Disney’s Riviera Resort Photos (A Gallery of Favorites)

We’ve accumulated numerous photos of Disney’s Riviera Resort since it opened a few years back. Below, you’ll find photos with light commentary and a few tips for staying at the resort. Disney’s Riviera is an attractive resort inspired by the French Riviera that borders Italy, with gleaming influences from both countries.

Disney’s Riviera is a Disney Vacation Club Resort. So, the resort’s accommodations consist of studios and multi-bedroom villas. We’ll preview photos of some of the villas a little further down. You do not have to be a DVC member to stay at the Riviera. However, given its popularity, it can be difficult to find availability, especially during peak seasons.

Of course, the resort’s amenities are what make it so popular. It’s hard to beat the proximity to Epcot and Hollywood Studios via the Skyliner. Additionally, the resort has stunning pools, incredible dining options, and a boutique footprint that makes it convenient to get around. We consider Disney’s Riviera to be the most luxurious hotel and hope these photos do it justice.

Disney’s Riviera sits on Barefoot Bay and is surrounded by Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort on both sides. The photo below was taken from Old Port Royale, looking back to the Riviera.

When the water is calm, you can snap a reflection shot.

If you enjoy the outdoors, we can’t stress enough how enjoyable the walk around Barefoot Bay is, especially around sunset hour.

If you’re visiting as a day guest, the walking path begins near the Skyliner’s exit. In the photo below, you can see where the covered walkway extends from the exit of the Skyliner to the resort.

When you reach the end of the covered walkway, you’ll enter a gallery with two decorative murals spanning both sides.

Here is the view when you’re leaving the resort, walking toward the Skyliner.

You’ll come out the opposite of the breezeway to the hotel. Notice how the bright green landscaping compliments the resort so well.

If you stay to the left, a covered walkway extends to the rest of the resort. A pair of restrooms sit in this area.

If you stay to the right, you can join the pathway around Bay Lake.

Here is a photo of the view of Old Port Royale from Disney’s Riviera Resort.

Continuing along this path, we get a unique perspective of the hotel.

I often wonder if guests realize this bright green lawn is available. When the weather is agreeable, this is where they hold the nightly Movie Under the Stars.

The path continues between the resort and the lake.

Here are a few photos of the pools. We have an article with tons of photos and everything you need to know about the pools at Disney’s Riviera Resort.

This aquatic play area sits in a separately fenced area adjacent to the Riviera Pool. It’s themed to the Disney classic Fantasia.

It’s one of the best pool areas for children at Walt Disney World.

A hot tub sits near the slide.

We also love the various lounge chairs set up around the pool. But don’t forget to bring the sunscreen!

A white sand beach sits on the opposite side of the Riviera Pool. These loungers tend to come and go, but the white Adirondack chairs are always present.

Here is a view of the beach from a preferred room. You can see how the walking path extends to Caribbean Beach. The path that begins to the left of the beach leads to the far side of the resort’s parking lot.

Here are a few more photos of the secondary pool.

Back in the courtyard, we see a Bocce Ball Court. Multiple games are set up on the lawn. It’s common to see children enjoying the games. It’s also encouraging to see anyone enjoying an electronics-free outdoors.

Inside, a hallway on the lower level contains a wall of movie posters.

The posters are in French. I always assume this area is reminiscent of the Cannes Film Festival.

Riviera’s lobby is on the resort’s second floor. It’s a small gathering area that’s pleasant. But the resort invites you to explore other spaces, especially outdoor ones.

However, you might take a self-guided art tour if you enjoy art. Over 40 unique pieces of art were created for the resort. You can pick up a guide in the lobby that will help you locate where to find each piece.

Here are a couple of photos of the various room types.

The resort offers two studios. The Riviera’s tower studio (not pictured) sleeps up to two guests, and the deluxe studio at the Riviera sleeps up to five guests.

We have toured the following villas and have photos of each one if you want to learn more: Riviera One-Bedroom Villa, Riviera Two-Bedroom Villa, and the Three-Bedroom Grand Villa at Disney’s Riviera. Below are a few more photos, but the room tours will go more in depth.

Our other favorite thing about Disney’s Riviera is the resort’s restaurants. You cannot go wrong with any of them. It is rare we say that about any hotel. But we dine here regularly and have no complaints about any of the options. These lemon-blueberry pancakes are our go-to breakfast. They are available at the resort’s upscale quick-service, Primo Piatto.

Related: Primo Piatto Review

Bar Riva is another excellent option. It is next door to Primo Piatto and is the resort’s lounge and pool bar. They have a menu complete with appetizers, entrees, and desserts. We consider both Primo Piatto and Bar Riva to be hidden gems.

Related: Bar Riva Review

Topolino’s Terrace is the resort’s character breakfast, and in the evening, it transitions into signature dining. Both meal periods are worth your reservation if you plan to stay here.

Related: Topolino’s Terrace Character Breakfast Review

You might enjoy a treat from Le Petit Cafe for dessert, coffee, or cocktails. This coffee shop by day and bar by night has an outstanding dessert case.

Related: Le Petit Cafe Review

Between the resort’s amenities, rooms, and dining options, Disney’s Riviera Resort is an excellent place to relax during your Walt Disney World vacation. Don’t be surprised if you end up spending a little more time at the resort than usual when you stay here.

For more information about Disney’s Riviera Resort, you might enjoy the following:

• Disney’s Riviera Resort Review
• Disney’s Riviera Restaurants Guide
• Transportation Options for Disney’s Riviera Resort

More Planning

Resorts Gal specializes in Disney World Resorts, Characters, and Dining. Explore our resources, including our Disney World Resorts Guide. It provides an overview of everything you need to know about the Disney Resort Hotels. For dining, our Disney World Dining Guide is an excellent place to start. Our Disney World Transportation Guide is a wonderful resource for planning your routes. It’s one of our most popular resources. If you plan to meet characters in the parks, we have an updated list of Disney World Characters. It includes every available character meet-and-greet in the parks and where to find rare characters throughout the year. Lastly, our Disney Parks Guide provides a complete overview of all four theme parks and water parks.