Can anyone tell me about shades of green. Im planning on going there when my husband returns from overseas. Im debating on staying there or at disney. With kids and all the things to do there we would like to take our time. Is this resort on the disney property? It says it is then I noticed the bus transportation.
Yes it is the only Non Disney hotel on the grounds. Have you called already to find out if there is anything available for the time you are looking at? It does book up very quickly. If they can't accomodate you have them refer you to a Disney hotel in which you get the same rate as if you were at SOG. The prices are based on rate/rank in the military and are tax-free. There is a bus that goes from the hotel to the monorail area.
technically, Swan and Dolphin are also on property and are NOT Disney Hotels, but that's beside the point.
SoG used to BE a Disney property, as evidenced by the mickey shaped Magnolia pool. SoG is less than a ten minute walk to the Poly and access to the monorail. another five minutes gets you to TTC( or you can use the provided bus access..TTC runs every 15-20 minutes and the parks themselves run every hour on the half hour with NO sharing with any other resort! ALL the resorts have bus transportation only one or two have direct access to a park.
if SoG is full you can get reciprical rates at any Disney Resort hotel at a significant savings, although not nearly as good as SoG rates. Also, you would be eligible for the special OIF/OEF package that does include tickets and some meals at SoG( breakfast and dinner buffets daily)
ALL Disney World resort hotels use buses of some sort. The complex is huge. There are 4 themeparks plus downtown disney, wide wold of sports, 2 minigolf courses, 2 waterparks, etc, etc
I agree with Mrs about the swan and the Dolphin-They're owned by Starwood hotels. They offer a military discount, but it's rarely that good....but, is is close to EPCOT, my favorite Park. The dolphin has a nice spa, too, which is the only reason I went there (friend did a vow renewal at the grand floridian and we needed to get our nails done).
It really comes down to what you're looking for. I've been out to shades of green a few times, but never actually stay there. For my family, the package deals we could get through disney reorts themselves have always been better. (That said, they changed the packages so I'm not sure if it's as good a deal.) But, DH and I love hitting the nicer resturants while we're there as they have amazing food so that plays into our decision as well.
Fort Wilderness campground/cabins were very reasonable (cabins were great with kids becauese we had a full kitchen and a grill) and we had direct boat access to the Magic Kingdom-access that is no longer shared with the Wilderness lodge.
Carribean beach resort was nice, pretty quiet, although being there during spring break sucked.
Boardwalk villas are AMAZING! Absolutely beautiful, and within walking distance of EPCOT. Although the boat is available as well (which we usually take with the kids). Also get your own enterance to EPCOT that only a few other resorts can use....everyone else gets the main gate. Only do this now, though, because I am a DVC owner. I couldn't afford it otherwise.
When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.
We have been looking into staying at SOG this fall when my husband comes home for leave. FYI- if you stay there in Aug or Sept (specific dates) you get 20% off rooms and some other things they offer.
Know this is waaay after your post but in case someone else can benefit: Shades of Green is not the cheapest way to do Disney World. It is the cheapest way to do Disney World luxiously!. Shades of Green started out as the Disney Inn (one of the premier hotels on property). It catered to the golf crowd. It has been an AFRC hotel for a long time. It recently underwent a large rennovation which greatly increased the number of rooms. Rates are tiered according to rank. Even at the higher grades it is a great deal. Shades of Green has the largest hotel rooms on Disney. Shades of Green buses take you to all of the Disney transportation hubs and you get to use the Disney transportation system just as if you were in a Disney hotel. Shades of Green is spitting distance from the Magic Kingdom. Another benefit is that the restaurants there are much cheaper (still nice). You can get tickets there for just about all Orlando attractions. They are the same rate as you will get at your MWR sites on posts/bases. I haven't been there since the renovation, but there used to be a Shoppette there where you could get last minute items for just about the same cost as you would at your local base/post Shoppette. Bottom line -- I will not stay anywhere else when doing Disney World!
Although I have never stayed at SOG, we have looked into it. In the Sept-Oct time of year, I will say that I won't stay at a non-Disney hotel. We stayed at the Port Orleans for hurricane Francis (our luck), but as it turns out, Disney can turn even a hurricane into a memory worth remembering. Now I hope you go down and have beautiful weather, but our vacation wasn't ruined 1 bit because of weather, and I firmly beleive that was due to the wonderful staff and full commitment of Disney to make lemonade out of lemons! Good luck and let me know how SOG turned out, if you go. Hey, post pictures, would you? That would be great. thanks
A little reluctant, but I went. Sure glad I did. 3 kids and discount tickets to Disney, a better more controlled environment, I would do it again. As a matter of fact, we were looking into it last week. Is it the cheapest, no, but you get a little more bang for the buck.
Stayed there once several years ago. It was nice and the price was nice. At that time Disney Properties had a tram running from all the Hotels, Shades Of Green included, that stopped at the Epcot Center. That was of course free. Go out on their web site I am sure there is information available. As a side note, Busch Gardens and Kennedy Space Center are a convenient drive if you have a car.
We've stayed at Shades of Green the accomodations were very nice 4 stars. I don't know if the resort has finished renovating. I hear the renovated side is even better. When we stayed there we were on the old side. Hope this helps.
My family and I have stayed at Shades of Green many times. I believe that, without a doubt it is the best bargin at Disney. Even if you don't stay there, buy your attraction tickets there and by all means this is the place to eat. If you have an ID card go there for the best food at the most reasonable price in the most relaxed atmosphere. I like to take the free monorail to the Pollinesian Resort and then make the short walk to SOG. The waterfront at the Pollinean is a great place to see the nightly fireworks , which you can also see from the roof of the garage at SOG.
If Shades of Green has no rooms available, call reservations and they will get you a 20% discount to stay at another Disney resort.
Currently Disney is offering free tickets to eligible military. They also are giving 40% discounts on rooms. There are certain black-outs. Go to the Disney site for details.
The most economical way to take a vacation at Disney World is by booking a weekly condo through the Armed Forces Vacation Club. Eligible persons can get a week at a nice resort for $329. Check it out- google AFVC. They offer deals throughout the world. Most are for off season times but there really is no "off season" at Disney!
The Swan and Dolphin are offering a great deal. My daughter and her family are visiting and we are all going to Disney World. The first room at the Swan and Dolphin is $129 and the second room is $99. There is a 50% discount on food at many of the restaurants in the two hotels. It is a short walk to the boat dock that takes you to all the parks.
We've stayed at Shades of Green the accomodations were very nice 4 stars. I don't know if the resort has finished renovating. I hear the renovated side is even better. When we stayed there we were on the old side. Hope this helps.
