Shades of Green discussion

[RickNWendy]

Ok, call me crazy BUT... I would rather stay at the POP Century.

This was our first trip to SoG, topped off with a couple nights at POP to try it out.

Thoughts:
Valet and a parking garage=good
tour given by our luggage guy= great
atmosphere= nice
overall= nice
shady shuttle= nice (golf cart that takes you on the walking path from SoG to the intersection that leads to the POLY- works in daylight hours)

For me though, the theming was better, food court was great, and transportation much easier from the regular disney resorts. Granted, it is apples and oranges (deluxe vs value resort) but I still liked POP more. Added that the AP and FL rate is $59 and Military rate is $69 makes it cheaper too.

Am I crazy? even if I am.... my opinion stands

 

[snwarf]

I don't think you are crazy!

I don't want to make anyone mad, but my DH has been active duty for 19 years and we would rather just have a disney experience and not necessarily share our vacations with the military.

Like I said, I do not want to upset anyone and I think it is TERRIFIC that they offer SOG, but that is just my personal opinion on it.

 

[caseywirth]

Sorry, I think your crazy!!lol I love SOG, but to each their own!!

 

[PrincessaC]

It will be our first time at SOG next week. So far we love the disney resorts but we have to try everything at least once.

 

[arizonacolbys]

I agree with you 100%! We just stayed at the POP last month & we loved it!!! We'll be returning in January. For us the decision is even easier because our military rate is closer to $100/night now that hubby is in Officer training. Compared to the $49/night rate we had in September at POP, we could've literally stayed twice as many nights at POP (and that's just what we did!) We visited the SOG & thought it was very nice & we would like to stay there someday (hubby stayed there before it was refurbed), right now we need the "budget" trips.

 

[inaminute]

I don't think you're crazy at all! We just returned from SOG and will probably stay again in the future. However, we're looking for a resort where we'd like to stay each and every visit. Unfortunately, SOG wasn't it.

I was very impressed with the renovations. It really didn't look like the same resort! Our room was beautifully appointed. The bathrooms were spacious--I particularly like the double sinks.

The hotel staff were cordial and helpful. In many cases, they were more Disney than Disney cast members!

The bus service was the worst--it took a good hour to and hour-and-a-half to get just about anywhere, except for the Magic Kingdom. We'll definitely have our own transportation if we stay there again. It does seem odd to me that the Swan & Dolphin have Disney transportation, while the military resort doesn't. I'm sure it has to do with contracts and costs, but one would think that Disney could offer some kind of reduced rate to this particular resort?

We were in the new section--and it was a loooonng walk to get anywhere. If there were a restaurant or pool in this area, it wouldn't be so bad. We now know to make a request for the old section next time.

There were other, little things that aren't really worth mentioning. But, they affected the way we "see" the resort.

Overall, our stay was nice but we won't be returning on our next visit.

 

[mahoneyth]

Has anyone signed up for this? We are going at the end of the month and want to try this. The website says best in the US.
Not sure if it has even started yet???
12.00 dollars per adult, 5.00 per child.
Not a bad deal for German fest and food...

 

[clkelley]

I didn't know the golf cart was a full time service!! That's cool.

We walked/ECV'd from the Poly to SOG to purchase some Universal tickets. This was the day before Hurricance Jeanne and it was pretty rainy that afternoon. Those of us walking were offered a golf cart ride up to the building. We just thought the guy was in the area and offered us a ride.

The resort does look beautiful, and when we travel with our eligible friends, they have offered to book at SOG, but as other posters have said, we always seem to find better deals at the values or moderates with AP codes. We did take advantage and our friends bought a few things at the AAFES store.

 

[Avalanche]

We haven't stayed at SOG since '96, but loved it. Our room over looked the golf course and was so relaxing and peaceful. We lived in Japan '97-01, and since moving back have only stayed at Disney resorts.

Would love to stay at SOG again, but with all the horror stories I've heard about transportation we will probibly stick to the Moderates. We really would love to stay there again, but have been spoiled with Disney transportation. I can't believe they doubled the size of the resort and didn't increase the buses. Hopefully they will work something out to improve the bus service.

