A Shades of Green question (or 2)

[JackJenson]

My family and some friends are headed to Shades of Green the 4th of February for a week. We have 6 rooms, and 19 people in total, and we are very excited!

I was wondering if anyone knows whether at Shades of Green they have the refillable mugs for soda and coffee, and whether you can have your park purchases forwarded directly to your resort, like the other resorts?

I have only stayed at Coronado Springs before, and liked both perks there.

Any thoughts are appreciated

 

[tracers]

When we were at SOG last year they did NOT have the mugs or any of the Disney Magic. (other than actually being on Disney Property) A little disappointment for us.....
Can't answer the other part of your question ...... Have a great time.

 

[ZoZo]

"No" on the refillable mugs.

Regarding packages, I'm pretty sure you can have them forwarded to your room at SOG.

But things change pretty often at SOG, so it's worth a call to them to clarify. BTW, I heard on this Board that SOG guests are no longer eligible for Extra Magic Hours (I believe it changed starting January 1st). Quite a disappointment - the extra 3 hours at night is great!

 

[allboyz]

Shades of Green DOES offer extra magic hours now. Initially they cancelled it started Jan. 1st. However, people called and emailed complaints and they changed their mind.

 

[MAGGIED]

SOG does not have refillable mugs but you CAN have your packages shipped back - the only things that changes is where you pick them up - once it was at the front desk - one time it was at the shoppette.... great resort - sold out for our upcoming trip but we are excited to try CSR..

 

[TXteachlovesDis]

We will be there Feb. 4 - 11, also. We wil have a rental car, but will also use Disney transportation. IF you plan to walk/catch Shady Shuttle to/from the Polynesian to catch the monorail... conceivably you could purchase refillable mugs at the Polynesian and fill them as you leave for/return from the parks. I don't think you have to be a guest of the Polynesian to purchase a mug? (Anyone know for sure?). It may work, or it may be a huge inconvenience depending on your plans.

We are so excited - less than 2 weeks to go. Have a magical time!

 

[JackJenson]

Can I say that I just about had a heart attack when I saw that response about EMH? I mean, it took me about 30 minutes to see that it had already been corrected, but I was freaked out there for a while!

Getting a mug at the Poly is a great idea, I guess we will have to see how long it actually takes us to walk/ride over there, and whether the walk is worth it. I was thinking that maybe since SoG prices are supposed to be better, we won't mind paying as we go for coffee and soda.

Keep our fingers crossed for light crowds and good weather!

Hope to see you there!

 

[TXteachlovesDis]

I am hoping it will warm up! 15 day Accu Weather is predicting cold (lows in the 40's/high 60's). I have heard the prices at the Aafes shop are not a significant savings over Disney prices. Can you do a grocery stop? I am shipping a box down at the end of this week - no soda - too heavy!

Ironically one of the students in my class told me he'll be at WDW the exact same dates. Too funny. I guess you never know who you'll see (even your teacher)!

Hoping for light crowds, too. And, glad they fixed that EMH issue as soon as they did.

 

[allboyz]

Off topic but I was wondering if either of you are getting the package (including food at their restaurants) or if you all are just getting room only. I would just like to hear a first-hand account from someone who actually had the package and whether or not they felt it was worth it.

 

[TXteachlovesDis]

I have heard this is a very good deal. We just didn't know where we'd be at certain times - and didn't want to stress over getting back if we were at another park. We plan to eat off WDW property sometimes/in parks sometimes.

Hopefully someone can help you who has participated in the meal plan. I think it's called the Maple Leaf plan???

 

[liamandcaili]

I can't say anything about the dining plus room package, but I can tell you that if you are planning to eat breakfast out, the Express Cafe has great prices. There were five of us...three adults, two children...and our first day we got three juices, one coffee, three bagel sandwiches, one bagel and one giant cinnamon roll and it was under $20. We would just grab breakfast there and eat it on our way back to the parks or in our room.

We really liked SOG, by the way. We went in December. The rooms are huge...much larger than the Disney deluxe rooms...the staff was pleasant, and we had most of the perks you get with the Disney hotels...free parking at the parks, EMH.

Oh, and this is unrelated, and I don't know what your military status is, but when we were there, they had a soldier and his family open the MK with Mickey. It was really cool. They rode up in the train with the characters and everything. Anyway, if you're on R+R or just back or something, it might be worth inquiring about.

Have a great time!

 

[allboyz]

I have heard this is a very good deal. We just didn't know where we'd be at certain times - and didn't want to stress over getting back if we were at another park. We plan to eat off WDW property sometimes/in parks sometimes.

Hopefully someone can help you who has participated in the meal plan. I think it's called the Maple Leaf plan???

Thanks! It is called the Gold Leaf Plan!

 

[allboyz]

I can't say anything about the dining plus room package, but I can tell you that if you are planning to eat breakfast out, the Express Cafe has great prices. There were five of us...three adults, two children...and our first day we got three juices, one coffee, three bagel sandwiches, one bagel and one giant cinnamon roll and it was under $20. We would just grab breakfast there and eat it on our way back to the parks or in our room.

We really liked SOG, by the way. We went in December. The rooms are huge...much larger than the Disney deluxe rooms...the staff was pleasant, and we had most of the perks you get with the Disney hotels...free parking at the parks, EMH.

Oh, and this is unrelated, and I don't know what your military status is, but when we were there, they had a soldier and his family open the MK with Mickey. It was really cool. They rode up in the train with the characters and everything. Anyway, if you're on R+R or just back or something, it might be worth inquiring about.

Have a great time!

