SHADES OF GREEN at Walt Disney World Resort Thread

[edk35]

Here you go - I actually have this info from my Trip Report... Everything is in one room - with a small wall blocking the toilet. It would be awesome if SoG would remodel these bathrooms...

Looking straight ahead from the door...

Looking right from the door...

Looking left from the door...

All of the bathrooms from the original Golf Resort addition are configured this way - it wasn't until remodel and additions added to make this resort The Disney Inn, the the bathrooms were given a better configuration.

D~

THANKS!!!!! Yes I prefer the two sink bathrooms!! I enjoyed looking at this map!!! We stayed at the SOG when it did not have the NEWER building.. back in 1995. It was SOG by then however and not Disney Inn. We booked it again in 1998 but SOG ended putting us up in the POLY because it was overbooked!!! We were stationed in Japan at the time and I guess they mailed us the info or something. I can't remember. We just had to pay TAX but got the same SOG rate. It was crazy!!!! THEN when we wanted to stay there in 2002 again....SOG was under refurb so they put us in the CR in one of the garden wings. That is where they booked SOG guests. We love staying at SOG even though we eventually bought into DVC in Jan. 2007. We have added nights on at SOG to our DVC trips because we wanted to extend our trip and/or ran out of points. LOL We are booking our spring break vacation next April at SOG because we went in Nov. 2015 on points and stayed 3 nights in April on points and are staying on points in Oct. SOG is always a wonderful stay too.

 

[edk35]

I know FL weather can be unpredictable, but you should be good unless an unusual cold front is passing through. November temps are usually high 70s or low 80s, plus the pools are heated.

We have had warm Thanksgiving trips and we have had COLD ones where we were buying gloves in the parks. LOL

 

[edk35]

So if you like to stay in the "newer" Palm side....do you prefer a certain floor if so why? How many floors are there in the Palm building? Can you hear people above you if you book Lobby level?? I feel like we are always on an upper floor way in the back.

 

[famouschinesec]

Alrighty everyone... I have a mission for you! LOL

If any of you follow SoG's FB page - you'll see that Evergreens has reopened!

The mission - if you choose to accept it.... Can someone who is going soon find out if they are back to serving a full grill menu... From what I can tell in their Flikr album - it looks to me like they have a full bar again, and a possible full grill - with the ability to serve burgers and fries. Can someone confirm this??? Not having a full grill for years - this has been a deal breaker in the past for my family and I - and it would make staying at SoG a much better experience for us.

Thanks, in advance, to anyone who is willing to take this on!

D~

Yes, full grill. Burgers come with chips, fries are their own side. French fries or sweet potato fries, onion rings. I will post photos when I get home on Thursday. I can't compress the photos on my mini mac. The new bar space is beautiful, the noisy game machines have been moved to their own room. Many more tables which are nice, however, I don't think they would ever be able to staff the place if there were actually that many customers. I had a VERY bad experience at the bar yesterday which resulted in about a 45 minute conversation with an awesome manager named Matt who is trying his best to manage all the food & beverage options on the property. Something I had not really ever considered: the employees at SOG are federal government employees working for DOD. If the government is out of money and has a hiring freeze; guess what? Shades can't hire permanent employees. They can fill in with some temps but that is a mere bandaid. If there is an event going on on the property which requires enhanced security such as the upcoming Invictus Games May 8-12 with people arriving as early as tomorrow, then they get really stretched. More stringent background checks are required for such events. I didn't mean to be so long winded for such a simple assignment but just thought I would pass along some intel.

 

[LG2]

Quite interesting. Thanks for sharing! Looking forward to the photos ...

 

[capegirl]

So if you like to stay in the "newer" Palm side....do you prefer a certain floor if so why? How many floors are there in the Palm building? Can you hear people above you if you book Lobby level?? I feel like we are always on an upper floor way in the back.

