Shades of Green On Walt Disney World Resort

Great resort. Only reason it is not 5* is that it is not that kind of resort. It has everything you need with clean rooms and great pools. Cannot beat the price.

I love this resort! It is clean, quiet, spacious and very affordable in comparison to the Disney resorts. Although, SOG is on Disney property it is not a Disney resort. They have their own bus system that operates hourly so be sure to get a schedule. Also, in regards to the buses, you have to be a SOG guest in order to ride the bus. I have no complaints about this since there is usually only one bus going to each location.
I’ve stayed here three times in the last two years for various runDisney events. Although SOG is not a «host» resort it is about a 10 minute walk to/​from Poly which is. We also take advantage of the monorail at Poly for MK and Epcot as well as the buses if it is after hours for the SOG buses.
I am not a big fan of the food or the options. Room service is only available during certain hours which is frustrating when you are hungry and there is nothing open. This is when the snacks purchased at the exchange on site come in handy!
I love the Java station just outside of registration. They have great coffee, a good selection of wine and beer and it seems that the kiddos are big fans of the ice cream.
The next time I plan to visit Disney World, I will definitely be staying at SOG!
Note — I would NOT recommend the airport transportation suggested on the website. They were an hour late picking me up from the airport twice! Not a good way to start a vacation.

We have stayed here a few times and each time was great. We booked a few months ahead (due to the holidays). My cousin had called in November and was able to get (2) rooms. I just didn’t want to take that chance. Max number of rooms each eligible service member can reserve (during Christmas holidays) is (3).
No problems getting (3) rooms online. I even called the reservations desk to confirm as the trip was getting closer and all was well. Easy.
Arrived in the afternoon and were a bit early, but they allowed us to check-​in early.
The bellmen took our luggage to our room. They offered to park our car. We chose to park ourselves. It was nice because the garage is attached to our building and close to our room.
There is even a wheelchair/​scooter rental service right at the bellman’s area. Much nicer scooters than the ones offered at Disney and Universal. We could leave the scooter at the bellman’s area (open 24 hours) or take it to your room.
We stayed in the Palm building renovated wing. (Who knew they had renovated? nice!) Nice view of the golf course and easy walk to parking garage and main building. (2) queen beds and a pull out sofa.
There is gelato, Starbucks coffee in the main lobby. A small exchange with Disney items, souvenirs, snacks and toiletries.
Kids enjoyed the pool. There’s a lifeguard on duty. They did say there was too much chlorine. They were just happy to swim in December.
We ate at the Garden Gallery-​buffet style (kids made their own pizza night). I received an email for Christmas dinner reservations at the GG (prior to our trip) and since I didn’t hear from them, we ate at the Italian restaurant across Mangino’s. That was good too and no wait time!
There was a special at Magnolia Spa for $ 120– 50 min facial, 50 min massage, paraffin wax, foot treatment. That isn’t bad considering I’ve paid that much for just a massage. My Mom said she enjoyed it. I called to make the appt while I was on the shuttle from Downtown Disney and got a same day appointment.
They offer a free shuttle service to all the Disney parks running every hour. We utilized the bus almost everyday. The bus is ADA accessible and can hold (2) per bus. Even during Christmas it wasn’t an issue. We left early and stayed late.
We even had an issue with our in-​room safe. They sent someone to fix the issue right away.
The perks with staying at Shades of Green are being able to use the Magic Hours (can go before the park opens or other parks allow you to stay after closing). Awesome!
Definitely would stay here again. Nice hotel and It’s a bargain for the price.

