Resorts Gal Routes: How to Get to Disney’s Riviera Resort for Dining Reservations

Disney’s Riviera Resort is a popular destination, especially for dining reservations. As you may know, reservations at Topolino’s Terrace are often coveted for both breakfast and dinner. The restaurant offers a popular character breakfast in the morning and then transitions to fine dining in the evening. Guests also enjoy visiting the Riviera to see the Tangled and Peter Pan murals or to pick up a bite to eat at the resort’s popular quick-service restaurant, Primo Piatto. Of course, you might enjoy a visit for a few other reasons. I’ll highlight some of our favorites in our spin further down.

In the meantime, let’s discuss how to get to Disney’s Riviera Resort from the theme parks, Disney Springs, and Disney Resort Hotels using complimentary transportation offered by Disney. We’ll review resort transfers and how to take the Skyliner to the Riviera if desired. Many will enjoy this route. However, be aware that all of these routes are subject to Disney’s hours of operation for each transportation method. If you’re visiting exceptionally early for a breakfast reservation, your best option would be to take a paid car service or a Minnie Van from your resort to Disney’s Riviera.

How to Get to Disney’s Riviera Resort from a Theme Park

If you’re visiting Magic Kingdom or Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you’ll want to take a direct bus from either park to Disney’s Riviera Resort. This is the quickest way to the Riviera from both parks.

However, if you want to take the Skyliner to Disney’s Riviera, you can take a park-to-park bus to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. From there, you can take the Skyliner to Caribbean Beach, exit, and then transfer to Disney’s Riviera Resort via the Skyliner.

Must Know: Park-to-park buses do not begin running until after 10:00 a.m. Additionally, Disney buses are slower when returning to the resorts earlier in the morning. So we wouldn’t recommend visiting a park and transferring by bus to the Riviera until closer to lunchtime or later.

If you’re at Epcot or Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you can simply take the Skyliner from the park to Disney’s Riviera Resort. The Skyliner station at Epcot is at the park’s secondary exit, the International Gateway. So you must travel through the park to access it. Therefore, this route would require park admission unless you stay in the Epcot Resorts Area.

The Skyliner Station at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is outside the park entrance. You can always take a bus to the park and then the Skyliner to Caribbean Beach. At Caribbean Beach, everyone must exit the Skyliner. You’ll then board the line for Epcot and exit at Disney’s Riviera. This method works well anytime during the Skyliner’s hours of operation, and we’ll recommend it for most of the resorts below.

Getting to Disney’s Riviera Resort from Disney Springs

If you’re visiting Disney Springs, you can take a direct bus from the venue to Disney’s Riviera Resort. Sometimes, we like to dine at Primo Piatto, so we park at Disney Springs and then take the bus to the Riviera. It’s about an 8-10 minute bus ride, depending on how many traffic lights you encounter.

Alternate Route: If you want to take the Skyliner, take a bus from Disney Springs to Disney’s Beach Club. (This bus service stops at Yacht Club, Beach Club, and Boardwalk. The Beach Club is the closest walk to the Skyliner.) Walk to Epcot’s International Gateway from the Beach Club and take the Skyliner to Disney’s Riviera.)

To Disney’s Riviera Resort from the Magic Kingdom Resorts

Magic Kingdom Resorts: Disney’s Grand Floridian, Contemporary, Polynesian Village Resort, Wilderness Lodge, and Fort Wilderness

If you’re visiting from any of the resorts in the Magic Kingdom area, you’ll take a bus to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and then board the Skyliner to Caribbean Beach, where you’ll transfer to Disney’s Riviera Resort. This option will work well for breakfast as long as you’re within the bus and Skyliner’s hours of operation.

It’s important to note that some of these hotels share a bus service to Disney’s Hollywood Studios (Polynesian and Grand Floridian, Contemporary and Wilderness Lodge). I mention this because you’ll have an extra stop on the way to the park or the return trip, so allow plenty of time.

Alternate Route: Take a boat, monorail, bus, or walk to Magic Kingdom (depending on your resort’s options). Then, take the bus from Magic Kingdom to Disney’s Riviera Resort.

