VGF vs RIV with young kids

[colten.c]

Anybody who has stayed at both have pros and cons of either of them with young kids? We have an 11 month old and 1 due in September. I figure VGF would be better while they are younger but in a few years having access to 2 parks would be the advantage

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I don't know - seems like you have quite a few years of kids wanting to enjoy the MK, so the VGF location is amazing - especially with the option to walk at times. You can also easily take 2 monorails to EP. My kids didn't really care about HS until they were older.

 

[Her Dotness]

Actually, I'd hold off buying in until the Poly Tower goes on sale.

Buying/staying at PVB would give you easy access to MK via monorail or boat.

Then, when kids are older, it's an easy 5-10 minute walk from the corner of Pago Pago via the pathway to get to the TTC. There, you get on the Epcot monorail and can make your way through Epcot to the Skyliner or boat to DHS.

Not like I know, not having kids, but when I was a kid I'd very much have preferred the Poly atmosphere to either VGF's or RIV's. The Poly is much more exotic and colorful. The other two are pretty stuffy and boring from a kid's perspective until maybe the teen years.

Bottom line is buy where the adults prefer. The kids will only care they're at WDW and won't give a hoot where they sleep and shower.

 

[tjkraz]

Every Disney Resort has things for kids, pros and cons, etc.

Buy what YOU like...not what you THINK your kids may like. Not only is an 11 month old unable to express a preference, kids' opinions will change over time. You're the one who may have to live with the decision for 40+ years. And booking other resorts at 7 months will be an option more often than not.

 

[LadyNia]

We have a 3 year old and own at Riviera. My son loves the skyliner, it's his favorite mode of transportation! He also enjoys the splash pad there.
I honestly like the convenience of Riviera. I love that it's a tower and you don't have to walk long distances outdoors and be subjected to the elements to get to where you need at the resort. I also like the theming.
I'd say buy wherever you like because kids grow up and MK isn't always where you'll need to be.

 

[Twilghtsprkle]

Anybody who has stayed at both have pros and cons of either of them with young kids? We have an 11 month old and 1 due in September. I figure VGF would be better while they are younger but in a few years having access to 2 parks would be the advantage

We own at BLT and are considering adding at VGF.

Our teen kids still like MK best. You may end up with wimps like us, lol.

Other thing is we always rent a car now. So walking to MK but driving to the other parks. At the end of the day, it’s actually easier to just walk to your car and get back to the resort instead of waiting for transportation (especially if the line is long).
Plus we had a few instances of emergencies and it’s so much easier to get the car and just drive to Walmart and get what you need.

 

[Sandisw]

We own both and love them for different reasons. RIV is our top resort but we don't go often with little ones anymore. However, we also like and enjoy split stays so that when we wanted to focus in our trips to MK, we stay at VGF (or BLT) and then move over to the Epcot area...now exclusively at RIV....to enjoy the rest of our trip.

I think both have things for little ones to do but I do think RIV has a more relaxing atmosphere which is nice after a day in the parks. I would buy where you would be happy in the long run! Both are great choices!

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

Our kids are 9 and 10, own at Riviera and just stayed Grand Floridian. Our kids are past the splash pad age, but still totally are pool nuts, which I think is the No.1 priority with littles. I love the main pool at GF and think that's a great one to grow up with. The Riviera main pool is dull theming, BUT, as a parent, I LOVE the footprint! Everything is conveniently placed for sight lines as a parent for the splash pad, main pool slide, hot tub, shallow end with zero entry, and access to bathrooms and the bar and Primo Piatto. The convenience can't be beat. It's so much easier to keep an eye on them, and the Fantasia theming and water canons at the splash pad are really cute. The Alice in Wonderland splash pad is cute, too, but the spacing of it away from the pool causes a little separation when the kids are straddling the two age brackets.


Lastly, just being totally lazy here, LOL, but we love the compact footprint of Riviera and all the great food options INSIDE. We like to order food in, and not having to get dressed and trek over to Gasparilla Grill or the Cafe is a perk to us. Primo is RIGHT there, as well as the little coffee/pastry shop in the lobby.

I also think RIviera is set up better for strollers and ECVs in their foyer. Grand Floridian is gorgeous, but the entry is kind of tight. However, Grand Floridian's balcony to watch the Electric Light Pageant go by is so nice, and their shopping is great.