I was actually surprised how nice this place was. Being a military only resort, I was not expecting much and was getting ready for the «base inn/​TLF» feel. The resort is very clean and the staff seem very friendly. There is an Exchange on the resort that have the AAFES prices, so you are not spending $ 3.50 on a bottle of water. They have touristy stuff as well as food and drinks. We had room service the first two nights because we were dead tired from walking around Universal 10 hours straight. One star off for that. The fries were super cold and tasted like they had been sitting out for quite a while. The silver wear provided was also dirty with dried food left on the spoon. The last problem with the hotel I will mention is the noise. The walls are paper thin and you can hear conversations and even the bathroom habits of your neighbors. We had to knock on the wall because our neighbors thought singing country songs as 10:00 pm was a good idea. But other that those two issues, no other complaints. You can schedule a time to get your room cleaned, there is a a coffee bar with drinks and breakfast items, and restaurants that we did not experience.
Transportation to the parks is pretty decent. There is a schedule for buses going to and from the Disney parks, and for $ 20 a person you can take a shuttle to and from Universal. Be mindful that the Universal shuttle drops you off around 8:30 am and does not return to pick you up until 6:00pm, so plan on being there all day unless you for another way to get back. I would stay here again because of the prices, we don’t come to Disney and Universal to sit in our hotel room, so paying for a Disney Resort does not seem justified.

This place was very good for the military people and their families … You can buy the tickets much cheaper then other places it’s nice this type of places exist for our military people it’s nice to do one little thing for them when they gave up so many things to protect us!!! Thank
You

Great resort and location. Has a ton of amenities on sight and gives you most Disney perks for half the price for comparable accommodations. With that being said if it’s your first time to Disney and you can try to split your trip so that you can experience the full Disney magical experience. Staying at a Disney resort does offer the magical express which shades doesn’t, fast passes can be booked 60 days out, etc. My only complaint about shades is the bus system can have prolonged waiting times to get picked up and leaving the parks which is why I took off one star. We sat outside of Epcot for at least 15 minutes on the bus with no other individuals in sight walking to the bus or waiting to get on before we left. Resort is walking distance to the Polynesian and the grand Floridian.

For the price the facilities are perfectly fine. Staff pleasant, rooms clean. We visited the week before Thanksgiving, 2015.
I write this review and give what would be a solid three star overall a one star to warn you about the food. It’s forth-​rate frozen, reheated, overpriced slop.
They make a big deal at their flagship restaurant about their brick oven, but then use frozen pizza crusts, fake cheese, and mystery meat for Italian sausage. Honestly, half the frozen pizzas at Target are better… and fresher!
For nachos, more fake cheese and stale chips to give you that real AA ballpark feel. Forget about ordering nachos with chicken, we got five pieces the size of a small almond each.
Breakfast buffet is the only meal that just barely hits acceptable level for the price.

I have to say, being part of the military had its perks. My family and I stayed here and was welcome with open arms. The resort is very family friendly and home like. From all you can eat buffet, a PX on the resort (when you want something small to eat or drink), to two large pools with a kiddie section for the kids. My wife was left impress and also my 2 yr old son who remember Shady the gator there. Shades of Green provides shuttle buses to al the parks and are easy to get to. We even woke up to a gang of turkeys which my son looked forward to every morning by the balcony. If your in the military take average of this place for the rates along. We wanted to thank Shades of Green for a great stay on our first family vacation.

I have stayed at military hotels in Hawaii and Germany so I knew what to expect and they did not disappoint. First class services, large, well appointed rooms and accessory services (BX, tickets and golf course) all within walking distance or in the facility itself. So why the 4 stars? A terrible bus system that may take you 2 days or more to figure out (pray you’re not there for 4 days) When I complained and offered suggestions to fix it they shrugged and went I’ll bring it up to management (in other words your bothering me go away). They need to better explain the busses, and map them because if you ask a Disney employee they’ll look at you like you have two heads. They know nothing about shades of green. Other than that really nice.

I have stayed at SOG 3x, and loved every visit. You not only have a beautiful resort feeling, but you look around and just about everyone is military! Its wonderful to see those men and women who protect our freedom enjoying their vacations with their families. I love the Evergreens restaurant by the pool, the buffet place inside, the Exchange has the cutest gifts and essentials should you of forgotten shampoo at home. Each time I’ve gone, I’ve hated to leave. The new pool… my son loved the slide! And they have lifeguards now. Oh, and Starbucks coffee in the lobby. Hello! Love it!!! Can’t wait until next year to go back!

