Review: Shades of Green Resort at Walt Disney World
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Military Deals and Discounts Shades of Green Disney Military Discount 2012
SUMMARY: SHADES OF GREEN RESORT
My family has made a number of trips to Shades of Green.
We visited most recently last month, in a trip sponsored as always by my father (retired career Navy) that included my test niecelets—that’s them in the photo.
Based on these visits, Shades of Green is a wonderful choice for eligible returning visitors to Walt Disney World.
However, for first time family visitors, it is not the best choice.
It does not participate in key programs that Disney owned and operated resorts offer, especially the Disney Dining Plan and Disney’s Magical Express. (It does participate in Extra Magic Hours.)
Shades of Green has little kid appeal, and despite a great location across the street from Disney’s Polynesian Resort, so-so convenience.
Families who need to take advantage of Shades of Green’s great value—it is indeed one heck of a bargain—will have their best first family visit to Walt Disney World by staying in it as part of a “split stay.”
That is, they should split their visit into some time at Shades of Green, and some at a more highly recommended Walt Disney World resort.
See this page for more on the best way to fit a stay at Shades of Green into a first family visit to Walt Disney World
Another great option—though much harder to pull off—is to get overflow rates from Shades of Green for a recommended Walt Disney World resort. See this page on MilitaryDisneyTips.com for more on overflow rates.
POSITIVES OF SHADES OF GREEN
What is now Shades of Green opened in 1973 as the Golf Resort, and changed its name in 1986 to the Disney Inn.
In 1994 it was leased to, and in 1996 purchased outright by the US Government, to create a resort for U.S. military personnel and their families and friends at Walt Disney World.
It is an Armed Force Recreation Center, and is managed and staffed by federal employees.
In 2004 a massive expansion was completed, and Shades of Green now offers almost 600 enormous rooms—at 480 square feet, the largest standard rooms on Walt Disney World property.
These rooms sleep five in two queens and a daybed, and in terms of quality of furniture, fixtures, and other amenities, are directly comparable to Walt Disney World deluxe resorts.
The most remarkable thing about Shades of Green is its prices.
Shades of Green sets three basic levels of prices, increasing by military rank. Standard room prices per night range from $95 through $131. (See this for details) This means that during most times of the year, you get a deluxe-level room for less–often much less–than what you would pay to stay in a Walt Disney World moderate resort.
Moreover, unlike other hotels in Orlando, these prices are not jacked up during the various higher-demand seasons of the year.
These rates can be shared with family and friends:
- Eligible guests can sponsor up to three rooms for family and friends, and, during most times of the year, their spouses can sponsor three more.
- Such guests must be checked in by the sponsor, no earlier than when the sponsor checks in, and check out no later than when the sponsor checks out,
The setting is quite lovely, across the street from Disney’s Polynesian Resort, and nestled between two of Disney’s premiere golf courses, the Palm and Magnolia.
NEGATIVES OF SHADES OF GREEN
This review continues here.
4 comments
My son in law is an active Sargent in the US Army. He has served to tours in Iraq. He wanted to purchase us 4 tickets to Walt Disney for February. He is however not going with us so after reading all the information I am confused and sounds like you need to have a military member with you to supply the ID at the gate. Is this true? Please let me know the details so I can let my son in law know if he is able to purchase tickets for his family. Thank you.
Hi Debra, yes, the military member does need to be with you in person at the park gate to activate the tickets.
Hi , my husband has been serving in the Royal Air Force based at Scotland for over 15 years. However due to government cut backs. The largest RAF base in Scotland has been forced to close making over 400 redundant. My Family are coming to Florida in July and my question is are we entitled to any discounts now that he is a veteran.
Heather, I’m sorry, but the only veteran discounts I’m aware of are for the US services. Do see this section though: http://yourfirstvisit.net/2010/10/03/introduction-to-the-tightwads-guide-to-walt-disney-world/
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