Shades of Green

[SorcererHeidi]

I had an idea last night. Since "The New Corey" a.k.a. Fiasco, is a fellow Navy vet, and therefore has a "unique qualification" to be able to stay at Shades of Green, Id' love if he could do that, and if not review it, at least do a vlog on it! @WebmasterPete @Teleclashter ?

For a very long time, I thought only current service members or DOD employees, or retireees were eligible to stay there. However, I found out about a year or so ago, any vet can stay - if I remember right - during the months of January and September. Of course, I'm sure it might be tough to get in, but just thought I'd put the idea out there, now that somebody that CAN stay there is part of The Team?

I would be VERY curious to see this, since the only time I was ever on property there was when it was still the Disney Inn, about a week before they turned it over to the military, back in '93 I believe it was. I have known several people who have stayed there over the years and loved it. Thanx for any consideration!

 

[disneysteve]

I would be VERY curious to see this, since the only time I was ever on property there was when it was still the Disney Inn

That is actually where we stayed on our very first trip to Disney World in May 1978. It was the Golf Resort back then, one of the 3 hotels on property along with the Contemporary and Polynesian.

 

[SorcererHeidi]

That is actually where we stayed on our very first trip to Disney World in May 1978. It was the Golf Resort back then, one of the 3 hotels on property along with the Contemporary and Polynesian.

So how do you feel about being able to see it now?

 

[SorcererHeidi]

So how do you feel about being able to see it now?

And when you said '78, it brought back memories - the first time I was on Disney World PROPERTY was in October of 1978, when I was on uncontrolled liberty from Boot Camp in Orlando. But some bunkmates and I went straight to the Poly, to the bar - never cared there WAS a theme park. LOL. My controlled liberty (escorted - uncontrolled was on your own) a few weeks earlier was at Sea World. Haven't been back there since, but now I want to someday.

My first time going to any of the theme parks at WDW was Feb. '93, during one of my Family Trips from H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks. So when somebody asks me when my first trip to WDW was, I kinda hesitate.

 

[disneysteve]

I've seen some videos of it but I'd like to hear the DIS do a review. That might actually get me to watch one of their videos rather than just listen.

Our first trip was 4 days, I think, and we spent one day at Sea World. There wasn't nearly that much to do on Disney property back then. Only Magic Kingdom, the shopping village, and the 3 hotels. Oh, and the campground. We did see Hoop-De-Doo and the Luau at the Poly. We basically did everything there was to do other than play golf, and that only took about 2-3 days. Now we go for 2 weeks and barely scratch the surface of what there is to do on property.

 

[hertamaniac]

I had an idea last night. Since "The New Corey" a.k.a. Fiasco, is a fellow Navy vet, and therefore has a "unique qualification" to be able to stay at Shades of Green, Id' love if he could do that, and if not review it, at least do a vlog on it! @WebmasterPete @Teleclashter ?

For a very long time, I thought only current service members or DOD employees, or retireees were eligible to stay there. However, I found out about a year or so ago, any vet can stay - if I remember right - during the months of January and September. Of course, I'm sure it might be tough to get in, but just thought I'd put the idea out there, now that somebody that CAN stay there is part of The Team?

I would be VERY curious to see this, since the only time I was ever on property there was when it was still the Disney Inn, about a week before they turned it over to the military, back in '93 I believe it was. I have known several people who have stayed there over the years and loved it. Thanx for any consideration!

We didn't stay there, but paid a visit a couple of years ago. It is more bland than I was anticipating, but appeared very clean and acceptable. I recall the pricing for the quick serve or whatever it was as being very affordable. We also met folks that were part of a veteran's family that could also enjoy the rate.

I agree that a more comprehensive review would be welcomed. Good suggestion!

 

[SorcererHeidi]

We didn't stay there, but paid a visit a couple of years ago. It is more bland than I was anticipating, but appeared very clean and acceptable. I recall the pricing for the quick serve or whatever it was as being very affordable. We also met folks that were part of a veteran's family that could also enjoy the rate.

I agree that a more comprehensive review would be welcomed. Good suggestion!

Thanx for your take, and thanx for the props!

 

[DisArmyWife215]

I had an idea last night. Since "The New Corey" a.k.a. Fiasco, is a fellow Navy vet, and therefore has a "unique qualification" to be able to stay at Shades of Green, Id' love if he could do that, and if not review it, at least do a vlog on it! @WebmasterPete @Teleclashter ?

Tim Tracker actually was able to do a review of the resort. If I recall right he wasn't able to go into any rooms though. Having a new set of eyes review the resort would be nice.

For a very long time, I thought only current service members or DOD employees, or retireees were eligible to stay there. However, I found out about a year or so ago, any vet can stay - if I remember right - during the months of January and September. Of course, I'm sure it might be tough to get in, but just thought I'd put the idea out there, now that somebody that CAN stay there is part of The Team?

Any vet with an honorable discharge can stay. You'd need your DD214 or equivalent document. Eligible guests can also sponsor 1 room, so technically anyone can stay if you know someone eligible who will sponsor your stay.

I would be VERY curious to see this, since the only time I was ever on property there was when it was still the Disney Inn, about a week before they turned it over to the military, back in '93 I believe it was. I have known several people who have stayed there over the years and loved it. Thanx for any consideration!

The resort is great! It's been recently renovated. I love the little break from the Disney overload.

 

[SorcererHeidi]

Tim Tracker actually was able to do a review of the resort. If I recall right he wasn't able to go into any rooms though. Having a new set of eyes review the resort would be nice.



