So we finally got a chance to see our home resort last weekend. We could not get a room there but drove over from OKW for lunch and a quick walk around.
I would like to thank the many naysayers on this tread who helped lower my expectations! I expected to find a tiny lobby but was pleasantly surprised at its size, look and theming. I expected to find a small useless store and instead found it to be fine. The QS was not too busy but it was a bit slow, was very surprised by the overall size and number of tables since the QS at deluxe resorts are usually much smaller. And most importantly, lunch was very good. We sat in the library area with our desert and it was a great little spot to hang out.
With all the complaints about it being nestled amongst a moderate resort, I was also pleasantly surprised with the drive into it – all you see is Riviera. Until you go out back, you don’t even know CBR is there.
Also tried the skyliner for the first time, I’m no fan of heights or swinging in the air from a string but it was great, no motion or height issues at all for me. As long as they solved the slowdowns/breakdowns, it will be a great addition to the transportation options.
This non-park long weekend trip allowed us to visit a number of DVC resorts and the complaints about the lobby, store, and quick serve really ring hollow now that I have seen what the other DVC focused resorts have to offer: OKW – similar lobby size, slightly bigger store, no comparison on the hole in the wall QS and the studio felt really cramped compared to the RIV model rooms; BLT – tiny lobby, no theming; BCV – really nothing special about the lobby or theming; SSR – cavernous lobby…but why…seems like a giant waste of space, small store, decent QS, and again, minimalist theming. I’m not sure why so many expected Riviera to depart from the way most of the other DVC only resorts were designed.
Our first stay there will be later this year so we will see how the overall experience goes but so far, so good.