Miscellaneous SoG Q&As

[weregoingtodw]

We had quite a few questions, so I compiled a list and just called Shades of Green. This is what I found -

Q. Is there an easier way to call in than the 800 number?

A. No, you are put in the same call queue whether you call the toll-free number or the local 407 number.


Q. Is there internet service available?

A. Yes, there is high-speed internet service available through WebTV, the cost is either $6.95 or $7.95/day (there was some confusion as to that).


Q. Can sponsored guests check in if they arrive before the sponsor?

A. Yes, if a copy of the front and back of the sponsor's ID card has been faxed directly to SoG beforehand. (I'd advise giving a second copy to the family checking in if you trust them with that information).


Q. What is the cancellation policy?

A. Up to 30 days out, no penalty. Less than 30 days, you lose your one-night deposit.


Q. Can our guests purchase in the shops? Restaurants?

A. Our guests can dine at the restaurants but cannot purchase items from the shops (including passes) because it is an AAFES facility.


Q. What transportation options do SoG guests enjoy?

A. SoG guests can use both the SoG and WDW transportation systems.


Q. Were the old rooms renovated? Can we request the new rooms?

A. All rooms are either new or updated. Requests can be made but are not guaranteed.


Q. Are there any king-size beds?

A. No. Only queen-size beds are available.


Q. How does the Stars & Stripes length of stay pass work?

A. The S&S pass must be equal to either the number of nights of your stay or one day less. Example - staying 5 nights, can purchase either 4 or 5 day S&S pass.


Q. Can sponsored guests pay for their room, or does the sponsor need to do it and then be reimbursed?

A. Sponsored guests can pay for their own rooms directly.


*I received all of this information from reservations specialist Erica*

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Hopefully, those will help and someone else won't have to spend forever on hold like I did ;-).

 

[HappyMommy2]

Thank you SOOO much for putting that together for us!

 

[Betsyt82]

Thanks for the info

 

[caseywirth]

On your question and answer about only having queen size beds, that is not true. They do have king size beds in the jr. suites and the suites. Now, if only I could afford one of those!!lol

 

[mog]

Originally posted by weregoingtodw
[


Q. Can our guests purchase in the shops? Restaurants?

A. Our guests can dine at the restaurants but cannot purchase items from the shops (including passes) because it is an AAFES facility.


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[/B]

Well that is a bummer! When we went before, our guests were also allowed to purchase the length of stay passes. When I made the reservations for this trip, I specifically asked if they could also purchase the Stars & Stripes passes and were told they could if they were staying at SOG as our guests.
Anyone done this recently?? I need to know because I have 2 rooms of guests who are counting on buying the Stars and Stripes passes!

 

[weregoingtodw]

because she didn't know the answer & went and asked someone else this particular question. She ended up deciding that the sponsor had to purchase them as gifts (being reimbursed as opposed to the guest using their cc) because of the tax free status of AAFES purchases.

 

[kadaten]

Been there, done that just 2 weeks ago (and used the ticket office in December, too) and here are some corrections...

Originally posted by weregoingtodw
Q. Is there internet service available?

A. Yes, there is high-speed internet service available through WebTV, the cost is either $6.95 or $7.95/day (there was some confusion as to that).

The sign in our room said $9.95 for 24 hours of access.


Q. Can our guests purchase in the shops? Restaurants?

A. Our guests can dine at the restaurants but cannot purchase items from the shops (including passes) because it is an AAFES facility.

We had to show our ID for our guests to be able to purchase passes, but they could purchase. This may have been a mistake on the seller's part, though.


Q. Were the old rooms renovated? Can we request the new rooms?

A. All rooms are either new or updated. Requests can be made but are not guaranteed.

We were in an old room and the only thing new was a fresh coat of paint and the shampoo/shower gel dispenser in the shower. Same carpet, bedding, tables, chairs, sofas, drapes, etc. Like it never closed.... We were asked to be in their new promotional video while we were there and in talking to the SOG rep, she said they'd probably redo those rooms in 2-3 years, but wanted it to be seamless for returning guests. (I think they just didn't have enough money to do it all, but there's no basis in fact for that...just an opinion.)

The new section is VERY pretty. Check out the photos I posted a week or two ago...

Q. How does the Stars & Stripes length of stay pass work?

A. The S&S pass must be equal to either the number of nights of your stay or one day less. Example - staying 5 nights, can purchase either 4 or 5 day S&S pass.

Yes, that's what they say and is printed in the pamphlett, but we've NEVER had problems getting Stars&Stripes passes for less number of days than our stay. Note that they do run consecutively, so if you're planning non-park days, they must be on the front or back end...not in the middle. In December, we stayed 5 nights but some of our guests only bought 2 day S&S passes because they had some other tickets left over from a previous trip.

Hopefully, those will help and someone else won't have to spend forever on hold like I did ;-).

Also note that online reservations is now up and running so you don't have to call if you just want to make reservations

Enjoy your trip!

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by weregoingtodw
We had quite a few questions, so I compiled a list and just called Shades of Green. This is what I found -

Q. What is the cancellation policy?

A. Up to 30 days out, no penalty. Less than 30 days, you lose your one-night deposit.

Some additional info from my time working in rsvs: You CAN cancel w/i 30 days, however to avoid the penalty, there must be a valid reason. Such as, but not limited to - a sudden ship out (verified through a copy of the orders), a death in the immediate family (we asked for the name and phone number of the funeral home), a medical crisis (as little as a broken bone or the flu to as much as surgery, verfied by a doc's note on their letterhead).

