The Resorts Gal Guide to Disney’s Riviera Resort’s Pools

When choosing a resort for your Walt Disney World vacation, the pool is an important factor. At Disney’s Riviera Resort, the pools are one of many amenities that make a stay there desirable.

Disney’s Riviera is a sizable hotel with a boutique footprint. Almost everything at the hotel is conveniently located, including the feature and pool areas. They are in sight of one another. The Riviera is not a hotel with a grand lobby where guests like to lounge. However, the hotel invites guests to spend time outdoors on its extensive lawns and pool areas.

We’ve stayed at all the resorts at Walt Disney World, and Disney’s Riviera is one I consider to be among the most child-friendly when it comes to pools. As you can see in the photo below, you can see the entirety of the pool from almost any seat on the deck.

Pool Details for Planning Your Vacation

You’ll want to know a few details for planning a visit to the pools at Disney’s Riviera. First of all, you do not need a pool map to figure out the location of the resort. When you walk out of the resort’s back entrance, one is to the right, and the other is ahead on the left. Both pools are within sight of each other.

The Riviera Pool is the resort’s feature pool. It is open daily from 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m., and between Memorial Day and Labor Day, those hours are usually extended until 11:00 p.m. This pool has lifeguard attendants. The Beau Soleil Pool is the resort’s quiet or secondary pool. It is typically open daily from 7:00 a.m. through 11:00 p.m. This pool does not have lifeguards.

Both pools at Disney’s Riviera Resort have a MagicBand scanner. So you’ll want to bring your Keys to the World card or MagicBand to access the pool. This is a positive because it keeps guests who might be visiting the resort for dining or shopping out of the pool area.

Complimentary towels are provided at both of the resort’s pools, so there is no need to pack extra towels. You can save the space in your suitcase for something else! Additionally, life jackets in various sizes are available at both pools.

Beau Soleil Pool Photos

We’ll start with the Beau Soleil Pool, the Riviera’s leisure pool. This pool sits directly behind the hotel’s primary tower. It’s separately fenced with a variety of lounge chairs, umbrellas, and tables with chairs.

The Beau Soleil Pool is significantly larger than most other resort quiet pools at Disney World. However, it is relatively quiet since guests with smaller children tend to spend their time at the Riviera Pool.

Additionally, you can quickly walk from the quiet pool to pick up a quick service meal from Primo Piatto or beverages and cocktails from Bar Riva. Most resorts’ quiet pools aren’t located anywhere near dining locations. So this is another positive aspect of the property’s overall design.

Riviera Pool Photos

Next, we’ll look at the Riviera Pool, the resort’s feature pool. This pool sits directly behind Primo Piatto, the resort’s counter service, and Bar Riva, the hotel’s lounge that doubles as a pool bar. In the picture below, you can see the entrances for both locations behind the pool.

Note that you must walk outside the pool gates and cross the walkway to access either dining location from the pool. Bar Riva has a separate walk-up counter area for pool guests. However, you’ll have to walk inside Primo Piatto to pick up food. We like to mobile order from this location when we spend time at the pool.

As mentioned above, the Riviera Pool’s pool hours are usually between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. However, those hours vary throughout the year depending on when you visit and weather factors. Hours are posted near the pool’s entrance. If the temperature drops below a certain degree (around 50ish), the pool will likely close until the weather warms up. Disney heats its pools to approximately 82 degrees in the chillier months.

The Riviera Pool has a spacious deck with plenty of places to lounge.

One end of the pool is zero-entry.

On the opposite end of the pool, a fantastic water slide resembles an old fortress watch tower.

A spiral staircase is hidden inside the tower that leads up to the slide entrance.

A small platform awaits at the top.

Once the light turns green, you are good to go.

It’s a fun, curvy slide! Parents, you might want to try it yourself. It’s nowhere near as thrilling as the Flying Jib at Stormalong Bay. But it’s still reasonably fast.

Here is a photo of where the slide drops you back into the pool.

From the top of the slide, you can see across Barefoot Bay to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.

S’il Vous Play Aquatic Play Area Photos

You’ll find the aquatic play area behind the slide area, toward the front corner of the pool. S’il Vous Play is an interactive water play area that features characters from Disney’s Fantasia. It was inspired by some of the grander public fountains in Europe.

S’il Vous Play is an area designed for the enjoyment of children under 48″ (inches).

In recent years, many Disney Resorts have installed splash pad-type areas at their feature pools instead of kiddie pools. These splash pads are exceptionally popular and do an excellent job of keeping children entertained.

In the photo below, you might notice that the tunnel slide mimics the feature pool slide. I thought this was a nice touch, allowing children who aren’t quite big enough to still have their own slide.

Here is a better view.

It’s such a fun play area for children.

A spa or hot tub is near the Riviera Pool. When the weather is pleasant, these are always enjoyable.

It has a Mediterranean design, like almost everything else at the resort.

While relaxing at the pool, you can watch the Disney Skyliner as it passes.

The pool deck features a variety of seating.

You can go full sun or sit under an umbrella in the shade.

If you want more privacy, a beach area is available outside the pool area. Additionally, the Movie Lawn sits directly behind the pool area.

It’s a beautiful turn lawn that looks out to the lake. When the weather allows, the nightly Movies Under the Stars are held here. Check out the resort recreation calendar to see what’s available during your stay.

Overall, we love the pools at Disney’s Riviera Resort and have enjoyed our stays there. With its smaller footprint, you can easily take an elevator to the ground level and get to the pool within a few minutes.

We also love dining options from both Bar Riva and Primo Piatto. So don’t hesitate to plan an entire day of relaxation at the pool with a good book, tasty food, and a few refreshments. Bonus points if you end the day with a Movie Under the Stars. They are fun!

The Resorts Gal Spin on Riviera’s Pools

Resorts Gal has zero complaints about Disney’s Riviera. This resort is fabulous, and so are its pools. The first time we stayed at this resort, I left feeling ambivalent about it. However, since that time, I’ve grown to love it. I have spent some more time at the Riviera Pool than the Beau Soleil. When we stay at the resort, I love to sleep late and mobile order lemon blueberry pancakes from Primo Piatto. I’ll pick up my pancakes and take them out to the pool right when it opens. It’s the perfect way to start your day! Don’t be surprised if you decide to spend the entire day at the pool. With yummy dining options nearby, a book, and a lounger in the shade, this, my friends, is what you call a vacation!

Hopefully, you now have a better idea of what to expect when it comes to the pools at Disney’s Riviera Resort. We consider it to be among the best pools at Walt Disney World.

For more information about Disney’s Riviera Resort, you might enjoy the following articles:

• Disney’s Riviera Resort Photo Gallery
• Transportation Options at Disney’s Riviera Resort
• Disney’s Riviera Resort Review
• Disney’s Riviera Deluxe Studio Room Tour

For more resort planning, you might also enjoy learning about the benefits of staying at a Disney Resort. If you can’t decide where to stay, you might consider planning a Disney World split stay, where you stay at multiple resorts during your vacation. You might also consider staying at an off-site hotel near Disney World.

In the comments:

What are your thoughts on the pools at Disney’s Riviera Resort? Will your family plan some pool time at the resort during your stay? Do you have any questions about the Riviera Resort’s pools?