Any vet with an honorable discharge can stay. You'd need your DD214 or equivalent document. Eligible guests can also sponsor 1 room, so technically anyone can stay if you know someone eligible who will sponsor your stay.



The resort is great! It's been recently renovated. I love the little break from the Disney overload.

Yep, @DisArmyWife215 - I had seen Tim's review awhile ago, thanx. And also found out about bringing my DD-214. And I hear ya about sometimes needing a break from the Disney overload - I had exactly that same feeling when I spent a few nights @ the Swolphin after a week in a Disney resort years back - everything Disney was still close enough if I wanted, and there were small touches here and there, but enjoyed it not being "in my face" which I never thought I would, until I experienced it!

By the way - please thank your hubby for his service, and thank you, and your family, for your sacrifices!

 

[Ladyfish77]

I think an onsite review would be great! We love SoG and have stayed there a couple of times. The food is good, pools are nice, and they have a spa and other amenities.

 

[capegirl]

Another fan of SOG here. We really appreciate the laid back vibe at this resort, and absolutely love returning to SOG after long park days. The grounds and the pools are great, and the rooms are so spacious compared to Disney's budget/moderate resorts. I know it's lack of Disney theming is not for everyone, but it is truly wonderful, and we consider ourselves fortunate to stay there.

 

[SorcererHeidi]

Another fan of SOG here. We really appreciate the laid back vibe at this resort, and absolutely love returning to SOG after long park days. The grounds and the pools are great, and the rooms are so spacious compared to Disney's budget/moderate resorts. I know it's lack of Disney theming is not for everyone, but it is truly wonderful, and we consider ourselves fortunate to stay there.

Yes - I was never in a room here, but from the videos I've seen, and from the peek I had through the sliding doors of a ground floor room when I was on property , and since this is an older property (when they still had nice, bigger spaces, before trying to cram as many as possible into smaller and smaller spaces!) I figured the rooms would be nice and spacious! Thanx for confirming!

 

[disneysteve]

sliding doors of a ground floor room

We stayed in one of those rooms when we were there. We still talk about how we would get dressed in the morning and open the sliding door and our glasses would fog up and we would be instantly covered in sweat.

We're used to that now but it was our first time experiencing central Florida humidity.

 

[Ladyfish77]

Yes - I was never in a room here, but from the videos I've seen, and from the peek I had through the sliding doors of a ground floor room when I was on property , and since this is an older property (when they still had nice, bigger spaces, before trying to cram as many as possible into smaller and smaller spaces!) I figured the rooms would be nice and spacious! Thanx for confirming!

Yes, I saw the square footage somewhere and SoG rooms have more sqft than any of the Disney Deluxe standard rooms if I'm remembering correctly. I just googled it and allears.net says this "There are 586 rooms. Each room is among the largest at WDW (480 square feet) and has two queen sized beds and a day bed/sleeper sofa."

 

[disneysteve]

Yes, I saw the square footage somewhere and SoG rooms have more sqft than any of the Disney Deluxe standard rooms if I'm remembering correctly. I just googled it and allears.net says this "There are 586 rooms. Each room is among the largest at WDW (480 square feet) and has two queen sized beds and a day bed/sleeper sofa."

Yep. Hotel rooms used to be much bigger. Rooms at Contemporary and Poly are much bigger too.

 

[SorcererHeidi]

Yep. Hotel rooms used to be much bigger. Rooms at Contemporary and Poly are much bigger too.

Yep - and Old Key West is the OG of DVC., that's why its units are so much larger as well. 1 of the reasons I loved staying there so much.

 

[Coach Holden]

I could be totally wrong about Corey and he could've been honorably discharged/medically retired, but aside from that, I don't think he is eligible. A military retirement is minimum of 20 years to qualify you for Shades of Green. Just being a veteran doesn't gain you access once you are no longer serving.

 

[SorcererHeidi]

I could be totally wrong about Corey and he could've been honorably discharged/medically retired, but aside from that, I don't think he is eligible. A military retirement is minimum of 20 years to qualify you for Shades of Green. Just being a veteran doesn't gain you access once you are no longer serving.

That is not true, @Coach Holden. As I stated in my original post, I thought that for a very long time. Any vet, with a valid DD-214, which has to be presented at check in, who was honorably discharged, is eligible to stay during the months of January and September.

 

[Coach Holden]

That is not true, @Coach Holden. As I stated in my original post, I thought that for a very long time. Any vet, with a valid DD-214, which has to be presented at check in, who was honorably discharged, is eligible to stay during the months of January and September.

Ah, I’ve never scrolled all the way to the bottom where it states that. They are then under the Category 3 rate. Sweet

 

[Disney Khi]

We stayed here in August 2018 and really enjoyed it. I had a hard time finding a lot of information about it before we went, so I bet a lot of people would be interested in a review.

We loved the property, and the rooms were really nice. They were renovating some of them while we were there, so they are updated. We ate at the restaurant one night and the food and service were good. Also the prices at the restaurants and the shop are not Disney-level price gouging. The spa is reasonably priced, and my daughter chose to do a kid’s manicure and pedicure for about $30 instead of the $$$ Bibbidi Bibbidi Boutique. There is more than one pool, including one with a nice slide and a splash area. The bus transportation is good, and it is an easy walk to the Poly and the monorail. There is a small parking fee, but the parking is in a covered garage.

My parents loved staying at SOG as much if not more than at BC. We would stay here again.