Need info about Shades of Green..HELP!!

[lauriann]

We are a military family and have never been to Disney, but we really want to go next April-May when my husband comes home from Korea. He has been a drill Sergeant for the last 3 years, so we hardly ever got to see him and now he is in Korea for a 1 year tour. I really think a vacation is just what we need I really like the looks of Coronado Springs, but was told that SOG gave good deals for deployed soilders. My husband isn't deployed, but is doing a hardship tour, so not sure if it is treated the same or not. Here are some questions I have..

Are the rooms nice?
If you have been there before, would you go back again?
What are the pros and con?
Can you still do the Character Breakfast?
Do they have the room delivery service when you buy stuff at Disney?
What is the resort closest too..Magic Kingdom, Epcot????
How is the food? Reasonably priced?

Thank you to all that can help me out. I plan on calling there to find out if they have any package deals, but would like opinions from someone who has been there first hand.

Smiles,
Lauri

 

[califred]

I've never been there but I can answer some of your questions..

You can eat anywhere at disney even if you're not staying on site.
SOG has transportation to all the parks.
SOG is across the street from the POly, I belive it's about a 15 minute walk and you can hop on the monorail, near MK.

Also, if SOG is full when you want to go (this woulnd't happen until closer to your stay), you can ask if they have any overflow rates at the other Disney Hotels, you may be able to get a great rate this way at Disney hotel.

The package deal they have now specifically says you have to be returned from OIF or OIE.

 

[samefay]

Just stayed last week. Second time staying there and yes we would stay again.

Rooms are larger than most deluxes on Disney Property.
Food is great and the price can't be beat. $7 for breakfast buffet. (Our daughter was 3 1/2 and she was FREE. $14 for dinner buffett - Friday night is seafood - nothing much on it except CRABLEGS - yummy.
Mangino's the Italian Restaurant - excellent. Kids meals were pricey but DH split and appetizer and dinner entree and that was a lot of food. Total price wasn't bad.
The resort is closest to the Magic Kingdom. The resort is big so you have to do a lot of extra walking. I really didn't care for the bus service. We almost always walked to the POLY.
Wildlife was abundant. Alligators in the ponds - very visible. Racoons in the trash cans - late at night. AND deer that we walked right up on and they didn't seem to mind us being there.
It was a great trip and even though our 3 1/2 yr old begged and pleaded for the POLY we thought it was a great choice for this time.

Hope you have fun and your husband will be safely back soon.

Forgot to add - no character meals at the SOG.

 

[Butch50]

Are the rooms nice?

The rooms are VERY nice. They are the largest standard rooms on the Disney Property. You get two queen-sized beds, and a good sized bath.

If you have been there before, would you go back again?

Yes, in fact, we have stayed there three times.

What are the pros and con?

Cons first:
No Disney theming.
No Mickey wake-up calls.
Pros:
The price.
Big rooms.
The price.
Sits between two PGA-tour golf courses.
The price.
The parking deck.
The price.
Great prices on Disney mechandise in the AFFES store.
The price.
Did I mention that I think you get a great price on the room?

Can you still do the Character Breakfast?

Absolutely, yes. But make your ressies 90 days in advance - just like everybody else. There are not any character meals at SoG.

Do they have the room delivery service when you buy stuff at Disney?

Can't help you there, we have never tried to do it.

What is the resort closest too..Magic Kingdom, Epcot????

It is closest to the MK.

How is the food? Reasonably priced?

We have not eaten at Mangino's, but hear that it is very good. We have eaten at the Garden Gallery, and thought that the food was very good considering the price you pay for it.

 

[suevee]

One suggestion - Book now! You can book for 30 days, pay one nights deposit, and pare down the days when you get closer to you. That way you are sure to get a room! You can cancel your room 30 before your trip for a full refund.

Are the rooms nice? - Wonder rooms!
If you have been there before, would you go back again?YES and we have many times!!!!
What are the pros and con? For us there are no cons. The price, size of rooms, location, discounted tickets, and cheaper meals all in a beautiful setting!!!
Can you still do the Character Breakfast? YES!!!
Do they have the room delivery service when you buy stuff at Disney?YEs!!!
What is the resort closest too..Magic Kingdom, Epcot????- Both as you take a bus to the TTC. But you can walk to Poly to catch the monorail to MK.
How is the food? Reasonably priced?
Yes, but not the best quality at times.

Hope this helps!!!

