Shades of Green or All Star Movies w/ Dining

[lkohawaii]

Help!!! I've never been to WDW. I have a choice between staying at Shades of Green without Disney Dining package or staying at All Star Movies with the Dining. All Star Movies comes out cheaper per day and in addition I get dining. It's like a $200 difference over 10 nights. I have children who are 3 and 9 so location is a factor. Please give me your advice. I know Shades of Green is a much nicer hotel. Oh, and I'm planning to go at X-mas if it makes a difference and I'll rent a car. Thanks in advance everybody.

 

[tjmouse]

Definately ASMovies. More of a Disney feel! SOG is nice I have heard, but you get all the benefits and the atmosphere of Disney at ASMovies. Plus it's going to be cheaper? I'd go for ASM.

 

[dzneelvr]

I don't know about SoG being "nicer" than ASMo...ASMo will have a more fun decor for kids and you can see from other posters on the board that ASMo has alot to offer. SoG is next door to MK, so that would be a huge plus if you plan on spending alot of time in that park. Plus, you're just a monorail ride away from any of the resorts around the lagoon, so you could enjoy Ohanas at the Poly and Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary much quicker than the commute from ASMo. Why not get the DDE (Disney Dining Experience) for $50 and stay at SoG. You'd be getting some of each that way

 

[lkohawaii]

Can you tell me where to gewt info on DDE? I'm new to all of this WDW stuff. Just came back from the West Coast Disney cruise...now gotta learn about WDW.

 

[helenk]

The DDE is the Disney Dining Experience, it provides a 20% discount at some counter service and table service restaurants.
But I believe that it is only available for Annual Pass holders or Florida residents.

 

[Disney_1derland]

Help!!! I've never been to WDW. I have a choice between staying at Shades of Green without Disney Dining package or staying at All Star Movies with the Dining. All Star Movies comes out cheaper per day and in addition I get dining. It's like a $200 difference over 10 nights. I have children who are 3 and 9 so location is a factor. Please give me your advice. I know Shades of Green is a much nicer hotel. Oh, and I'm planning to go at X-mas if it makes a difference and I'll rent a car. Thanks in advance everybody.

Shades of Green's location is such a huge bonus. Very short walk to the Poly and therefore the monorail and the rooms are HUGE. We loved having one kid in a bed and one kid on the daybed/couch so there was no fighting or waking each other up. We loved having a balcony to sit on when the kids went to bed earlier than we wanted to. Loved having a fridge/coffee pot.

The value resorts are great, the dining plan is wonderful but unless you plan to spend a lot of time at sit down restaurants I would take SOG over ASMo anyday.

 

[bdcp]

Having friends who stayed at AS Movies this summer and us having stayed at SOG in the past, I'd pick SOG anytime. AS Movies according to them was noisy and they just didn't feel like they were in a resort, but in a motel. SOG rooms are huge, it's peaceful, easy to get to transportation and from what I've seen in the rehab pictures, beautiful. If money is the issue, go with what's easier to afford, if it's not, go for the one you want. SOG is the best deal on site. We also had two DS go with us the last time and they were 12 and 14 and let me tell you, one in the bed and one on the sofa bed made for very easy sleeping arrangements. Also, the beds in SOG are queen sized, not double, so that's an upgrade there. SOG also has room service and restaurants. AS Movies has a food court. SOG is just a great deal for anyone who can stay there. We're going this Nov and could have stayed anywhere, but we chose to return to SOG.

 

[ilovemickeymost]

I called SOG for our ressie for 12/05-12/07 & asked about transportation from airport to resort. They recommend Fleetwood 407-239-4342. I called & was quoted $108 total round trip for 5 people. They use vans & each family that books gets there own. Gentleman seemed friendly. Anyone use them before?

 

[bayoutinksmom]

Definately ASMovies. More of a Disney feel! SOG is nice I have heard, but you get all the benefits and the atmosphere of Disney at ASMovies. Plus it's going to be cheaper? I'd go for ASM.

How can you say that when you have never stayed at SOG? It is in my opinion in order to make an educated statement about a certain places atmosphere you have had to experience it first hand. I have stayed at AS Music before and prefer SOG. Yes you have Disney decor everywhere but the rooms are small and the view not so great. Plus it was really crowded and the bus situation was a nightmare. At SOG I had huge gorgeous room with a view of one of Disney's best golf courses. I could see fireworks from the resort pool. The buses were ok and the walk to the poly was relaxing. The staff was very friendly and helpful. At ASMU the staff was not as friendly or helpful in our particular situation. I say SOG but really it is ultimately what works out best for you.

 

[MAGGIED]

I have stayed at the value resort and at SOG. My preference would SOG for many of the same reasons stated. The rooms are huge!!! Biggest in WDW (except for suites). They have tried to get more of that Disney feel in some of the lobby decorations - but hey - most of the time you are only sleeping there. And they have larger beds, bigger bathrooms, a balcony and great customer services. We stay there and use our DDE card and it works out gret for us.

