SHADES OF GREEN at Walt Disney World Resort Thread

[Brit_Jude]

It is a really nice service they started a couple years ago.
Details are: A couple weeks before your vacation you will get an email from SOG (ticket office) with a form to buy tickets attached. Complete and return the form. When you check in your tickets will be ready at the front desk so you don't have to go to the ticket office. You do have to provide a CC number in advance (by fax or email) and that might cause anxiety for some people.
Fast & easy!

Yes this is great, that way you don't have to line up at the Attraction Ticket Sales office or worry if you get delayed and miss the sales desk when you arrive and have to wait till the next day. The tickets are placed at the front desk the day before you arrive and you'll be given an envelope at check in with your tickets/exchange vouchers to activate at the park.

 

[Brit_Jude]

We are going to Disney in 30 days! It's our first trip ever for me, my husband and two kids ages 11 and 10. We have sweet friends who are in the service and are taking us with them to disney. We are getting the 4 day park hopper pass. Will we be able to get fast passes once we get to Disney and check in? I think our friend will buy the tickets once we get there. I know four days is not that much time to see all that we can see in the parks but just the fact that we are going is amazing. We will be at shades of green 7 nights and will rest on the off days and see downtown disney! We are so excited

Aw that is nice of you friends! Yes you will be able to get the traditional paper Fastpasses at MK, HS & EPCOT. At Animal Kingdom they are testing the Fastpass plus for non-Disney resort guests so make sure you ask about this when you get to AK. You will be there at a pretty quiet time so you shouldn't have too much trouble. I would still recommend getting to the parks just prior to opening time so you can maximize the amount of rides you can accomplish with short wait times and pick up paper Fastpasses as soon as you arrive. Don't forget that as a SOG guest you can take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours by showing the resort ID/key card you get at check-in.

 

[divanicki75]

It is a really nice service they started a couple years ago.
Details are: A couple weeks before your vacation you will get an email from SOG (ticket office) with a form to buy tickets attached. Complete and return the form. When you check in your tickets will be ready at the front desk so you don't have to go to the ticket office. You do have to provide a CC number in advance (by fax or email) and that might cause anxiety for some people.
Fast & easy!

Oh wow! That's awesome!! It probably won't work for us, though Hubby is "only" a vet, not a retiree, but Mom's hubby is a retiree, so they're going with us. (Yippee! 1st time being able to go explore by ourselves sans kids!!), so we got the cheaper rate by letting them sponsor us and therefor, he'll have to buy the tickets. Here comes the problem. We requested that everyone give us Disney Gift Cards for birthday & Christmas this year so we'll be paying for our tickets that way, so I'm guessing that he'll have to go to the ticket office with our plethora of Gift Cards. Thanks for the info, though!

 

[NicoleLarson]

I see that cakes are contracted through a company called Its Tasty Too. Has anyone ever ordered a cake from here? Their pictures look better than a lot of the cakes from WDW that I have seen but I wondered how they tasted?

 

[WDW 3]

Oh wow! That's awesome!! It probably won't work for us, though Hubby is "only" a vet, not a retiree, but Mom's hubby is a retiree, so they're going with us. (Yippee! 1st time being able to go explore by ourselves sans kids!!), so we got the cheaper rate by letting them sponsor us and therefor, he'll have to buy the tickets. Here comes the problem. We requested that everyone give us Disney Gift Cards for birthday & Christmas this year so we'll be paying for our tickets that way, so I'm guessing that he'll have to go to the ticket office with our plethora of Gift Cards. Thanks for the info, though!

I don't know that you can use Disney gift cards at the SOG ticket office. I'd check 407-824-1403. I'm sure you can blow through lots of gift cards on everything else in the parks and DTD.

 

[MinnerLynn06]

Just found our ticket order form in my DH's coat pocket
He forgot all about it and has yet to fax the information to Shades Thankfully, we still have few days left to send it.

Could be worse! At least I didn't wash it!

 

[gibsontrio]

Hi everyone!
My husband and I are still stationed overseas in (Germany) but will be returning stateside in 5 short months! The last thing we did before we moved was take our kids to Disney, and the first thing we do (after we get over the time change) is return to Disney!! I just made my reservations at the Shades , this will be our 3rd time staying and given the choice of " checking out" other option, hubby wanted to stay at no other place. But MY have things changed since 2010!! Excited to see what is new, and visit our favorites! Can anyone tell me what their favorite changes have been? I booked online because I got the "go ahead" from hubby and I couldn't wait to book over the phone. Hoping to call later and get a poolside room.

 

[jusero]

Finally got chapter two of my Trip Report done. Can't believe it took so long!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=50430652&posted=1#post50430652

 

[MinnerLynn06]

Finally got chapter two of my Trip Report done. Can't believe it took so long!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=50430652&posted=1#post50430652

Absolutely love your trip reports!


Has anyone rented an ECV through one of the Disney-preferred companies? I will be renting one for the week for my mother and wanted to know if anyone had any suggestions as to which company would be best. As of now, I am leaning towards Best Price Mobility...

Getting excited...

 

[jusero]

Where in the World?