I stay here annually for a week-​long work conference, this being my third year. The staff is friendly and polite, albeit not the most eloquent as many other WDW resorts are known to be. In any case, they are prompt, respectful and accommodating to our large group (200+). Bell service is quick to unload and deliver all luggage with minimal need for instructions. The food is typical of a 3-​star resort, and the kitchens are well-​supplied & flexible when it comes to our clients’ desired menus. Room service is timely and well-​priced ($ 9 quesadilla/​sandwich, $ 16 – 20 entrees).
This hotel has seen many stages of renovation since I started coming in 2013. Most recently the first and fifth floors were renovated; fortunately I am staying on the first floor. Unfortunately, the WIFI has been offbeat, holding steady for at most 3 minutes on my mobile, tablet, and laptop. This applies to all areas of the hotel, and especially the rooms. Further still, the range of cell phone signal has truly been the worst of it. I have an iPhone 5s and can barely gain 2 bars on the LTE network! This is the first time I have experienced anything like this, which has been echoed by many fellow employees with up to 10 years of conferences under their belts.

We checked in on a Monday at 1400, no issues getting into our room before the stated 1500 check in. All staff during our entire visit were friendly and helpful.
The grounds were very well kept and for the most part the resort was rather quiet. Very relaxing.
We had a standard room and the space was large and very accommodating for two adults and two teens. Very clean. All rooms have balcony or patio access if you are on the first floor. Our room had a small dorm size fridge, no microwave (which was a huge bummer) and a safe. We have teens. Besides games, a microwave is their lifeblood.
Our building was still being renovated on the third floor, so no laundry facilities. We were able to walk over to the other building to utilize those laundry facilities. The laundry room is like what you would encounter living in apartments in Germany — One large laundry room with washers, dryers, and a microwave. To use the facilities you need to change out your dollars for tokens. One dollar equals one token. You can do a wash and dry cycle for $ 2, which is great. If you forget your detergent you can purchase it from the vending machine.
The food choices vary depending on the time of day, but are a bit pricey. The pizza was delicious (15 and up for 14″) and the breakfast buffet was yum ($ 12.95pp). If breakfast is important to you, you might consider purchasing the food package for the week, as there is no continental breakfast option for free. Or do as we did, brought a cooler with milk, sandwich meats, etc, boxes of cereal and plastic bowls, utensils. Teens ate most mornings and lunches in our room. It was just more budget friendly that way. Teens eat A. L.O.T. Water was a bit sulfuric smelling/​tasting in room, bring bottled water.
The bus schedule for getting to and from Disney is ample and very appreciated. Does not go to other area attractions. The teens enjoyed the arcade for a couple of days before becoming bored with it. We purchased our Disney tickets on site at SOG, no line and friendly service. Bellman were fabulous on both sides of the trip. Room service is the same food as the restaurants, plus %18.
Alcohol on premise is pricey. We brought our own, but did have a few drinks and a bottle of wine while there. As long as you have your alcohol in a plastic cup anywhere on premises you are good. If you purchase bottle of wine while having dinner and don’t finish it, gasp, take it to the room with you.
We smoke… I know, the horror. Anywho, they do have a designated smoking area near one of the pools/​arcade/​restaurant/​bar and a couple of benches with ash trays in the common area. Much appreciated by us. None of the areas are covered though and it rained daily. Take what you can get I suppose.
Before we smoke and drink we use the fitness center daily. It is a great facility, ample, nice equipment and very clean. Towels and water are available. A bit cramped, but nice.
We didn’t use the golf course, but the course view from the hotel was gorgeous.
We allowed our teens to roam free at the resort, which we never do elsewhere and they enjoyed the freedom. We encountered turkey, deer, ducks and racoons daily.
Parking is offered in a parking garage, $ 5pd. It can be a bit of a hike, but I presume that they assume you will not be driving very often while staying. They do have shuttles afterall. But, if you like to go to other area parks or restaurants, which we did, you will obviously want easy access to your car. It’s not a biggie, just be prepared for that. Alamo car rental on site.
You can use your star card in several places and they have an ATM available. Shoppette/​class six/​Disney paraphernalia is also available.
All in all the resort was very nice and the price point, for any category, is great inside the Disney park. We are planning to go back next year.
Pools were nice and not crowded early in the day. Open from 1000 to 2200. They offer towels at the pool area if you don’t have your own.
Small complaints… the website does not offer enough pictures, Unilocal has far more. It could also be a little more user friendly to find the info you need in a hurry. Would be very helpful if they gave you packets of info upon check in, stating all resort info, restaurant/​shop hours, on site event details, other offerings, bus schedules, etc. They also need to have alcohol drink menus available at all places that offer it. WiFi was not fabulous, slow and disconnected often, especially on smartphones and tablets. You have to access it via website, which did not allow ninetendo DS access to the internet.

