Official SHADES OF GREEN Information

[mom2jcc]

I just called this morning (our 180 day mark) and did our CM ADR I just wanted to do one more for the trip at O'Hana for the very next day, but he said I have to wait until tomorrow. I don't remember having to wait when I did ADRs last year. So, is SOG not 180+10? Should I call back and try another cm? Thanks!

 

[WithDisneySpirit]

If you are running the Disney Marathon and staying at SOG, do they have a pickup for you to get to the race start or would I have to walk to the Poly? I hope one of you experts know

 

[ntsammy5]

We stayed there for the Marathon in January and there was transportation - IIRC at 4AM.

 

[hildarumpole]

I just called this morning (our 180 day mark) and did our CM ADR I just wanted to do one more for the trip at O'Hana for the very next day, but he said I have to wait until tomorrow. I don't remember having to wait when I did ADRs last year. So, is SOG not 180+10? Should I call back and try another cm? Thanks!

SOG doesn't particpate in the 180+10 ADRs. Some people have lucked out with CMs who are willing to fudge a day or two, but in general, they'll make you call back at the 180 mark. It's becoming extremely tiresome having to make multiple phone calls 6 mos. in advance just to eat a meal where you want at Disney and you still might not get in, even if you call first thing in the morning.

 

[Minnie Lor]

I just called this morning (our 180 day mark) and did our CM ADR I just wanted to do one more for the trip at O'Hana for the very next day, but he said I have to wait until tomorrow. I don't remember having to wait when I did ADRs last year. So, is SOG not 180+10? Should I call back and try another cm? Thanks!

SOG doesn't particpate in the 180+10 ADRs. Some people have lucked out with CMs who are willing to fudge a day or two, but in general, they'll make you call back at the 180 mark. It's becoming extremely tiresome having to make multiple phone calls 6 mos. in advance just to eat a meal where you want at Disney and you still might not get in, even if you call first thing in the morning.

I had to call each day but that's ok. I love talking to Disney. I wish they still had the toll free back door numbers but I have a lot of cell minutes so it's not too bad. I don't stay for the survey at the end though.

Some CM's will take all of your ADR's on day one but the system at night audits itself and may cancel the ones that are more than 180 days out. It happened to me on one occassion. I called about two months before trip to confirm ADR's and one wasn't there. They said that was probably what happened.

 

[mom2jcc]

I had to call each day but that's ok. I love talking to Disney. I wish they still had the toll free back door numbers but I have a lot of cell minutes so it's not too bad. I don't stay for the survey at the end though.

Some CM's will take all of your ADR's on day one but the system at night audits itself and may cancel the ones that are more than 180 days out. It happened to me on one occassion. I called about two months before trip to confirm ADR's and one wasn't there. They said that was probably what happened.

Oh, my. Sorry that happened to you.

I set my alarm for 5:50am this morning since we are central time. My DH was so confused as to why I was up before 6am Anyway, even calling first thing I couldn't get my exact ADR time I wanted. It is crazy how fast they fill up!! Guess I will be setting the alarm again...it's worth it though!

The CM I talked to was a delight. He asked me if I wanted high chairs or booster seats for our 2 yr old twins. I said lets go with the high chairs and I'll cross my fingers they will still sit in them in 6 months....he laughed and said he is in the same boat with his 2 yr old.

 

[Army Mickey]

My wife and I just returned from a 10 day stay at SOG. We were disappointed in the bus service as opposed to other Disney resorts. We remedied the situation by walking to and from the Poly to catch Disney busses or the monorail to all the parks. It is only a 5-10 min walk from SOG and the Poly is beautiful in the morning. We generally arrived at the parks earlier than we would have by waiting on the SOG bus departures in the mornings. This also allows you to be more flexible with your departure times from the parks rather than waiting 30-45 min on a SOG bus when you depart the park.

 

[mom2jcc]

My wife and I just returned from a 10 day stay at SOG. We were disappointed in the bus service as opposed to other Disney resorts. We remedied the situation by walking to and from the Poly to catch Disney busses or the monorail to all the parks. It is only a 5-10 min walk from SOG and the Poly is beautiful in the morning. We generally arrived at the parks earlier than we would have by waiting on the SOG bus departures in the mornings. This also allows you to be more flexible with your departure times from the parks rather than waiting 30-45 min on a SOG bus when you depart the park.

Thank you so much for the advice. Strangely, we walked to the Poly to catch the monorail, but never thought about catching their bus

 

[KatRob]

Many pages back there was a question about ordering cakes at SOG and there wasn't too much info. I e-mailed last night about it and this was the response I got:

We have Birthday cakes at the Express Cafe for $15.00, they need at least 2 hrs notice. Express Cafe is open 6a - 5pm daily. You may also order a full size cake made at Gooding's Bakery and they will deliver here. They need 24 hrs. notice or more if possible. Call us at 407-824-2437 with any questions or concerns.

