Shades of Green vs Wilderness Lodge

[mustanggta]

I'm just looking for some input regarding staying at Shades of Green vs Wilderness Lodge. We have stayed at AKL 04, CSR 05, dd stayed at PR 02. Just looking for the upside and downside. We will have at least 3 rooms, and 6 adults 4 children ages 3, 3, 6, 8. We are planing a 10 day trip of course dgf, me, is flipping the bill. Thanks for any input.:wave:

 

[The Mom]

The savings on the room rate would depend upon your rank, so only you would know how much money, if any, you would save.

The "theming" at WL, plus the view, is much nicer. The rooms at Shades of Green are the largest on property.

There was a recent thread on this, where many of us go into more detail. A quick search will pull it up.

 

[mousefan1972]

I've stayed at both WL and Shades. I'll try to break it down into pros and cons for you:

Shades of Green PROS:

Huge rooms
Significantly less expensive
Cheap restaurants and AAFES store
Pretty grounds
Access to EMH

WL PROS:

Awesome theming
Boat service to MK
WDW bus transportation to everywhere else
Immersed in WDW "magic"
Eligible for Magical Express service
Access to EMH

Shades of Green CONS:

No theming
No magical express service
No charging on room key outside of Shades property
Not able to buy dining plan
Crappy bus service (but can walk to Poly monorail and buses easily)


WL CONS:

Smaller rooms
Expensive (in comparison to Shades)
Not on monorail (neither is Shades, but can easily walk to it)


Hope this helps!

 

[DISMOM]

Wilderness Lodge offers bunk beds in some of it's rooms...for a price, of course. Still, it's a great place to stay with beautiful atmosphere, pool, geyser, boat to Magic Kingdom or the Contemperary to catch the monorail, ect.... we are going to miss it when [and if] we ever get to go back.

 

[mustanggta]

Thanks for the input. I just did the math. $13,650.67 + tax vs $5,898.00 no tax. I think I'll get my theming in the parks etc. These prices include tix. SOG June 29 - July 8 2009.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

That's a great summary mousefan.

We love Shades of Green but if cost is not an issue, then go with the Wilderness Lodge. If cost matters a lot then Shades of Green will be a good deal cheaper no matter what your rank.

 

[PrincessMagic]

I'm not sure how many people are in your party or what ticket options you chose but I'm not getting anywhere near 13,000 for WL.

I thought I already edited this but here goes again...Disregard this post I answered this post a while after I first read it...that's what i get for trying to answer posts at work...sorry

 

[mousefan1972]

Thanks for the input. I just did the math. $13,650.67 + tax vs $5,898.00 no tax. I think I'll get my theming in the parks etc. These prices include tix. SOG June 29 - July 8 2009.

Good call. The no tax at Shades is huge. (forgot that in my PRO list :lol.

Have a wonderful trip! :sohappy:

 

[slappy magoo]

Just throwing this out there, and feel free to dismiss me as a crackpot, but with a ten-day stay, you can always opt to break up the vacation and spend a FEW nights (2 or 3) at Wilderness Lodge. I'm assuming you can buy park passes for your entire trip at SoG, even if your stay there is shorter than that, and I could be wrong.

OR, you could consider renting DVC points, enough to get a 1BR and 2BR unit at VWL, whether it's for the whole trip, or, as I said before, just a few nights.

I know, when it comes to traveling with kids, it's easier said than done to move resorts mid-trip. But it's an option.

 

[WDW 3]

I have stayed at SOG twice and also at the Contemporary.

We are staying at SOG again this fall. The location (close to the monorail and the Poly to use their buses too) and price are terrific. I agree with getting the theme fix at the parks. We are only in the room for sleeping and freshening up. I have done the math on a couple occasions and it has been half the price of the Poly for a 10 day stay!!