Shades of Green questions

[Howdy]

My best friend and his family are planning a trip to WDW and have asked for my help. He is a US Marine stationed in NC so I know that he is eligible for SOG, but know nothing about the resort.

Is this a WDW resort or a private entity?

Do SOG guests get EMH or any other perks of typical Disney resorts (transportation of any sort, dining plan packages)?

If not, is the pricing worth it?

I just want to make sure that I give them the best advice possible, they're taking my God-daughter for her birthday... just wish I could make it down for at least a day with them.

Thanks in advance!

 

[BrittanyRose428]

I would check out their website shadesofgreen.org I believe. Its a very nice hotel for the price, and the location is great. The Polynesian is just down the driveway and across the street so you can walk there no problem. I always stay there when I go with my grandpa, who was in the military.

To me, the hotel does not feel like a Disney hotel, the only real Mickey/Disney related thing besides the gift shop is the one Mickey statue in the lobby. I like staying there once in a while when I go with my grandpa because it is a very nice hotel and its location is perfect, but if I were to plan a trip on my own I would personally choose a hotel that would feel more like Disney. Thats just me though, so if not having Mickey around 24/7 in your hotel doesn't bother you Shades of Green will probably be perfect.

Shades of Green guests are allowed to go to EMH as well. Side note -- just something I thought was a little strange last time I was there -- The buses at Shades of Green (which I thought were very efficient) either drop you off at Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, or the Transportation and Ticket Center (to get to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot). It really wasn't a big deal, I just thought it was a little strange, since usually non-monorail hotels would just drop you off at the parks themselves, so to me it felt like an extra step.

 

[pixiesteno]

SOG is owned and operated by the DoD but is on WDW property. I would suggest going to allears.net under WDW then accommodations there is a section for SOG. Additionally, I believe that there is currently a special pricing for military personnel on park tickets that are much cheaper than normal. There are some perks that SOG shares by contract with WDW but I am not sure what they are. Again, the allears.net site is a great resource for info. I believe that the park tickets can be purchase at the military installation before they leave or at SOG and probably the TTC. Just remember to have that Marine Corp ID with them.

 

[CrazyForDisney]

As pixie said, SOG is owned by DoD but on WDW property. It is a very nice resort. I have stayed there many times

Yes, they do participate in the EMH. They also have their own bus service and they do not share with any other resorts.

The room price depends upon his rank. The higher the rank the more you pay for the room. However, they are still cheap compared to other Disney resorts. For example, my dad is a retired Chief from the USAF and he only paid $129/night (as of 2010. It may have changed since then). The resorts offer deals all the times. Right now there is a military discount of 40% off ANY Disney deluxe hotel. Also, you can get four day park hopper tickets for $138 per person (up to six people I believe). I’m not sure if the tickets have to be purchased at SOG or if you can purchase them at any ticket location. Either way you have to show your military ID to purchase them at the military rate.

If you check the SOG website they will show a deal, or maybe two, that are different from what I mentioned. They may also show what I just said but I didn’t look much for it. I found this information on MouseSavers.

It doesn’t have much of a Disney theme but it definitely has a military feel (BX/PX, etc). I LOVE to stay there when I’m able and honestly, as much as I like some of the other Disney resorts, I will always choose SOG first. It is a nice resort, CLEAN and it has the biggest rooms on Disney property

 

[a2grafix]

To add and double mention what Pixie and Crazy said ...

Shades of Green, yes, is not a Disney-owned hotel, but it's still like being at a Disney resort. You are inside Walt Disney World, snuggled in between two golf courses, across the street from the Polynesian Resort, and a nice leisurely walk along a hidden cart path to the Great Ceremonial House to either catch the monorail to the Magic Kingdom or to catch a Disney bus to an attraction.

I have stayed at Shades of Green several times and love the fact that servicemen and women and their families are treated with respect and dignity, are given discounts on Disney park tickets, are given the opportunity to use both Shades and Disney transportation at ease.

We are offered the same resort perks if we were staying at a Disney-owned hotel. Basically no one really knows you are military until you make that walk across the street to the Shades or take that extra shuttle bus.

And since it's a military resort, it's like staying on base, on camp, on post - AAFES Shoppette / Class 6, and room prices based on pay grade. Yeah, the rooms are quite spacious. Feels like a suite or an extended stay without a kitchenette. Shades' rooms are the largest on WDW and there is even a tiered indoor parking garage - and parking is $5 a day.

The cooler thing is that for $10 in advance you can schedule a shuttle van to SeaWorld or Universal Orlando, or any attractions outside WDW. Very economical.

Best of luck. Here's the website -- ShadesofGreen.Org

 

[WDW 3]

We love Shades of Green and have stayed at a couple other resorts. Location is great! Huge rooms! We don't ever miss the "Disney" theming because it is kind of a relief getting to a more calm location at the end of the day. I have also never gotten the feeling that it's like staying on base?
And we have Starbucks

You can not purchase tickets at the TCC. You need to buy them before you get there or at SoG ticket office. A newish perk is that you can pre-order and they have your tickets for you at check-in so you don't have to go to the ticket office.

 

[Howdy]

Thank you all very much for the info, I'm fairly certain that this is the route they will take. I'm really glad to see that military are legitimately taken care of at Disney, it's refreshing.

 

[BUZZCRUSH]

Love Shades of Green, we have been to Disney 7 times since 2008 and have stayed at SOG for four of them. The other three we stayed off property once, at Port Orleans once and at the Beach Club once.

