Official SHADES OF GREEN Information

[KatRob]

Does SOG participate in the Dining Pan? I am going to be staying at the Key West Riverside in December, but wondering about the inexpensive price of SOG....maybe thinking if SOG was also participating in the dining plan that I could try to change my reservations. We are a military family.

Sorry, SOG does not participate in the dining programs. And at this late date (not kidding) you would be lucky to find anything available. I checked the reservations chart and 12/19 is available and the next two nights are "limited availability", from the 22nd on is booked solid.

I always make my ressies 52 weeks ahead. Ever since I waited until 8 months out and my week was booked up I refuse to put it off.

 

[CheshireCat]

Sorry, SOG does not participate in the dining programs. And at this late date (not kidding) you would be lucky to find anything available. I checked the reservations chart and 12/19 is available and the next two nights are "limited availability", from the 22nd on is booked solid.

I always make my ressies 52 weeks ahead. Ever since I waited until 8 months out and my week was booked up I refuse to put it off.

Oh, I'm already booked at KWR....so no problem there, I'm just paying a lot more....but I also wanted the dining plan.

 

[KatRob]

Oh, I'm already booked at KWR....so no problem there, I'm just paying a lot more....but I also wanted the dining plan.

No, I meant I always make my Shades of Green ressies 52 weeks in advance. I have actually made reservations during a stay for the next year.
Popular weeks go fast. I called 12/28/07 for this year's ressie of basically 12/18-12/27, with a break in the middle for a cruise.

 

[MrJT]

Anyone going during this promotion and using it? I made our ressies w/out it thinking we wouldn't be able to take advantage of it fully due to scheduling. (GG doesn't open for breakfast till 0700, etc...) but I was doing some number crunching, and I think it still might be better. And I was wondering, could we "use" the package just 2 nights out of 4? I'll probably call back and ask for more info, but I was wondering if anyone else has looked into and has any tips.

We are staying at SOG for 8 days, and we are doing the breakfast package for the last 5 or so days we are there (the first couple will be spent doing character breakfasts). So I think that you can. My wife made the reservations. To be sure, you need to call the hotel.

 

[Sleepy]

We are staying at SOG for 8 days, and we are doing the breakfast package for the last 5 or so days we are there (the first couple will be spent doing character breakfasts). So I think that you can. My wife made the reservations. To be sure, you need to call the hotel.

I don't have an official word from management, but I have received quotes of several packages and the minimum number of days you can do a package is 4. In your case, you had an 8 day stay, but only did 5 days as a package. Perfectly acceptable, since you fulfilling the required minimum number of nights to book a package.

I doubt you can book a 4 night package and tell them you only want 2 days and just cut the price in half. Of course, you can book the minimum 4 nights and choose to not eat in the restaurants, but you still have to pay for the portion you don't eat.

 

[ougrad86]

Oh, I'm already booked at KWR....so no problem there, I'm just paying a lot more....but I also wanted the dining plan.

I sat down and figured out what I thought we would eat compared with staying with a Disney hotel. Not sure KWR, I think a moderate? We figured with the prices we got we could pay for food OOP. But there was the only the three of us, and DS isn't a big eater, so it worked out.

 

[4nana]

Yea, my ticker is clicking

After over a year planning, so excited to see ticker down to 4 mos ! Six rooms reserved a year out, those high $ airline tickets purchased, fun ADR's in place, all the great advise on Dis boards, now just need to study TGM's touring parks to get ideas and help make things flow easier. Can't wait for TG week at the world w/family!?!?!

Happy planning everyone!!!!

 

[mom2jcc]

Yea, my ticker is clicking

After over a year planning, so excited to see ticker down to 4 mos ! Six rooms reserved a year out, those high $ airline tickets purchased, fun ADR's in place, all the great advise on Dis boards, now just need to study TGM's touring parks to get ideas and help make things flow easier. Can't wait for TG week at the world w/family!?!?!

Happy planning everyone!!!!

Isn't it exciting to see the ticker go down

So, have you used TGM before? I have been tring to make a decision on signing up?

