An Inside Look at Disney World's Newest Hotel, Disney's Riviera Resort

Disney Vacation Club's newest Walt Disney World resort, Disney's Riviera Resort, officially opened Dec. 16. The fifteenth Disney Vacation Club property, the resort transports guests to the European Riviera, drawing its inspiration from Walt and Lillian Disney's European travels and the huge catalog of Disney films set in Europe.

Inspired by the grand turn-of-the-century resorts that line the Italian and French Riviera, Disney's Riviera Resort tempers its visual grandeur with a comfortable, casual vibe and laid-back sophistication. From bocce on the lawn to gelato by the pool, welcome to the ultimate European vacation-Disney style.

Disney's Riviera Resort is now open for cash bookings as well as Disney Vacation Club ownership.

From the lobby and guest room balconies, guests are treated to views that may include the resort's pools and grounds, Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, the Disney Skyliner and more.

Guests approaching the resort's main entrance are immediately greeted by an iconic logo that appears throughout the resort. Imagineers modeled it after the logos of classic resorts along Europe's Riviera.

Two pools plus a water play area for kids offer three ways to cool off. The zero-entry end of the main feature pool, the Riviera Pool, is great for little ones.

On the other end of the Riviera Pool, a 30-foot slide winding around a tower will keep big kids busy.

The children's splash area is reminiscent of Europe's stately fountains and includes two slides, smaller fountains and water cannons. Ballet-dancing "Fantasia" characters introduce little kids to some of the 1940s Disney classics.

The Beau Soleil Pool is a quiet respite amidst the resort's main dining, fitness and recreation spots.

It wouldn't be a European vacation without some gelato. Treat yourself to a scoop from one of the oldest gelaterias in Italy, Vivoli il Gelato, dished out at the poolside gelato cart.

The Skyliner, Disney's newest transportation system, whisks guests by gondola to and from area resorts to Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot. Riviera has its own Skyliner station steps from the resort. We tested out the trip from Hollywood Studios and it took just 15 minutes to get from Hollywood Blvd. the park's main thoroughfare, to Riviera. Faster and easier than taking a bus or monorail, Skyliner access is a huge perk here.

The resort features approximately 300 family-friendly units, with room types ranging from the compact Tower studio to a sprawling three-bedroom grand villa.

Riviera introduces a new room type-the 220-square-foot Tower Studio. Accommodating a maximum of two adults and an infant, the room's compact layout gives guests just enough space for a place to crash at a lower price point for cash or points than a studio villa, previously DVC's smallest room type.

All of Riviera's units update the traditional sofa bed set-up with Inova beds. The queen-sized beds pull down from the wall in one swift movement with no need to rearrange the furniture.

Disney Vacation Club's one-, two- and three-bedroom villas all include full kitchens and washers and dryers, giving families the conveniences of home while on vacay.

Guests traveling with a few families or planning a multigenerational trip will find everything they need in the three-bedroom grand villa, which sleeps 12 and features a stunning dining room perfect for a celebration.

This resort oozes with Disney details-nowhere more than in the eclectic mix of artwork displayed throughout the public areas and guest rooms. More than 40 original pieces of art were created exclusively for the resort and feature Disney characters in settings and artwork styles inspired by the turn-of-the-century artistic traditions of the European Riviera.

Arrive at Riviera by Skyliner and enter the resort through an archway decorated with two breathtaking mosaic murals. More than 1 million hand-cut tiles were used to create two stunning murals-one is a scene inspired by "Peter Pan," the other by "Tangled."

Hallways are lined with posters featuring the European titles of Disney films like "Finding Dory," "Sleeping Beauty," and "Inside Out." Guests can brush up on their foreign languages by trying to decode the local titles and taglines of their favorite Disney movies.

Anyone who was worried this property might not be "Disney" enough can leave those concerns at the door. It's hard to walk more than a few feet without spotting a hidden Mickey, a princess portrait, or an artistic interpretation of a Disney castle. The resort is positively packed with Hidden Mickeys, right down to the curtains and pillows in the rooms and carpet in the hallway. See if you can spot all five characters here.

A resort inspired by countries famed for their culinary traditions had to deliver in the food and beverage department. With three quick-service locations plus a signature table-service restaurant, guests are spoilt for choice when it's time to eat. Le Petit Café is a coffee bar inspired by cafes of Paris. At night, it transforms into a wine bar. Stop in for your morning coffee or an aperitif or nightcap in the evening.

Primo Piatto, the main quick-service location, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and from what we've seen and tasted, it ranks right up there among some of Disney's best quick-service spots. Highlights include Blueberry-Lemon Pancakes and the Croque Madame for breakfast and hearth-baked pizzas, housemade pasta, and the French classic Croque Monsieur for lunch and dinner.

Just next door to Primo Piatto is Bar Riva, easily the most gorgeous pool bar on Walt Disney World property. With a European coastal vibe, casual-yet-chic décor in a range of calming blues, and a breezy setup with plenty of shade and air circulation, we could spend all day here.

Hurry up and make your reservations because there's definitely a new coveted dining spot at Walt Disney World. Topolino's Terrace - Flavors of the Riviera occupies the resort's rooftop and offers sweeping vistas of Walt Disney World resort day and night, plus views of Epcot's and Hollywood Studios' nighttime spectaculars.

The menu at Topolino's Terrace, which is inspired by the cliffside restaurants of France and Italy, celebrates some of the regions' most iconic dishes, from escargots and bouillabaisse to housemade ricotta and hand-crafted fresh pastas. The dishes may be classics, but the presentation and composition couldn't be more modern. Even vegans get the chance to indulge in a traditionally meat-based classic French dish. The rich Tarbais Bean Cassoulet is made with Beyond sausage, king trumpet mushrooms and root vegetables.

Early reviews are in, and the character breakfast offered at Topolino's Terrace is already a crowd favorite. Guests get to meet artist Mickey, poet Minnie, sculptor Donald and dancer Daisy, while digging into fresh pastries like croissants and blueberry scones and decadent entrees like Quiche Gruyere with house-made pancetta, Sour Cream Waffles, and a Wood-fired Butchers Steak. And because it wouldn't be Disney without a cute merch opportunity, plush versions of the featured characters are available for purchase.

Disney history buffs have been excited about the inspiration behind this hotel since first learning of its connection to Walt's European travels, especially his "Grand Tour of Europe in 1935," when he had 300 books, including "Pinocchio," "Alice in Wonderland" and "Peter Pan" shipped home. You can see some of the actual books plus family photos and other souvenirs in the cozy library-esque Voyageurs' Lounge.