Official SHADES OF GREEN Information

[LuvinBelle]

On the official SOG site, it states that if you sponsor a room for someone you must accompany the guest at all times while on SOG property. Has anyone sponsored a room for family, etc. and has experience with this? Does this basically mean we have to stay with them the whole time we are on the property? What if we want to go our separate ways a day or two Not possible?

Hey, you are NOT crazy! The website is misleading. As Pluto_fan said, one section of the website says that you don't have to accompany guests everywhere. But on the pdf that lists the rates it says: "Sponsored guest must be accompanied by the Military DoD sponsor at check-in and throughout the stay." see http://www.shadesofgreen.org/roomrates.pdf
It can be very confusing. They need to get their story straight!

 

[DMGeurts]

Hey, you are NOT crazy! The website is misleading. As Pluto_fan said, one section of the website says that you don't have to accompany guests everywhere. But on the pdf that lists the rates it says: "Sponsored guest must be accompanied by the Military DoD sponsor at check-in and throughout the stay." see http://www.shadesofgreen.org/roomrates.pdf
It can be very confusing. They need to get their story straight!

I agree that it's misleading...

We go in 3+ weeks (WHOO-HOO!!!) and we are sponsoring another family - someone I've been close to my entire life... I am a little aprehensive, as one of their children has some sort of behavoiral problems (possibly a form of ADHD - but has not been diagnosed - and I am far from being a Dr.), but I am hoping that everything will go smoothly. Everyone says that SOG is very quiet, and this family is far from it - well, so is ours, but we are military and our kids KNOW when it's time to be quiet. KWIM?

This post is not meant to be rude or to single out a disability, I am just trying to get a grasp on sponsoring. I'd love to hear from anyone else who has done it.

D~

 

[suevee]

My husband and I sponsered six room, 24 people. It was a group of family and friends. We had the best time ever!!! Needless to say we congregated at meals and a few special events. Other than that we all went our own way.
It is much more fun and less stressful that way.

Everyone was given a written agenda so they would not miss meals or could let everyone know which meals they would bail on. The planning was half the fun!!!

 

[JackJenson]

rooms. Once, we sponsored the maximum, 6 rooms total. We had 18 souls under our sponsorship.

What I noticed is that once you are checked in, there is nothing at all that indicates who is sponsor and who is sponseee. It is a resort, there are people milling about all of the time, eating in restaurants, relaxing at the pool and the lobby, and heading for the bus stops. No one knows who is actually military or not (or in our case civilian DOD employees).

We have never stayed with our friends/relatives the whole time, that would be impossible. We also have never travelled with people who would act so poorly that the management of a nice hotel would complain about their behavior. Not even close.

Kids run in the halls, and are too loud sometimes in the residential hallways, but kids are kids. The parents do a pretty good job at SOG in reminding the kids that people might be sleeping and bad behavior is usually pretty short lilved. It is a nice hotel, not a lot of drunks partying all night and being obnoxious.

I do think the rules mean that you have to be with your sponsored guests when they check in and that you have to remain a guest of the hotel the whole time that the guests are checked in. Meaning you can't leave on Friday if your guests are staying until Sunday. Nor can you split your stay and go over to Universal for one night while your guests stay at Shades.

Make sure that you order pizza from Evergreen's and eat it by the pool or in your room at your dining table when you are too tired to go out to eat, also the onion rings are to die for and the prices there are very comfortable.

Enjoy the great bus service to the TTC and the primo bus parking space there, which is basically first in line. Spread smiles around the resort and you will get such good feelings in return. In short, have a great trip.

Jack

 

[seabee]

Hey all!

Quick question, we are staying at SOG from the 18-27 of THIS month!! Yeah, it's finally here!!! I just tried to call and get the room starting on the 17th instead, because it looks like we will be there a day earlier then we planned. They are completely booked. So my question is, anyone know of a place that isn't obscenely expensive just outside the property that we could maybe get for one night? There's so many to choose from I figured I would ask to weed out the ones I shouldn't try. Thanks in advance!

 

[KatRob]

I sure don't want to make this even more confusing, but I found both sponsoring positions. I guess it depends on just where the information comes from. I think we can all agree that no one expects us to hang with a group the whole time (shoot, I don't even hang with my DH the whole time).

This is taken from the website:



Sponsoring


As an eligible Shades of Green guest, you may sponsor up to three rooms. In addition, a dependent spouse can also sponsor up to three rooms provided the following conditions are met...

You are a registered guest at Shades of Green
You agree to be responsible for your guests
You must accompany your guest at time of check in. Sponsored guest will not be authorized to check in without the sponsor being present
Sponsored guest reservations must check in on the same day and must depart before or on the same day as your reservation
You accompany your guests while purchasing attraction tickets
Your guests must follow the rules of the resort

This is taken from the confirmation letter they send out:

Sponsored guests must be accompanied by the Military/DoD sponsor at check-in and thoughout the entire stay.


That second one does sound like you have to "hang together" the whole time. Maybe they just haven't updated the fine print on the letters.

 

[fundulidae]

Hey all!

Quick question, we are staying at SOG from the 18-27 of THIS month!! Yeah, it's finally here!!! I just tried to call and get the room starting on the 17th instead, because it looks like we will be there a day earlier then we planned. They are completely booked. So my question is, anyone know of a place that isn't obscenely expensive just outside the property that we could maybe get for one night? There's so many to choose from I figured I would ask to weed out the ones I shouldn't try. Thanks in advance!

Try the POP Century resort or any of the All Star resorts. Make sure you ask for AAA rates or a military discount if it applies to you!!

