Just returned from an excellent week at SOG on Wednesday. It was an outstanding trip. We had gorgeous weather and a great experience overall. This was our third time staying at SOG, though our last trip to Disney was at POR. I'm glad that we tried an official Disney resort like POR, but we realized that we are much happier staying at SOG. The extra space is wonderful for our two small children and we meet so many friendly folks staying there.
Our first evening, we were walking around and a very sweet woman in a wheelchair gave our DD (3.5) her beautiful princess balloon from the parks. DD was thrilled and spent the trip talking about the nice lady who loved princesses just like her.
We seldom rode the bus (we prefer to use Poly transportation like the MK boat or monorail) but when we did, folks were always offering me a seat so that I didn't have to balance my 9-month-old and hold my three-year-old's hand. (DH has stroller duty when we ride the bus.)
This is certainly not something that I expect, but it never happened on a POR bus and it was a relief to be able to hold the kids in my lap rather than balance them or wait through multiple buses.
One evening after catching the Poly bus back from Epcot (a great tip for those that stay until Epcot closes, everyone staying at the Poly must try to take the monorail because the bus was empty) a member of our group got very ill and threw up. I called for the Shady Shuttle and a very nice bellhop came to pick us up promptly even though the golf carts were all put away for the night!
We seldom ate at Shades, so I don't need to complain about the food
. We got by on one sit down Disney meal per day plus snacks brought from home, a grocery store run by my in laws (who had a rental car), and a flatbread or two from the Poly cafeteria.
I think the only thing I wish Shades had (because we can work around the poor dining options) is a more exciting pool. We are going back to Disney in September and my sister has requested that we utilize the military discount and stay at the Beach Club because of the amazing pool. We are obliging her because I don't know that Disney will offer such a great military discount in the future and that her kids will really appreciate an incredible pool, but I know we'll be back to SOG again.