Shades of Green over Christmas

[Pinboys]

For anyone who stayed at the Shades of Green (realizing that it was closed this past Christmas due to remodeling) over Christmas in the past, is it worth the extra $$$ they charge for their Christmas package? In the extra per night charge for this coming Christmas, the package includes your room, brkft each morning for everyone in the room along with one dinner...an ornament and a family picture with Santa.

So, what is your opinion on this....is it worth it or would it be better to stay at a value resort for less money and have eats in the room, say like fruit, pop-tarts, etc.

Thanks.

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by Pinboys
For anyone who stayed at the Shades of Green (realizing that it was closed this past Christmas due to remodeling) over Christmas in the past, is it worth the extra $$$ they charge for their Christmas package? In the extra per night charge for this coming Christmas, the package includes your room, brkft each morning for everyone in the room along with one dinner...an ornament and a family picture with Santa.

So, what is your opinion on this....is it worth it or would it be better to stay at a value resort for less money and have eats in the room, say like fruit, pop-tarts, etc.

Thanks.

It didn't used to be, but then neither was the Gold Leaf package a savings. I've heard that the packages WILL be a savings package (if they ever reopen), however someone will have to do the leg work to find out if that's true.

From what I know of SoG, I'd bet that Xmas still won't be a savings. Why? Because for some strange reason, people are happy to pay exhorbitant prices during that time of the year. If people will pay, hotels will charge.

My suggestion (and it's the same one I used to give when asked at SoG) is if you want to see the decorations, arrive any time between the Sun after Tgiving and be gone by the Sat before Xmas. You'll pretty much have the parks to yourself and get to see all of the decorations.

 

[disney4us2002]

They seem to have been closed a very long time, lol. They actually have been closed two Christmases(2002 & 2003). When the original plan was to reopen before Christmas 2003 we put in our request. We were stuck on a list and called maybe in August (can't remember) and the plan was still to be opened. We were told the rate which was ridiculous in my opinion in that the whole reason we would stay was because the rate was appx $100/night. I think the package plan brought the rate up to nearly $200 but I didn't write it down. We then decided against going and was not too happy to later discover we could've spent Christmas at the Contemporary!! GRRRRR.... I digress, sorry.

If you plan to spend quite a bit of time at SoG then perhaps the package is okay for your family. My family prefers to eat at the Disney char restaurants and bkfts is one of our favorite meals so eating or at least paying to eat at SoG every day would not have been a plus for us. We have again put in a request for Christmas but hope we don't get selected so we can get overflow rates in a Disney resort. There is talk that those won't be offered anymore since the resort will be double in size but I figure it can't hurt to try at least. If we get the call this summer, we'll have to work the math on the package and decide again.

 

[ToriLammy]

I did the leg work.

My rate as a retired E-6 is $97 per night. This is what the Christmas package will cost $198 per night. Here's the message I got from SOG

Hollydays" Package: Everyone requesting travel dates between December 22, 2004 and January 1, 2005 will be required to be on the Shades of Green "Hollydays" package for ALL of the nights of their stay. During this timeframe, Shades of Green will require a 3-night minimum stay. Confirmation letters explaining the details of your package will be mailed no later than March 2004.

Your "Hollydays" package will include the following:

9 Nights Accommodations
Breakfast for 9 days for each person in your party
Dinner for 1 night for each person in your party (excluding Christmas dinner)
Shades of Green Commemorative Christmas Ornament
Photo with Santa (Christmas Eve only) for each person in your party
Baggage Handling
All Gratuities

Please Note: Packages DO NOT include Disney Attraction tickets. Tickets may be purchased at the time of arrival.

THESE RESERVATIONS ARE NOT YET CONFIRMED. Shades of Green will need the sponsor's Social Security number* and a 1-night deposit (TOTAL $198.22) NO LATER THAN Jan 22, 2004.

We did this package back in Dec 1999 and it was $2200 for 8 days but it included Length of Stay tickets then. Don't really see any savings.

 

[dcfromva]

ToriLammy,
Thanks for posting the pricing info (Is that just for 2 adults in the room?) . Wow! $198.22, that seems a LOT higher than when we went in 1998 on the Christmas pkg. (inflation?). I want to say our price was around $138.00/night with 2 adults and 1 child with the meals/ et'c. included. (I should look for the paperwork to be sure, though). Ours was exactly the same pkg.

-DC

 

[jjskribs]

Could someone please tell me how and when you were notified by SOG concerning their Holiday Package? I e-mailed a reservation request for Christmas 2004 over 3 weeks ago and I have not heard a word from them. Thanks for any info.........

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by jjskribs
Could someone please tell me how and when you were notified by SOG concerning their Holiday Package? I e-mailed a reservation request for Christmas 2004 over 3 weeks ago and I have not heard a word from them. Thanks for any info.........