Thanks for the info about the Express cafe. I still have not decided 100% that we will keep our package. We have a 5 night package. It includes the hotel, premium tickets (including waterparks), breakfast and dinner. They said if we did not want breakfast we could have lunch at Evergreens and then dinner at the Garden Buffet. The breakfast is at the Garden buffet too. Then we get one night at Manginos. The total cost is $2139. That is for 5 people. I figure if we grab breakfast just as we are leaving. Then spend the day at the parks. Return back at like 4:30. Freshen up and eat by like 6. Then head back out for the parades. It seems like it could work out...

 

[liamandcaili]

Thanks for the info about the Express cafe. I still have not decided 100% that we will keep our package. We have a 5 night package. It includes the hotel, premium tickets (including waterparks), breakfast and dinner. They said if we did not want breakfast we could have lunch at Evergreens and then dinner at the Garden Buffet. The breakfast is at the Garden buffet too. Then we get one night at Manginos. The total cost is $2139. That is for 5 people. I figure if we grab breakfast just as we are leaving. Then spend the day at the parks. Return back at like 4:30. Freshen up and eat by like 6. Then head back out for the parades. It seems like it could work out...

You didn't say what time of year you are going. Your plan could work in the summer months, but in the winter months, the parades and fireworks are much earlier. Illuminations at Epcot is usually at 9 year-round, but the hours at MGM, AK and MK vary depending on the season.

Leave yourself plenty of travel time. We drove most places, although we did walk over to the Polynesian a couple times (about a 15 minute walk, less if you take the Shady Shuttle to the end of SOG property, but not much) and hopped the monorail over to MK. We did not bother with the bus...it is very infrequent.

 

[ZoZo]

We will be there Feb. 4 - 11, also. We wil have a rental car, but will also use Disney transportation. IF you plan to walk/catch Shady Shuttle to/from the Polynesian to catch the monorail... conceivably you could purchase refillable mugs at the Polynesian and fill them as you leave for/return from the parks. I don't think you have to be a guest of the Polynesian to purchase a mug? (Anyone know for sure?). It may work, or it may be a huge inconvenience depending on your plans.

We are so excited - less than 2 weeks to go. Have a magical time!

For myself, I wouldn't bother with the refillable mugs at the Poly. We never did use the shady shuttle (we just walked to the Poly, about a ten minute walk), so it's not as convenient as it might seem given that the Poly is "next door" to SOG. The shady shuttle does not run after dark, which really limits your use of it at certain times of the year.

We often used the SOG buses to and from the parks, so didn't go to the Poly at all some days.

Plus, IMO, the refillable mugs do not hold as much as you would expect, given the fact that they are insulated -- the inside of the mug is actually fairly small. SOG beverages are fairly inexpensive and well worth the convenience.

 

[allboyz]

You didn't say what time of year you are going. Your plan could work in the summer months, but in the winter months, the parades and fireworks are much earlier. Illuminations at Epcot is usually at 9 year-round, but the hours at MGM, AK and MK vary depending on the season.

Leave yourself plenty of travel time. We drove most places, although we did walk over to the Polynesian a couple times (about a 15 minute walk, less if you take the Shady Shuttle to the end of SOG property, but not much) and hopped the monorail over to MK. We did not bother with the bus...it is very infrequent.

We are going April 28- May 3rd. Are the parades early then?

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Seriously - what is so great about refillable mugs?

SOG is a great resort and a tremendous bargain. Have fun!

You can check schedules for park events here:

http://www.intercot.com/infocentral/calendar/events.asp

 

[JackJenson]

We figure that we will be out and about all over the place and may not spend too much time at the resort, but we shall see. I figure that the extremely reasonable room rate, no tax, and discounted no tax admissions media, and deluxe resort will more than allow some freedom in the budget for food a la carte.

Tex, keep working on that warm weather karma, looks like we will be seeing the 70's most days....but I barely believe tomorrow's weather forecast

We have a short week of school that week here in Maryland, parent teacher conferences and no new material taught that week. The unofficial guide's site for expected attendace at the parks shows mostly 6 on a scale of 1-10 for park attendance the week we are there. From the trip reports of people there last month on days where the UG says it was a 6, people reported "no crowds" which probably means plenty of people, but not the big waits that are so famous.

I was there in 02 this week of February, and the crowds were very comfortable, so I am pretty sure we will be fine.

I am shipping my box on Monday from work, not shipping water or soda either because of the weight. We are taking Tiffany Towncar (2 ten passenger vans) and we do get a grocery stop, so we will be stocking up a little in case the px is pricey.

I am so excited! I am like the Dad in the Disney commercials who can't sleep.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

If you have a military id, did you know that there is a Naval Commissary right by the Orlando airport, which also has a ticket office nearby where you can get military discounted Orlando attraction tickets (including Disney), as well as an exchange and package store?

https://www.nexnet.navy.mil/pls/nexstore/nx_display_facility?p_facility_no=178

And don't forget free Sea World admission for military families:

http://www.herosalute.com/cavatx/

 

[TXteachlovesDis]

I am hoping to see warmer temps also. I may have grown a little too accustomed to the warmth in San Antonio! At least it looks like the earlier predictions for rain have changed to mostly/all sunny.

I am shipping a box on Monday also. We will be a party of 8 ( four are traveling via Southwest from Maryland). Funny that you are from Maryland also. That was our last duty station and DH's home state. I miss it like crazy. I'm getting used to Texas though - or the warmth at least. We hope to return to the mid-Atlantic region oneday.

lost*in*cyberspace. Thanks so much for the heads up about the Naval Commissary. Do you know if there is a medical clinic/acute care there ( 2 kids - just in case!)? I meant to look that up in Military Bases in the U.S. - and now I seem to be running out of time.

One week from today and we'll be in the "Happiest Place on Earth"

Jack - May this week speed by and safe travels to all.