Q. Can our guests purchase in the shops? Restaurants?

A. Our guests can dine at the restaurants but cannot purchase items from the shops (including passes) because it is an AAFES facility.

This may be a new rule, but guests were allowed to purchase items from the shopette, except for liquor and....can't remember what the other item was. All they had to do was show their SoG hotel ID card. The rule used to be that the sponsor, or a member of the sponsor's family w/a valid dependent ID card, had to be the one to purchase tickets for the family, but I never worked tickets and don't know how well that rule was enforced.


Q. Are there any king-size beds?

A. No. Only queen-size beds are available.

That's interesting because we used to have two rooms that slept only 3; one king bed and the pull out. Wonder if they changed out the king and added two queens....

Q. How does the Stars & Stripes length of stay pass work?

A. The S&S pass must be equal to either the number of nights of your stay or one day less. Example - staying 5 nights, can purchase either 4 or 5 day S&S pass.

Again, the rule used to be you could purchase the above as well as one day MORE than your stay. We had a few guests who arrived so early on their initial day and left late enough on check out that they needed/wanted more days on their pass (i.e. arrive May 3 check out May 10, but get an 8 day pass).

Hopefully, those will help and someone else won't have to spend forever on hold like I did ;-).

It was very kind of you to ask those questions and post them here.

 

[RIDISNEYLOVERS]

We are thingking of staying there in November and wanted to know about their transportation - is it any better than before? Do the buses run around the clock like the Disney hotels?

Anyone know about these buses?

Thanks for your help.

Lisa

 

[Barbday62]

This was wonderful. Thank you for posting it all.

I have an internet question. Im so spoiled and I dont need to know a lot except to turn on my computer and use it. LOL


We are going in August and taking our kids. My oldest is taking a summer class (Online) and needs to be able to access the computer at least a couple times in the trip. Does the internt in the room (I think someone said Web TV) work on a rugular Lap top? It has WIFy and a modem in it but Im unsure what that means. Can someone who knows more than me help me with this?

What will she need to bring to make it work? Any cords? Or will the wireless thingy work?


Thansk so much

Barb

 

[MikeL1515]

I have a one question. I am a DOD Civ and I will be staying at SOG in May 2005. Will I be able to shop at the AAFES facility? Because the AAFES oficial website does not have DOD civ as authorized Exchange customers.

Authorized customers are:

Active Duty Military
Retirees
Reserves
National Guard personnel
Department of State Officials serving in foreign countries
and dependents of the above


Thank you

 

[clkelley]

In November 1999, we bough S&S passes for our group. My SIL was the eligible person. She showed her ID and we each paid for our own passes using our own credit cards.

In December 03 I went with a friend and she bought her annual pass and both of us a Universal Pass at the SOG store, but to make it easier she just put it on her credit card and just paid me less for her share of the campsite.

So not really sure what the current rules are.

Carol

 

[kadaten]

Originally posted by Barbday62
I have an internet question. Im so spoiled and I dont need to know a lot except to turn on my computer and use it. LOL

We are going in August and taking our kids. My oldest is taking a summer class (Online) and needs to be able to access the computer at least a couple times in the trip. Does the internt in the room (I think someone said Web TV) work on a rugular Lap top? It has WIFy and a modem in it but Im unsure what that means. Can someone who knows more than me help me with this?

What will she need to bring to make it work? Any cords? Or will the wireless thingy work?

It's WebTV so you don't need to bring anything to make it work. There's a keyboard in your room that you use and the internet comes across the tv... It's $9.95 for 24 hours of access...

If you have a laptop, however, you can bring it and avoid the $9.95. You'd unplug the phoneline from the phone and plug it into your computer. Go through the settings on your dial-up ISP to choose a local number to Orlando to avoid the long-distance charges, then dial in. You WILL have to pay the phone call charge to do this....but I think it's only 50 or 75 cents per local call....so you could do that once a day rather than $9.95 for one days's use....

 

[kadaten]

FirstNo--
Weren't the 2 items civilians can't purchase alcohol and cigarettes....and wasn't it because buying them on federal property avoids all sorts of taxes so only fed-eligible patrons can purchase them....

 

[caseywirth]

That is correct.

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by MikeL1515
I have a one question. I am a DOD Civ and I will be staying at SOG in May 2005. Will I be able to shop at the AAFES facility? Because the AAFES oficial website does not have DOD civ as authorized Exchange customers.

Authorized customers are:

Active Duty Military
Retirees
Reserves
National Guard personnel
Department of State Officials serving in foreign countries
and dependents of the above


Thank you

Yes, you will be able to shop in the store. You may not be able to purchase alcohol or cigarettes, but every thing else should be fair game.

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by kadaten
FirstNo--
Weren't the 2 items civilians can't purchase alcohol and cigarettes....and wasn't it because buying them on federal property avoids all sorts of taxes so only fed-eligible patrons can purchase them....

You're right. It came to me this morning (brain blockage yesterday) cigarettes was the other item I couldn't think of (I had just answered someone else in this thread about alcohol and cigarettes). Considering the hotel is non-smoking, I'd love to see them stop selling cigarettes period, but that's a whole 'nother can of worms.

 

[AirForceRocks]

Originally posted by FirstNo
Considering the hotel is non-smoking, I'd love to see them stop selling cigarettes period, but that's a whole 'nother can of worms.

Perhaps if it were totally non-smoking, but it's not. Unless they've changed very recently, patrons could smoke on their balconies. Not to mention the fact that there are smoking areas throughout WDW, so there is really no reason for them not to sell cigarettes at SoG.

 

[HollyJoy]

Thank you for your information!

 

[MikeL1515]

Thank You for the Information