Shades Of Green

[nickelsfamily]

Hi!
I am considering planning a trip to WDW this summer before we get orders outside of FL. And in doing so would like to try out SOG...any thoughts on this resort? It would be dh & I & our 2 boys ages 6 & 2. Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated!!
Thanks, Julie

 

[graeme1299]

Call or go online now to find out if your dates are available for travel. It is a beautiful resort with very large rooms, nice amenities but a lack of Disney theming (that matters to some, but not all). Restaurants and coffee onsite, Buses available with a fair reputation, monorail available across the street at Poly with a complimentary shuttle.

However, no package delivery to room (or so I was told) and no dining plan available. But it is a great deal.

 

[MAGGIED]

We have stayed at SOG mulitple times and love it... it is a beautiful resort with the largest rooms on Disney property. There are 3 great places to eat. They do have a dining plan (not the Disney Dining Plan but there own). I would not recommend it though as it ties you to the hotel. The buffet is very good and serves a variety of foods - even for picky eaters. There are 2 pools, a large hot tub where we have watched Wishes from. There is a shoppette that has many articles that are carried in the parks at much lower prices. There is a ice cream counter, a Starbucks coffee stand, and a little counter service area by the bus stop. There is a great arcade that has a pool table as well. There is a "lack" of Disney theming if you are looking for Mickey in the sheets and the wallpaper... but that really didn't matter to us. The are small refrig. in each room and the beds are queen size I think. Bus service is very good. There is package delivery to the hotel from the parks. The packages are sent to the front desk or the shoppette. We prefer to stay in the older section because it is close to the pools and the putting green of the golf course which my husband and teenage son like. You can also purchase you tickets there at a discount rate. I say give it a try....

 

[caseywirth]

You'll love shades of green if you don't mind not have mickey or disney themed prints on sheets, walls, carpet, etc. We always stay at SOG and love it! Largest standard rooms on property, peaceful but fun too!!

 

[abolanwoski]

We have stayed there many times and love it also. I've stayed at GF and BC as well and I'm nost sure that either of these gave me more Disney "feel", but I guess I'm in the minority. That being said, the rooms are larger than either of those resorts and the location is great. I agree with the PP that you should not use their "dining plan" as their food is not THAT good and who wants to run back to the hotel for every meal. Some older/less fit folks may find the walk to the Poly monorail a bit much, but it is often my favorite part of the day, beautiful and serene (I also don't go in the heat of summer thought!) And for the same price you could stay in a closet at the ASM in Timbuktu (sorry for you value-lovers out there)

 

[honey11dog]

We really love the SOG. It is in a great location and has really spacious rooms compared to most other Disney resorts. Our kids don't seem to mind the lack of Mickey decour. There is a large patriotic Mickey statue in the lobby that the kids like to take pictures with and one of the pools is in the shape of Mickey's head. They know that they are at Disney as soon as we drive throught the main gate anyway. They have been in the Poly, Contemporary, and AK Lodge for dinners. I even offered that next year, we would stay at one of the other hotels and they refused. We stayed at the SOG the first time right after the major renovations and expansion was finished. I will say there were plenty of issues that needed to be addressed. Last visit, we were happy to see that the hotel is running very well. We only used our own vehicle one time to go to the waterparks. We just didn't want to have to wait for a bus all tired and wet from a long day there. I would highly recommend a visit to SOG!

 

[mahoneyth]

This is a true gem!
We stayed in nov04 in the new renovated rooms, their bathrooms are huge and nicely decorated.

My only advise is to rent a car for this resort you get free parking at all the parks. The bus service was slow and the buses were very old and the AC didn't work that great. We ended up waking to the Poly for all our transportation, which isnt quite fair to the Poly guests.

Also, ask for the rooms in the new bldg, first floor, you can walk through the gardens to the pool on the path. So pretty. I was using my screen door for the whole everytime i wanted to go the pool. My sister was next door with her family. Very convenient, i really liked it there.

No tax either.

 

[caseywirth]

I'm kinda surprised about the busses. Whenever we are there the busses look like new and the air conditioning is blasting. I guess we are just lucky with the busses when we go every year!!

 

[honey11dog]

This is a true gem!
We stayed in nov04 in the new renovated rooms, their bathrooms are huge and nicely decorated.

My only advise is to rent a car for this resort you get free parking at all the parks. The bus service was slow and the buses were very old and the AC didn't work that great. We ended up waking to the Poly for all our transportation, which isnt quite fair to the Poly guests.

Also, ask for the rooms in the new bldg, first floor, you can walk through the gardens to the pool on the path. So pretty. I was using my screen door for the whole everytime i wanted to go the pool. My sister was next door with her family. Very convenient, i really liked it there.

No tax either.

I loved the new section also, but we were top floor. I wish we had a ground floor room instead with three children. Do I request a specific room, when making my reservations or when we check in?