For clarification purposes, if you're looking on information on the package OR wondering when they will start booking people off the waiting list for the holiday time frame, they usually start doing that some time in Apr. One year, I saw it start the end of Feb, but that's unusual.

Now, if you've emailed wanting to be put on the holiday waiting list and haven't heard back, I wouldn't wait any longer if it's been more than 4 working (Mon-Fri) days. IF things have not changed, you'll go on a waiting list for the time frame you're looking for. They don't have the holiday package made up this early. People off the list (first come, first served) will probably start to be called in Apr. Hope that helped!

 

[Pinboys]

jjskribs, I just called the toll-free number and asked for reservations during that time period. I was told that it would be the Holiday package and that I should be receiving some information within a couple of months....after the pricing and the details are all worked out.

I would call the toll-free number and check on that reservation. Did you get any type of confirmation number on your email reservation?

Good luck. We are trying to decide on whether to stay at POP Century at a much cheaper rate (realizing room is smaller) and just eat some muffins, fruit, juice in the room to save on time. Being during the holidays, we want to get at the park early and try to get in as much as possible before the big crowds show up around noon (at least that is when we here the crowds get unbearable).

 

[jjskribs]

Thanks everyone for the info....... I used the e-mail reservation form to request a reservation between Christmas and New Year (2004). I did not receive a confirmation # when I submitted the form, only a " thank you for your request" message. I submitted the request 3 weeks ago and have heard nothing from SOG.

Some of the previous posters to this thread indicate that they have been contacted by SOG concerning Holiday packages and have been asked to send in deposits (ToriLammy) so I am confused as to whether the details for the packages have been released. I can only assume that my request has been "lost" since I submitted it on the first day that I was able to. (53 weeks ahead of the date). Guess it didn't help to try to be an "early bird!"

Glad I made "alternate" plans for the Swan since it looks like that's where I probably will wind up.....

 

[ToriLammy]

I emailed my request for reservations last week and received my email from them on Thursday - about 4 days - maybe 5 days, I was actually impressed with how quickly I heard from them. It is likely that your email got lost in the system or never made it through. You might want to call them.

 

[ToriLammy]

Originally posted by dcfromva
ToriLammy,
Thanks for posting the pricing info (Is that just for 2 adults in the room?) . Wow! $198.22, that seems a LOT higher than when we went in 1998 on the Christmas pkg. (inflation?). I want to say our price was around $138.00/night with 2 adults and 1 child with the meals/ et'c. included. (I should look for the paperwork to be sure, though). Ours was exactly the same pkg.

-DC

I'm pretty sure when I filled out the email request I put three adults (me, DH and DS) and one child (DD). It is less than when we stayed in 1999 but again in 1999 the price included our tickets. We were charged $275.55 per night from Dec 16th to Dec 24th in 1999 and the fee was basically room for 8 nights and 7 day Stars and Stripes passes (also breakfast every day, one dinner - no ornament or picture). So it is definitely not a savings package - but they have us over a barrel - if you want to stay at SOG during the holidays you have to pay. That stinks.

 

[dcfromva]

We had APes, so our package price did not include the stars and stripes passes....
Back in 1998, I didn't have that much experience with booking other good deals-- and SOG didn't offer overflow rates for the Christmas to New Years time frame (probably another reason, they could insist on folks booking the package).
The next year, I found out that you can still get discounted room rates through CRO for Christmas if the check-in date met certain criteria. So, we stayed at the BC Christmas 1999. (They may have closed that loophole up, though ).

-DC

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by dcfromva
We had APes, so our package price did not include the stars and stripes passes....
Back in 1998, I didn't have that much experience with booking other good deals-- and SOG didn't offer overflow rates for the Christmas to New Years time frame (probably another reason, they could insist on folks booking the package).
The next year, I found out that you can still get discounted room rates through CRO for Christmas if the check-in date met certain criteria. So, we stayed at the BC Christmas 1999. (They may have closed that loophole up, though ).

-DC

SoG offers overflow rates no matter what time of year, however if the hotel/company they partner with (i.e. Disney, Howard Johnson, Holiday Inn, etc) is telling SoG they have no rooms to offer to them to sell, then SoG can't offer that hotel. In the years I worked there, it was rare to not be able to find at least one room at the 30+ hotels we over flowed into, even at last minute. What I did find was those guests dumb enough to wait until the last minute (not implying this is what the poster did, just making an observation from my own experiences) whined and complained that it was either too much or they didn't want to stay off site. Can't have every thing when you're begging.

Obviously, peak time frames will sell out quicker so, if you're looking for Memorial Day wkend, Jul 4, Xmas, etc, then you have to book further out. SoG will usually still have a rate closer in, but it may not be the discount you thought you were going to get or the hotel you had your heart set on staying with.