We always stay in the Palm wing. I know people love to be closer to the pools, but I would rather sacrifice distance for peace, and we don't mind waking to the pools. We have stayed in the Magnolia wing in the past, and it was not my cup of tea. As I recall, there are five floors in the Palm wing, and we always request an upper floor with a courtyard view ( I'm all about peace & quiet ). Last April we had a pretty decent view of the fireworks from our balcony. I have never requested the lobby level, although it is the most convenient for getting around. We have stayed on the third and fourth floors, and maybe we were just lucky, but we have never encountered noise from the rooms above. The third floor is closest to the laundry room. If you have a car, the Palm has easy access to the parking garage. Many people want to be where the action is, but sometimes the rooms 'way in the back' can be a bonus. I will admit to having a tough time sleeping in hotels, so I will
do whatever it takes to find a quiet zone.

 

[firstwdw]

We have never stayed here but we qualify and are strongly considering it for our next trip April 2017. I have a few questions:
1. Are they renovating ALL the guest rooms or just a certain section of the resort?
2. When people say the Palm Wing is far.....how far is far? We'd likely use the main pool with slide often, and walk over to the Poly often.
3. The big bathrooms with split between double sinks and toilet are in the older magnolia section, correct? Are they also renovating those guest rooms?

Is it best to make any requests when making the reservation?
Capegirl: After reading your post I am thinking the Palm Wing might be best for us-we are light sleepers too. How long a walk to the pools? 5-10min or even longer?

 

[edk35]

We don't think it is very far to get to anywhere at SOG. We prefer Palm building. The two sink bathrooms are defintely in the Palm building but I think the other section has some now too?? I always felt like the Palm rooms were bigger than the older section. We walk to the POLY every time we stay at SOG and go to MK. SOG is a very very nice resort. SOOOOO clean and quiet and we love staying there. I think you can't go wrong at all wherever you stay at SOG. Yes make a request when you book your resort.

 

[LG2]

We don't think it is very far to get to anywhere at SOG. We prefer Palm building. The two sink bathrooms are defintely in the Palm building but I think the other section has some now too?? I always felt like the Palm rooms were bigger than the older section. We walk to the POLY every time we stay at SOG and go to MK. SOG is a very very nice resort. SOOOOO clean and quiet and we love staying there. I think you can't go wrong at all wherever you stay at SOG. Yes make a request when you book your resort.

I agree. Just be aware that SoG can't guarantee anything. And be sure to ask again when checking in. In 2010, we requested: Connecting rooms (total of 5), Garden View, Lobby Level, Palm (New) Building. We did get three rooms in a row and two other rooms around the corner which connected to each other, and all on the same floor! Requested lobby level to minimize elevator use, but having the 5 rooms near each other on the same floor was most important. Any way, the kids would race to the elevator to push the call button LOL. I don't even remember the view, but I believe it was third floor in the Palm Bldg not far from the lobby. When going to the Poly, ask the attendants (bell hops?) if the Shady Shuttle is available - a golf cart that takes you to the road adjacent to the Poly.

 

[capegirl]

We have never stayed here but we qualify and are strongly considering it for our next trip April 2017. I have a few questions:
1. Are they renovating ALL the guest rooms or just a certain section of the resort?
2. When people say the Palm Wing is far.....how far is far? We'd likely use the main pool with slide often, and walk over to the Poly often.
3. The big bathrooms with split between double sinks and toilet are in the older magnolia section, correct? Are they also renovating those guest rooms?

Is it best to make any requests when making the reservation?
Capegirl: After reading your post I am thinking the Palm Wing might be best for us-we are light sleepers too. How long a walk to the pools? 5-10min or even longer?

I think all Palm wing rooms are renovated; they began last April when we were there.
If you frequent the pools, you
may be happier with Magnolia, but there is definitley more activity in this wing. There are a few different ways to get to the pools from the Palm, but we usually walk through the main lobby (stop at Starbucks), cross over to Magnolia, and take the elevator to the lower level; from this point you have very easy access to the pools. I would say it takes no longer than 10 minutes if you don't make any side trips. Last year we were staying with extended family, and initially I was concerned about the hike to the pool because we had an infant and two toddlers in strollers, but we had no problems at all.
IMO I think it is easier to get from point A to point B at SOG compared to many of the Disney resorts that are so spread out.
Perhaps we've been lucky, but our room requests have always been honored, and last year I had asked for connecting rooms.
We alternate April and July, and this is our July year, so I will call a week prior to confirm my requests.
This was our view last year.

