SHADES OF GREEN at Walt Disney World Resort Information & Questions

[WDW 3]

It does include the entire breakfast. It is a buffet. We were just there in October the food is pretty good. Enjoy

We were there the end of October and had a special that included the buffet and it included our juice or coffee. My favorite part of the buffet was the omlette station where they also do eggs over easy which we didn't know until the last day

 

[famouschinesec]

Just wanted to thank all my fellow SOG posters here on the DISboards. I was booked for Jan 28-Feb1st and unaware of the special until I checked on here earlier today. Called today and re-booked for the end of January special, and cancelled my original reservation and added a night as well. It never hurts to ask. Last year I was lucky enough to snag two rooms for late October for 50% off. I needed to add a third room about a month before arrival, and even though the special was not advertised, they gave me the third room for 50% off as well.

 

[PrincessThenTwins]

Just booked SOG from 1/23-1/31! We were supposed to go in September, but had to cancel because of leave issues, so we are thrilled!!

 

[MomToPirate&Princess]

Just curious where the town car shuttle services stop for a 'grocery stop' on the way to SOG from MCO. Does it vary by company? Is it driver's choice or customer's choice?

 

[famouschinesec]

Just curious where the town car shuttle services stop for a 'grocery stop' on the way to SOG from MCO. Does it vary by company? Is it driver's choice or customer's choice?

I think it varies by company. One time the driver asked if we would be needing the liquor store (we did), so he went to a strip mall that had publix and a liquor store. It may also depend on what time of day you are traveling and traffic etc.

 

[SusanMomOf2]

When do the buses from SoG to TTC start running?
When does the monorail start running (if we were to walk to the Poly)?
When is the earliest you can ride the Shady Shuttle?
How much do you usually tip for the Shady Shuttle?

And how sweet of SoG to automatically - at almost no additional charge - upgrade our reservation to the Sunrise Package! Saves us like $40 every morning! I was happily surprised to see we had the package when I opened our confirmation email.

We arrive Tuesday!!!!! (12/18) So... my plan of action is that we want to get to Magic Kingdom by/around 8:00 (on 2 of our days), so we'll have to EAT FAST at the buffet and get to MK as quickly as possible. I was thinking be downstairs to eat right at 7:00 when the Garden Gallery breakfast buffet opens. Eat for like 20 min. Ride Shady Shuttle and walk to Poly. Ride Monorail to Magic Kingdom. I hope we can do all that by 8:00 when MK opens and still enjoy our chaotic morning. LOL

We have a ADR for Akershus breakfast one morning at 8:10, which is why I want to know what time all the busses and monorail start... I think I'd like to get to Epcot that day no later than 7:30. Do when should we start walking to Poly to get on the monorail?

And my goal is to post pics on my FB and eventually here. (I'm bad about updating pictures.) See if I can get a pic of the pool construction. Anyone want pics of anything special? I'm downright excited! I'm already sad thinking about leaving, though... lol.

 

[buffettgirl]

From the first post in this thread:
BUS SCHEDULE.

Animal Kingdom/Blizzard Beachonce per hour
Leaves Shades of Green on the half hour. Starts a half hour before park opening. (Usually at 0830)
On Extra Magic Hour days, Leaves Shades of Green starting at 0730
Leaves Animal Kingdom at 10 minutes before the hour (Space #7 in charter bus area)
Leaves BB on the hour (Space #1 in bus area, from 1000)

Hollywood Studios-once per hour
Leaves Shades of Green on the half hour (Starts a half hour before park opening)
On Extra Magic Hour days, Leaves Shades of Green starting at 0730
Leaves DHS on the hour (Space C6)

Typhoon Lagoon/Downtown Disney-once per hour
Leaves Shades of Green on the half hour (starting at 0830)
Leaves TL at 10 till the hour (Space #9 from 0950)
Leaves DD on the hour (at the top of lot E by the red building)
Last bus leaves DTD at midnight

Ticket and Transportation Center-every 20 minutes
To reach both Magic Kingdom and Epcot via monorail
First bus leaves Shades of Green a half hour before park opening
On Extra Magic Hour days, Leaves Shades of Green starting at 0730
Bus leaves TTC starting at 0840 (space #3)


For your first day, I'd say there is no way you're going to get into the buffet and eat and be out in time to get to MK at opening. Service is slow (you have to wait for your check etc) and sometimes the buffet is slow - wait for an omelette or waffles.

