SHADES OF GREEN at Walt Disney World Resort Information & Questions

[sharnonc]

Thanks buffetgirl email is so much easier!

Can't believe I almost forgot about the ticket preorder form! What kind of a Disney geek am I?
How many weeks out does it get emailed?

We got ours yesterday, 12 days away from our arrival day.

 

[WendyWuWu]

Can't believe I almost forgot about the ticket preorder form! What kind of a Disney geek am I?
How many weeks out does it get emailed?

They say about two weeks out, it's emailed to you, however, when I hit my two week mark, I had not received it. So, being the type A Disney geek, I am, I messaged the SoG moderator on their facebook page. He/she got right back with me that they'd passed it on to whomever is in charge of this and within a few hours, I'd received this email. I faxed my request last night and I had an email this morning confirming that they'd received it and our tickets would be waiting for us when we arrive on the 19th.

 

[goofyredraider]

I apologize if this has been asked recently, when is the pool construction on the Magnolia Pool supposed to be completed? I said I would give SoG another chance *if* they upgraded their pool, as the last time it was a deal breaker, and I'm trying to throw together a mid-October trip.

According to their fb post the other day - it should open late summer, early fall.

 

[5kitty]

It has been awhile since we have stayed at SOG. I know when we were last there, they did not have calendars posted with special events/special meals, etc. Since we will be returning to SOG in December, I am wondering if SOG has calendars year round or just for the busier summer /fall months like I have seen posted? Thanks so much.

 

[crostorfer]

According to their fb post the other day - it should open late summer, early fall.

I wish they'd be a little more specific with their time frames, considering it's already late summer. Their FB pictures make it look like they still have a long way to go.

I know a lot of people laugh and think I'm being petty because "no one goes to WDW for a pool", but for us that really is a big part of the reason we go. We live in the Pacific Northwest and very rarely get the opportunity to swim. We always take a very long (4-5hr) swim break every afternoon. A great pool is a big deal to us, and while Shades is by far the least expensive option on property, I'm willing to pay $35 more a night and stay at the Coronado Springs with their amazing pool, better food options, and Magical Express service plus free parking, if the new pool at SoG isn't going to be done before our mid-October reservation.

 

[shburks]

I wish they'd be a little more specific with their time frames, considering it's already late summer. Their FB pictures make it look like they still have a long way to go.

I know a lot of people laugh and think I'm being petty because "no one goes to WDW for a pool", but for us that really is a big part of the reason we go. We live in the Pacific Northwest and very rarely get the opportunity to swim. We always take a very long (4-5hr) swim break every afternoon. A great pool is a big deal to us, and while Shades is by far the least expensive option on property, I'm willing to pay $35 more a night and stay at the Coronado Springs with their amazing pool, better food options, and Magical Express service plus free parking, if the new pool at SoG isn't going to be done before our mid-October reservation.

We were stationed at McChord for 3.5 long years so I completely understand. Frankly, unless you're an E-3, I think you can easily beat the SOG rate at Coronado. I currently have CS booked for a weekend in early Nov for $143 a night. It would definitely cost us more per night to stay at SOG and I'd much rather have the fun theming and great pool at Coronado. Obviously I don't know your category for SOG, but it was a no brainer for me. Better theming, better pool, better food options...

 

[WDW 3]

We were stationed at McChord for 3.5 long years so I completely understand. Frankly, unless you're an E-3, I think you can easily beat the SOG rate at Coronado. I currently have CS booked for a weekend in early Nov for $143 a night. It would definitely cost us more per night to stay at SOG and I'd much rather have the fun theming and great pool at Coronado. Obviously I don't know your category for SOG, but it was a no brained for me. Better theming, better pool, better food options...

And we'll go for a week and only look at the pool when we walk past. From the frozen north.

 

[Dragontears]

I wish they'd be a little more specific with their time frames, considering it's already late summer. Their FB pictures make it look like they still have a long way to go.

