Help! - No room left at the inn

[resol37]

My dad is retired Air Force and I've never been to WDW without staying at Shades of Green. I'm planning a trip for me and 13 members of my family next May and Shades of Green is completely booked up the entire month (going at a different time is not an option)! I've spent some time crying about it, but now it's time to take action. Since I've never stayed anywhere else, I have no idea where to start.

Shades of Green bases their prices on military rank. We would have been paying about $113 a night. At least six of us will be in the 20 - 30 age range and don't make enough money to afford much more than that (actually, we're all getting help from our respective parents to go on this trip). I'd prefer to stay on property, but am not sure if that's even a possibility money-wise.

I'm going to start looking at the hotels in the DTD area (the ones that are technically on Disney property, but not Disney hotels), hotels just off property, and nearby condos (our usual May vacay is a week at the Outer Banks of NC and we all rent a house together so we're used to spending all that time in the same space).

I'm looking for any advice, tips, reccomendations that you have as I'm totally out of my element here. And maybe some comfort - I'm devestated about not being able to stay at my favorite hotel.

 

[Frantasmic]

You'd need 3-4 value rooms, or two Wilderness cabins.

Somewhere on DIS boards was a post about a good suites place near the front gate that had decent rates. Sorry, I don't remember the place.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

I have a night at Pop reserved (7/7/07) for a AAA rate of $103.30 per night. That amount includes sales tax and resort fees. Don't think I'd do more then 2 adults to a room, however. Perhaps the 6 younger folks can stay there and the others can look into a mod--perhaps Coronado Springs?

 

[bearpele]

Did you have Shades of Green check for availablility at Disney properties?? WE are in the Air Force and normally would not stay at SOG but at the Disney properties, using this system.

Good luck and hoping everything works out for you,

 

[BlindTyldak]

I too would check with Shades of Green. A friend in the military tried to stay there one time and it was completely booked, and asked them if they could suggest anything. The CM put them on hold and came back with an identical offer at another resort . . . she was told this was VERY RARE but only SOG was booked full and the other resorts had rooms to spare; it was a VERY slow time of year. Don't know when you're travelling, but if you're going at a very quiet time, you never know.

Edit: oops, see May now. In that case, eeek, I don't know, but I'd still ask.

 

[resol37]

I too would check with Shades of Green. A friend in the military tried to stay there one time and it was completely booked, and asked them if they could suggest anything. The CM put them on hold and came back with an identical offer at another resort . . . she was told this was VERY RARE but only SOG was booked full and the other resorts had rooms to spare; it was a VERY slow time of year. Don't know when you're travelling, but if you're going at a very quiet time, you never know.

Edit: oops, see May now. In that case, eeek, I don't know, but I'd still ask.

Awesome. My mom just checked on the SOG website and saw that everything was booked, she didn't call. We're going the second week of May which, when I was working there, wasn't especially busy in the parks (at least not at Studios). I'll check into this, thanks!

 

[BTown]

You should look into one of the value resorts (All Star Music, Movies or Sport, or the Pop Century resort). I believe rates for the rooms will put you back about $80-$90 a night. You can fit up to 4 adults per room (but there are only two beds per room). The rooms are pretty small and basic, but its is on Disney property, runs on the bus line, and in my opinion, the value resorts have the most "Disney atmosphere" of any resort on property. Unless you are planning on spending a considerable amount of time in your room, or around the resort, I say its the best value for the money.

 

[Disney Planner Mama]

definitely call SOG (they have a toll free number listed on their website under "contact us"). Tell them the dates you are going for are booked, and can they get you an overflow rate of not more then x dollars per night at any of the disney or downtown disney hotels. You might also try the Swan or Dolphin which offer great discounts to military, teachers, AAA members and seniors (last February we got a rate of I think $159 a night at the swan). But the operators at Shades of Green are usually very helpful and willing to find you a good deal.

The other thing you might consider is having your Dad get a military rate annual pass -- he can then book up to three rooms at the AP rate. DH is Navy and we had booked 2 rooms at the Yacht Club for this Christmas at a military rate of $423 a night. Rack rate was $534. We just switched to the AP rate -- for the same room an AP rate of $263 per night. The difference between the price of a six day ticket and the annual pass was made up in a one night savings.