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

Just another add, we do NOT find the monorail especially helpful, timely, easy to find room, etc., whereas the Skyliner is amaze-balls, to us, LOL. So convenient, and the kids do love riding it.

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

Oh, and the blue cabana couch-type things at Riviera's pool are FANTASTIC for kids -- and adults to nap out of the sun.

 

[Nursemanit]

I just think RR is easier - less walking, more compact. I agree with @Her Dotness that Poly tower may be a great choice since it is rumored to have food / drinks on the first floor.

 

[J-Dog]

Every Disney Resort has things for kids, pros and cons, etc.

Buy what YOU like...not what you THINK your kids may like. Not only is an 11 month old unable to express a preference, kids' opinions will change over time. You're the one who may have to live with the decision for 40+ years. And booking other resorts at 7 months will be an option more often than not.

I 100% agree with this.

Young kids aren't going to care about subtle differences in the pool layout, and older kids may care about some things, but those opinions are often fleeting and inconsistent.

Buy where you, as the parent, wants to buy.

 

[PrincessKL]

Our two year old has stayed at both resorts last year. While VGF is a better location for MK, the splash pad at RIV is better for litter kids. The one at VGF dumps water from a bucket on you constantly and that scared my daughter. But this will not be the reason to not buy VGF because kids will grow. I heard that Poly 2 will have a new splash pad, so if this is important to you, it might be nice to wait for it as people above stated.

 

[colten.c]

Thanks for the replies! We have stayed at RIV and loved it but never stayed at VGF! I know they are both fantastic so just trying to make the right decision before pulling the trigger!

 

[StoweFoSho]

We’ve stayed at both VGF and RIV with three kiddos. Both resorts are great and have excellent resort staff.

However, the feelings I get from each resort are very different. The Grand Floridian feels much more “adult” and “stuffy” than Riviera does to me. The Grand is more of a collared-shirt resort to me (although there are plenty of those at Riviera). GF has more fancy restaurants and you’ll see people dressed up to visit them. Both have good quick service restaurants, but Topolino’s Terrace at Riviera is our favorite Character Breakfast by far.

On room size and location, Riviera is a tower hotel and so it’s nice that everything is in one building. The VGF1 building is farthest from the main building and very far from the quick service restaurant. The RIV studios are about 50 square feet bigger than the original deluxe studios at VGF. The new resort studios at VGF have a better layout and theme and are about 65 square feet larger than the original VGF deluxe studios. The resort studios are also closer to the main building, but have no covered walkway like the DVC building. HOWEVER, the resort studios have paper-thin walls and you will hear your neighbors’ conversations and all their music/TV/showers etc.

The resort studios now make up the bulk of the room inventory at VGF. It will be easier to get a studio at VGF (harder at Riviera so may want to own there if prioritizing studios). Room inventory for 1 and 2 bedroom units is larger at Riviera and it will be easier to get those rooms at Riviera (harder to get at VGF so may want to own there if prioritizing 1 and 2 beds).

Both VGF and Riviera’s pools and splash pads feel underwhelming to me, but they are fun and adequate. Riviera’s pool bar is outside the pool gate, while the Grand has twice as many and they are inside.

Neither Riviera nor the Grand Floridian have playgrounds for kiddos. The Grand does have some beach sand to play with and a grassy area. Riviera has some fake grass, and some lawn games.

The Skyliner is great in great weather. The monorail is unreliable in any weather and Grand Floridian has the worst spot on the resort monorail line. The grand does have a walking path, but it’s far too MK if you’re coming from the original DVC building (it’s basically like walking from the Poly).

Both resorts have points charts that are point-hungry compared to other DVC resorts, but Riviera is a little more favorable.

I do wish the Riviera had a slightly larger lobby and some more shopping choices, but it works. I don’t spend that much time in a resort lobby anyways. The Grand Flo’s lobby with a professional piano player dressed to the nines is quite spectacular. However, I fell out of place pushing a stroller and sweating from the Florida heat.

If you’re buying direct, incentives will vary slightly. Riviera has a longer contract, higher dues, and resale restrictions that likely mean you’ll sell it for much less than you purchased it for. VGF will have shorter contract, lower dues, and will fetch a resale price closer to what you paid direct.