Unfortunately, SOG is at the mercy of the contractor. They can’t control the delays with materials availability/deliveries, manpower, weather, etc. That's a lot of concrete to pour and it can't be done when it's raining or the ground is too wet. So promising a date would only cause grief if/when there are delays.

Our simple (inside- no weather issues) remodel took almost twice as long as promised.

It is very frustrating for everyone.

I'm just glad our reservations are a bit further out. (omg.....Did I really say that?)

 

[BabyFu18]

I wish they'd be a little more specific with their time frames, considering it's already late summer. Their FB pictures make it look like they still have a long way to go.

I know a lot of people laugh and think I'm being petty because "no one goes to WDW for a pool", but for us that really is a big part of the reason we go. We live in the Pacific Northwest and very rarely get the opportunity to swim. We always take a very long (4-5hr) swim break every afternoon. A great pool is a big deal to us, and while Shades is by far the least expensive option on property, I'm willing to pay $35 more a night and stay at the Coronado Springs with their amazing pool, better food options, and Magical Express service plus free parking, if the new pool at SoG isn't going to be done before our mid-October reservation.

I ended up canceling our SOG reservation for next week, because we didn't want to deal with the pool construction, and I don't think that's petty or silly. We have family members that spend a lot of time at the resort enjoying the pools and other resort amenities so they'd like to avoid construction if possible. We switched over to the Poly where we know everyone will be happy and will try SOG next summer when hopefully all of their construction is finished.

It's whatever works for your family, some people don't mind the pool being closed or other construction when their on vacation and some people do mind. Either way is fine and neither is right or wrong. I am glad SOG is doing some improvements though and I'll be sure to go back when it's all done to check it out. But for now the disney military resort discount allows us to go elsewhere while work is being down at shades.

 

[abolanwoski]

I'm sure I used email.

Do you just "reply" to the original mail with the attachment or is there an email address that I'm somehow missing? I don't have fax at home, so I may have to send to work with DH if I can't figure out the emailing thing. TIA

 

[crostorfer]

Unfortunately, SOG is at the mercy of the contractor. They can’t control the delays with materials availability/deliveries, manpower, weather, etc. That's a lot of concrete to pour and it can't be done when it's raining or the ground is too wet. So promising a date would only cause grief if/when there are delays.

Our simple (inside- no weather issues) remodel took almost twice as long as promised.

It is very frustrating for everyone.

I'm just glad our reservations are a bit further out. (omg.....Did I really say that?)

We're scheduled to arrive October 14th. I think I'll keep it for the time being, but if by mid-September they haven't gotten any farther along in the pool progress I'll switch. It's hard to beat the $99 rate I got, and we eat at the Poly quite a bit, but that pool not being operational will really be a deal breaker for me.

 

[Dragontears]

I ended up canceling our SOG reservation for next week, because we didn't want to deal with the pool construction, and I don't think that's petty or silly. We have family members that spend a lot of time at the resort enjoying the pools and other resort amenities so they'd like to avoid construction if possible. We switched over to the Poly where we know everyone will be happy and will try SOG next summer when hopefully all of their construction is finished.

It's whatever works for your family, some people don't mind the pool being closed or other construction when their on vacation and some people do mind. Either way is fine and neither is right or wrong. I am glad SOG is doing some improvements though and I'll be sure to go back when it's all done to check it out. But for now the disney military resort discount allows us to go elsewhere while work is being down at shades.

You are so right. It is different for each family and an individual choice. No silly or petty about it.

It could be worse. At least they have two pools. The Mickey pool is still open. That's the one the kids prefer.

 

[sharnonc]

Do you just "reply" to the original mail with the attachment or is there an email address that I'm somehow missing? I don't have fax at home, so I may have to send to work with DH if I can't figure out the emailing thing. TIA

I couldn't figure out the emailing thing either. I think I would have had to print it, fill it out, scan it to a memory stick, transfer to the computer then email. UGH! I ended up sending it to work with my hubs. He faxed it in the morning and by the afternoon we had our confirmation.