Come on over to my TR and find out: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3201400

 

[gibsontrio]

Anyone have any luck with the new fast pass system? Anyone there now? Is there any fast passes left after the first hour ? One would think we might have an advantage to those off property during EMH since we can enter when they can not and go straight to the fp+ ticket system. I'm coming in June and a bit worried , but not enough to stay anywhere by shades

 

[erddig]

Ok there are 16 of us going to disney, it is a split stay for 6 guests, 2 days at SOG and then the remaining 10 guests arrive and we all stay at Bonnet Creek for another 5-10 days. The party staying at SOG believes they will have all the "perks" ( such as EMHs) for the length of stay at SOG and these perks will continue when they leave SoG and go offsite, I believe it is just for length of stay at SOG. The thing I'm doubting is that they said they were told this by SOG staff.

Since I am doing "plans" for the whole group, EMHS for some of the group, changes things.

What I find interesting is they (SoG) have no idea about FP+ and booking 60 days out, can SoG guest make FP + ? Do they have EMHS privileges beyond their stay at SoG? Are there other on site perks that they will be able to take advantage of?

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[rebekah8284]

What I find interesting is they (SoG) have no idea about FP+ and booking 60 days out, can SoG guest make FP + ? Do they have EMHS privileges beyond their stay at SoG? Are there other on site perks that they will be able to take advantage of?

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards[/QUOTE]

Guests staying at SOG do not have access to FP+ as the hotel is not run by Disney. They are considered off site guests.

For the question of EMH you have this benefit at the parks you have to show your room card for SOG to be allowed to stay late or go in early. So unless they keep the room cards from SOG they would not be able to continue using EMH as far as I am aware. If someone else knows better then please correct me.

 

[erddig]

[QUOTE="rebekah8284". They are considered off site guests.

For the question of EMH you have this benefit at the parks you have to show your room card for SOG to be allowed to stay late or go in early. So unless they keep the room cards from SOG they would not be able to continue using EMH as far as I am aware. If someone else knows better then please correct me.[/QUOTE]

Thanks, that is what I believed.....than I got all confused.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Liisa1965]

First time posting after lurking on these forums for ages. Please forgive me for not reading through this entire thread on my very slow computer. It's been quite awhile since we last stayed at SOG, and I know some changes have been made. When we first stayed in 2005, parking at the theme parks was free for SOG guests, and I think that had changed and we paid for parking in 2007 and 2009. Are SOG guests still charged for parking at the theme parks?

We didn't eat at SOG very much the last couple of times we were there, and I heard Evergreens had closed but then reopened with a limited menu. What is it like there now? Did they ever return to the full menu?

I understand the Mill Pond pool will be closed for awhile. During that time, are the hours at Magnolia pool extended?

Finally, one more question, but this is more of a transportation question. We always liked walking to the Poly and catching the monorail to MK. I can't remember, is there a monorail directly between MK and Epcot, or do I need to go to the transportation center first? We will have a car, but if we park hop between those two parks I'd rather take the monorail if possible.

 

[airplane]

Are the stairs right next to the elevators? DS4 and 2 are scared to death of elevators

We will be at SOG in 19 days!!!

 

[jusero]

First time posting after lurking on these forums for ages. Please forgive me for not reading through this entire thread on my very slow computer. It's been quite awhile since we last stayed at SOG, and I know some changes have been made. When we first stayed in 2005, parking at the theme parks was free for SOG guests, and I think that had changed and we paid for parking in 2007 and 2009. Are SOG guests still charged for parking at the theme parks?

We have to pay for all parks except MK.

We didn't eat at SOG very much the last couple of times we were there, and I heard Evergreens had closed but then reopened with a limited menu. What is it like there now? Did they ever return to the full menu?

The last time we were there (September) we tried Evergreens and were not impressed. It is definitely not what it use to be. The food tasted like froze/microwaved food.

I understand the Mill Pond pool will be closed for awhile. During that time, are the hours at Magnolia pool extended?

I don't know about the pools. Not a pool user.

Finally, one more question, but this is more of a transportation question. We always liked walking to the Poly and catching the monorail to MK. I can't remember, is there a monorail directly between MK and Epcot, or do I need to go to the transportation center first? We will have a car, but if we park hop between those two parks I'd rather take the monorail if possible.

You will have to take the monorail from MK to the TTC and change over to the Epcot monorail.

Hope this helps! Have an absolute blast.

 

[jusero]

Does anyone know about how much a taxi would be from Shades to the nearest super walmart? Am debating on ordering from amazon.com or just taking a taxi.

 

[melificent]

Does anyone know about how much a taxi would be from Shades to the nearest super walmart? Am debating on ordering from amazon.com or just taking a taxi.

How are you getting to Shades? We took FL Tours here and they included a grocery stop.

 

[MinnerLynn06]

I'm currently at Shades right now! Leaving Tuesday morning...

After returning from the Magic Kingdom, I came upon a note left on our beds from the housekeeping staff.

"In a continuous effort to maintain a first class facility, our Magnolia Pool and hot tub will be closed Tuesday, January 21, 2014 through Friday, January 31, 2014 for scheduled maintainance. The Millpond Pool will remain open during this time for your enjoyment. Sincerely, The Shades of Green Staff"

The Millpond Pool has yet to start construction. We've been over that way on our way to the Evergreens and also had asked the front desk. The new pool (Magnolia pool) and hot tub are wonderful