 

[ntsammy5]

They just mean that the sponsor and the guest must be registered for the same time period. We've sponsored rooms lots of times and everyone went in separate directions. The only thing you need an ID for (and to be together) is to buy tickets and sometimes alcohol at the AAFES. No place else.

I even hosted a Rehearsal Dinner for kids of a friend and the 35 people who came for that bought stuff at the AAFES and had some drinks at Evergreen without any trouble.

 

[Minnie Lor]

Hey all!

Quick question, we are staying at SOG from the 18-27 of THIS month!! Yeah, it's finally here!!! I just tried to call and get the room starting on the 17th instead, because it looks like we will be there a day earlier then we planned. They are completely booked. So my question is, anyone know of a place that isn't obscenely expensive just outside the property that we could maybe get for one night? There's so many to choose from I figured I would ask to weed out the ones I shouldn't try. Thanks in advance!

I'll be there during the same time. I didn't know it was booked. Yikes Anyways, how about one night at Pop. Your kids would love it.

 

[princessesrule4]

Hey all!

Quick question, we are staying at SOG from the 18-27 of THIS month!! Yeah, it's finally here!!! I just tried to call and get the room starting on the 17th instead, because it looks like we will be there a day earlier then we planned. They are completely booked. So my question is, anyone know of a place that isn't obscenely expensive just outside the property that we could maybe get for one night? There's so many to choose from I figured I would ask to weed out the ones I shouldn't try. Thanks in advance!

You could ask SOG for Overflow rates on property!

 

[Minnie Lor]

You could ask SOG for Overflow rates on property!

You're right. I forgot about that. We had to go that route on our first trip to WDW.

 

[DMGeurts]

I'll be there during the same time. I didn't know it was booked. Yikes Anyways, how about one night at Pop. Your kids would love it.

Looks like a few of us will be there at the same time! We will be at SOG on Oct 25 - Nov 1.

D~

 

[DMGeurts]

rooms.

We have never stayed with our friends/relatives the whole time, that would be impossible. We also have never travelled with people who would act so poorly that the management of a nice hotel would complain about their behavior. Not even close.

Kids run in the halls, and are too loud sometimes in the residential hallways, but kids are kids. The parents do a pretty good job at SOG in reminding the kids that people might be sleeping and bad behavior is usually pretty short lilved. It is a nice hotel, not a lot of drunks partying all night and being obnoxious.

]

Jack

I don't think that this family that we are sponsoring will be out of control - at least I hope not - I do know that one of the children has a problem in group settings (more at school than anything), since I run an after-school daycare, I am not the least bit shy about setting kids straight, so I won't have a problem doing that. Maybe my "issue" will be a nonissue. Hopefully....

D~

 

[Sleepy]

I don't think that this family that we are sponsoring will be out of control - at least I hope not - I do know that one of the children has a problem in group settings (more at school than anything), since I run an after-school daycare, I am not the least bit shy about setting kids straight, so I won't have a problem doing that. Maybe my "issue" will be a nonissue. Hopefully....

D~

Upon check-in, a polite reminder to the kids of the expected behavior doesn't hurt. Letting the parents know ahead of time might help as well. I usually go over the expected behavior, etc with those I sponsor long before I ever reserve the room for them. I remind them that if they do something the hotel has a problem with, they can and will be thrown out and I will not be financially responsible for getting them a place somewhere else. This usually makes them understand I am not playing.

 

[Them!]

We are at the SOG right now and having a great time. The resort is probably full but you would never know it as it is quiet and peaceful. We are in the section near the parking garage. We ate at Evergreens a couple of times and it was very good but we did overhear another group complaining about the food.
The parks have been less crowded than my other trips in October. Pretty much walked on Soarin, TT, and all the MTS at MK. We won dream fast passes at MK but I didn't even have to use it!
MNSSHP was a blast and we stayed until the very end.
Well...off to have fun or get sore feet!

 

[DMGeurts]

We are at the SOG right now and having a great time. The resort is probably full but you would never know it as it is quiet and peaceful. We are in the section near the parking garage. We ate at Evergreens a couple of times and it was very good but we did overhear another group complaining about the food.
The parks have been less crowded than my other trips in October. Pretty much walked on Soarin, TT, and all the MTS at MK. We won dream fast passes at MK but I didn't even have to use it!
MNSSHP was a blast and we stayed until the very end.
Well...off to have fun or get sore feet!

Sounds great! I hope the parks stay empty until after we leave. Have a great vacation!

D~

 

[Minnie Lor]

I know that many people when staying at a Disney owned resort make Mousekeeping envelopes. I always have in the past.

Do you make MouseKepping envelopes at Shades or just lay the tip in a spot that they'll see?

 

[Sleepy]

We ate at Evergreens a couple of times and it was very good but we did overhear another group complaining about the food.

It is obvious they did not order the onion rings

Evergreens + Onion rings = Satisfaction

 

[Minnie Lor]

It is obvious they did not order the onion rings

Evergreens + Onion rings = Satisfaction

I've got to remember that. I've never had them. Maybe I could just get an order of those and skip the sandwich. I'm always so full after the sandwich.

 

[Disneyfriend]

I know that many people when staying at a Disney owned resort make Mousekeeping envelopes. I always have in the past.

Do you make MouseKepping envelopes at Shades or just lay the tip in a spot that they'll see?

I do make the mousekeeping envelopes still. I figure it can't hurt to make it really clear that we are intending to leave a tip for them . . .

Sounds like several of us are getting ready to go at the end of October. We'll be there Oct. 18 through the 30th. Have a great trip, everybody!