Disney’s Riviera Resort is one of the most popular resorts on the property. It’s also one of the most expensive. Essentially consisting of only Disney Vacation Club rooms, this resort can sometimes be difficult to book. But recently I stayed in the Tower Studio at Disney’s Riviera Resort. This is the smallest resort room on Walt Disney World property! Read on for our full review and to find out if we think these tiny rooms are worth the cost.
Staying at Disney’s Riviera Resort
The resort has the advantage of being on Disney’s Skyliner route, making it easy for guests to get to Hollywood Studios and EPCOT. And it arguably has some of the best restaurants at Walt Disney World. Topolino’s Terrace is the best character breakfast in our opinion and Primo Piatto has some of the best quick service at Walt Disney World. Additionally, Le Petit Cafe is a fan favorite for specialty coffees and lattes, and their pastry case is always filled with some of the most beautiful desserts.
The food isn’t where the charm ends though. For many guests, the resort itself is just dreamy. Inspired by small boutique hotels in Europe, this resort is bright and elegant. Disney’s Riviera Resort is a bucket list resort for many Disney fans, but are the tower studios worth the price?
Tower Studio at Disney’s Riviera Resort
The Tower Studios at Disney’s Riviera are the smallest rooms at Walt Disney World. Coming in at around 225 square feet, these rooms are tiny. Equipped with a queen-sized Murphy bed that pulls out of the wall and over the couch, these rooms are designed for parties no larger than 2. With a small desk, Keurig machine for morning coffee, microwave, beverage cooler, and moderate size balcony, this room has everything you need for your stay. The room also comes equipped with small kitchenette items such as a toaster, plates, and utensils. And there are 2 small ottomans that open and can be used for extra storage. All in a very small space.
The bathroom is quite large, with a huge shower that includes a detachable shower head along with a rainfall shower head.
Views from the balcony of the Tower Studios are pretty incredible. You can see Hollywood Studios and Epcot directly from these rooms, which also means you get some pretty great views of the fireworks from here as well. For the size of the room, I felt the balcony was adequate. We’ve stayed in larger deluxe resorts that have blaconies of similar size. And considering the room only sleeps 2, the balcony works well for that number of people.
How much do the Tower Studios at Disney’s Riviera Resort cost?
Ok so let’s get down to the price. These rooms are not cheap. Prices range from $360 per night to over $650 per night depending on when you visit. And though Disney usually offers lots of discounts throughout the year, many times these rooms are not part of promotions, because they’re usually hard to find to begin with. Since Disney doesn’t really need help selling them, it’s often difficult to find them at a discounted rate.
Tower Studio at Disney’s Riviera Review
The Tower Studios at Disney’s Riviera Resort are one of a kind. There is no other room at Walt Disney World currently with this same layout. That might actually be a good thing though. These rooms are small when the bed is up, and they are extremely tiny when the bed is down. I was traveling alone, so the size was actually quite perfect for me. But if I had been traveling with a second person, let’s just say it would have been very cozy. So if you plan to do that, just make sure you really like your roommate.
The bathroom is large and gorgeous however, I personally would have preferred a little more living space instead of such a large bathroom. The lighting seems to be a point of contention for many, as it’s just not that great at night. The bed was comfortable, more so than some of the other Murphy beds we’ve tried. Compared to the Murphy bed in the new Little Mermaid Rooms at Caribbean Beach, this bed was definitely a step up in comfort.
And as I mentioned before, the views from the room were amazing. That being said, you can often find amazing views of Epcot from other resorts, like Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resort, and for a fraction of the cost.
One thing I noticed that I wasn’t a huge fan of was that these rooms don’t have the best soundproofing. I could hear any chatting out in the hallways, and any time one of my neighbors left their room, the closing of their door was very loud. Just something to keep in mind if you’re a light sleeper.
How many Tower Studios are there at Riviera?
Disney’s Riviera Resort is home to 24 of the Tower Studios. They are all located in the tower as the name suggests.
Is the Tower Studio at Disney’s Riviera Resort worth the price?
In a word: no. If you’re familiar with our resort reviews, we usually try to break it down to more of an “it depends” answer. But we just can’t justify the price. Is it magical to be able to watch the fireworks directly from your room? Of course! But there are other rooms on the property that you can do that at for much less. Did we love the convenience of the Skyliner? Absolutely! But we always feel that Caribbean Beach Resort holds the award for most convenient when it comes to the Skyliner because it is home to its hub.
Considering the room only allows for 2 guests, and even that might feel crowded, we just don’t think these resort rooms are worth it. Maybe if you could find the room on the lower end of its pricing range, with a discount, then maybe it might be.
But even then, you can easily stay at Caribbean Beach Resort for considerably less and get access to almost all of the same things that Disney’s Riviera Resort has to offer, minus the pool of course. Guests at Caribbean Beach, especially those staying on the far end of Barbados, have easy access to all of the food options available at Disney’s Riviera Resort.
Even pricing when renting DVC points has so far shown that rates are not really as low as they’d need to be in order to make these rooms a good value. That being said, many people aren’t likely staying here for the value, but rather because they want to experience the resort. Personally, I’d rather spend the extra money for a larger room here, or save myself some money and get a larger room at either Caribbean Beach, Pop Century, or Art of Animation for access to the skyliner. To see a full-room tour of the Tower Studios at Disney’s Riviera, check out our video here.
Melanie Renee is a photographer, writer, designer and mom. Visiting Disney destinations since 2010, she is also an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. When she's not creating her next coffee recipe, or designing apparel at Polka Dot Pixie Shop, she's seeking beautiful sunsets and planning her next trip .
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