Free Dining vs Shades of Green

[MemoryMakers2669]

OK, so you book a package, for POR, with FREE dining, 7 nights, 7 day Hoppers...added airfare for $129 ROUND trip....which in your market you are lucky to get for $180 RT. Total is $2800 for 2 adults and 2 teens..so basically 4 adults.


Then you see you can get a great ratre at SOG for $106 a night!

You are still eating at all the same sit down restaurants with the rest of your family that is going along.

What do you do???

 

[thelionqueen]

No question, do the Dining plan!! You save SO much more by getting free dining, I could tell you for hours how much we saved and how much we enjoyed it.

If it is in your thinking, you could also get a much better rate at a Value than a moderate and save over $80.00 per night, just a thought.

You're also not counting the cost of the park tickets in your SOG rate, don't know if that matters in your budgeting, but just another thought.

Good luck!

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

Thanks! It isn't for me. For me, it is a no brainer, but I need some information on why she isn't make a good choice. Anyone know what the SOG tickets cost? I assume there is no tax on the room?

 

[Doodlebug939]

Ok here is my opinion. Shades of Green is very beautiful. I hope to stay there at some point.

Some things to consider:

If flying to Orlando will they rent a car? That should be added in they event that they do. If not then how will they get to Disney? With a package at Disney then they will get the Magical Express (I think that is what it is called). And if they rent a car they should add the cost to park their car at Shades of Green.

I have heard that the SOG transportation is not go great. Or should I say a work in progress.

Although I dont know what the rates are at Shades of Green currently are. Some thing that they should consider. In order to get the package with Disney they only need a one day ticket and they could purchase the rest at their local MWR or at Shades of Green when they get to Disney.


Hope that helps.

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

So they have to pay to park at SOG?? Do they get parking at the parks for free like if staying at a Disney hotel?

 

[Enna]

The park tickets at SOG are a little less expensive than Disney's and there's the advantage of not paying tax. However, it is more expensive to buy the one day base ticket (to get free dining) PLUS the hopper from SOG for the rest of the days than it would be to just buy all of the days from either source.

Some people just prefer SOG due to location, ammenities and percieved value since SOG is often listed in the "deluxe" category.

That being said, I've paid all meals OOP once at WDW, and am fully embracing the dining plan for the next trip.

 

[caseywirth]

With a seven night stay and seven day park hopper tickets (201), and airfare (129) the cost is 1706 to stay at SOG. So even if you ate at the best resturants you are still saving alot more money staying at SOG. The transportation is wonderful ( I think a lot better than disney). SOG is just a super place to stay for a deluxe (largest standard rooms on property) and it is agreat bargain, and there is no tax!!

 

[texasthree]

Is the rest of your family interested in staying at SOG? I believe you can book up to 5 rooms if your active duty. I am split on the SOG decision. We decided to stay at cbr this trip and probably will do sog next trip. I really want to try the dining plan but I am not sure I love the trip being so focused on how much food we can eat rather than enjoying the parks. We can eat at home!

SOG doesnt have airport transportation so you will need to rent a car.

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

With a seven night stay and seven day park hopper tickets (201), and airfare (129) the cost is 1706 to stay at SOG. So even if you ate at the best resturants you are still saving alot more money staying at SOG. The transportation is wonderful ( I think a lot better than disney). SOG is just a super place to stay for a deluxe (largest standard rooms on property) and it is agreat bargain, and there is no tax!!

Hoppers are $40 more, so $241x4 is $964 for those, then air was $141x4 is $564...($129 plus tax..sorry). Loss of $119.90 insurance on the package they want to cancel. That is $1647.90. Still have to add in hotel and food.

You have the hotel cost at just $386 for 7 nights, is it that cheap?? I thought it was $106 or something each night. Not sure where I got that though.

So, if hotel is only $386 for the whole week, they are at $2033.90. They could spend less than $800 on food I guess. They will have to add in transportation costs too, since they don't get Magic Express, so another $100, that leaves $700 for food for 2 adults and 2 teens.

If the hotel cost is as low as you say, then it will be cheaper for them to stay at SOG. Thanks! Just getting my ducks all in a row.

 

[javaj]

You have the hotel cost at just $386 for 7 nights, is it that cheap?? I thought it was $106 or something each night. Not sure where I got that though.

So, if hotel is only $386 for the whole week, they are at $2033.90. They could spend less than $800 on food I guess. They will have to add in transportation costs too, since they don't get Magic Express, so another $100, that leaves $700 for food for 2 adults and 2 teens.

I'm not sure where the other poster got the total for the hotel? Shades of Green is $76, $99, or $106 per night depending on rank. Even at $76 per night, that is $532 for 7 nights. At $106 per night, that is $742 for 7 nights.

I think the free dining is a better deal unless they don't eat very much. However, you said they would be eating with the other family members that are on the free dining plan, so at 1 table service and 1 counter service per person per day, they would end up spending a lot more staying at SOG.

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

OK, found out they are paying the $106 per night. Also they are getting some dining plan, but have to eat at SOG only. They got breakfasts and dinners. Not sure what they paid there though.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Parking at SOG is $5.00 per night and you get a tag which gives you parking at all the Disney parks.

There is NO sales tax on anything purchased at SOG, including the cost of the room. You can easily check prices of rooms and tickets at the SOG website:

http://www.shadesofgreen.org/home.html

The transportation system is fine, but if you prefer you can walk across the street to the Poly and catch the monorail or continue to the Transportation Center.

The dining plan would be a waste for my family; we just don't eat that much.

 

[raven69david]

SOG was AWESOME. The redesign is heaven. Plus the new BIGGER beds makes it a no brainer for me. Not even the free dining can intice me to stay anywhere else given a choice between the two options.