 

[lkohawaii]

I'm the OP...I didn't realize this thread was still around. Well, I couldn't decide between the two so I stayed at both. Like the above posters stated Shades of Green's rooms were much bigger and nicer. But the Disney Dining Plan was the BEST!!!! Yes, the busses were crowded and another line to stand in. I had a loooong line checking into ASMO, but my kids loved the "dog hotel". So if I had to chose between one or the other again if going for my kids I'd compromise for all that character dining (on DP)and theming. If going for myself SOG no doubt about it. It just depends on what's more important to you. It's like staying at a Hyatt (although not as nice) compared to a Holiday Inn.

 

[bkreitzel]

we have never done disney dining ... we found the buffet at SOG to be amazing ... free for the kids and by far the best food we ate for the $$ the entire trip and we had many dining ressies all over the place. we will stay there EVERY time. it was amazing. the pools and rooms and food were great ... that is all we need from the hotel ... the rest of the entertainment is what the parks are for!

 

[Skyw]

I have been to Shades OF Green only to get my stars and stipes passes. It is a really nice place. However, I have always stayed on other Disney Property. Why? I have gotten great overflow deals. If shades is full, they will offer you other hotels on disney at about 40% off. Because of my husbands and I rank, we pay about the same price.

 

[Barbday62]

I like SOG because no waits for buses. At the end of the night at MK this is a great thing. The walk is so short I didnt even wait for SOG buses. At least it was avaliable.

Also dont forget when comparing prices SOG does not add sales or resort taxes like all other hotels must do. It may be closer in price than you think.


Our way to get around for MK and Epcot we walk to Poly then Monorail everywhere, Then for AK and MGM we take Shades buses then to go downtown we prefered to go to Poly and take their bus.



Someone asked about airport transportation. We used *********** (They are on the internet) And it was $100 round trip. What was amazing about this company is we was booked on their most busy day (The day of mousefest if you know what that is) and our plane from Phoenix took off late forcing us to miss our commecting flight (and last one our of Dallas) We had to stay the night in Dallas. Quick Silver was completly booked the next day so when we called them the owner arranged someone else to pick us up, a personal friend of his in the business. The guy was awesome. He was at baggage claim waiting to help us get our bags. He stopped at a store so we could get water and pepsi and he pointed out disney things like cast member place to stay and cast member training buildings. Rather than leave us to fend for our selves because we was 10 hours late they made sure we got to our hotel safe.

 

[IwannaseeMickey]

I had the same option last Dec., either SOG or Pop w/ dining. Hands down, we chose Pop w/ dining b/c of the dining! SOG might have been nicer, but we don't spend alot of time at the hotel and it was more expensive due to high rank, and the dining plan makes it so worth it to us. DH made that decision quickly, that the food value was way more worth it to us (maybe not others, but to us it was).

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I'm not sure why this old thread was bumped!

I don't know about SoG being "nicer" than ASMo

It certainly is!

SOG all the way. Much nicer hotel and access to the monorail at the Poly is a huge plus.

If shades is full, they will offer you other hotels on disney at about 40% off.

I have heard the discount is not very much, if any, these days.

 

[plutospup]

... we found the buffet at SOG to be amazing ... free for the kids

What ages get free buffet?

 

[wildzootv]

I have been to Shades OF Green only to get my stars and stipes passes. It is a really nice place. However, I have always stayed on other Disney Property. Why? I have gotten great overflow deals. If shades is full, they will offer you other hotels on disney at about 40% off. Because of my husbands and I rank, we pay about the same price.

I've heard that before - but last time we tried and they were booked, they didn't offer and I asked too. I called twice to make sure. I dont know why we didnt - we were totally bummed out!!

 

[kimkreis]

I had the same option last Dec., either SOG or Pop w/ dining. Hands down, we chose Pop w/ dining b/c of the dining! SOG might have been nicer, but we don't spend alot of time at the hotel and it was more expensive due to high rank, and the dining plan makes it so worth it to us. DH made that decision quickly, that the food value was way more worth it to us (maybe not others, but to us it was).

We made the same choice this past January. We were flying in and so the benefits of ME and getting the dining plan was the best option, especially since we were goign at a cheaper Disney time.

But for our trip during President's week 08 I am almost positive we will be staying At SOG. The changes to the Dining plan (I really like to try appetizers), the fact we will be driving (military move to Georgia) , and that it will be a much more expensive time on Disney property it just makes sense to stay at SOG.

 

[Redmystic]

I will be staying at Shades of Green in October. It's going to be our first trip to WDW. I was disapointed to find we couldn't get the Disney Dining plan. Can you tell me about the Disney Dinging experience? I haven't heard of it.