The Shady Shuttle will be running, but if it's out with another family you'll have to wait (or walk). Add about 15 min at least. Then you'll have to wait for the MK monorail. Monorail will be running plenty early enough for you - it needs to run early enough to accommodate the earliest ADRs .

To gt to Epcot for your early ADR - you didn't say what day, but if there happens to be an EMH at MK that morning the TTC bus will be running, then hop to the epcot monorail, which again, will be running. You can also try to walk to Poly/Shady and take the Epcot bus from Poly, but I find that actually takes longer, as you never know when that bus is going to arrive.

 

[MegN529]

Curious to see if you all have found SOG to still be the better deal when comparing it against a Disney Resort with dining plan? i know it probably depends on how much you plan on eating daily... For us, we eat in our room and do 1 TS per day. The remaining meal we tend to snack or grab a QS. When pricing the other resorts with the military room discount + dining plan it still was about 1000 more. What have your experiences been?

 

[buffettgirl]

Curious to see if you all have found SOG to still be the better deal when comparing it against a Disney Resort with dining plan? i know it probably depends on how much you plan on eating daily... For us, we eat in our room and do 1 TS per day. The remaining meal we tend to snack or grab a QS. When pricing the other resorts with the military room discount + dining plan it still was about 1000 more. What have your experiences been?

You really have to make sure you're comparing apples to apples. Room size (which for my family is very important since I have two kids, very different in age, who won't share a bed Girl/Boy) so we would factor in that we couldn't stay in a value resort. Ever. It would just be too small. We'd at least need a moderate that could have a rollaway or sleep 5 or go to a deluxe. SOG rooms are bigger than all the deluxe rooms.

You also have to factor in how much enjoyment you get from the resort itself. There isn't a lot happening at shades, no bars (so to speak), not much food, the pool area is fine, but not fabulous. Where does that weigh?

At SOG you're not paying for the whole immersed disney experience - and that's ok for some of us. I find it a nice quiet, clean, QUIET resort.

So those things have to be weighed into your equation. But first and foremost, I think room size has to come into play.

 

[WDW 3]

I agree with Buffettgirl on both room size and the peace & quiet. Escaping to Walt Disney World is great but at the end of the day the calm of SoG seals the deal.
But... I don't think we will ever do the dining plan. Just too much structure to a schedule and too much food. We generally schedule only 2 TS ressies and wing it for the rest of the week. We were just there over Halloween and were able to walk up to Mama Melrose and Paradiso 37 so we were very happy.
We did stop at Evergreens our last night just to have a couple drinks no food and were really surprised. Very quiet, fresh popped pop corn and the drinks were good at a resonable price.

 

[Lynne G]

Curious to see if you all have found SOG to still be the better deal when comparing it against a Disney Resort with dining plan? i know it probably depends on how much you plan on eating daily... For us, we eat in our room and do 1 TS per day. The remaining meal we tend to snack or grab a QS. When pricing the other resorts with the military room discount + dining plan it still was about 1000 more. What have your experiences been?

I think it is very fact specific. For us, free dining can be a decent deal, but that is because our kids are considered adults in dining and tickets. Though we always have to spend some credits on food gifts, as we cannot eat that much on the regular plan. Also have to budget for tips on the TS meals, and that can be a nice amount. But we do like to eat nice dinners.

However, we found we are just as happy and save money when we do not do the dining plan. First, we eat where and what we want, things and places that are not always on the plan, and we don't eat as much when we are in the world for a shorter amount of time and are more on the run.


Do the math. One thing I like about SOG is location. You cannot beat being near the MK and the TTC. I love the quiet too. Plus, big rooms and no charge for my kid to use the roll away. Makes happy kids when you only want to pay for one room.