 

[stitchrulz]

I'm glad to hear that it seems I know EMH isn't everything, but with the short January hours they do make a difference and we like to take advantage of them. I guess I'm just looking for a little reassurance that we'll still have that benefit in 2009. Anyone have a warm fuzzy for me? Thanks!

Hmmph!! I'd think that taking away the EMH's for SOG guests would be a bit of a PR stinkeroo. It would be a huge slap in the face to everyone who serves and sacrifices so places like Disney can exist. That wouldn't be very magical, would it?

If Disney does start treating SOG guests like off-site, we'll just take ALL of our entertainment dollars WAY off-site. Yep!

 

[Sleepy]

Hmmph!! I'd think that taking away the EMH's for SOG guests would be a bit of a PR stinkeroo. It would be a huge slap in the face to everyone who serves and sacrifices so places like Disney can exist. That wouldn't be very magical, would it?

MWR has to pay for the EMH benefit. If we lose the benefit, you can't be angry with Disney.

 

[stitchrulz]

MWR has to pay for the EMH benefit. If we lose the benefit, you can't be angry with Disney.

What?! Wow! I didn't realize Disney made MWR pay for this. I always thought this was something nice Disney did for those who served. What a crock! Since MWR has to pay, I could totally understand their having to cut costs, even though that would stink.

Knowing this actually makes me more annoyed with Disney. I guess I should have known they wouldn't do anything respectful or altruistic. If it doesn't help that big bottom line of theirs, forget about it.

(Thanks for the info, Sleepy! This gives me one more item to put in the "con" column for Disney. )

 

[honey11dog]

What?! Wow! I didn't realize Disney made MWR pay for this. I always thought this was something nice Disney did for those who served. What a crock! Since MWR has to pay, I could totally understand their having to cut costs, even though that would stink.

Knowing this actually makes me more annoyed with Disney. I guess I should have known they wouldn't do anything respectful or altruistic. If it doesn't help that big bottom line of theirs, forget about it.

(Thanks for the info, Sleepy! This gives me one more item to put in the "con" column for Disney. )

I agree with you! I am shocked that Disney makes SOG pay for EMH. What does it really cost Disney anyway to let SOG guests do the extra magic hours? I mean really, I end up spending more money in the parks when I arrive early and leave late, so by my calculations Disney isn't loosing money.

 

[Family Fun Mom]

MWR has to pay for the EMH benefit. If we lose the benefit, you can't be angry with Disney.

Oh, yes we can. Disney should not charge MWR for this in the first place.

 

[Mrsjvb]

why is it that people think we deserve special perks just because we or our spouses serve in the military? the entitlement mentality is getting a little much methinks. I especially hate the "My husband is getting shot at so you can say such things" or the "Disney owes us cuz we keep them free to be able to charge $50 a day for a double stroller." argument.

every single one of today's military members are VOLUNTEERS. they made the choice to serve. should Plumbers be given access to EMH even if they stay off site just cuz they are plumbers? SoG is NOT A DISNEY RESORT any longer.

we are lucky that we get the access and perks we do. NO Private company is required to offer us so much as a pat on the back. they dont have to allow SoG or MWR/ITT to sell their tickets at a discount and without taxes. But they do. They don't HAVE to allow us free parking at any of the parks lots..but they do. they didn't HAVE to sell us the resort in the first place.

do I use EMH and enjoy them..hell yes. but if they were to be taken away from SoG guests then I would not blame Disney or call them unpatriotic or a greedy money grubbing uncaring corporation. Disney doesn't owe my husband squat just because he wears a uniform to work. would I be bummed? definitely. would it change my perceptions plans and experiences.. quite probably. would I never ever return to WDW in a fit of injured pride? Highly doubtful.

 

[mom2jcc]

Well, I hope SOG keeps the EMHs because we sure do enjoy them. My DH and I would be dissappointed if they were taken away, but are still very thankful we get to stay at a Deluxe Resort right on property for such great rates.

 

[ntsammy5]

As far as I know there is no news that there will be any changes to EMH. There was a furor over parking at the parks a few months ago which turned out to be much ado about nothing. This has not even reached the status of a rumor yet.

