Official SHADES OF GREEN Information

[bkreitzel]

any advice for me? we will be at SOG April 8th-April 18th. It will be my DH and I, DD6, DD just turned 4 and a 2 month old baby. In addition, my in-laws are flying in w/ us and staying until Saturday. Saturday, my husbands god-parents fly in for the remainder of the trip to help out.
I am in a WDW wedding on the 16th so it will be nice to have sitters for that evening!
The BIG question is transportation.
Should we go w/ WDW bussing and monorail or rent a car? I am unsure about it due to taking a double stroller for the big kids and possible a stroller for the baby? Do I need to bring the bucket carseat and then a snap and go stroller??? I am thinking yes, so the baby can relax there during meals, etc and not be held for ten straight days...but then how much hassle is it getting on and off transportation? Would a car make more sense? We have never NOT used disney transport.
We will go to Sea World one day and had planned to rent a car for that one day at SOG.
Now I am waffling.
Any experience on traveling w/ three kids, including an infant?
I simply am still in shock that we are going to WDW w/ a newborn. If if were not my bf from college I would back out and wait til baby was older.

 

[ntsammy5]

In 32 trips we have ALWAYS gotten a car- might just be us but we always like our own transportation. A couple of times, though we've parked the car and haven't driven though. Less than a third of those trips were to SoG, and we only drove once.

 

[Disneyfriend]

any advice for me? we will be at SOG April 8th-April 18th. It will be my DH and I, DD6, DD just turned 4 and a 2 month old baby. In addition, my in-laws are flying in w/ us and staying until Saturday. Saturday, my husbands god-parents fly in for the remainder of the trip to help out.
I am in a WDW wedding on the 16th so it will be nice to have sitters for that evening!
The BIG question is transportation.
Should we go w/ WDW bussing and monorail or rent a car? I am unsure about it due to taking a double stroller for the big kids and possible a stroller for the baby? Do I need to bring the bucket carseat and then a snap and go stroller??? I am thinking yes, so the baby can relax there during meals, etc and not be held for ten straight days...but then how much hassle is it getting on and off transportation? Would a car make more sense? We have never NOT used disney transport.
We will go to Sea World one day and had planned to rent a car for that one day at SOG.
Now I am waffling.
Any experience on traveling w/ three kids, including an infant?
I simply am still in shock that we are going to WDW w/ a newborn. If if were not my bf from college I would back out and wait til baby was older.

Well, congratulations on your pregnancy!

The real answer to your question is that you can do your trip either way - with or without a car. There are probably advantages and disadvantages to both options.

But since you asked, I personally would go ahead and get a car. We did that last trip with 2 older kids and an 11-month old, and I'm glad we did. It's not much fun to constantly be hauling a stroller, diaper bag, and baby on and off the buses. We liked the efficiency and comfort of our own rental mini van. We never fooled with the parking trams - one of us just dropped the others off by the entrance and then went and parked the car.

Have a great trip. And for what it's worth, I actually think the ages of your kids will make for a pretty easy trip. You'll have two older kids who are potty trained and semi-self reliant. Plus a 2-month old, who is very portable and mellow. He/she will be happy in a stroller for long stretches of time, but you might also want to consider a Baby Bjorn or baby sling. It's a great option to have for lines. Last trip we did a combo of the stroller and our Baby Bjorn, and it worked out great.

Happy planning!

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

Soooo, I waited until now to book our December 3-7 room (we're moving over to YC the 7-10). Bad, bad, I know. I checked online and everything was booked!! I had a small panic attack, I think!! I know I said a couple choice words. I've already got our plane tickets and had reserved the YC room. My code wasn't good until the 7th, so I had visions of off-site schlepping to the park or all of us crammed in a value or having to shell out for the King suite at the Poly (or any other equally expensive room). I called my mom ('cause I still do that when I'm in a pickle...what can I say, I'm a mama's girl!). She told me I was a grown-up and the only Disney expert, so I'd have to figure it out. Well, I decided to call SoG Reservations and, low and behold, they had rooms available, both standard and pool adjacent. Thank goodness!! So, we're booked in our pool view room for December. Now I just hope it's warm enough to use it!!

So, if your dates are coming up booked on the site, it's definitely worth a phone call.

 

[mom2jcc]

Soooo, I waited until now to book our December 3-7 room (we're moving over to YC the 7-10). Bad, bad, I know. I checked online and everything was booked!! I had a small panic attack, I think!! I know I said a couple choice words. I've already got our plane tickets and had reserved the YC room. My code wasn't good until the 7th, so I had visions of off-site schlepping to the park or all of us crammed in a value or having to shell out for the King suite at the Poly (or any other equally expensive room). I called my mom ('cause I still do that when I'm in a pickle...what can I say, I'm a mama's girl!). She told me I was a grown-up and the only Disney expert, so I'd have to figure it out. Well, I decided to call SoG Reservations and, low and behold, they had rooms available, both standard and pool adjacent. Thank goodness!! So, we're booked in our pool view room for December. Now I just hope it's warm enough to use it!!