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by mahoneyth
Has anyone signed up for this? We are going at the end of the month and want to try this. The website says best in the US.
Not sure if it has even started yet???
12.00 dollars per adult, 5.00 per child.
Not a bad deal for German fest and food...

My first year of working there, I was forced to work it. Luckily, it was only until 7pm. Considering the food is cooked by the same people who do the food in the hotel (as I've mentioned before, I was never overly fond of their food), I was not impressed with their version of Oktoberfest.

It was held in a large tent and people walked down the food line while we scooped food onto their plates. It was not 'buffet style', but more like a a catered event with the long, metal containers and the little butane cans underneath to keep the food warm.

I remember music; not so much German, but more specficially, the Chicken Dance being played. I know there are people I spoke/wrote with as a resv agent who came every year we had it and thought it was wonderful. I'm curious to see if they'll have it outside again or if they'll have it in that ballroom they kept talking about building (don't know if they did or not).

 

[GJM]

We just returned on Sunday from SOG, we have stayed here about 4 times now . I have to say we love it! I don't need the "Disney Magic" 24 hours. It is nice to go back to the hotel at the end of the day and have some peace . I love the size of the rooms. This is the lst. time I ever used the bus & I never had any problems with the bus transportation. We also walked to the Poly. to get the monarail, we did have a golf cart bring us up to the entrance one time. I have never felt like I was sharing my vacation with military while staying here, to me it is a regular hotel with people on vacation, you don't know if their military or not.

We also have stayed at the Hale Koa in Hawaii which is also great.

 

[mahoneyth]

I agree also about not needing 24 hours of disney.
Plus they have a nice bar & Grill there too.
You can always request the old section to eleminate some of the extra walking.
My experience with miltary personnel is that they are the most polite people you will ever come across.

 

[Barbday62]

FirstNo there was a ball room right off the entrance on your walk towards the new section. I never saw inside of it but the sign said Ball room.

I almost forgot to answer the original question. I personally have only stayed at Deluxe resorts so thats my point of reference. We also dont travel with kids often either so Im sure that may make a difference. I have stayed at the Contemporary in 1998 and Beach Club in 1999 and Beach CLub Consierge (A free upgrade) in 2001. I love the beach club most. Only because of the location and pool. If everything elses were compared. People, maid service, check in, rooms and resorts I would pick Shades of Green. we have never met so many friendly people in one resort.

The Beach CLub is better with the pool as i stated earlier, the Guy how is out there to greet you, hes an older african american gentleman and dressed like an Admiral and I just love him. he made me feel like I was home. The beach club had a better store and better TV stations. The one thing that makes the difference to me the most is location. I love Beach CLub location so thats why I would probably go there again but if money were tighter I would deffnetly stay at SOG again.

The one resort I would never stay again is the Contemporary Wing. We was in the North Wing and we had mold in the bathroom and ants in our room.and the Contempoary had the gull to say we probably brought it in with food. Never mind everything I had for food was always kept in large zip lock bags. We was there with teenagers that trip and we rarely ate in the room because I booked so many meals out. We had things like beef jerkey and skittles which I highly doubt attracts ants even if it wasnt bagged so well.

Anyway I loved SOG and if it was moved near Epcot and MGM I woudl stay there exclusively. I never felt I wasnt at Disney any more than I felt at any other resort.

 

[greg126]

Hmmmm, I was incredibly impressed with the transportation compared to Disney. Far more comfortable and punctual - which having stayed at a Disney resort and having to wait who knows how long for a crowded bus to arrive - is important to us.

It does take awhile to, say AKL, but at least its on time. Hope it hasn't changed with the remodel.....Greg

 

[lademps]

For those of you recently returning from SOG - how was the food? I remember during our last stay (prior to remodeling) - the breakfast buffet was good. Hope this hasn't changed. Does anyone know how early the breakfast starts? Also, curious about the new Italian Restaurant.
Thanks for any info.

 

[GJM]

The breakfast buffet was OK, not great. But you can also order from their menu. We did eat at Evergreens twice which was good. We didn't really eat too much at the hotel.