Gran Destino Tower and Riviera Resort are the 2 latest resorts at Walt Disney World. Whereas very totally different–one aimed toward conference friends and the opposite at DVC members–they’ve a ton in frequent and are constructed with comparable priorities in thoughts. This publish compares and distinction the 2, crowning a champion in a number of classes together with theme/decor, rooms, eating, transportation, swimming pools, and price. (Up to date July 16, 2023.)
For starters, it’s price noting that these are two “upmarket” properties that every have sister resorts at considerably lower cost factors. For those who’re all in favour of profiting from most of their upsides with out paying a premium, try our Caribbean Seashore v. Coronado Springs lodge comparability.
Whereas Gran Destino Tower is technically a part of Coronado Springs and Disney’s Riviera Resort occupies a portion of the previous grounds of Caribbean Seashore, they’re each very totally different from their sister resorts. There are the apparent variations in high quality and luxuriousness between new resorts and resorts constructed a long time in the past. The latter are additionally clusters of motel-style outlying buildings, and are extremely unfold out in consequence, whereas these are each tower resorts with each room and amenity underneath one roof.
In a method, each additions are over-corrections to the strategy taken a long time earlier with Caribbean Seashore and Coronado Springs. These tower resorts will not be simply differing kinds, however incongruous ones which might be at-odds with the sprawling resorts round them. The tip outcome could be a bit thematically jarring, however it additionally makes each resorts extra useful and sensible, as an entire.
In any case, Gran Destino and Riviera Resort have far more in frequent with each other than they do their predecessors. With that preface out of the best way, let’s get to the comparability of Gran Destino Tower and Disney’s Riviera Resort. As with our earlier Walt Disney World ‘versus’ posts, we use 6 components of the 2 totally different resorts to find out which is “the most effective.”
Theme/Decor: Gran Destino – Neither of those resorts are themed within the conventional sense of the time period. The designs will not be all-encompassing, and they don’t transport you to a different time or place. Quite, they each are extra impressionistic, with thrives and decorations that evoke Europe and Spain.
With that mentioned, Gran Destino has a extra finely-tuned and impressive inventive sensibility. The foyer pays homage to the Catalan Modernism fashion, and there are flashes of famed Spanish architect Gaudí within the lounge and rooftop restaurant. The tower doesn’t go all-in on this, however it’s however fairly good. Particular items of artwork reference the collaboration between Walt Disney and Salvador Dali that resulted within the brief movie Destino, which is sort of the deep minimize. Usually, the foyer is extra grandiose and fairly.
In contrast, Disney’s Riviera Resort purports to be themed to the Mediterranean shoreline in France and Italy, however there’s little or no within the design that reinforces this supposed theme. Quite, items of European-inspired paintings and images of Walt Disney in Europe dot the property. It’s nonetheless good, however it’s a vaguely European luxurious lodge, not a sumptuously-themed resort borrowing design cues from the precise Italian or French Riviera.
Rooms: Riviera Resort – This one isn’t even shut. Whereas Gran Destino has giant rooms that may work nicely for a solo traveler or a pair, they’re in any other case missing. Gran Destino Tower was designed largely for conventioneers who aren’t significantly all in favour of Disney and the design is thus very muted.
Along with that, not one of the rooms have balconies. The bogs are good, however the design is perplexing in that the bathe and sink can’t be used concurrently besides by those that are intimately acquainted with each other. For these prepared to splurge a bit, Chronos Membership Degree is a really worthwhile improve at Gran Destino. Not essentially when it comes to the rooms–though it may be, relying upon what you e-book.
Alternatively, the usual rooms (Deluxe Studios) at Disney’s Riviera Resort are arguably one of many lodge’s highlights. The design is elegant and considerate, with space-saving options and beautiful design thrives. The room feels upscale and extremely usable, with refined touches, artwork, and extra. There are additionally balconies.
Eating: Toss Up – Each of those resorts are exemplars of Walt Disney World’s eating scene. Riviera Resort has a robust lineup with Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera, Primo Piatto, Bar Riva, and Le Petit Cafe. Topolino’s Terrace is the principle standout, with a wonderful character breakfast and a superlative Signature dinner menu.
At Gran Destino, Toledo is high notch, Dahlia Lounge is pleasant, and Barcelona Lounge is gorgeous. The one “downside” right here is that Gran Destino has no counter service restaurant, with the (affordable) expectation being that friends will stroll over to El Centro, which was the principle foyer and is barely ~5 minutes away from Gran Destino Tower.
Together with all the handy Coronado Springs eating choices which might be a 5-10 minute stroll of Gran Destino would give it the straightforward victory right here. Maya Grill, Rix Cafe, and El Mercadero de Coronado meals court docket are all good choices. Then there’s Three Bridges Bar & Grill, the over-the-water desk service restaurant that’s certainly one of our Walt Disney World hidden eating gems.
Nonetheless, not doing the identical for eating that’s a brief stroll from Riviera Resort at Caribbean Seashore appears arbitrary and unfair. Good choices in the principle Outdated Port Royale space embody each Banana Cabana and Centertown Market. Then there’s Sebastian’s Bistro, which is the greatest worth dinner in all of Walt Disney World! (We’ll exclude Spyglass Grill because it’s a for much longer stroll and never true vacation spot eating). All in all, it’s a very shut name. There aren’t any losers right here, and anybody staying at both outcome may have a humiliation of culinary riches.
Transportation: Riviera Resort – That is a straightforward one, as Riviera Resort has its personal Skyliner station with entry to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Each might be reached in ~10 minutes, which is way extra environment friendly than any bus service at both resort will ever be.
