SHADES OF GREEN at Walt Disney World Resort Thread

[Brit_Jude]

Hi! Have a SoG question and thought I would ask here. We are planning a family vacation to WDW the first week of December, including my grandmother. My late grandfather was a retired USAF Sergeant, and my grandmother still has a military ID card and gets military benefits. So since she is going with us, we would be able to stay at SoG and buy discounted tickets there, right? Only been to the World twice, the last time being 10 years ago, and both times stayed at Disney resorts, so we are new to the SoG thing. Thanks for any info!

Widowed spouses with an Uniformed Services ID card can stay at Shades of Green at the Category 2 rate "Unremarried surviving spouses of personnel who died while on active duty or while in retired status ID is DD Form 1173 or 1173-1" The ID card holder can book up to 3 rooms.

 

[Liisa1965]

This will be our first visit back in awhile and I'm looking forward to the new Magnolia pool. Are there plenty of umbrellas? DH is not a sun lover! Any word on when the Mill Pond pool will reopen?

 

[jaz0308]

Hi all! Planning on staying at SOG over Columbus Day weekend for MNSSHP and am very excited! have stayed at Shades several times but never for this special event. My question is, do they provide transportation back from the park during/after the party? i know we could always go to Poly and walk back but might have my mom with us and not sure she could make that walk. Anybody done this before?
Thanks!

 

[Reokcmom]

Can anyone tell me how the weather is in disney early to mid February? Is it too cool for the pool? Also can you see the fireworks from any of the rooms? I love this thread and I am learning so much. Thank you to all of those who have already given so much info.

 

[airplane]

Can anyone tell me how the weather is in disney early to mid February? Is it too cool for the pool? Also can you see the fireworks from any of the rooms? I love this thread and I am learning so much. Thank you to all of those who have already given so much info.

I was there February 5 through the 11th. We had two days in the 80s, two days in the 70s, and two days in the 60s. The two days in the 60s it also rained. You never know what you were going to get in February! We used the pool three days. One day both of the pools seemed warm but not hot. Another day that Magnolia pool was hot and the Millpond Pool was cool. But then the next day the Millpond Pool was hot and that Magnolia pool was cool. We heard the fireworks every night but I never looked for them.

 

[PrincessPatti]

When we were there in August we could see Wishes from the parking garage. It was nice on those nights we weren't in the parks.

 

[jusero]

Hi all! Planning on staying at SOG over Columbus Day weekend for MNSSHP and am very excited! have stayed at Shades several times but never for this special event. My question is, do they provide transportation back from the park during/after the party? i know we could always go to Poly and walk back but might have my mom with us and not sure she could make that walk. Anybody done this before?
Thanks!

We went to MNSSHP and had no prob getting back to Shades. If I remember right, we took the monorail to the TTC and caught the Shades bus from there. I do believe that bus runs for up to an hour after the latest park closing ... which can be 1 a.m. with the last bus leaving TTC at 2:20 a.m.

BTW ... you will LOOOOOVE the party. However, take your own trick-or-treat bags. The ones they hand out are kind of small.

 

[jusero]

Can anyone tell me how the weather is in disney early to mid February? Is it too cool for the pool? Also can you see the fireworks from any of the rooms? I love this thread and I am learning so much. Thank you to all of those who have already given so much info.

We were there from Feb. 9-15 and three days were in the mid 70s to low 80s. But the last two days were rather chilly. We actually used our winter coats one night. Feb. is very unpredictable in Florida.

I don't think you can see the fireworks from any of the rooms. At least, not well. You can see them from the top deck of the parking garage though. And I think they might pipe in the music now, but can't say for sure. But if you are up to it, walk across the street and watch them from the beach at the Polynesian. Nothing like watching fireworks on the beach.

 

[jaz0308]

We went to MNSSHP and had no prob getting back to Shades. If I remember right, we took the monorail to the TTC and caught the Shades bus from there. I do believe that bus runs for up to an hour after the latest park closing ... which can be 1 a.m. with the last bus leaving TTC at 2:20 a.m.