 

[jusero]

I couldn't figure out the emailing thing either. I think I would have had to print it, fill it out, scan it to a memory stick, transfer to the computer then email. UGH! I ended up sending it to work with my hubs. He faxed it in the morning and by the afternoon we had our confirmation.

That's pretty much what I had to do last year. Print it, fill it out, scan it, save to the computer and then email it. BUT! It is still better than standing in line at the ticket counter once we get there.

Oh, and, if you take a look at my ticket, you will see we are nearly at the one month mark! Hoo-AH!!!!

 

[KristiKat]

In a few days I'll be making reservations for Feb. We are traveling with my sister's family of six. Her youngest will only be 17 months old at that time. I sent SOG an e-mail to see if we could still get a standard room for them just to be sure of the policy. They called me today and said yes but that we had to use their crib or play-yard and couldn't use our own. That seems gross to me and my sister. Has anyone had any experience with their cribs or play-yard? Were they in good condition, meet safety requirements and clean? Any info you have would be great. Thanks in advance.

 

[shburks]

In a few days I'll be making reservations for Feb. We are traveling with my sister's family of six. Her youngest will only be 17 months old at that time. I sent SOG an e-mail to see if we could still get a standard room for them just to be sure of the policy. They called me today and said yes but that we had to use their crib or play-yard and couldn't use our own. That seems gross to me and my sister. Has anyone had any experience with their cribs or play-yard? Were they in good condition, meet safety requirements and clean? Any info you have would be great. Thanks in advance.

I haven't but that just seems odd. Why would you HAVE to use theirs? What's to stop you from just bringing your own?

 

[rebekah8284]

When we stayed back in 2011 I used one of their cots for my son and I didn't have any problems with it. Don't know why you would think it was gross to use a hotel cot how is it different from using a bed? Both have been slept on by other people. The cot was clean had waterproof mattress and they changed sheets when I asked. Hope that helps.

 

[KristiKat]

When we stayed back in 2011 I used one of their cots for my son and I didn't have any problems with it. Don't know why you would think it was gross to use a hotel cot how is it different from using a bed? Both have been slept on by other people. The cot was clean had waterproof mattress and they changed sheets when I asked. Hope that helps.

The person I spoke with on the phone said it was a pack n' play and I just wonder if they wipe the entire thing down not just changing sheets. Sleeping on something like a bed or cot doesn't bother me but you know how infants can be. They put their mouths on everything. Mine use to bite the the rails of her crib and pack n' play all the time. That's probably my only concern but my sister will probably wipe the rails down just to be safe. I also asked the customer service rep if the pack n' play or crib as she sometimes called it was up to current safety guidelines and got no answer, lol. I got the impression she didn't know much about cribs and pack n' plays. Thought it best that I ask people who had been there and used them to get a better idea of what kind of crib she was talking about. Thanks for your help. Hearing the good will make my sister feel better.

 

[sharnonc]

2 more days and a wake up till we're back at SOG and Disney.

 

[WDW 3]

The person I spoke with on the phone said it was a pack n' play and I just wonder if they wipe the entire thing down not just changing sheets. Sleeping on something like a bed or cot doesn't bother me but you know how infants can be. They put their mouths on everything. Mine use to bite the the rails of her crib and pack n' play all the time. That's probably my only concern but my sister will probably wipe the rails down just to be safe. I also asked the customer service rep if the pack n' play or crib as she sometimes called it was up to current safety guidelines and got no answer, lol. I got the impression she didn't know much about cribs and pack n' plays. Thought it best that I ask people who had been there and used them to get a better idea of what kind of crib she was talking about. Thanks for your help. Hearing the good will make my sister feel better.

I'd probably say OK and just use my own. Leave the one they provide folded in a corner/closet. But, we've never had more than 3 in a room so there's always a corner