey how these rooms really feel till you spend a good period of time in them. There are most likely some use-cases the place the Tower Studio because it presently exists makes probably the most sense (a pair wanting the most affordable Skyliner room with a balcony is what springs to thoughts), however we predict nearly each situation has extra pragmatic options.
At the same time as ‘pilot rooms’ for this idea, the Tower Studio leaves a good quantity to be desired and has some questionable design choices. However, we hope these are moderately well-liked, as we’d like to see Disney Trip Membership iterate on this concept and provide rooms at future resorts that take the identical method. With higher effort and success in maximizing the restricted sq. footage to make these rooms really feel a bit much less cramped, they’d be a smash hit. {Couples} are a rising marketplace for DVC and Walt Disney World, so right here’s hoping we see this development proceed at future resorts!
In case you’re occupied with becoming a member of DVC, make sure to learn our Final Information to Disney Trip Membership. This covers the professionals & cons, resale v. direct, how a lot cash you’ll save, and different vital issues to know earlier than taking the plunge. In case you nonetheless can’t resolve whether or not membership is best for you, “strive before you purchase” with the suggestions in The way to Save BIG on Deluxe Disney Lodging Renting DVC Factors.
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider the Tower Studio at Disney’s Riviera Resort? Will you be profiting from the financial savings these provide and reserving, or would you slightly have a full-sized room? What do you view as the perfect use-case for the Tower Studio? Any questions on Disney’s Riviera Resort? Listening to from you is half the enjoyable, so please share your ideas within the feedback under!