 

[Sleepy]

why is it that people think we deserve special perks just because we or our spouses serve in the military? the entitlement mentality is getting a little much methinks. I especially hate the "My husband is getting shot at so you can say such things" or the "Disney owes us cuz we keep them free to be able to charge $50 a day for a double stroller." argument.

every single one of today's military members are VOLUNTEERS. they made the choice to serve. should Plumbers be given access to EMH even if they stay off site just cuz they are plumbers? SoG is NOT A DISNEY RESORT any longer.

we are lucky that we get the access and perks we do. NO Private company is required to offer us so much as a pat on the back. they dont have to allow SoG or MWR/ITT to sell their tickets at a discount and without taxes. But they do. They don't HAVE to allow us free parking at any of the parks lots..but they do. they didn't HAVE to sell us the resort in the first place.

do I use EMH and enjoy them..hell yes. but if they were to be taken away from SoG guests then I would not blame Disney or call them unpatriotic or a greedy money grubbing uncaring corporation. Disney doesn't owe my husband squat just because he wears a uniform to work. would I be bummed? definitely. would it change my perceptions plans and experiences.. quite probably. would I never ever return to WDW in a fit of injured pride? Highly doubtful.

I agree with you 100%. I wanted to say exactly what you did, but erased it for fear of being majorly flamed. My dad and my husband were both career military. They VOLUNTEERED for the job. They did not expect anything from anyone for their service. They did it because they wanted to.

I find it amazing that people don't realize when a business gives a discount, it is the business' way of saying "thanks". You would not expect a friend to say "thanks" everytime they see you. Why would you expect a business to constantly give, give, give? I would be ashamed to have a bully attitude or try to give someone emotional guilt by telling them they are unpatriotic if they don't give discounts at every corner. WHen a benefit/discount is removed, I definitely don't feel insulted.

We take care of our own. That is what we have MWR for.

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

Does anyone know if the other EMH-non-Disney hotels pay for their EMH privilege?

I think there is more to it than simply saying SoG isn't Disney owned/operated, so its guests aren't entitled to Disney perks. If SoG was off-property, I think it would be a different story. If the other non-Disney hotels didn't receive the Disney perks, I think it would be a different story. I don't necessarily think it's "We're military, we deserve EMH," but that SoG guests, while paying less than other deluxes, are still paying more a night than a lot of off-site hotels to be on Disney property with the perks that go along with it. Just my thoughts.

 

[Minnie Lor]

why is it that people think we deserve special perks just because we or our spouses serve in the military? the entitlement mentality is getting a little much methinks. I especially hate the "My husband is getting shot at so you can say such things" or the "Disney owes us cuz we keep them free to be able to charge $50 a day for a double stroller." argument.

every single one of today's military members are VOLUNTEERS. they made the choice to serve. should Plumbers be given access to EMH even if they stay off site just cuz they are plumbers? SoG is NOT A DISNEY RESORT any longer.

we are lucky that we get the access and perks we do. NO Private company is required to offer us so much as a pat on the back. they dont have to allow SoG or MWR/ITT to sell their tickets at a discount and without taxes. But they do. They don't HAVE to allow us free parking at any of the parks lots..but they do. they didn't HAVE to sell us the resort in the first place.

do I use EMH and enjoy them..hell yes. but if they were to be taken away from SoG guests then I would not blame Disney or call them unpatriotic or a greedy money grubbing uncaring corporation. Disney doesn't owe my husband squat just because he wears a uniform to work. would I be bummed? definitely. would it change my perceptions plans and experiences.. quite probably. would I never ever return to WDW in a fit of injured pride? Highly doubtful.

Amen!!

 

[Minnie Lor]

Does anyone know if the other EMH-non-Disney hotels pay for their EMH privilege?

I imagine that they do. I believe the Swan/Dolphin has EMH and they probably pay for it. We're staying a few nights at the DTD DoubleTree (won 3 nights) and we won't have EMH while staying there. I think there is only one DTD hotel that has EMH and that's why I believe that they pay for it. Otherwise, wouldn't they all get it?