Going to Disney is always an event one cannot even begin to describe. There’s something about the atmosphere and the people that just make you feel like you’ve entered another planet. My family and I went up to Disney for the Fourth of July and we stayed at this resort. From the moment you pull up, you feel like you’ve you own the world.
The name Shades of Green embodies the hotel. All the beautiful trees, always nicely cut grass, and even some of the walls are green (well kinda). Long story short it’s a beautiful sight.
With multiple pools and plenty of places to get a bite to eat you have plenty of affordable options to choose from. My favorite part of this hotel is the fact that it’s tied to disney so it has busses that take you to the parks. The rooms also have space for plenty of people and it was extremely clean.
I was really impressed with this hotel and I highly recommend it to anyone!

Perfect! I only have great things to say.
We had a room on the 4 floor with a view of the golf grounds which was beautiful to wake up to.
While checking in three people told us to get the breakfast buffet. I have two teenage boys and they love to eat breakfast so buying it was great for us. The choices for breakfast is worth the price and it was delicious.
We bought park tickets and the lady was really great at helping us understand the parks.
The rooms are very clean and very nicely decorated. A roach did find its way into our bathroom but it is Florida. I’m just glad it wasn’t a alligator.
The gym has everything you need to work off those churro calories.
The whole hotel is so green and relaxing.
I would stay here again, again and again.

The rooms are really nice and spacious. Staff is friendly and helpful. The pools are great, one is geared to the kids and the other more for adults. My only complaint is that the design of the resort is not stroller/​wheelchair friendly.

I’M a retired Army Colonel and loved this resort! Great customer service; clean rooms; beautiful landscaping; PX on site at low PX prices; beautiful, inviting décor; flexible room options; great transportation plan when you pay attention; nice on site restaurants; updated and upgraded décor; very affordable; bell hops are awesome; staff knowledgeable and kind, etc. I felt like a Soldier should be treated… special. My 14 year old and retired AF E8 loved it too. They even had attraction ticket office on site with military discounts and packages that allowed us to maximize our fun. Don’t rent a car… just use the free transportation. Loved it! Highly recommend!

This was my first visit here. The place was designated by my employer so no choice. Overall I can understand why many people choose to visit here with families because the prices are reasonable and just for the free shuttles all day to the attractions is a big stress relief. On second hand, the food options are few, expensive and mediocre at best. On the last night after being there a week I discovered there was a buffet and I am not a fan of buffets but after trying a few other restaurants decided to give it a try.
Buffet is $ 15, drink not included but best food on the property. A microwave is located in the far back of the laundry room on each floor. If you have «do not disturb» on your door you will still receive a courteous call disturbing you «I’ve notice you have a do not disturb status just checking if you need anything» this was very annoying after returning from a long day but I can understand why they may feel the need but geeezz every night is excessive. Otherwise friendly staff, I stayed on the renovated side and there are more renovations to be done throughout. The checking procedures took soooo long as well.

