I am taking my second trip ever to WDW this August. The last time I stayed at the Contemporary, but it was during the Shades of Green rennovation. So this will be my first time really at the hotel.
Has anybody stayed there? What did you think?

I did a quick search and found this past thread (http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/showthread.php?t=77348&highlight=shades+Green) that contains some comments on SoG.

We stayed there in May-Jun 07. It was very nice and quiet. The buses were on schedule leaving the hotel but sometime late coming to the parks but nothing too bad. The deli at the exit to the bus stop is good. We often grabbed a quick breakfast there and also had lunch there one day. There is an AAFES store where you can get supplies and a few Disney items for a great price. We ate breakfast our last day at the buffet restaurant (can't remember the name). We did not like it - should have stuck with the deli. Of course you won't find cheaper tickets than at SoG so that is a plus and the rooms are large and very nice. The only thing is the large soap and shampoo dispensers instead of the individual sample sizes which some people don't like. I didn't mind. There is a frig in the room which was a plus and we found the hotel quiet a night so no sleep interuptions. Also if you have early breakfast ADR at any park prior to the bus running you can walk over to the Poly and take the monorail. The SoG valet will take you to the end of the property on a golf cart which cuts down on most of the trip. Saves your legs for the parks. Hope you have a great trip.:)

We stayed at SoG for about a week in Jan 2008. A very comfortable room at a great price, best deal at WDW. We ate breakfast every day at the downstairs restaurant, it was ok (the fruit didn't seem very fresh to me though). We were happy enough with the buses, but it was nice to have the option to walk to the Polynesian to catch the monorail too. The pools were ok, not very themed compared to other Resort pools, but they were good enough. The property is pretty large, depending on where your room is, you might have a long walk to catch the bus or start the walk to the Polynesian. If money were no object, I'd like to stay at the Polynesian, but money is always an object in my family, and you can't beat the overall value that SoG offers, IMHO. I'm sure you'll have a great time, have fun!

I haven't stayed there myself, yet... but I will be staying next summer. I have known a couple of different people who have stayed there and they liked it. As it was stated in prior posts, it is not the most glamorous or themed, but to get larger rooms for a better price? I am so looking forward to that.

Please write a trip report when you get back!

Thanks for all the input.
I will definitely write a report after I get back.

Since it's not August yet, I figured I could add my two cents. :)

I think for the value that you receive, there's probably not a better deal on the property. The rooms themselves are very nice, some of the largest in WDW. They renovated the hotel about two years ago and the new rooms are the same size, which is nice. The hotel really tries hard to be as themed as it can (in a rustic way), and the staff was very friendly. There is a Starbucks cart in the hotel near AAFES but it got pretty busy. There is a small food stand near the bus stop and they were a good second option in the morning. The hotel is big, like someone mentioned earlier, so if walking is an option get a room near the parking garage. You'll need it.

Highly recommended.

We stayed at the Shades for about seven nights in February and it is a great hotel. I guess that there is a newer wing which we did not stay in and although most of the rooms are older, they are still very nice with an eating area with a ceiling fan and a balcony w/a sliding glass door. The bathrooms are the biggest I have seen in any hotel along with a separeted sink/shower. They have two pools and a nice spa/hot tub. There is also a nice bar resturant (Country Club something) that has a few games for the kids. If you or someone in your family is in the military I would for sure stay at the Shades.

The buses were always on time and even stop at the parks every hour. Oh and the Affes store is great to have to pick anything extra. :)

We stayed at Shades of Green from May 24-June 5, 2008. The hotel is great! We stayed in the new section, lobby level (near parking garage). The AAFES store is very handy (breakfast stuff, sunscreen, drinks) and we liked going to the ice cream shop at night. The buses were on time, but old. Sometimes we walked to the Poly and took the monorail, other times we rode the bus to the TTC. We've stayed at the GF in 1988 and the CBR in 2004, but next time we visit WDW, we will definitely be staying at SOG again. I highly recommend the hotel.

Here is my personal experience with Shades of Green. I love the resort. I believe the rooms to be on par with the deluxe resorts of Disney. During my first marriage I stayed there several times. I love the ceiling fans in the rooms.

However, my experience is that my step-children who were between 4 and 8 then would be upset and feel as if we were leaving Disney each evening when we would return to the room. This same problem happened one year when we stayed at Contemporary.

