Grand Floridian vs. Riviera Disney World Resort Guide 2023

Planning a trip to Walt Disney World can be complicated — especially when you’re trying to choose between 25 resort hotels. If you’re trying to decide between these two amazing resorts, just know that your vacation is going to be epic! But how do you make your final selection?

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort

Choosing between Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa and Disney’s Riviera Resort isn’t an easy task. So, let’s do some comparisons to see which one is right for you!

Whether room size, location, pools, and/or restaurants are most important to you, we share the information that you’ll need to make an informed decision. After all, we want you to stay at the hotel that is best for your family!

Let’s get started and look at all the details so that you can plan your Disney trip with confidence.

Riviera Resort

There’s no doubt that Disney vacations are expensive, and no one wants buyer’s remorse when it comes to what can usually be the most EXPENSIVE part of your Disney trip. We’re approaching this difficult decision with as much logic as possible, so we’re breaking it down into five categories:

Common Ground
Theme/Rooms
Pools
Food
Transportation

Grand Floridian sparkles during the holidays

Let’s get started on your vacation research.

Common Ground

Before we mention their differences, let’s take a look at what Grand Floridian and Riviera have in common. First, both offer Deluxe Villa accommodations (Grand Floridian also offers Deluxe rooms) with a similar resort layout. The Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Villas can be booked by Disney Vacation Club members or cash-paying guests. You’ll discover luxurious amenities and unique themeing at both hotels. Plus, both boast many of the same perks. Grand Floridian and Riviera offer buses and at least one other type of Walt Disney World transportation.

Disney’s Riviera Resort

The most expensive rooms at both resorts are large villas. You’ll see that rates are very similar, however note that the least expensive rooms at Riviera are very small.

For the Grand Floridian, that means that for the cheapest room at the cheapest time to visit, you can expect to pay around $780 per night (not accounting for any tax or current discounts), and it goes up to $5,502 per night (not accounting for any tax or current discounts) for the most expensive rooms at the most expensive time to visit. (Based on 2023 rates)

For the Riviera Resort, that means that for the cheapest room at the cheapest time to visit, you can expect to pay around $443 per night for a studio that sleeps 2; $665 for a deluxe studio (not accounting for any tax or current discounts), and it goes up to $5,165 per night (not accounting for any tax or current discounts) for the most expensive rooms at the most expensive time to visit. (Based on 2023 rates)

Grand Floridian Lobby

Let’s dig a little deeper to see what you can get for the money at these resorts!

Extra Theme Park Hours Benefits for Disney World Resort Hotel Guests

Theme/Rooms

These are not your standard hotels. At Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, you’ll be transported to a Victorian era. During a stay at Disney’s Riviera Resort, you’ll discover an Italian and French Riviera theme, inspired by Walt Disney’s travels!

DVC Corkcicle

But whether your stay takes you to the elegant seaside or the posh riviera, you’ll find that both of these options provide delightful Disney amenities.

Grand Floridian

Cross the threshold of Disney World’s flagship resort into the Victorian age of high tea, dressing for dinner, and gloved-hands with pinkies-out. The lobby and restaurants are grandiose and luxurious, yet families will still feel a welcoming presence. The meticulous grounds and pristine white buildings with their brilliant red-tiled roofs definitely provide that grand allure you’d expect from a deluxe resort.

Grand Floridian Resort

And the lobby delivers on that jaw-dropping “oh wow” moment (especially around the holidays), but it seems like Disney blew the budget on the common areas, and then tightened the purse strings on the rooms. There are some very nice, and perfectly adequate furnishings, but the rooms themselves just don’t scream lavish.

Grand Floridian Resort Room

The Grand Floridian standard rooms haven’t seen the TLC that the Contemporary and Polynesian rooms have. But with the ongoing renovations, we hope the updated Grand Floridian rooms will deliver more luxury considering the price tag assigned to them.

Riviera Resort

Disney’s Riviera Resort, which opened in December 2019, is Walt Disney World’s newest Disney Vacation Club Resort! The European Riviera inspires the architectural design and decorative touches. The theme translates into a refined and elegant space that is simultaneously bright and airy. Of course, Riviera Resort is not without touches of Disney whimsy! The overall effect is stunning while also being relaxing and welcoming.

Riviera Resort Tower Studio Pulldown Bed

Riviera Resort offers1-, 2- and 3-Bedroom Villas as well as Tower and Deluxe Studios. The least expensive accommodations are Tower Studios (255 sq. ft), which only sleep 2. Deluxe Studios sleep five (423 sq. ft.), however the rates are about $200 more per night.

Grand Villa Master Bedroom

Inspired by Europe — and, in fact, by Walt Disney and his wife Lillian’s own travels along the French Riviera — deluxe amenities, memorable Resort activities, a wide range of fantastic and flavorful dining (including Character Dining), lovely and relaxing pools, and much more are all part of the Riviera Resort experience.

Riviera Resort

The overall effect is stunning while also being relaxing and welcoming.

Results

This could boil down to your preference. Riviera Resort seems to embrace all things European and “summery” while Grand Floridian is Victorian elegance. Both resorts deliver beautifully on their themes. So, this really could be down to what type of vibe you want on your vacation. Note that the ongoing renovations at Grand Floridian could really change things up once completed. In fact, the entire lobby will be refurbished.

PHOTOS: The NEW Grand Floridian DVC Rooms Are Now OPEN in Disney World

Pools

Pools, splash pads, hot tubs, and lounge chairs, a vacation just doesn’t feel complete without spending some time by the pool. Which of these resorts is the aquatic champion of water lounging? Only one way to find out…