 

[PrincessThenTwins]

What room do you all like and why? Last time we stayed we were near the parking garage and on the same floor as check in. We liked that, but wished we were a little further away from the elevators so there was more of a view off the balcony. Thanks for any input!

 

[WDW 3]

What room do you all like and why? Last time we stayed we were near the parking garage and on the same floor as check in. We liked that, but wished we were a little further away from the elevators so there was more of a view off the balcony. Thanks for any input!

We love being right where you were! Depends on the view you want. The end of the same hall you were on offers views fo the golf course and nothing else.

 

[buffettgirl]

What room do you all like and why? Last time we stayed we were near the parking garage and on the same floor as check in. We liked that, but wished we were a little further away from the elevators so there was more of a view off the balcony. Thanks for any input!

we've been near the garage and elevators on the main level and we've been waaaaaay at the end of the hallway.

Much prefer the closer rooms.

 

[WDW 3]

we've been near the garage and elevators on the main level and we've been waaaaaay at the end of the hallway.

Much prefer the closer rooms.

Hehehe - our first two trips we had the very last rooms. The first time we thought "Oh, this is so nice. Quiet with only one neighbor and such a nice view." 2nd time and we had the room right next we were "Are you kidding!! that walk is a killer at the end of a long day."
But then we remember SoG has at least half the rooms as a lot of the other resorts so it could be worse. We visited AoA and Wow! they have one bus stop for the entire resort. Some of those walks must be really looong.

 

[buffettgirl]

Hehehe - our first two trips we had the very last rooms. The first time we thought "Oh, this is so nice. Quiet with only one neighbor and such a nice view." 2nd time and we had the room right next we were "Are you kidding!! that walk is a killer at the end of a long day."
But then we remember SoG has at least half the rooms as a lot of the other resorts so it could be worse. We visited AoA and Wow! they have one bus stop for the entire resort. Some of those walks must be really looong.

I know! Same for us. We liked the end rooms because the back door was there and we could just walk out, cross the pavillion, and be over at the pool. BUT, it was a loooong walk at the end of the night. I definitely didn't mind being closer.

 

[PrincessThenTwins]

We love being right where you were! Depends on the view you want. The end of the same hall you were on offers views fo the golf course and nothing else.

we've been near the garage and elevators on the main level and we've been waaaaaay at the end of the hallway.

Much prefer the closer rooms.

Hehehe - our first two trips we had the very last rooms. The first time we thought "Oh, this is so nice. Quiet with only one neighbor and such a nice view." 2nd time and we had the room right next we were "Are you kidding!! that walk is a killer at the end of a long day."
But then we remember SoG has at least half the rooms as a lot of the other resorts so it could be worse. We visited AoA and Wow! they have one bus stop for the entire resort. Some of those walks must be really looong.

I know! Same for us. We liked the end rooms because the back door was there and we could just walk out, cross the pavillion, and be over at the pool. BUT, it was a loooong walk at the end of the night. I definitely didn't mind being closer.

Thank you all for your input, looks like I will request the same area as before.

 

[goofyredraider]

Hello all - a few questions. I have booked SOG for next December (the week leading up to Christmas).

1). Can I add room requests to my reservation? If so, what should I ask for? I've booked a standard room.

2). Can I have a small Christmas tree (32") in the room? Any problems foreseeable with that? We will be there actual Christmas Day, and I can't imagine not having a tree...even a small one.

 

[buffettgirl]

Hello all - a few questions. I have booked SOG for next December (the week leading up to Christmas).

1). Can I add room requests to my reservation? If so, what should I ask for? I've booked a standard room.

2). Can I have a small Christmas tree (32") in the room? Any problems foreseeable with that? We will be there actual Christmas Day, and I can't imagine not having a tree...even a small one.

depends on what you want. What do you mean by room requests?

 

[goofyredraider]

depends on what you want. What do you mean by room requests?

Just anything location-wise that would be better (for buses, main hub, etc.)