 

[firstwdw]

what a pretty view!!! I love it!

Gluten free: does anyone know if they quick service can accommodate gluten free kid friendly options? Mainly looking for fries, burgers, turkey sandwiches and/or chicken tenders or nuggets.

Or would we be trekking to the Poly?

 

[edk35]

I think all Palm wing rooms are renovated; they began last April when we were there.
If you frequent the pools, you
may be happier with Magnolia, but there is definitley more activity in this wing. There are a few different ways to get to the pools from the Palm, but we usually walk through the main lobby (stop at Starbucks), cross over to Magnolia, and take the elevator to the lower level; from this point you have very easy access to the pools. I would say it takes no longer than 10 minutes if you don't make any side trips. Last year we were staying with extended family, and initially I was concerned about the hike to the pool because we had an infant and two toddlers in strollers, but we had no problems at all.
IMO I think it is easier to get from point A to point B at SOG compared to many of the Disney resorts that are so spread out.
Perhaps we've been lucky, but our room requests have always been honored, and last year I had asked for connecting rooms.
We alternate April and July, and this is our July year, so I will call a week prior to confirm my requests.
This was our view last year.

Do you know what refurb they did to the Palms side???? Are there any pics?? TIA

 

[capegirl]

Do you know what refurb they did to the Palms side???? Are there any pics?? TIA

Here you go...
http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/shades-of-green/remodeled-palm-wing-rooms-at-shades-of-green/

 

[poprouge]

What kind of bathrooms are in the other areas in the Magnolia wing?? We usually stay in the Palms building.

There is a single vanity option and a double vanity in the standard rooms. Decor is pretty much the same in either. I always ask for the double vanity makes getting ready in the morning a bit easier.

 

[edk35]

Here you go...
http://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/shades-of-green/remodeled-palm-wing-rooms-at-shades-of-green/

THANKS!!! It looks really nice!!! I am excited to stay there again next spring. We are dvc members but we always love staying at SOG too.

 

[KateD496]

Can you have a cake delievered to SoG?

I think SOG has their own cake bakers as well. You might want to call and ask. It might save you some money.

 

[KateD496]

Quite interesting. Thanks for sharing! Looking forward to the photos ...

Lots of pictures on SOG Flickr account. It's linked on their Facebook page.

 

[Imagineer5]

We just returned from 4 nights at SoG - our very first stay there! We drove, had a room in the Magnolia wing overlooking the Magnolia pool. Overall I'd stay there again (although prefer Bay Lake Tower).

My biggest (and really only) issue was with the AC unit in the room. IT WAS SO LOUD. Like a constant roar. We had to shut it off at night and be warm, otherwise sleep was impossible.

I am wondering if anyone else noticed this? I didn't complain or mention to the front desk because it didn't seem like anything was really wrong with it, it was just loud. And we didn't get into our room until about 9PM the first night...

 

[capegirl]

We just returned from 4 nights at SoG - our very first stay there! We drove, had a room in the Magnolia wing overlooking the Magnolia pool. Overall I'd stay there again (although prefer Bay Lake Tower).

My biggest (and really only) issue was with the AC unit in the room. IT WAS SO LOUD. Like a constant roar. We had to shut it off at night and be warm, otherwise sleep was impossible.

I am wondering if anyone else noticed this? I didn't complain or mention to the front desk because it didn't seem like anything was really wrong with it, it was just loud. And we didn't get into our room until about 9PM the first night...

We have not stayed in Magnolia for a number of years, but I recall having the same AC noise issue! Maybe we had the same room. I did complain about the noise, but after that, we always stayed in the Palm wing.
One would think that by now, the old HVAC system would have been updated.

 

[PrincessAli]

Wondering if the onion rings are served as they use to be years ago----In a tower with different sauces!