 

[dcfromva]

SoG offers overflow rates no matter what time of year, however if the hotel/company they partner with (i.e. Disney, Howard Johnson, Holiday Inn, etc) is telling SoG they have no rooms to offer to them to sell, then SoG can't offer that hotel.

FirstNo,
That is interesting information because I have tried to get overflow rates during the Christmas time frame a couple of different years (early on in the year) and I was told that the SOG negotiated rates for Disney Resorts did not extend into the peak Holiday times such as last two weeks of the year (with the date varying from year to year). They were pretty adamant about it. In recent years (for the Christmas/New Years holidays, anyway), I didn't even inquire about it-- I just went through CRO where I have managed a discount or two.
I assumed that SOG negotiated a separate block of rooms that are set aside for them until a certain date. One reason I assumed this is because I have had friends call CRO to get a rate for a particular room at a particular resort and CRO didn't have availability. At the same time, I called SOG and they did have the same room available AND at the great contract rates! This has happened more than once, so I thought it wasn't just a coincidence.
Hmmm, perhaps I should see what negotiated rates they have for next Christmas....
-DC

 

[Pinboys]

I was able to get a great AAA rate for Christmas of this year at POP Century. The "catch" is I have to check in on the 19th, which is the last day of the value season. Checking in on the 20th raises the room rate considerably. I was told by CRO that I need to keep checking as the year goes on for the AP rate and if it beats what I have then I can adjust at that time. I said is there even a ghost of a chance of that (not complaining on my rate....got 9 nights for $618) even happening and I got a big YES....just got to keep checking.

So, try your favorite hotel and if there is any chance of checking in on the 19th, using the AAA rate, you may be surprised. I sure was.

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by dcfromva
FirstNo,
That is interesting information because I have tried to get overflow rates during the Christmas time frame a couple of different years (early on in the year) and I was told that the SOG negotiated rates for Disney Resorts did not extend into the peak Holiday times such as last two weeks of the year (with the date varying from year to year). They were pretty adamant about it. In recent years (for the Christmas/New Years holidays, anyway), I didn't even inquire about it-- I just went through CRO where I have managed a discount or two.
I assumed that SOG negotiated a separate block of rooms that are set aside for them until a certain date. One reason I assumed this is because I have had friends call CRO to get a rate for a particular room at a particular resort and CRO didn't have availability. At the same time, I called SOG and they did have the same room available AND at the great contract rates! This has happened more than once, so I thought it wasn't just a coincidence.
Hmmm, perhaps I should see what negotiated rates they have for next Christmas....
-DC

You must have been speaking w/someone lazy (which wouldn't be out of the ordinary) or ill-informed (not out of the ordinary, either) because we could book any time of the year. That said, hotels 'some times' (Disney ALWAYS did) imposed certain restrictions during the holiday season. I believe Disney was a mandatory 2 or 3 night stay. Perhaps what they were trying to say was we had availability for Disney, but it wasn't discounted??

SoG receives 3 different rates from Disney for most of the resorts; 2 discounted and the standard rack rate. The availability changes each AM (Mon-Fri) when the manager downloads the new availability. Supposedly, they were getting a program which would allow the agents to see real time availability, but I've not heard that has ever been implemented. So, if you called in the AM and found 3 Disney hotels w/great rates, but you wanted to speak to the rest of your party, it wouldn't be a problem as long as you called back before close of business. However, if you waited until the next day, availability may be gone and/or the rates may have gone up. Every now and then, availability would reappear and/or the rate would go down, but that happened rarely. Usually, once it's gone, it's gone (at least for Disney). This did not apply to SoG as our availability was real time. You could call and have availability one minute and call back ten minutes later and it's gone.

I can tell you I used to book (I worked in the rsv dept for more than 3yrs for SoG) the Lake Buena Vista a lot for the holiday season because they were usually one of the cheapest left on the property once all of the cheaper rates for Disney sold out and my guests always gave me good reviews about the LBV. I felt safe offering it in email. For off site, I used to use the hotel in Celebration (when SoG had it....they got rid of it before I left) also because they were so reasonably priced during that time and close to the Disney property.

 

[disney4us2002]

First No, I'm sorry to hear you're no longer with SoG because I remember how valuable your info was in our last planned trip in '02. I know I remember hearing back then that after the renovation and expansion that SoG would not be offering any more overflow. Period. Do you know if that will be the case?

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by disney4us2002
First No, I'm sorry to hear you're no longer with SoG because I remember how valuable your info was in our last planned trip in '02. I know I remember hearing back then that after the renovation and expansion that SoG would not be offering any more overflow. Period. Do you know if that will be the case?

