Disney's Riviera Resort Tower Studio Review

If you’re a party of one or two, a tower studio at Disney’s Riviera Resort might work for you. These rooms debuted when the resort first opened a few years back. To this day, they remain somewhat controversial given their high price tag and minimal square footage. Below, we’ll preview photos of Disney’s Riviera Resort tower studio. Then, you can decide whether or not you can manage the small space and if that small space is worth the price tag.

You’ll first want to be aware that this room type sleeps up to two guests. So, if you’re looking for a standard room that sleeps four or more guests, this is not the one for you. The tower studios are geared more toward singles or couples. They only have one queen-size bed. How small are we talking? The Riviera’s tower studio has approximately 250 square feet. For reference, the average size of a hotel room at Walt Disney World runs about 350 square feet. We’re talking small. Here’s a photo of the room.

For starters, the Riviera is a Disney Vacation Club Resort. So, DVC owners at the Riviera can reserve these rooms with DVC points as soon as they become available. Disney also makes these rooms available for regular guests and other DVC members to book. However, the Riviera has proved to be an exceptionally popular resort, making it one of the most difficult to book.

As far as occupancy, the resort only offers 24 of the tower studio units. So, even with the small room sizes, there is often more demand than supply. That’s probably another reason these units command such an outstanding price point.

When you walk into the room, you are greeted by a sofa that converts to a Murphy or pull-down bed. Yes, that sofa disappears, and a queen-size bed replaces it when you pull the handles down from the wall.

Layout of the Tower Studio at Disney’s Riviera Resort

When the bed is in use, it takes up the majority of space in the room. Trust me. I wedged myself into the corners of the room as best as I could to take these photos with a wide-angle lens. A few stools sit on rollers in front of the couch. You can use these as tables or roll them out of the way when it’s time for bed. A large flatscreen television hangs on the wall with a sofa table underneath that provides a shelf to store a few items.

The sofa folds as a queen bed pulls down from the wall.

A desk is built into the wall in the far corner of the room. A Keurig coffee maker was sitting on the desk, and a few narrow drawers were on the side.

The tower studio has a desk area with a few amenities.

A microwave and mini-fridge sit in the cabinet on the left side of the bed. The door above the microwave opens to reveal a roll of paper towels, a toaster, dinnerware, utensils, and other items you might need.

Things are looking up as we head into the spacious bathroom. It consists of a walk-in shower, toilet, and vanity area with more storage space. It’s a beautiful space with marble tile and gold accents.

Layout of the bathroom in Riviera’s Tower Studio

Overall, the rooms at Disney’s Riviera Resort are a step above many others when it comes to finishes. For example, you might notice the large rainfall showerhead, the standard showerhead, and the separate detachment option. Those little details add touches of comfort that you don’t find at the other Walt Disney World Resorts.

The only drawback I had about the bath area was the one sink. But it’s understandable with a room that only sleeps up to two guests.

What I did like was the closet. It had plenty of room to store luggage, hang clothes, and organize things. So, if you can get everything in the closet, the room won’t feel nearly as small. The tower studio also has other amenities, like a safe, iron, ironing board, and makeup mirror.

The closet for the tower studio is spacious.

Lastly, the tower studio has a balcony with room for two. The balcony is reasonable if the weather is pleasant enough during your stay.

When I ask myself whether or not I would stay in the tower studio, I always think yes. Then, when I look at the price, I immediately change my mind. In comparison, I would much rather stay in one of the updated rooms at Disney’s Boardwalk and be able to walk right into Epcot for much less. Or I would splurge on one of the Moana rooms at Disney’s Polynesian.

Don’t get me wrong. I love Disney’s Riviera Resort. I believe it’s the most luxurious resort hotel at Walt Disney World. It has excellent dining options and charming accommodations. But if this is the only option you can afford, you can do much better by getting a larger room at one of the other deluxe resorts.

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

Additionally, Riviera offers a deluxe studio, a 1-bedroom unit, a 2-bedroom villa, and a 3-bedroom grand villa. Warning: They are way larger than the tower studio. You can preview them here:

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Have you considered a stay in a tower studio at Disney’s Riviera? What are your thoughts on the room? Is it too small or too expensive? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

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