To Disney’s Riviera Resort from the Animal Kingdom Area Resorts

Resorts: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (Jambo House and Kidani Village), Disney’s All-Star Resorts (Movies, Music, and Sports), Disney’s Coronado Springs

From any of the Animal Kingdom Resorts, you’ll want to take a bus to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and then take the Skyliner to Caribbean Beach and transfer to the Riviera.

Alternate Route: If you do not want to take the Skyliner, your best option would be to take a bus from these resorts to Animal Kingdom or Disney Springs and then take a bus to Disney’s Riviera. Remember to consider hours of operation when using this method. (Animal Kingdom typically closes earlier than the other parks, and Disney Springs is often open later in the evening.)

How to Get to Disney’s Riviera Resort from Disney Springs Area Resorts

Resorts: Disney’s Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter

For these resorts, we would take a bus to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, then the Skyliner to Caribbean Beach, and then transfer to the Riviera.

Alternate Route: You can take a bus from these resorts to Disney Springs and then board a bus to Disney’s Riviera Resort. (Technically, you can take a boat from these resorts to Disney Springs and then take a bus to the Riviera. However, you’ll have to walk across Disney Springs from the Marketplace boat dock to Town Center.)

Getting to Disney’s Riviera Resort from the Epcot Resorts Area

Resorts: Disney’s Beach Club, Yacht Club, Boardwalk, the Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve

If you stay at any of these resorts, you can walk or take the FriendShips to Epcot’s International Gateway or Disney’s Hollywood Studios. You can then take the Skyliner to the Riviera. The shortest distance will be walking to the International Gateway, but the boat ride is lovely if you don’t want to take the extra steps.

Alternate Route: If you do not want to take the Skyliner, your quickest option is a car service. (The resorts are very close to each other.) However, you can take a bus to Disney Springs and then take another bus back to Disney’s Riviera. Remember that Disney Springs opens later in the morning.

How to Get to Disney’s Riviera Resort from the Skyliner Resorts

Resorts: Disney’s Art of Animation, Pop Century, Caribbean Beach (and Riviera)

If you’re staying at a Skyliner Resort, you can take the Skyliner from your resort to Disney’s Riviera Resort. This should not take long unless you encounter a line for the Skyliner.

Alternate Route: If you do not want to take the Skyliner, you can walk from Caribbean Beach to Disney’s Riviera Resort. You could also take a bus from Art of Animation or Pop Century to Disney Springs and then another bus back to the Riviera.

Parking at Disney’s Riviera Resort

If you have a car, you can drive to Disney’s Riviera Resort. However, parking can vary. If you have a confirmed dining reservation, you will be allowed to park. If you’re a DVC member or staying at another Disney Resort, you should also be allowed to park. We usually park at Disney Springs and take a bus back to Disney’s Riviera if we plan to dine at the resort’s lounge or quick service.

The Resorts Gal Spin

As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, we often visit Disney’s Riviera Resort for dining or leisure. We equally enjoy having a meal at Primo Piatto, the resort’s quick service, or Bar Riva, the open-air lounge. You do not need reservations for either of these locations. We also like to browse the gift shop and occasionally pick up something from the dessert case at Le Petit Cafe. Those who enjoy specialty coffee or signature cocktails will likely enjoy the charming cafe.

Final Thoughts

We hope this edition of Resorts Gal Routes helped you figure out the best way to get to Disney’s Riviera Resort from your location. For some of our other popular routes, you might enjoy:

• How to Get to Disney’s Boardwalk
• Quickest Way to Get to Disney’s Hollywood Studios from the Beach Club
• The Two Best Ways to Park Hop Between Epcot and Magic Kingdom
• How to Get to Port Orleans French Quarter from Disney Springs

You might also enjoy our Riviera Resort Transportation Guide or the Resorts Gal Guide to Disney’s Riviera Resort.

In the Comments

Were these routes helpful when planning your visit to Disney’s Riviera Resort? Let us know below in the comments.