SOG questions

[cusack1020]

Hi, I had some questions about shades of green. My husband is active duty but he will be deployed so he won't be going on our trip. I booked the rooms online in my name. When I go do I just bring a copy of his leave and earnings statement and show my military id? Should I have booked it in his name even though he won't be there?
My other questions is regarding florida resident tickets. We are florida residents and I think I will be buying those instead of the stars and stripes. At SOG do they actually give you the tickets or do they give you a voucher that you have to take to the TTC to exchange for the tickets. If I take the monorail from the polynesian straight to the park will there be a window there where we can exchange the vouchers? Or would it be better just to go to the TTC?
Thanks for any help you can provide!

 

[micmacmissy]

You'll definitely need a copy of his orders, in addition to your own military ID. I would still call SOG and verify exactly what you need.

And while you're at it, ask them if you qualify for the OEF package (for deployed soldiers and families), because this could save you a bundle!

 

[Shorty82]

Ticket vouchers can be exchanged at Guest Services at any of the parks, the TTC, DTD, and at the resorts (I don't know if SOG has one but the Poly does). The only exception is Annual Passes that can't be exchanged at a resort.

If you get a voucher you should be able to exchange it at the Poly with no problems.

 

[PilotWife]

My DH and I have never taken an LES to SOG (unless it was the OEF/OIF package - then it was his deployment orders not LES stating deployment for 12 or more months) Our ID's have been fine. I also have checked in under my name without DH with only my ID.

You will be given vouchers to exchange.

 

[lilyv]

These Shades of Green questions might be better answered by SOG. Be cautious about carrying around an LES. If you have to have it that's fine, but if you don't, it's better not to. An LES usually has a ton of personal information.

http://www.shadesofgreen.org/

Good starting place, and they are great about answering questions over the phone.

 

[Mrsjvb]

Unless you are wanting the special package they have for deployed SM and their families, your ID should be sufficient. I had no problems making ressies in my name only. Although DH was with me and not on R&R, so i don't know how that package works.

 

[cusack1020]

Thanks everyone for the info. I will call to see if I have to bring the LES. I think we'll just buy our tickets when we arrive and walk over to the Poly to exchange the vouchers. I was planning on walking over there anyway to use the monorail to get to the parks.

 

[Shorty82]

I was planning on walking over there anyway to use the monorail to get to the parks.

The resort monorail will only get you to the Magic Kingdom. You can ride it all the way around, which can take a while, to the TTC and transfer to the Epcot monorail but it would probably be easier and faster to walk straight to the TTC as it is one stop before the Poly.

To get to the other parks it will be quicker to just walk over to the Poly and catch the appropriate bus (assuming Disney Transportation doesn't service SOG, looking at the SOG site it appears they don't).

 

[Mrsjvb]

SoG has their own dedicated bus system, HOWEVER it only runs once per hour. on our first full day there, AK had EMH( and yes, SoG guests can use them).. the driver for the AK bus never showed, so by the time we got a straight answer out of anyone, 45 minutes had passed and AK was already open, so we ended up losing out on that.

the monorail starts at 0730 daily, and the Resort buses run every 10-20 minutes, and of course you have the boat/ferry. With the exception of DTD in the evenings, we just went the Poly/TTC rout as it is MAYBE a ten minute walk to Poly and another 5-6 to TTC from there. You can ask the bellhops at SoG of run you to the end of the resort in their Golf cart if you have people with limited mobility.

 

[cusack1020]

Thanks for everyone's help. I just called SOG and they said that I do not have to bring an LES. Just have to show my military ID. I think we will probably just walk to the Poly and take the monorail from there for most of out transportation. We do have a car so I think we will end up driving to AK. That seems to be the most convenent for that park.

 

[DawnCt1]

You'll definitely need a copy of his orders, in addition to your own military ID. I would still call SOG and verify exactly what you need.

And while you're at it, ask them if you qualify for the OEF package (for deployed soldiers and families), because this could save you a bundle!

To use SoG, a copy of the orders is not needed. One only has to show their dependent military ID. I have gone several times without DH. The OEF package offers a 30% discount off of SoGs regular prices and a buffet breakfast and dinner daily, but it appears that the soldier on leave has to be there on leave with leave orders, so it is not for unaccompanied family members.

 

[DawnCt1]

SoG has their own dedicated bus system, HOWEVER it only runs once per hour.

The bus runs at least every 20 minutes from SoG to TTC.

 

[Mrsjvb]

once per hour to the parks/DTD. or you can get one of the Poly buses that run much more frequently. in some cases it's still quicker to take the walk than it is to wait for the SoG bus.