Any advice on Shades of Green?

[Tinkrbell]

Grandparents are joining us for the marathon week and DG qualifies for SOG.

I've only been there to drop dh off to golf and know nothing about this resort or how to get around disney while staying there.

Can you use the monorail at the Poly? How can you get to the other resorts for dining or the other golf course?

Any help or a link would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Tink

 

[knnrock]

I've stayed at SOG several times. It doesn't have the "disney theme" the other hotels do, but it is a beautiful hotel, and the rooms are pretty spacious. We usually ask for one that is pool side. If we plan on using the monorail, it is a short walk to the Poly to catch, otherwise, there is usally a guy in a golf cart at SOG and he will give you a ride to the end of the walk just across from Poly, you just have to walk back when you return. We usually drive to the parks that aren't on the monorail system. They do have bus transportation. And we've gone to other resorts for dinner and drove with no problems.

 

[DavidHobart]

Concur with prior post.

The bus transportation at SOG is to MGM, AK and to the TTC, (for service to all other destinations) or you can walk to the monorail at Poly and take it to TTC--or the bus station at MK, for that matter.

For going to the MGM and AK, I prefer (unless it is really close to the SOG bus time) to walk from SOG to TTC and pick up a regular Disney bus at TTC, as the SOG buses dropoff/pick up sites are mostly in the middle of unshaded parking lots at the parks, and the frequency is not as high as the Disney buses.

SOG is a great bargain, but if you can afford it, prefer any of the other monorail resorts and WL.

 

[Tinkrbell]

Thanks, I didn't realize they had bus service or a golf cart guy. The website isn't very explanatory.

Does the bus come every hour? What about the golf cart? Since we'll have DGP's I'm concerned with how far the walking will be from SOG.

I'm assuming that you can't park at the themeparks unless you pay the $12/day fee unlike staying at the Disney resorts.

If we didn't have so many people and need multiple rooms I would be staying at CR wing room, the sog is about 1/3 the cost and we will probably only get to go there 1 or 2 times since its DGP's who qualify.

 

[stm61]

we stayed there in Sept 2005. The bus for TTC runs every 15 min if I'm remembering right. The other buses run once an hour, but not always on the hour. One was 20 till, the other maybe 20 after or on the 1/2 hour, it got very confusing. We tried the walk to the Poly once. It was fine on the way out but grandma (and the younger kids) had problems with it on the way back after a long day in the parks. I think you can park for free at the Disney parks with the parking card they give you at SOG, but you have to pay to park at SOG now. The bus stop at BB is the first one in line, but I remember being out in the middle of the lot with no shade at several other parks. Also, if you have any problems with SOG buses, the cm's at the lots won't help you. SOG buses aren't in contact with disney cm's, we found that out the hard way when we got stranded at TL and AK. Noone had a cell phone so we ended up sitting out there for almost 2 hours waiting for a bus.

 

[mahoneyth]

It's a real hidden gem at the SOG.
Very beautifully landscaped and the new rooms are very spacious and the bathrooms have been completly refurbished it's like staying at the ritz carlton almost.

You won't be disappointed.


have fun.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I'm assuming that you can't park at the themeparks unless you pay the $12/day fee unlike staying at the Disney resorts.

That is incorrect. The parking pass you get at SOG entitles you to free parking at the parks.

It is very easy to just walk across the street to the Poly to hop on the monorail or walk a bit further to the TTC.

Did you check the SOG website - many of your questions are answered there:

http://www.shadesofgreen.org/faq-home.htm

 

[LoveKermit]

My sister-in-law's biggest complaint was the towels are a little thin and small. She was right, but I think my DH and I just used two for each shower instead of one. She may have brought her own for her 2nd trip there. The rooms are huge (think suite hotel). And you can't beat the price. My DH and I almost always walked to the Poly. The rest of the family usually took the (most frequent) bus to the TTC and went from there. And here we were on Christmas Eve all dressed up on the bus to the TTC to take the Monorail to CR for California Grill and then back after dinner and fireworks. We looked a little out of place compared to those coming from the parks. (I'm not complaining, just how it was)

Very nice resort.

 

[G8RFAN]

Don't forget to buy your park tickets at SOG as you save $$. The buffet there is good and priced like mess hall dining. No tax at the AAFES store for sundries. Soap and shampoo dispenser in the shower was interesting. Bring conditioner.

 

[kurtech]

We've stayed at SOG many times, Contemporary when SOG was closed for renovations. SOG is by far, my favorite. The rooms are some of the largest on the grounds and are very well kept. The hotel is very clean (you'll see housekeeping washing windows every morning and evening). The food was wonderful and staff was very pleasant to deal with.

If you have families with children traveling together, a tip...ask for at least 2 rooms that adjoin. We put the sleeping kids in one room and then us grownups got to visit in the other room...worked out nice for nap times.

I wouldn't be concerned about DGP's and walking if they can walk through the parks. We've taken DGP's a couple of times and it's worked pretty well.

 

[CaptHook34]

The SOG is a Wonderful resort! With the new additions, they really made the hotel awesome!

 

[princessdisneybelle]

I just got married at SOG. I can't say enough about it or it's staff. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. The bell services people would go get the golf cart when we walked out. My Mom hurt herself at MK. So alot of walking was hard. I loved eating at Evergreens. The have the best chicken sandwich. We are going back next year and plan on staying there again.

 

[stitchrulz]

SOG is super, and you guys are going to have an excellent trip! It's a great (well-deserved) value -- definitely purchase your tix there, also.

If we hadn't received a Disney discount postcard, we'd definitely be staying at SOG. We're still going to purchase our tix there, and will check out the AAFES deals, of course!

Have a super trip!!!!