 

[Belle1962]

Suggestions:

pool your resources and rent a pool home offsite. Check out www.vrbo.com You can rent 3 - 4 bedroom homes with pools for $200 a night or less!!!

If you do go with a hotel offsite--your military personnel will qualify for govt rates.

Also--check here: www.getravelop.com any type of government employee can rent these weeks (may not be available until closer to your schedule--this is excess RCI timeshare inventory--no tour required all weeks are $299--regardless of the size of the unit)

Also try www.hotelkingdom.com you can get a 2 bedroom unit (king and jacuzzi in master, two twins plus trundle in 2nd bedroom plus pull out sofa0 for less than $100 per night or a 3bedroom (same as two plus another king room) for less than $150.

 

[Brian Noble]

I know this is heresy, but you can find an amazing number of 3-5BR homes with private pools and hot tubs just outside the gates. Look at www.vrbo.com, and focus on the communities of Emerald Island, Formosa Gardens, Windsor Hills and Windsor Palms---they are all less than 15 minutes to MK's parking lot, and closer to the others.

It's not Disney, but it is affordable. We have a group going during late Feburary (Peak season) and we are renting a 5BR/5BA house in Windsor Hills, for about $165/night, including all taxes and pool/hot tub heat. Much less than the Outer Banks in peak season. You are going at a slightly less-popular time, and might be able to get an even better deal.

 

[Brian Noble]

Also, check the Orlando Hotels and Restaurants forum; there is a lot of offsite expertise there.

 

[ntsammy5]

My dad is retired Air Force and I've never been to WDW without staying at Shades of Green. I'm planning a trip for me and 13 members of my family next May and Shades of Green is completely booked up the entire month (going at a different time is not an option)!

Shades can get you a good overflow rate at AS. Why not try that? Good luck. BTW, I just looked on the SOG site and it shows availability for every day for May 2007. Why not try again. A question. Is your father going too? If not, and unless one of you is in the military, you can't stay there.

 

[rlovew]

If you are booking that many rooms try calling SOG. I have found that many times there online availablity is wrong. I was trying for Thanksgiving weekend in June and it showed no dates so I went with my travel agent and am staying at Coronada Springs but when I called SOG a week later to schedule a trip in October for a group they said they still had plenty of rooms available over Thanksgiving.

 

[Charlotte&Carolina]

I tried for 2 weeks for the dates to open up during our December trip - this was online. No luck. I read somewhere about the overflow rates and when I called I didn't need to worry - they had plenty of rooms. So call - I don't think the online system is as up-to-date and accurate as it could be. Good luck!!

 

[MariaEllerºoº]

My dad is retired Air Force and I've never been to WDW without staying at Shades of Green. I'm planning a trip for me and 13 members of my family next May and Shades of Green is completely booked up the entire month (going at a different time is not an option)! I've spent some time crying about it, but now it's time to take action. Since I've never stayed anywhere else, I have no idea where to start.

Shades of Green bases their prices on military rank. We would have been paying about $113 a night. At least six of us will be in the 20 - 30 age range and don't make enough money to afford much more than that (actually, we're all getting help from our respective parents to go on this trip). I'd prefer to stay on property, but am not sure if that's even a possibility money-wise.

I'm going to start looking at the hotels in the DTD area (the ones that are technically on Disney property, but not Disney hotels), hotels just off property, and nearby condos (our usual May vacay is a week at the Outer Banks of NC and we all rent a house together so we're used to spending all that time in the same space).

I'm looking for any advice, tips, reccomendations that you have as I'm totally out of my element here. And maybe some comfort - I'm devestated about not being able to stay at my favorite hotel.

Have you checked Shades of Green overflow rates?

 

[mattsdragon]

Unfortunately, they allow too many people to have access to SOG, so a large percentage of the people there aren't even in the military. If your father is going, and is retired, he darn well should have priority over some pencil pusher who is employed by the DOD. I've had problems with SOG being overbooked in the past as well.

Military members (including retirees and their families) should be the only ones allowed to stay at this MWR facility.

An AD member sends. . .