SHADES OF GREEN at Walt Disney World Resort Thread

[bellemeeko1]

So I am all set to leave in a couple weeks. We got in on the 30% in Sept deal so we are only paying $92.25. Then today I get an email offer from Shades saying we could extend our stay and get 50% off the new date(s). So I called the hubby and asked if he wanted to go down a day early, and of course it's a YES! So, I called Shades and booked the day before for 50% off ( $61.50 50% of the $123 rate) and then I went to SW to change our flight down and I saved $30! So to get an extra day added on to our vacation only cost us $31.50 all together!

So those going soon watch your emails you never know what awesome deal you may get!

Shades did say in the email that the 50% is only for those already booked....its to get you to extend your stay

 

[BabyFu18]

Update, you can see the MK fireworks perfectly from our room, nice plus!

I did get the 50% offer, but it was sent at 3:01pm yesterday after we had already checked-in! If we had of gotten the email a couple days before we checked-in we could have extended the trip, but at this point it's to late, unfortunately. But hey, it's a great deal if you can take advantage of it.

 

[cybrkitn]

Walk across the street and have a nice breakfast at the Kona Cafe in the Poly.

I don't know if that would be a good idea for us. My father passed away back in 2008. Right before he did, my mom was with her brother and SIL on a cruise around Hawaii (he went in the hospital sometime during her trip). She doesn't want to remember that trip b/c of that, so we were thinking it best to stay away from Poly. This is also her first trip to Disney without my dad.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/propertymap.htm

SoG isn't listed but its the resort in the middle of golf courses a, b & c.

Thanks. I see see that GF and CSR are near there as well. Looks like CSR is close to AK where our friends are going that day. So we might be able to do breakfast at either GF or CSR depending on their schedule. We're not leaving until early evening to come home.

 

[stitchrulz]

Update, you can see the MK fireworks perfectly from our room, nice plus!

Very cool! What room number are you in?

 

[belle aube]

Hi, my family stayed at Shades of Green last year for the first time after years of staying at various resorts, and we found it to be such an amazing property! We're headed back this September, but I've run into a dilemma I need help with.

My family and I are flying in from different cities and my airline has chosen to reschedule my flight four times since I purchased the ticket this spring. I am now landing at MCO five hours earlier than my family, and more importantly, my sponsor. I'll have one large piece of luggage and a carry-on and I'd like to drop them off at SOG, even though I can't check in without my sponsor. I have to call SOG this week to find out if they'll let me past the gate check if I don't have my sponsor with me. I'll probably be taking the SuperShuttle to get to SOG from MCO.

Can you guys think of any other issue or potential help I might not be considering? Thanks!

 

[smile5sunshine]

Hi, my family stayed at Shades of Green last year for the first time after years of staying at various resorts, and we found it to be such an amazing property! We're headed back this September, but I've run into a dilemma I need help with.

My family and I are flying in from different cities and my airline has chosen to reschedule my flight four times since I purchased the ticket this spring. I am now landing at MCO five hours earlier than my family, and more importantly, my sponsor. I'll have one large piece of luggage and a carry-on and I'd like to drop them off at SOG, even though I can't check in without my sponsor. I have to call SOG this week to find out if they'll let me past the gate check if I don't have my sponsor with me. I'll probably be taking the SuperShuttle to get to SOG from MCO.

Can you guys think of any other issue or potential help I might not be considering? Thanks!

We were able to check in prior to our sponsor being there. About a week before our check in date, our sponsor called shades of green and they emailed her a form to fill out and fax back to them that would enable us to check in before she arrived. Worked flawlessly. YMMV

Sunshine

 

[smile5sunshine]

We had the pleasure at staying at Shades of Green at the beginning of Aug. The entire resort is BEAUTIFUL and we truly enjoyed our stay.

I wanted to add a picture review of the Palm Suite in case anyone is looking for more information on this room.

The Palm Suite has three bedrooms, a kitchenette, a dining room, a living room area and two bathrooms that are NOT in any of the bedrooms.

Kitchen Area: Has a sink, microwave, FULL SIZE refrigerator/freezer and is stocked with dishes (breakable type), glasses and mugs, silverware, can opener, and a few serving spoons. There is also a 12 cup coffee maker (uses CONE filters or the pods they provide there). Housekeeping WILL wash dishes for you if you ask them to, otherwise there is NO dishwasher. We used paper plates mostly to avoid making more work for us or our housekeepers! There are also two counter stools at the island.

The Dining area seats 6. The chairs have fabric bottoms. We used extra room towels to cover over the cloth so the kids didn't spill and mess up the chairs. Two full length mirrors on the wall if you need them. You can see the doors on the left and right that lead to each bathroom and also two bedrooms.

Computer station: this is next to the island in the kitchen. Computer set up for accessing the internet. The door to the right is the kids/bunk room. To the left of the computer station is the main room door.

I realized that I didn't get a picture of the living room area. There is a fireplace (that works!) with a large flat screen tv over it. There were two three seater couches on each wall and an additional two recliners. Also a coffee table and end tables.

The bathrooms were located on each side of the dining area and NOT tucked into either bedroom.