BTW ... you will LOOOOOVE the party. However, take your own trick-or-treat bags. The ones they hand out are kind of small.

Perfect! Thanks! I am so excited for the party! Do you think full sized garbage bags would be acceptable? (JK...sorta! LOL!)

 

[edk35]

Can someone tell me me if I am correct in saying that SOG guests have to pay parking per day at the parks if we choose to drive our own vehicle? Didn't they change a couple of years ago.....meaning it used to be included in staying at the resort. THANKS

 

[mapmakerj]

Yes, if you drive your own car you have to pay to park at the parks.

 

[jusero]

Perfect! Thanks! I am so excited for the party! Do you think full sized garbage bags would be acceptable? (JK...sorta! LOL!)

I saw people using hotel pillow cases! For real!

 

[jusero]

Can someone tell me me if I am correct in saying that SOG guests have to pay parking per day at the parks if we choose to drive our own vehicle? Didn't they change a couple of years ago.....meaning it used to be included in staying at the resort. THANKS

The only one you don't have to pay is MK.

 

[edk35]

Yes, if you drive your own car you have to pay to park at the parks.

Thank you

 

[edk35]

The only one you don't have to pay is MK.

Thanks

 

[Brit_Jude]

The only one you don't have to pay is MK.

Technically you should pay at MK it's not officially waived but there is a way to bypass the payment booths when driving from Shades of Green to the MK parking lot by taking the exit/turnaround on the left just past the Hess gas station. However it's probably quicker to take the SOG bus as once parked in the MK parking lot you have to walk or take the trolley to the Tickets and Transportation Center (TTC) and this is the same place the SOG bus drops off.

Disney did change the policy a few years back and SOG guests no longer get the free parking benefit at the parks. Guests staying at Disney owned and operated resorts still get complimentary parking at the parks included with their room rate.

 

[edk35]

We usually walk to the Poly and hop the monorail to MK.

 

[barbiebabe1974]

Three questions:

1. Anyone know if you have to be a guest at SOG to do the princess gig at the spa? (We are active duty, but are considering staying at CBR in May).

2. Feeling like we got a pretty good rate, but does $3545 for TWO rooms (4 adults and 4 children) May 26- June 1 with plus dining sound decent for Caribbean Beach Resort?

3. Just to make sure I'm right, we can't get a dining plan if we did elect to stay at SOG. Is there a post somewhere that discusses food options?

TIA for your time folks!

 

[denneg]

Three questions:

1. Anyone know if you have to be a guest at SOG to do the princess gig at the spa? (We are active duty, but are considering staying at CBR in May).

2. Feeling like we got a pretty good rate, but does $3545 for TWO rooms (4 adults and 4 children) May 26- June 1 with plus dining sound decent for Caribbean Beach Resort?

3. Just to make sure I'm right, we can't get a dining plan if we did elect to stay at SOG. Is there a post somewhere that discusses food options?

TIA for your time folks!

I don't know the answer to the spa question, but I'm sure someone knows.

Is that rate with the military discount? Just a suggestion, but you could rent DVC points and get a 2 bedroom for the same amount or less. Then you would have more space, a kitchen and laundry, etc.

And no dining plan or airport transportation for SOG.

 

[barbiebabe1974]

I don't know the answer to the spa question, but I'm sure someone knows.

Is that rate with the military discount? Just a suggestion, but you could rent DVC points and get a 2 bedroom for the same amount or less. Then you would have more space, a kitchen and laundry, etc.

And no dining plan or airport transportation for SOG.

I looked at the David's site re DVC. Given, I didn't put in a request, but from what I gathered, when factoring in the plus meal plan, it was far more expensive. (This is a NO COOKING ALLOWED vaca. ). Looks like I need to go back and double check that?

Tks for your time in responding!