Pros:
1. Spacious room, with pull-​out sofa bed and table. No kitchen tho.
2. Good breakfast buffet, although it can get crowded at times. They make custom omelets and Mickey Mouse pancakes for you.
3. Fitness center/​gym is open ²⁴⁄₇
4. Awesome price. Usually less than $ 110 w complementary bfast
5. Coin laundry self service available
6. Heated pool is decent
Cons:
1. Depending on what room you get, you may have to walk up to half a mile just to get to your room. Seriously, our room was so far from the lobby it took at least 5 – 8 minutes to walk there.
2. No rewards program. Pricing is probably cheapest available in the area, but if you factor in the $ 5 you have to pay for parking every night, it comes out to about $ 110 depending on what package you get. But you could probably book a room at the Sheraton or Marriott for about $ 130 to $ 150. Their quality is better and you get reward points. So it all depends on what you’re looking for.
3. Service is so so. If you tell reception something is broken, it can take up to 1 hour for maintenance to get to your room. Compare this to high end hotels, where you get service within 1 – 5 minutes.
4. Cleanliness is decent, but not really 5 star quality. Maybe more like 3.5 star quality

Do I want to add another great review for this place so that it gets harder to get a reservation? No. BUT it does deserve a great review.
Rooms are large… largest I have seen on Disney property. The value is unbelievable. The staff has really come a long way. They have stepped up their customer service and friendliness. The transportation has gotten so much better (was really struggling for a few years). The food… well you can’t be perfect.
If you have the ability to stay here take advantage of it. Being in the military is hard. Choosing to stay at SOG is easy!

5-​Star Professionalism and location on a family budget.
I have many benefits from my service in the military and this is one that I finally decided to use the benefit from.
I know there are always varied opinions, but I really find it hard to see why there would be anything bad to say about staying here; I was impressed.
From the moment of arrival you are always greeted by bellhops and others, they stay busy so don’t be offended if you do not get service immediately. they will return shortly.
The check-​in process was simple and informative. The receptionists did their best to answer any and all questions.
The rooms were very spacious and clean. Sure some minor parts of the resort show their age, but if you look at the overall quality, price, location, and high rotation of guests that stay there. then you will not even see the very small minor things.
Room service was spot on fast and they did their best to get you what you needed. We arrived late our first night and was still able to order some good food at a decent price and then go get some wine and drink from the sports bar. It was a pleasant introduction to the resort.
Prior to arrival we were able to order our tickets at a discounted rate from the Shades of Green and they helped us get them registered with Disney online. You cannot beat the great savings you earn by staying here.
EVERYDAY we had cast members and people on the resort, greet us and always with a smile. They are pleasantly Disney ALL THE WAY.
We ate, we swam, we played, we went to Disney and never had a need that was not met at the resort.
The PX is a small combined version of a: shoppette, class six, commissary, and PX. They have what you need to eat, snack, drink, or get good souvenirs for the trip home. (FYI the gifts are cheaper here than anywhere else on the Disney property) You can also use your Military Star Card ANYWHERE on this property. (food, beer, gifts, etc.) [additional note: they only sell Coca-​Cola products on Disney… so we had to get our Dr Pepper elsewhere]
We used the spa and hair dressers. They were great. The girls got massages and the kids got a full PRINCESS treatment with hair and make-​up for their big day at Disney. I highly recommend it for your ladies and girls. If they feel special it makes the memories that much more vivid for them.
One BIG noticeable difference by staying here versus other non-​military Disney resorts… the people and the relaxation.
At all of the other resorts it seems as if there was a hotel in the middle of a shopping mall. LOTS of noise and activity going on. Some people are respectable and others are not.
Here at Shades of Green, it was purely serene and relaxing. Adults and kids alike carried themselves with respect and courtesy for others. I see the full military lineage on display here and it made me happy and relaxed.
As you travel the other resorts and come back to this one. you will see that Shades of Green is truly more relaxing and intimate. (now that you know this, I bet you will notice it)
Overall, you honestly cannot go wrong here at Shades of Green. You save the «green» and have the full Disney experience. If you are not into Disney and simply want to come here to relax or play golf… do it. You will not be upset with your choice.
Staff, facilities, and the environment are everything you want for a great time away or an extended vacation.