I have not heard that and find it very difficult to believe. Overflow is a money maker for SoG and they will still need it. I have no doubt SoG will continue to be sold out, as it was before the expansion.

I spoke w/my source yesterday and told he/she/it of the concerns here on the board. What I have to report won't make any one feel better. I've been told approximately 350 rooms have been 'blacked out' (meaning they are not sold out, but no one is allowed to sell the rooms) from Mar 1-10. This tells me they all ready have questions about opening in 6.5 wks. I've been told that many rooms (in the new section) do not even have dry wall up and no one can figure out where the front desk (check in) will be (not a good sign this close in). I've been told that even the original rooms have not been completed. That one threw me a bit because I was under the impression that all they were doing was putting in new carpet, paint and furniture/fixtures (they had started that back when I was there). How they can't be finished w/that 17mos after I left is beyond me. They must be doing more and I wasn't aware of it.

So, what does all this say? It doesn't look good, but it does look like they're going to open and not be ready (which is what I mentioned way back when - most complainers will not complain to any one in charge and those who do won't push enough to get any thing for their troubles - a win situation for the hotel). They have all ready sent out letters to all of those they laid off asking them to come back (gee, I guess they didn't think any one would be bitter and happier with the current jobs they've had for almost 2yrs). 350 rooms blacked out means that less than the original rooms are available. This would coincide w/not all of the original rooms being completed. It also sounds like every one will be put up in what is finished in the original section of the hotel. I would **assume** that their priorities right now are getting the rest of the original hotel finished (the rooms, any way) as well as the check in area, then again, that would make sense and it's not something they're known for.

To protect myself: this information comes second hand. I have no way to confirm what I am told so, please understand things may change or may not be exactly as passed along. As to calling the hotel and asking about the above, I wouldn't expect a straight answer. There were many times we knew things but were told to answer (ONLY if questioned) the guests in a different way. The question to ask is NOT: will you be opening on time....it's: WILL YOU BE FINISHED WHEN YOU OPEN MAR 1. I'd be curious to see the responses you get to that one. I know some of those agents and some, depending on their day, may actually be honest with you ::grin::

Disney4us2002, thank you very much. Being a rsv agent was 'ok', but when I moved into email, I absolutely loved my job. It was a dream job. I helped develop most of what's on the website and those form letters every one gets and I was still able to be in charge of the waiting list. Unfortuantely, it really didn't pay a living wage and what I did was never appreciated (although I think it is now). Let me change that, the people I worked with and for didn't appreciate it; the majority of the guests most definitely did and some really made my day. I had 'regulars' that I got to know and there are few days that go by that I don't miss that job (I just don't miss the pay...LOL).

Who knows. Maybe they'll start working 24hrs a day from this point on and get every thing finished. For those of you arriving very soon though, I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

[kadaten]

Must concur with overflow being available year-round. We were given overflow rates at AKL Dec17-22. First 3 days were value season, but if they had blacked out holidays, then the last 4 days might not have been given to us. We had 9 rooms with SOG (3 sponsors) but ending up canceling 6 and rebooking through CRO to get the better FL resident rates.

Firstno--
Lots of great information! Thanks for sharing your expertise with all of us! Does your informer have any idea of an actual completion date? We're hoping to stay in October, but when faced with a construction zone for half the hotel, may use our FL resident rates elsewhere if they're available instead! We were there Dec. 17-22, and it was nowhere near finished. I'm not betting on March. Looks huge....and kinda "lodge-y" from the outside. Any idea if it's going to be more themed now?

We were booked there for Christmas, and got letters in August saying it wouldn't open on time. Since noone's saying they've received one yet, I guess they're going to open something.... but not sure I'd want to be the one to find out just how ready it is!

Thanks again for the great info!
Katie

 

[FirstNo]

Originally posted by kadaten
Firstno--
Lots of great information! Thanks for sharing your expertise with all of us! Does your informer have any idea of an actual completion date? We're hoping to stay in October, but when faced with a construction zone for half the hotel, may use our FL resident rates elsewhere if they're available instead! We were there Dec. 17-22, and it was nowhere near finished. I'm not betting on March. Looks huge....and kinda "lodge-y" from the outside. Any idea if it's going to be more themed now?

We were booked there for Christmas, and got letters in August saying it wouldn't open on time. Since noone's saying they've received one yet, I guess they're going to open something.... but not sure I'd want to be the one to find out just how ready it is!

Thanks again for the great info!
Katie

No, sorry, no word on a date. When I was there, there was no talk on any theming. Honestly, I don't think Disney would allow it. Disney is the only one on the property whose hotels are themed. All of the other non-Disney hotels are pretty generic (the dolphin and swan have large statues, but I don't consider that themed).