Bathroom #1 (on left) has two sinks and a ADA accessible tub with duel shower heads.

Bathroom #2 (on right) has ONE sink and an ADA accessible SHOWER.

There are two bedrooms that are identical. They are each REALLY SPACIOUS! Each has a large dresser with a mirror, flatscreen tv mounted on the wall, TWO queen sized beds, a loveseat that pulls out into an extra twin bed, an easy chair and a sliding door leading out to a patio. There is also a closet (with safe)

Then there is the "Bunk" room or kid's room.
the wall is painted with a space mural. there are two bunk beds. with little STEPS that lead up to the top (NOT ladders). The sides of the steps/bunks are drawers that pull out for dresser space. Each bed has a little overhead tv/dvd player AND "night lights" with their own switch. there are two rocking "gaming chairs" and four lockers.

**Edit** Someone posted a question about pricing and occupancy of the room. Like all the other rooms at SOG, pricing depends on rank. SIL is a DOD civilian so we paid the highest rate and in 2012 it was $375 per night for this room. The room will hold up to 14 people. There is the additional adult fee if you have more than 6 adults staying in the room.

Okay, I hope this will help someone in the future.
Sunshine

 

[lilsk8nmac]

Hear now and totally unpacked and settled in, we have a third floor room at the end of the hall facing the quite pool (but pretty much all we see is a tree and a little blue water), the locations not bad though just not my favorite. For some reason it's a lot louder at the quite pool than at the Mickey pool also seems busier at the quite pool (so, not necessarily quite). Anyway, we keep getting the same woman checking us in every year and she's not really helpful with room request or trying to help you change rooms so we decided we wouldn't mess with it. Though none of our requests were met when we checked in we did push for connecting rooms and got it so the rest will be perfectly fine.

The weather is nice right now not to warm, but the man who helped us with our bags said the rain is supposed to set in but the weekend so we will see. Even if it rains we will still do the parks and enjoy it.

Saw a sign for the aafes expansions "this fall" but absolutely no mention of the pool refurb.

So overall, so far so good! If you have any questions I can answer while I'm here I'll do my best.

You were like literally right down the hall and around the corner from us. I wish I would have known while there, but with the crappy wifi we experienced for some reason,

 

[belle aube]

We were able to check in prior to our sponsor being there. About a week before our check in date, our sponsor called shades of green and they emailed her a form to fill out and fax back to them that would enable us to check in before she arrived. Worked flawlessly. YMMV

Sunshine

Awesome, thanks for sharing! I'll give them a call this week.

 

[Nomad70]

13 DAYS!!!!

We are so ready for this vacation! Rain or shine we will be there!

 

[kidsrfun]

I arrived in Orlando today!! Yay!!! I'm currently at the Pop but will be checking into SOG tomorrow morning! I can't wait!!

 

[hmdavid]

Hello! I am running my first Princess Half Marathon in February and am thinking of staying at Shades. Has anyone stayed at SoG for a marathon weekend? Do they offer any kind of transportation to the race? Would love to stay at SoG but if we have to rent a car to get to the race, it will be cheaper to stay at a Disney property with the mil discount. Thanks!

 

[MAGGIED]

So I am all set to leave in a couple weeks. We got in on the 30% in Sept deal so we are only paying $92.25. Then today I get an email offer from Shades saying we could extend our stay and get 50% off the new date(s). So I called the hubby and asked if he wanted to go down a day early, and of course it's a YES! So, I called Shades and booked the day before for 50% off ( $61.50 50% of the $123 rate) and then I went to SW to change our flight down and I saved $30! So to get an extra day added on to our vacation only cost us $31.50 all together!

So those going soon watch your emails you never know what awesome deal you may get!

Shades did say in the email that the 50% is only for those already booked....its to get you to extend your stay

We are staying in September - I have 3 rooms booked... would have loved to get that and save some $$$$ we are at the $92.25 a night..

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Hello! I am running my first Princess Half Marathon in February and am thinking of staying at Shades. Has anyone stayed at SoG for a marathon weekend? Do they offer any kind of transportation to the race? Would love to stay at SoG but if we have to rent a car to get to the race, it will be cheaper to stay at a Disney property with the mil discount. Thanks!

If it going on at MK, your best bet is to walk across to Poly and take the monorail. We were there in January during one of the marathons and they were discouraging you from driving, especially close to the TTC because of the traffic. Buses were rerouted and it was just one big mess. People were swamping the monorail even trying to get from one point to the next to beat their runners, so they could hold up signs. It was a nightmare and we only had to deal with it one day.

 

[hmdavid]

If it going on at MK, your best bet is to walk across to Poly and take the monorail. We were there in January during one of the marathons and they were discouraging you from driving, especially close to the TTC because of the traffic. Buses were rerouted and it was just one big mess. People were swamping the monorail even trying to get from one point to the next to beat their runners, so they could hold up signs. It was a nightmare and we only had to deal with it one day.

Thanks, it starts at EPCOT but the monorails won't be running yet. We have to be there by 4:30 am or something crazy like that! Was hoping Shades might have a bus running or a shuttle available.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Thanks, it starts at EPCOT but the monorails won't be running yet. We have to be there by 4:30 am or something crazy like that! Was hoping Shades might have a bus running or a shuttle available.