 

[lauriann]

Thank you for all your quick respones. I just called SOG and was told that if I wanted reservations in May to not wait too long. I guess I have some serious thinking to do. It sounds like a vary good deal to me though. I was told that for a pool side room, it would be $109/night.

A couple more questions...
Could anyone recommend a good Standard room on pool side? Not sure if I can request rooms there or not, but maybe a certain location???
We would like to be closer to the smaller pool area I think, because of the kids. We have a 3 and 5 year old. I know with Coronado Springs, you can request the ranchos, cabanas, or Casitas. Are all the rooms pretty much the same?
How many stories does it have? Is it more convenient to stay on the ground floor?

Okay...I think that is all the questions I have for now. I might just call back and make the ressie. I can always cancell, but want to make sure I don't miss out on this deal.
Thanks again for all your help. I am really getting excited about this trip!!

 

[lauriann]

Well, I made a ressie for May 1-8 for a standard room with pool side. I requested to be near the Magnolia pool. It looks like it is closer to the lobby and thought it might be quieter than the big pool area. They said that they couldn't garantee a room there, but added the request. It doesn't really matter to me. I just like the idea of being able to walk out my room and having the pool right there. With me getting the pool side room, it does guarantee me a ground floor room. Does anyone know if there is a table with chairs in the patio area? I can't wait to talk with my husband again to let him know that we have reservations. Now we just have to wait!

Thanks again to all of you for helping me make this decision,
Lauri

 

[airplane]

Yes, there are chairs and a table on the groud level.
SOG is usually at capacity but if you pay extra for a pool side room they should be able to accomodate your request for a ground level room. Make sure you ask at check in.
The kids pool is located in the main pool area (with the mickey head shaped pool), not magnolia which is also the quiet pool so you might want to see if you can be by the other pool. The magnolia pool area has the hot tub.

YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE THE SOG. Everyone is so friendly!

 

[lookingforward]

You made an excellent choice. The SOG is wonderful, friendly and very fairly priced. I have stayed at all the Deluxe hotels at WDW (except the Beach Club) and can honestly say that the SOG rooms are the biggest. The restuarants are a good bargain with good food. You will have a great time. You get all the perks of staying on property too, including early entry. There is a great coffee shop by the bus stop at the resort. And covered parking. Hope your husbands tour goes quickly, I have been to Osan and did three years in Okinawa with my husband.

 

[lauriann]

Thanks. I think we will be very happy there. I have heard that before, with the rooms being the biggest. I like the fact that nothing is taxed, including the room. Does anyone know the cut off age where they eat for free?

I hope this year goes by fast. We both have webcams, so we get to see each other daily which helps out a lot...especially the girls being able to see daddy. He is in Pusan now, which I think is right near Osan. His friend is TDY and is in the Airforce stationed there.
We will be there for my husband's birthday. Do you know if they would do the cake thing for him? I am really looking forward to the Friday night seafood. I love crablegs...Is it all you can eat??

Micky here we come!
Lauri

 

[jckdisneybound]

We just got back two weeks ago and loved it!

Are the rooms nice? Very nice and roomy! The old wing hasn't been redone yet, but we had no complaints!

If you have been there before, would you go back again? Absolutly, for the price you can't beat it! Tried to make ressies again for Nov, but they are booked for the time we want so got a good overflow rate for AKL

What are the pros and con?
Cons - The front desk staff wasn't the friendliest
- At Evergreens you pay extra for your fries if you buy a sandwich or burger.
- This has changed, but if you valet at SoG it doesn't give you valet privledges at the Deluxe resorts. That was my biggest complaint.

Pros -
Location, location, location!!! It's easy to get to the TTC via car (we always drove).
The pools are nice (we hung out at the Mill Pond Pool)
No taxes!!!
The bell staff and valet staff were awesome!!!!

Can you still do the Character Breakfast? Yes you can, but if it's a prepark opening one you will not be able to take SoG buses to get there they start running 1 hour prior to park opening.

Do they have the room delivery service when you buy stuff at Disney? Yup like the other onsite resorts, it's delivered to the hotel, Front Desk leaves a mesage on your phone and TV and you pick it up

What is the resort closest too..Magic Kingdom, Epcot???? MK

How is the food? Reasonably priced? We did Evergreens quite a bit, not cheap a little more than counter service at the parks, but we got more food also. The breakfast buffet is a deal. $7.00 for adults, maybe $4.00 for kids!

Oh and you mentioned the cutoff for the buffets, it's 3 and under eat free at the buffets for the hotel. Any other questions ask away!!!