Disney Inn?

[ArielDreams]

So last night, I happened upon my 1990 Birnbaum's Guide (from my first trip) on a bookshelf at my parents' house and was flipping through for fun. In the resort section, I found the Disney Inn - what's the story on this resort? Why did it close? Where exactly was it? Any Disney World historians out there that could fill me in???

Also I loved looking at the room rates... We stayed at Caribbean Beach and paid less than I'll be paying for All Star Movies next week! Oh how times have changed in 18 years...

 

[Donnainnj]

So last night, I happened upon my 1990 Birnbaum's Guide (from my first trip) on a bookshelf at my parents' house and was flipping through for fun. In the resort section, I found the Disney Inn - what's the story on this resort? Why did it close? Where exactly was it? Any Disney World historians out there that could fill me in???

Also I loved looking at the room rates... We stayed at Caribbean Beach and paid less than I'll be paying for All Star Movies next week! Oh how times have changed in 18 years...

Disney Inn is now leased to the Military as Shades of Green. It is for Military, retired military, and DOD employees only. Donna

 

[Poohbeck]

The Shades of Green is a beautiful resort although does not have Disney themeing. Although they still have the pool shaped like Mickey Mouse. We will be going 18 days and can't wait.

 

[vonpluto]

So last night, I happened upon my 1990 Birnbaum's Guide (from my first trip) on a bookshelf at my parents' house and was flipping through for fun. In the resort section, I found the Disney Inn - what's the story on this resort? Why did it close? Where exactly was it? Any Disney World historians out there that could fill me in???

Also I loved looking at the room rates... We stayed at Caribbean Beach and paid less than I'll be paying for All Star Movies next week! Oh how times have changed in 18 years...

The Golf Resort/Disney Inn/Shades of Green is located on the west side of Floridian Way between the Poly and the GF.

Timeline:
Golf Resort Clubhouse 10/1/71 - 1973
Golf Resort December 1973 - February 1985 Expanded 1985 - 1986
Disney Inn February 1986 - February 1994
Shades of Green February 1, 1994 - (leased to US Army)
Sold to US Army - January 1,1996
Closed for Expansion 4/02 - 3/04

 

[Dokietoes]

Disney Inn is now leased to the Military as Shades of Green. It is for Military, retired military, and DOD employees only. Donna

And in January and September it is available to any honorably discharged veteran through their "Salute to Veterans" program.

 

[deej696]

During the 80's and early 90's we used to stay at the Disney Inn every year for the Disney Golf Classic. It was great having such easy access to the courses, and my dad used to drive his cart right up to our room after our round. We would visit a few times a year, and the hotel was always dead outside of the golf tournament week. It had a hard time competing given that the other hotels at this time were all on the monorail. It probably got to to the point where Disney found it more profitable to give it to the military where it would surely be a popular destination, and Disney would get a lot of guests buying tickets etc. in return. If I remember correctly, Disney basically gave it to the military by leasing it for 99 years at $1 a year, but the gov ended up buying it outright a few years later. I dont remember much else about the hotel, other than that the breakfast buffet had the best french toast ever

 

[sotoalf]

I hoped that someone would soon start a Disney Inn thread.

This was the most unusual resort experience at WDW. Before Disney leased it to the military, the theme and mood was closer to a New England bed and breakfast than a major tourist resort. The rooms were a bit larger than what was common at the time, its pool non-themed, its distance a plus. It boasted one of the better resort restaurants, the Garden Gallery (french-fried ice cream!). My family only stayed at the Disney Inn once in 1993, and returning to the resort after a long day at the parks really felt like a retreat into a tranquil, secluded world. Then and now, you walked or bused to the Polynesian if you wanted to catch the monorail.

I can understand the marketing dilemmas it boasted. As a previous poster mentioned, it was always easy to find a room outside golf season; no doubt guests thought they were getting gypped paying almost as much as they would have at the Contemporary or Polynesian for a room at a landlocked resort. But that was its charm. I still miss it.

 

[rie'smom]

It had a Snow White theme at one point.

 

[ArielDreams]

Wow, thanks everyone for solving the mystery! Sounds like it was a pretty neat resort I was thinking it was Shades of Green but wasn't sure... I also wondered why Disney never mentions Shades of Green... they don't even own it! Learn something new about Disney every day...

 

[parrothead928]

Disney Inn is now leased to the Military as Shades of Green. It is for Military, retired military, and DOD employees only. Donna

Back in 1976, it was called the Disney Golf Resort. I was 10 years old and it was my very first trip to Disney!!!

 

[of the seas]

Can anyone scan a map that has it's location?

When I look at a Disney map, it doesn't even mention it, and I would like to see how close it is to the Poly.

 

[vonpluto]

Can anyone scan a map that has it's location?

When I look at a Disney map, it doesn't even mention it, and I would like to see how close it is to the Poly.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/propertymap.htm

To the left of Seven Seas lagoon, in the center of "A, B & C", that building is Shades of Green

 

[of the seas]

That seem like a long walk to the Poly for the monorail!

 

[ols386]

That's quite interesting. I remember the Disney Inn, but had completely forgotten about it, until now, since you mentioned it.

 

[scillacc]

Didn't it also turn into the Disney Institute for a while?

 

[sotoalf]

Didn't it also turn into the Disney Institute for a while?

You're thinking of the Lake Buena Vista Conference Center (also home to the Pompano Grill, one of the few formal restaurants on WDW property).

 

[scillacc]

I just looked it up, it was originally the Village Resort, which housed the Tree Houses, Then they turned it into the Institutes.

 

[parrothead928]

Here is a link for anyone who might be interested in the history of the Shades of Green. It also has pictures and an old activities poster!

http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/id120.htm

 

[rotlex]

Back in 1976, it was called the Disney Golf Resort. I was 10 years old and it was my very first trip to Disney!!!

Ditto. My Mom and I stayed at the Golf Resort back in the early 80's. It was our first trip to Disney, and I thought the resort was amazing. We wanted to stay at the Poly at the time, but it was just WAY to expensive for us. Kind of glad we had the chance to stay there way back when, as it's kind of a special memory of the very first, but hardly the last trip!

 

[DisCopper]

Check out Google Earth, or, if google maps to see the satellite view. It's just to the left of the Poly. When it comes to walking to the Poly, check out one of my other favorite sites: www.mapmyrun.com They show that it's 0.44 miles from the Shades of Green Lobby to the Polynesian Lobby.