If you’re buying resale, your VGF points will be more expensive and can’t be used at Riviera, Villas at Disneyland Hotel, or future dvc resorts. Riviera resale points are cheaper, but can only be used to stay at Riviera.

All that to say, which is best for families with kids? I think Riviera, especially if you want to stay in studios and have the home resort priority. VGF could be the more safe financial choice if you think you’ll sell down the road. Buying direct means getting access to both at 7 months.

 

[Ruttangel]

Let’s be honest very young kids would be just as happy at Pop Century and you would still have the Skyliner, so yeah just pick somewhere you would feel most at home at.
Poly2 could be a sound option but the point charts are likely to set a new high bar

 

[Sammie]

Buy where you like, not the kids. It's Disney World they will love it all. We love both but there is something really special about the Grand Floridian and I don't think it ever feels stuffy at all. No one treats you that way so if some feel it is stuffy that is on them, not the resort.
I do agree about the new Polynesian though. I would wait to see what is offered there.

 

[sethschroeder]

RIV by 10 miles because of the pain in the butt the security is at VGF and how far it is walking wise from anywhere.

• Security checks - with Riviera you only go through it if at the parks where as VGF you are going through it regardless if you are going to MK, going to BLT, going to Wilderness as its before you hit the monorail
• Elevators - you not only have to hit the elevator in VGF tower but then also take another elevator to get to the monorail (yes not terrible but still extra just standing there when you just want to be at the room or have an anxious kid at end of day)
• Pool - Very similar with RIV slide being easier to keep your eye on the kids since VGF they essentially almost walk out of the pool itself around a big blind corner if you are trying to be close to them when they come down the slide
• Food options - RIV we can easily get to and from a ton of food options via the skyliner since Epcot is right there as well as the other places like Beaches and Cream

Are you really going to go to Magic Kingdom in the evening when its still very busy? I like to rope drop MK only, hit up Epcot in evening when the kid rides like Nemo or Figment have little lines, and then do MK fireworks on the Deluxe after hours night.

Additionally I don't really like the monorail all that much its just okay and the boat and walking are neither really that quick/close for VGF since its a good walk or the boat is essentially about as far away as you can get from the DVC VGF area.

Oh and you are more likely IMO to get a fireworks view from RIV of Epcot than from VGF of MK since how its angled as a resort.

 

[Frederic Civish]

This just kind of reiterates some of the things that other people have been saying:

As far as I am concerned, Riviera is not that wonderful. They have a decent Quick Service restaurant (better than most places) and Topolino's is nice - but expensive. Whereas VGF has many more and better restaurant options.

The Skyliner is great. It is Riviera's best feature, if you ask me. But that is it. Meanwhile VGF does have the Monorail AND it is within walking distance of Magic Kingdom AND you can take a boat to Magic Kingdom, all of which might also be interesting to kids.

Before Riviera was built, I was all for purchasing DVC there, and I couldn't wait to stay there. But Disney messed up the DVC points and once I stayed at Riviera, I just kind of said, "Meh."

Now, if you want to go see a resort that reflects European ambiance, go to Portofino Bay over at Universal. It is an amazing place, compared to Disney's Riviera, and frankly, it makes Disney look bad.

 

[J-Dog]

This just kind of reiterates some of the things that other people have been saying:

As far as I am concerned, Riviera is not that wonderful. They have a decent Quick Service restaurant (better than most places) and Topolino's is nice - but expensive. Whereas VGF has many more and better restaurant options.

The Skyliner is great. It is Riviera's best feature, if you ask me. But that is it. Meanwhile VGF does have the Monorail AND it is within walking distance of Magic Kingdom AND you can take a boat to Magic Kingdom, all of which might also be interesting to kids.

Before Riviera was built, I was all for purchasing DVC there, and I couldn't wait to stay there. But Disney messed up the DVC points and once I stayed at Riviera, I just kind of said, "Meh."

Now, if you want to go see a resort that reflects European ambiance, go to Portofino Bay over at Universal. It is an amazing place, compared to Disney's Riviera, and frankly, it makes Disney look bad.

Just my different opinion, but I 100% disagree.

RIV is more understated elegance, similar to a European hotel on the French Riviera (maybe slightly Americanized).

Portofino Bay is much more "theme park-y" and reminds me more of the Venetian hotel in Vegas than an authentic European hotel.

And the quality of the rooms isn't even close. RIV by a mile.