I'm not sure about Shades, but I know that the Disney resorts had shuttles running early for the runners, because they were asking and giving out that info when we checked in at BWI in January.

 

[hmdavid]

I'm not sure about Shades, but I know that the Disney resorts had shuttles running early for the runners, because they were asking and giving out that info when we checked in at BWI in January.

Yes, we'll definitely be covered if we go that route. I am going to call SoG today to see if they'll have a shuttle. It's been a while since we have stayed there, and I would like to for this trip!

 

[buffettgirl]

Well, here I am trying to get out of florida. The weather apparently is not cooperating. Not isaac though. Our plane was coming from ny and got stuck there earlier today. So my 730 flight has now turned into a 930pm flight. I was never so happy that we rented a car this trip. We ended up driving around some of the other resorts to see how they compare to sog ..

Nice parts are that they all have food. Haha. My brother made the mistake one night of of ordering pizza at manginos. He waited over 30 min and he said it was disgusting. So it was fun to walk into other resorts and see food courts. We ate at riverside. Can't say I thought the food was any better than any other tasteless disney food though. It was nice to have options.

What I liked more about shades, it was considerably quieter than the ones we visited. I think shades is a nice break from the disney chaos. We drove throuh pop century and art of animation, and I think they are just too much for me. while i like carribean, my son called the food court there crazy. Loved the theming at por t orleans riverside, by the size is a bit hard to manage. I also had to laugh a lot at how many people looked like cattle being herded at the values.

I found shades to be exceptionally clean this year. We ate at express cafe every mornig and many times got sandwiches for lunch. Totally yummy hand prepared food. We ate at the breakfast buffet twice. Good value. Food is perfectly tasty. Ill try to post more tomorrow if I ever get home lol

 

[robin19871]

Well, here I am trying to get out of florida. The weather apparently is not cooperating. Not isaac though. Our plane was coming from ny and got stuck there earlier today. So my 730 flight has now turned into a 930pm flight. I was never so happy that we rented a car this trip. We ended up driving around some of the other resorts to see how they compare to sog ..

Nice parts are that they all have food. Haha. My brother made the mistake one night of of ordering pizza at manginos. He waited over 30 min and he said it was disgusting. So it was fun to walk into other resorts and see food courts. We ate at riverside. Can't say I thought the food was any better than any other tasteless disney food though. It was nice to have options.

What I liked more about shades, it was considerably quieter than the ones we visited. I think shades is a nice break from the disney chaos. We drove throuh pop century and art of animation, and I think they are just too much for me. while i like carribean, my son called the food court there crazy. Loved the theming at por t orleans riverside, by the size is a bit hard to manage. I also had to laugh a lot at how many people looked like cattle being herded at the values.

I found shades to be exceptionally clean this year. We ate at express cafe every mornig and many times got sandwiches for lunch. Totally yummy hand prepared food. We ate at the breakfast buffet twice. Good value. Food is perfectly tasty. Ill try to post more tomorrow if I ever get home lol

Sounds like you had a great time.. I have to laugh at the airplane delay back to NY though.. EVERYTIME we have flown back to NY in the past 5 years from MCO our flight has been delayed. ( Always at our connection though) I can just count on it..
I agree about how peaceful Shades is.. Even at Easter when you would expect a lot of loudness, it is still quiet..
Did you eat at the Greens Grille? We booked our room poolside at Magnolia just off of your recomendation.. Only 7 months to go..

 

[WDW 3]

Well, here I am trying to get out of florida. The weather apparently is not cooperating. Not isaac though. Our plane was coming from ny and got stuck there earlier today. So my 730 flight has now turned into a 930pm flight. I was never so happy that we rented a car this trip. We ended up driving around some of the other resorts to see how they compare to sog ..

Nice parts are that they all have food. Haha. My brother made the mistake one night of of ordering pizza at manginos. He waited over 30 min and he said it was disgusting. So it was fun to walk into other resorts and see food courts. We ate at riverside. Can't say I thought the food was any better than any other tasteless disney food though. It was nice to have options.

What I liked more about shades, it was considerably quieter than the ones we visited. I think shades is a nice break from the disney chaos. We drove throuh pop century and art of animation, and I think they are just too much for me. while i like carribean, my son called the food court there crazy. Loved the theming at por t orleans riverside, by the size is a bit hard to manage. I also had to laugh a lot at how many people looked like cattle being herded at the values.

I found shades to be exceptionally clean this year. We ate at express cafe every mornig and many times got sandwiches for lunch. Totally yummy hand prepared food. We ate at the breakfast buffet twice. Good value. Food is perfectly tasty. Ill try to post more tomorrow if I ever get home lol

I totally agree with the peace & quiet. Some people say Shades lacks the "Disney Feel" and for that I am grateful!

I think Everyone is in total agreement that Shades needs to add a decent food option/food court but I don't know how it would pay for itself. We walked into the food court at POFQ and it was dead except for breakfast. Disney can afford it because they make piles of money but I don't know if shades could??