You Can Now Book the First All-New Disney World Resort to Open in 7 Years
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Put on your Mickey or Minnie ears while simultaneously grabbing your credit card as a brand-new Disney World resort is now accepting bookings for late 2019! This is the first free-standing, all-new resort to open at Walt Disney World since 2012 when Disney's Art of Animation opened its doors (Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort opened in 2009 and Copper Creek Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge opened in 2017, both as resort add-ons).
But Disney World's all-new Disney Vacation Club (DVC) property, Riviera Resort, is nearing its fall 2019 opening date and rooms are officially available for booking for dates beginning Dec. 16 (though we expect it to open before then). Prices for available dates currently start at $600+ for rooms that sleep five. Rates go up from there for multi-bedroom villas. Smaller tower studios that sleep two can be booked from about $500+.
Disney World is a city unto itself when it comes to hotel rooms. Similar to in Las Vegas, 2,000-room mega-hotels are the rule, not the exception at Disney -- though Disney at least makes them feel like they aren't 2,000-room resorts. However, when it comes to new Disney Vacation Club properties located at Walt Disney World, the sizes tend to run much smaller. This soon-to-open DVC resort has just 300 rooms -- small by Disney standards.
Other than being shiny and brand-new when it opens later this year, what makes Disney's Riviera Resort extra special is that you will be able to take the Disney Skyliner gondolas from the resort to EPCOT as well as Disney's Hollywood Studios, home to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge that is also set to open in late 2019.
While this resort is technically a timeshare property, you can book rooms at these resorts just like regular Disney hotel rooms with good old cash (and lots of it). Disney owns a number of points at each DVC property that they control and make available for bookings. That's normally what you see when you check out the Disney World website for hotel bookings. But in this case, since Disney's Riviera Resort hasn't yet sold out to Disney Vacation Club owners, the 300-room property is very available for non-DVC members with cash. If the past is any indication, Disney will sell all of the timeshare units at Riviera Resort at some point.
What to Expect at Disney's Riviera Resort
Disney's Riviera Resort is meant to transport you back to the early 1900s along the European Riviera. Expect to see that Mediterranean influence throughout the property through design, decor, theming and meals.
But don't think that European Riviera theming means stuffy, as the new artwork of the pool prominently features a castle rock slide into a pool that appears to have a zero-entry area and a separate splash area for the littlest crew.
Disney Vacation Club properties generally feature bigger, more fully equipped rooms than standard hotel rooms with small kitchens and sometimes extra bathrooms. Deluxe studios can accommodate up to five guests at some properties, one- and two-bedroom units are available, as are three-bedroom Grand Villas.
At Riviera Resort, Disney is adding a new room type that would seem befitting of a resort in close proximity to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios given EPCOT's various annual festivals and the inevitable draw of Gen-Xers to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. The new two-person studio seems to be an appropriate nod to the growing population of kid-free visitors. However, note that even for the $500+ per night this room is currently booking for, the queen bed in this room folds down from the wall -- so our jury's still out on that one. We'd likely need the price to be much lower to pull down our own bed each night.
One of the most special elements of Disney's newest resort is the restaurant on top of the property. Named Topolino (how the Italians say Mickey Mouse) the restaurant will offer French and Italian cuisine prepared over a wood-fired grill, paired with excellent wines from the region. The location will mean stellar views of the nighttime fireworks at both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. Mornings at Topolino will feature a prix fixe Disney character breakfast.
At Disney's Riviera you'll also find Le Petit Café that serves coffee by day and wine by night. There will also be a quick-service restaurant, Primo Piatto, near the pool.
Bottom Line
Once Disney's Riviera Resort becomes bookable to DVC members on points in spring 2019, that will likely become a cheaper pathway to booking a room here if you rent a member's points (here's how). Also on the way at Disney World is a nature-inspired resort with 900 hotel rooms and Disney Vacation Club villas, set for a 2022 opening and the much-anticipated immersive Star Wars hotel.
Planning a Walt Disney World vacation? Here are some more resources:
- Buy Discounted Disney 4-Park Tickets in 2019
- TPG’s Ultimate Guide to Walt Disney World Resort
- 16 Reasons to Stay at a Walt Disney World Resort Property
- The Top 5 Tips for Disney World First-Timers
- How to Save Money on Disney World Ticket Purchases
- 5 Ways to Save on a Disney World Vacation
- How to Use Points to Buy Disney Tickets
- Best Restaurants at Disney World
- Disney's Contemporary Resort Review
- Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort Review
- Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Review
- Disney's Pop Century Resort Review
- Disney's Art of Animation Review
Featured image courtesy of Disney
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.