Where is Gooding's Bakery? I know I can look it up, but I'm hot, tired and have a throbbing headache right now so I chose to ask by SOG buddies.
Thanks

 

[hercamore]

Katrob,

Goodings Grocery store is in the Crossroads strip mall east of dt disney.

They are pricy with a capital P.


herc.

 

[KatRob]

They are pricy with a capital P.


herc.

That's what I figured. I did get a chance to look them up and you can order on line but there is a $20 fee to do it. Thanks for the info.

 

[pixiedust_in_ak]

We are in the beginning stages of planning our next WDW trip. I'd love to stay at the Poly, but the prices are scary . So now I am learning about SOG. Dh leaves for Iraq soon for 15 months, so when he gets back we'll qualify for the R & R package. I have a few questions that I can't seem to find answers to if you don't mind.

Does anyone know the R & R package details? (I know 20% off room, anything else to it?)

The bus from SOG to DTD - how often, where is the drop off point?

We are a family of six. When we go the kids will be 9, 7, 3, and 1. Do we have to get two rooms? At the Poly you can do 1 room (since 5 + infant), is that the same at SOG?

Thanks so much!!

 

[WithDisneySpirit]

We stayed there for the Marathon in January and there was transportation - IIRC at 4AM.

Thank you, Al, that is great to find out!!

 

[KatRob]

The bus from SOG to DTD - how often, where is the drop off point?

We quit using the SOG bus to DTD when they moved the drop off to some rediculous spot. Especially with the little guys I would walk to the Poly and get their bus. That's what we do when ever we go.

 

[mom2jcc]

We are in the beginning stages of planning our next WDW trip. I'd love to stay at the Poly, but the prices are scary . So now I am learning about SOG. Dh leaves for Iraq soon for 15 months, so when he gets back we'll qualify for the R & R package. I have a few questions that I can't seem to find answers to if you don't mind.

Does anyone know the R & R package details? (I know 20% off room, anything else to it?)

The bus from SOG to DTD - how often, where is the drop off point?

We are a family of six. When we go the kids will be 9, 7, 3, and 1. Do we have to get two rooms? At the Poly you can do 1 room (since 5 + infant), is that the same at SOG?

Thanks so much!!

One room
2 in each bed, 1 on the pull out and baby in the crib You may request the side rails for the 3 yr. old you feel it is needed. The rooms are quite spacious as we had 2 cribs with no problem.

 

[Storm632]

pixiedust- good luck to you and your family. We recently went through a deployment as well. We did not use the R&R package when we went in June, but were told that you get 20% of your room, as well as breakfast and supper at the buffet in SoG. We did not want to be on a schedule for meals so we skipped the package and just did the room only option. At the beginning of June, the bus to DTD was once an hour. I am not sure when it leaves SoG, but it picked up at the top of the hour at DTD.

 

[vbmom40]

Mangino's is the only restaurant that would need reservations. Especially if you wanted to do something special for a certain Dad's birthday with the size group you have going. The Garden Grill is a buffet and Evergreens is a sports bar.

Other folks will be heading for exits about the time you are heading back out. Try to hit the parks that have extra evening hours if you are really concerned about the crowds. We always try to hit which ever park was opening early and switch parks for the late evenings. If you have the hopper option it makes it easy to change parks if one place is too crowded.

Plus, with the amount of time you will be there, your dad won't have to rush around or push himself too hard. It is a big place with a lot of walking, with his past knee problems he should plan some down time. You don't want his first Disney vacation to be full of painful memories.

Thank you for all the info I really appreciate everyones input.

 

[vbmom40]

Last time we visited DW we stayed at the POR so we did not take the buses into downtown disney. How many bus stops do they have as we will be coming from AK to dine at the house of Blues then catch the Cirque De Soleil show at 9pm? I wanted to get off the bus as close to the house of blues as possible. I think my dad is going to be pretty tired after a day at the park! I looked at the virtual map of downtown but I am unsure about what buses drop where?
Thanks
DK

 

[msmayor]

Another one hoping to hear where the SOG buses drop off at DTD.

From the older map I have of DTD, it appears that there is a regular Disney Bus Stop right near Pleasure Island, around lot G.

Can anyone give me an idea of where the SOG bus drops/picks up?

 

[Sleepy]

I don't know about now, but in 2006, we were looking for the SOG bus over where the other WDW buses were at DTD. My son happened to look across the parking lot and saw the SOG bus. We ran all the way across the parking lot toward the other side. Don't recall exactly where in the lot, but it seemed to be out in Egypt. I would guess near the McDonalds location??????? It was dark and we were trying not to miss the bus before it left. Seemed like we ran forever. Can't remember many details other than that.