Accessing Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom from Riviera Resort requires taking buses, and we discovered that to be inefficient in our restricted expertise at Riviera Resort. Nonetheless, a minimum of it’s not making a number of stops, neither is it sharing a bus with one other resort, which is greater than might be mentioned for many Deluxe Resorts.
It’s price noting that we’ve discovered the bus service at Coronado Springs to be the worst at Walt Disney World since Gran Destino opened. Along with there being a number of stops round Coronado Springs, plainly Walt Disney World didn’t improve the frequency of buses as soon as the tower opened to account for all the added friends. As of 2023, this stays an ongoing situation throughout sure occasions of day when resort occupancy is excessive.
Consequently, buses are routinely full and over-crowded, particularly at peak hours. When staying at Gran Destino Tower, we attempt to keep away from touring at peak occasions. For those who head out for Early Entry, you’ll sometimes beat the morning rush. For those who return to the lodge earlier than or a minimum of 45 minutes after fireworks, you’ll sometimes be effective. Nonetheless, if touring round 8-9 am or 9-10 pm, be ready for bus cease backups and jam-packed buses. (Take into account taking an Uber/Lyft or Minnie Van at these hours and avoiding the buses fully.)
Swimming pools: Gran Destino (With An Asterisk) – This can be a robust one. Technically, it’s “Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.” That at is the operative phrase right here, and it means friends of Gran Destino can use the Dig Web site Pool. That’s crucial to Gran Destino having any shot right here, because it in any other case doesn’t have a pool.
In contrast, Disney’s Riviera Resort shouldn’t be technically “at” Caribbean Seashore. In reality, Disney Trip Membership would most likely want that we cease calling them sister resorts as, regardless of their proximity to at least one one other, DVC desires to situate Riviera Resort as a luxurious property. That lack of an “at” means common friends paying the money fee at Riviera Resort can not use the distinctive Fuentes del Morro “Pirate Fortress” Pool. DVC members do have the power to pool hop, that means that they will use each units of swimming pools.
This muddies the comparability and makes issues difficult. Finally, this comparability publish is fairly pointless for DVC members, so it solely is sensible to cowl what most of the people reserving money charges can use. From that perspective, regardless that Riviera Resort’s swimming pools are good, they don’t evaluate to the Dig Web site. If we threw the Pirate Fortress Pool at Caribbean Seashore into the combo right here, it’d be the straightforward winner, although.
Value: Gran Destino – One other straightforward one. Earlier than low cost, Worth Season nightly room charges at Gran Destino Tower are $263 and Common Season are $309 per evening. These are for an everyday room with a normal view. With conference enterprise drying up till a minimum of 2022, our expectation is that offers will turn out to be much more ample for Gran Destino Tower going ahead.
In contrast, Deluxe Studio rooms (a normal room in DVC parlance) at Disney’s Riviera Resort with customary views are $623 per evening in Worth Season and $731 per evening throughout Common Season. Throughout the board, Riviera Resort is roughly two and a half occasions the worth of a median evening at Gran Destino.
Now, the argument may very well be made that Riviera Resort is extra enticing with reductions, however Gran Destino additionally has seen aggressive discounting throughout its opening months. It is also argued that Riviera Resort is considerably cheaper by Renting Disney Trip Membership Factors. Nonetheless, it’s difficult-to-impossible to e-book through DVC level rental proper now, and that’s not an apples to apples comparability, anyway.
Verdict: Gran Destino – There are clearly exceptions to this, however we view each of those properties as largely focusing on adults with out children (be it solo vacationers, honeymooners, retirees, and so forth.) in search of a relaxed and low-key journey targeted on a steadiness between lodge facilities and the theme park expertise.
From that perspective and for its goal demographic, Gran Destino is the extra enticing resort. Each have upscale facilities and distinctive eating, however Gran Destino has extra that can enchantment to adults, particularly. One of many largest strikes in opposition to it’s the lack of balconies on the visitor rooms. One other large strike is the transportation, however that may simply be sidestepped through the use of Uber, Lyft, or renting a automobile. Company will simply be capable of afford any of these choices contemplating the large financial savings they’ll take pleasure in by staying at Gran Destino fairly than Riviera Resort.
General, this comparability finally ends up coming down to at least one factor: value. If these two resorts value the identical or comparable quantities, we’d virtually definitely select Disney’s Riviera Resort. The transportation and rooms are superior, eating and decor are each shut sufficient, and the swimming pools and different facilities which might be higher at Gran Destino don’t transfer the needle sufficient to provide it the win. The Skyliner is a big benefit that it’s robust to place a value on…till you notice that value is ~$400 per evening, and it’s most positively not price something close to that quantity.
Whereas we hope this publish is useful in providing a head-to-head comparability of essentially the most essential components of every Walt Disney World resort expertise, we all know it’s not definitive or the ultimate phrase for each visitor. Along with studying the feedback earlier than making your personal resolution, we recommend supplementing this with our full overview of Disney’s Riviera Resort and our Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Overview.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study resorts on our Walt Disney World Lodges Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To save cash on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a singular have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Trip Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every thing it’s essential know!
Your Ideas
Is cash the deciding issue for you, or is transportation? Do the Skyliner or superior rooms present sufficient worth so that you can assist bridge the worth hole? Is there one other variable you’ll be able to consider to make Disney’s Riviera Resort the higher choose? Are we lacking a key variable that would, doubtlessly tilt the scales within the Riviera’s favor? Do you agree or disagree with our picks? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!