Shades of Green rooms are as large or larger than Disney deluxe resorts. The decor is on par as well. Much larger than the moderates.

Having stayed there and at Disney resorts as well, I would always pick Shades of Green. Even if it weren't such a great price the resort is great and location cannot be beat. As others said you also can eat and drink at reasonable prices, not "resort" prices.

 

[flynnibus]

My best friend and his family are planning a trip to WDW and have asked for my help. He is a US Marine stationed in NC so I know that he is eligible for SOG, but know nothing about the resort.

Is this a WDW resort or a private entity?

Do SOG guests get EMH or any other perks of typical Disney resorts (transportation of any sort, dining plan packages)?

If not, is the pricing worth it?

I just want to make sure that I give them the best advice possible, they're taking my God-daughter for her birthday... just wish I could make it down for at least a day with them.

Thanks in advance!

1 - it's a converted disney property that is now owned and operated by the recreation people in the military.

2 - SoG is just like every other on-property hotel for perks on property except paying for it's parking no longer gets you free parking at the parks. I'm unsure about package delivery from the parks. The place is on standard Disney bus routes, is a short hop to the TTC, and yes Extra Magic Hours, etc all apply. The biggest difference vs a Disney hotel is you can not book SOG in Disney offered Disney vacation offers (like free dining, etc). That's ok though, because you will save money staying at SOG and pay less for tickets anyways.

3 - Worth it? Definitely. How much you pay is based on your grade. Most rates I've heard are roughly about $100/night. This gets you an on property hotel, that would be roughly equal to a moderate level Disney hotel (like Port Orleans, etc) at what would be a Value property's cost. The rooms are huge, the place is clean, quiet, and comfortable. What it is not.. is Disney splattered. You won't find 30ft tall Buzz lightyears there, etc. The only property I would not recommend SOG for is if you are comparing to a Disney Deluxe property. Those will have better pools, better location, etc. For anything less, SOG is your value choice. They also have a ticket counter where you can buy your military priced tickets (with no tax of course) and have food options onsite as well.

 

[a2grafix]

I have also never gotten the feeling that it's like staying on base?

The fact that it has a BX / PX Shoppette / Class Six and, forgot to mention, the Shades shuttle buses run on a schedule, sort of like base transportation (at the top and bottom of the hour).

 

[The Mom]

Before it was Shades of Green it was the Disney Inn, and was our preferred hotel. As others have mentioned, the rooms are quite large - we usually had one with a King or Queen, which had a partition, with a fold out Queen or double couch on the other side. The Dressing/closet area was quite large.

The last time we stayed, we had my daughter and a friend, my husband and I, and my infant son in a crib in the dressing area, where he was away from the noise. I don't know if the rooms were reconfigured, but it sounds as though they are still larger than usual.

I always found it to be very relaxing to get away from WDW overload at the end of the day, or even for some pool time and a nap. We didn't mind the short walk to the monorail at the Polynesian, or a somewhat longer walk to the Epcot monorail. And since military guests now save on the room, it shouldn't hurt too much to spend the money to park at Epcot for one day to save time.

Is there still a restaurant? Are the prices better than in the parks, or at other hotels? Are snacks, drinks, etc available at PX/Commissary prices? Those are all factors that could make it a great deal.

 

[DznyRktekt]

Shades is great! For us, the walk to the Poly in the morning builds anticipation and excitement for the day. There is a Starbucks next to the PX giftshop, so you can have good coffee on property. The parking is covered from the hot sun. And best of all, you can grab a Dole Whip at Captain Cooks in the Poly for the walk back to Shades, even after Extra Magic Hours.

No matter where they stay, make sure they check into the discounted tickets available for purchase there. Tickets are available for most Orlando Themeparks, and it is pretty hard to beat 4 days at Disney for $138 per person with no tax. The website is a good resource for info. www.shadesofgreen.org

 

[a2grafix]

Is there still a restaurant? Are the prices better than in the parks, or at other hotels? Are snacks, drinks, etc available at PX/Commissary prices? Those are all factors that could make it a great deal.

Yes, there are a few restaurants and an ice cream social bar. Garden Gallery has a great-priced buffet breakfast bar and Mangino's on the other side has some nice priced food too.

In addition to the Starbucks stand (Shades of Green Java) next to the shoppette, there is an express cafe in the lower level just inside where you catch the shuttle buses.

There is an ice cream stand in the back where you purchase your discounted park and other Orlando theme tickets.

I also am amazed that they expanded on their free Internet lounge. It's also in the back by the ice cream and ticket stand. It's called the Guest Communications Center. Has slew of desktops, and video game consoles (Wii, etc.).

Friend Shades of Green's Facebook page for more inside info.

 

[WDW 3]

The fact that it has a BX / PX Shoppette / Class Six and, forgot to mention, the Shades shuttle buses run on a schedule, sort of like base transportation (at the top and bottom of the hour).

Yea. We love that the buses run on a schedule. When we stayed at POFQ or when we had dinner at Boma and waited for a bus it was so annoying being clueless to when the bus you want might show up. And every 20 minutes to the TCC.

 

[dannyboyindc]

Depending on when you're going, SOG now is offering up to 40% off room rates depending on rank!! The party I'm with booked a few rooms in September at $78 a night. $78!! Check the SOG website for info.