Don't forget one of the original Disney Resorts now renamed "Shades of Green"
History
Shades of Green originally opened as a Disney-owned resort known as the
Golf Resort which opened in December 1973 with 151 rooms. The Golf Resort was located in the middle
of the Palm and Magnolia golf courses. the resort was built
of wood and volcanic rock in the style
of a
country club. The core building
of the resort was opened in 1971 as a two story clubhouse for the golf courses and did not actually have guest rooms. Guest wings were added to the original clubhouse in 1973 due to the need for overnight accommodations. Every guest room at the resort felt like a suite with at least 480 square feet (45 m2).
The hotel's full-service Pro Shop offered an instructional program called the "Golf Studio," which was conducted by professionals for players
of any age and playing level. The resort provided a restful atmosphere with pleasant views from the guest rooms. The Golf Resort was known for the Magnolia Room restaurant with its signature dessert, French Fried Ice Cream. The Magnolia Room, later the Trophy Room, served breakfast, lunch and dinner in a large, open room complete with a high-timbered ceiling with live entertainment.
The entertainment was usually provided by a guitar playing and singing duo called Amos and Charles. Their shows were a combination
of soft rock,
bluegrass,
country and
folk music. The Players Lounge was a large windowed lounge that overlooked the Magnolia Golf Course. The recreation at the resort included two lighted
tennis courts and a pool, now the Magnolia Pool, which had three water spouting columns in the shallow portion
of the pool. There were also two putting greens at the resort.
The resort only had an occupancy rate
of 60% to 75% most
of the year while
Disney's Polynesian Resort and
Disney's Contemporary Resort had an occupancy rate at almost 100%. One
of the major problems with the resort was the location. The resort was out
of the monorail loop; almost a quarter
of a mile away from the nearest monorail station at The Polynesian.
Most travel agents and tourists did not really consider The Golf Resort to really be a "Disney" resort. The resort was expanded and renamed
The Disney Inn in February 1986 to try to appeal to more than golfers. It received an additional 150 rooms with a new
Snow White theme during that renovation. The resort was still small though for Disney standards. The resort described itself to have a rustic charm
of a quiet country inn. Rooms were decorated in a bright and airy feel. The sitting area had pale
green paint, oak table and chairs with a chandelier and a pull out couch.