So, if your dates are coming up booked on the site, it's definitely worth a phone call.

Congrats on getting a reservation!! What kind of code do you have for the 7th? Just curious The YC is a place we have always dreamed of staying

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

Congrats on getting a reservation!! What kind of code do you have for the 7th? Just curious The YC is a place we have always dreamed of staying

40% room-only, which worked out well because we knew we wanted to do a split between SoG and a Disney resort. We stayed at the Poly in May, and loved it!! That was our first family trip, first ever for the kids!! I actually wanted to stay at BC, but they had no rooms for the code, so we settled for YC. It just seems more "grown-up" to me (than BC), but since just DS is going this time (DNiece will be in school), I guess it's not that big of a deal. Hoping it's warm enough to use SAB!!

 

[mom2jcc]

That's a great discount. We have never recieved a code, darn it. I just want to feel included

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

Well, they sent ours to DS in my email!! Haha!! I had sent the planning DVD in his name (so he could get "mail from Mickey"), and we got a 30% code. It wasn't valid during our trip, so we didn't use it. A few months later, we got the 40% code.

I also sent a planning DVD to my niece so she could have her own copy, and I got another 30% code for her name in my alternate email. So, I'd imagine that's a good place to start. Maybe state that you've never been on the survey. I answered the surveys as though I were the kids, so maybe they're looking to entice the casual DVD watcher into becoming a full-fledged Disney vacationer.

 

[Sleepy]

Giving a bump. We lost this thread on page 8 and in the process, we have 2 others started. Better when we can keep all updated info on the same thread.

For those wondering, a few people (on the other thread) state have been able to have utilize package delivery within the last few months. Always good to have updates.

 

[bigAWL]

Giving a bump. We lost this thread on page 8 and in the process, we have 2 others started. Better when we can keep all updated info on the same thread.

For those wondering, a few people (on the other thread) state have been able to have utilize package delivery within the last few months. Always good to have updates.

Yep, I had a package delivered from AK to SOG and picked it up the next day at the reception desk. The gift shop had a standard form on which they had to check the box for the appropriate resort. SOG was on the form, she checked the box and handed me a reciept with a copy of the delivery form. Easy.

 

[KatRob]

Same here, but with a few CM's I had to show them where SOG was listed on the form.

 

[bkreitzel]

Giving a bump. We lost this thread on page 8 and in the process, we have 2 others started. Better when we can keep all updated info on the same thread.

For those wondering, a few people (on the other thread) state have been able to have utilize package delivery within the last few months. Always good to have updates.

SLEEPY-
Can you post a link to the other threads that are started, so I can check them out too?
thanks!

 

[Mrsjvb]

keep in mind that package DELIVERY is one thing. charging purchases to the SoG room key is NOT an option. you gotta use a CC or cash.

 

[Sleepy]

SLEEPY-
Can you post a link to the other threads that are started, so I can check them out too?
thanks!

They are not long threads, but I felt the questions and answers might help others.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1904728
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1905405

 

[anlashokna]

keep in mind that package DELIVERY is one thing. charging purchases to the SoG room key is NOT an option. you gotta use a CC or cash.

You can charge to your room but only at the onsite restaurants. Can't remember if you can charge your Px purchases to your room or not

 

[hildarumpole]

You can charge to your room but only at the onsite restaurants. Can't remember if you can charge your Px purchases to your room or not

No, you can't charge aafes purchases to your room. They take cash or credit cards. I asked about it and was told they aren't hooked up to the resort's billing system.

 

[Sleepy]

I know not even tickets can be charged to the room

So, I wonder exactly which food places can be charged to the room?

Evergreens
Room Service
Manginos
Garden Gallery
Starbucks
Express Cafe
That ice cream place

Anyone know which of these don't qualify? Just trying to get the exact list.

 

[Lesia]

I know for sure Evergreens and Garden Gallery can be charged to the room, I did in July.

Don't know about the others.

 

[eddad]

Does anyone know if SOG takes the Military Star card as payment for rooms or tickets..I ask because Edelweiss in Germany uses the card

 

[KatRob]

So, I wonder exactly which food places can be charged to the room?

Evergreens
Room Service
Manginos
Garden Gallery
Starbucks
Express Cafe
That ice cream place

Anyone know which of these don't qualify? Just trying to get the exact list.

I e-mailed SOG asking this question and using specific names of food services and this is what I got back:

All of the dining here, you may charge to your room, as long as you leave a valid credit card on your reservation.
Jacqueline Weeks - Shades of Green Concierge