I believe that the value level resorts with their huge icons everywhere extends the Disney feeling right to the place you are spending the night. Now as an "older" single father of a five-year-old we go to Disney every year and elect to stay at the value resorts. Where does Daddy want to stay on Disney property? Without a doubt the Grand Floridian.

At $125 a night, the Shades of Green is comparable to the mods in price.

Does anyone have an idea of what it might cost per night in mid-March? Just an estimate is good with me! Also does it offer EMH and free park parking like the other resorts?

Does anyone have an idea of what it might cost per night in mid-March? Just an estimate is good with me! Also does it offer EMH and free park parking like the other resorts?

Have you checked the website (www.shadesofgreen.org)? The rates depend on what your rank is:

10/1/08 - 9/30/09
The rates for a poolside Room are $103 $127 $135
Family Jr. Suite $250
Family Suite $275


The resort does offer EMH but parking costs $5 per night, I believe. The parking rate gets you parking privileges wherever other Disney resort guests can park. They also have package delivery to SoG as well, so you can have your stuff sent from anywhere in the park. That's a nice perk when you don't feel like lugging a package around, no matter what resort you're staying in. The place is very nice and you can walk to the Polynesian from there and catch the monorail, too.

Do you get to participate in EMH when staying at SoG?

The resort does offer EMH but parking costs $5 per night, I believe. The parking rate gets you parking privileges wherever other Disney resort guests can park. They also have package delivery to SoG as well, so you can have your stuff sent from anywhere in the park. That's a nice perk when you don't feel like lugging a package around, no matter what resort you're staying in. The place is very nice and you can walk to the Polynesian from there and catch the monorail, too.


I see, I see. Paying for parking though?

Do you get to participate in EMH when staying at SoG?

Yes! We did several times during our stay. Surprisingly, the EMH for MK in the evening was the best. We walked on so many rides and my kids rode Splash Mountain a bunch of times in a row. It was a load of fun.

I see, I see. Paying for parking though?

Well, it's a small price to pay and you are getting a deluxe-sized room for the price of a moderate. It's a fair trade-off, considering your parking fee covers all the parks as well.

Well, it's a small price to pay and you are getting a deluxe-sized room for the price of a moderate. It's a fair trade-off, considering your parking fee covers all the parks as well.

You're right. I was paying $11.00 a day last time.

But, don't the other resorts have free parking for the resort and parks?

But, don't the other resorts have free parking for the resort and parks?
Yes, but Shades of Green is not run by Disney, so it has different rules (such as the different rates depending on your grade - can you imagine if Disney did that "If line X on your 1040 is between Y & Z, then your rate is A...")

And I think $5 is a steal, considering what a lot of hotels around here charge for guest parking (in the $20+ range)

Yes, but Shades of Green is not run by Disney, so it has different rules (such as the different rates depending on your grade - can you imagine if Disney did that "If line X on your 1040 is between Y & Z, then your rate is A...")

And I think $5 is a steal, considering what a lot of hotels around here charge for guest parking (in the $20+ range)

I agree. The amount of time I plan on going, the entire parking fee will be as much as you pay for one day in other cities! I was just surprised....I guess.

I agree. The amount of time I plan on going, the entire parking fee will be as much as you pay for one day in other cities! I was just surprised....I guess.

Look on the bright side. If you can stay at Shades of Green, then you also get to enjoy the tax free BX in the hotel, which sells plenty of souvenirs, along with fairly cheap groceries, beer, etc. That eases the pain of paying for parking :D

I have a couple SoG questions, so thought this would be a good place to post.

1) How is the bus transportation? How often do the busses run? How does it compare to Disney transportation?

2) Do you feel "immersed in Disney" while you are there? (As you would in any of the other Disney resorts) Do they have Disney theming? How about the Mickey soaps and shampoos...or other extra special little touches?

We found the bus system to be very good. There is a schedule right inside the door that you can check every day for times, park hours, changes. Unfortunatley when you stay at the 'shades' you do not really feel that inmersed in Disney except for the Mickey pool, photo with a Mickey statue and Disney movies playing in the lobby for kids.

I'd have to say I agree with DCA Dot on all counts. The bus system was very reliable, the drivers were very friendly and while we didn't use it every day, we did use it when we needed to and it was always ready. The hotel isn't so immersive in the Disney theme, but it is rustically themed and they do a nice job in that regard. The bathrooms don't have anything special, just a soap/shampoo dispenser in the bathroom and the regular stuff. There is a coffee maker and plenty of room to spread out.