Shades of Green help

[ClaraBug]

Hello friends,

My family (extended family) is looking at going to WDW Spring 2021. They are talking Animal Kingdom Lodge club level. I’ll have two kids in college and that is a little out of my price range at this time. My DH is disabled veteran and we we thinking SOG for us. I know there is bus shuttles to and from the parks but that is all I know.
1- I can order my tix through travel agent?
2- do we qualify for magic hours?
3-dining plan eligibility?

Thank you!

 

[Christine]

Hello friends,

My family (extended family) is looking at going to WDW Spring 2021. They are talking Animal Kingdom Lodge club level. I’ll have two kids in college and that is a little out of my price range at this time. My DH is disabled veteran and we we thinking SOG for us. I know there is bus shuttles to and from the parks but that is all I know.
1- I can order my tix through travel agent?
2- do we qualify for magic hours?
3-dining plan eligibility?

Thank you!

Hi there!!

You'll actually really love Shades of Green. I've stayed a few times. I don't do it every time because I like to have different experiences; however, it's very affordable and you get a a nice, large room with either a balcony or patio.

1. Yes, you can preorder your tickets through a travel agency but why would you? Shades of Green offers deeply discounted military discount tickets for veteran's and active duty. It's a huge discount and you'd be nuts not to buy them. They can be ordered ahead of time or bought on your arrival day; however, if you plan on doing Fast Pass reservations at your 60 day mark, you'll need to have the tickets purchased by then.

2. Yes you qualify for Magi Hours.

3. No to the dining plan.

Also, yes, SoG offers a bus service, but you also have the ability to walk over to the Polynesian and the TTC to pick up the monorail. Not a short walk, but not horrendous either. But you say your husband is disabled so maybe not an option. Another way to look at it is that you save SO much at the SoG, that you might consider getting a rental car if you are concerned about transportation. You will pay an overnight parking fee at SoG (very reasonable) but as a park property guest, you don't have to pay for theme park parking.

 

[Specter]

My dad is a disabled veteran as well and we have stayed at SOG a few times. Our upcoming trip we are staying "On property" at a Disney owned resort but it was a tough decision because SOG is so much cheaper.

To add on to what has already been said, if you are flying in you are not eligible for Magical Express and will have to arrange for transportation from the airport to the resort. And while the Disney dining plan is not an option at certain times of year you can add on a prepaid breakfast package or breakfast and dinner. These are buffets but have always been pretty good and the nice thing about the dinner buffet is that it is not the same things every night, at least in the past. When we've gone they've done "theme" nights so one night might be Mexican and another Italian, I recall a carnival night once where they even had a cotton candy machine and fresh popcorn. The buffet is always available but the discounted, prepaid package is not.

There is a very extensive thread for SOG that could also answer a lot of questions for you. Enjoy the resort if that's the way you go, it's a very nice place to stay and a fantastic value.

 

[Leigh L]

SOG still does the theme nights at the dinner buffet . DD loves "comfort food" night!

About SOG transportation in our 2017-19 experiences:

• In August SOG had a shared bus for AK and DHS with AK being dropped off first before they circled to DHS in the a.m. (Same in reverse, that evening bus was pretty crowded!!). I am not sure if this is the normal procedure?
• SOG bus for MK and EPCOT takes guests to the TTC to catch the Monorail (or Ferry is an option if going to MK). Unless this recently changed? We haven't tried this since 2018, but I didn't see any SOG signage at the MK bus stop in December.
• SOG guests don't get free theme park parking. (We did get free parking at one park once, but that was definite Pixie Dust and the CM at the parking lot said if we hopped to another park that day, we'd have to pay for parking over there.)

I second the Poly/Monorail and TTC option or renting a car option if it's doable. Also definitely second the recommendation about ordering tickets directly from SOG whether you stay there or decide to go to a Disney-owned resort. If you're staying at SOG, they'll send you scans of your tickets so you can add them into My Disney Experience and book your Fast Passes 60 days out. You'll get the hard ticket at check-in. Even if you aren't staying at SOG, they'll FedEx your tickets already activated for a fee (It was $10 when we did it but I think it may have gone up a couple of dollars, not sure).

You'll love SOG, it's awesome! Have a great time planning your trip

 

[PeterPanFan74]

I love everything about SOG. The resort, pools, spacious rooms, location and the spa! I only wish the dining plan was offered.

 

[Christine]

SOG still does the theme nights at the dinner buffet . DD loves "comfort food" night!

About SOG transportation in our 2017-19 experiences:

• In August SOG had a shared bus for AK and DHS with AK being dropped off first before they circled to DHS in the a.m. (Same in reverse, that evening bus was pretty crowded!!). I am not sure if this is the normal procedure?
• SOG bus for MK and EPCOT takes guests to the TTC to catch the Monorail (or Ferry is an option if going to MK). Unless this recently changed? We haven't tried this since 2018, but I didn't see any SOG signage at the MK bus stop in December.
• SOG guests don't get free theme park parking. (We did get free parking at one park once, but that was definite Pixie Dust and the CM at the parking lot said if we hopped to another park that day, we'd have to pay for parking over there.)

I second the Poly/Monorail and TTC option or renting a car option if it's doable. Also definitely second the recommendation about ordering tickets directly from SOG whether you stay there or decide to go to a Disney-owned resort. If you're staying at SOG, they'll send you scans of your tickets so you can add them into My Disney Experience and book your Fast Passes 60 days out. You'll get the hard ticket at check-in. Even if you aren't staying at SOG, they'll FedEx your tickets already activated for a fee (It was $10 when we did it but I think it may have gone up a couple of dollars, not sure).

You'll love SOG, it's awesome! Have a great time planning your trip

Re: the bolded. I haven't stayed at SoG in many years, but when we did, we didn't pay for parking at the theme park, but it has been a while. Maybe it was pixie dust then also and I had no idea. But glad you posted this as I hate giving out bad info!

 

[Leigh L]

Re: the bolded. I haven't stayed at SoG in many years, but when we did, we didn't pay for parking at the theme park, but it has been a while. Maybe it was pixie dust then also and I had no idea. But glad you posted this as I hate giving out bad info!

It probably used to be free Our first time staying wasn't until 2017.

 

[ClaraBug]

Thank you all so much!!

Another question: Are there adjoining rooms? We were thinking of maybe two adjoining rooms for my DD and her best friend and other for us, gives girls privacy.

 

[livbeatles]

Thank you all so much!!

Another question: Are there adjoining rooms? We were thinking of maybe two adjoining rooms for my DD and her best friend and other for us, gives girls privacy.

There are, but as with all hotels, they can be requested but not guaranteed.

 

[subtchr]

Re: the bolded. I haven't stayed at SoG in many years, but when we did, we didn't pay for parking at the theme park, but it has been a while. Maybe it was pixie dust then also and I had no idea. But glad you posted this as I hate giving out bad info!

It must have been pixie dust. As far as I am aware, shades of green guests have never qualified for free theme park parking. Our first stay there was in 2000.