Shades of Green is a army resort at Walt Disney World that gives Deluxe Resort-caliber lodging, and is situated within the Magic Kingdom space. In this evaluate, we’ll share ideas on our previous stays right here, present primary data, a photograph tour, and whether or not it’s price sacrificing theme for the closely discounted nightly room charges. (Updated April 6, 2023.)
Most Walt Disney World company are usually not eligible to guide Shades of Green; the resort is accessible for army service members, their households, and sponsored company. As an Armed Forces Recreation Center, the resort has eligibility necessities that have to be met to be able to qualify for reserving, with U.S. Department of Defense civilians and survivor households qualifying simply being a few of the eligible company. Refer to this chart to find out whether or not you qualify.
Growing up, Shades of Green grew to become my household’s go-to resort for our annual journeys from across the time the U.S. Department of Defense leased the resort from Disney in 1994 till across the early 2000s, with one keep at Dixie Landings throughout that point as a result of Shades of Green had overbooked. We’ve stayed once more extra just lately with my dad and mom, and needed to share ideas and photographs from our experiences…
Much of the net dialogue round Shades of Green appears to revolve round whether or not it feels “Disney” sufficient. From a thematic perspective, that is extra akin to a golf resort than it’s a themed Walt Disney World resort.
In reality, again when it was Disney owned, Shades of Green was initially referred to as the Golf Resort. Later, it was modified to the Disney Inn resulting from a scarcity of recognition, with an accompanying Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs motif.
We’ve stayed at three totally different golf resorts in Central Florida, and Shades of Green is a quintessential instance of those. Muted inexperienced and beige colour schemes, stylish however understated design, and indoor-outdoor design. I don’t know what the precise fashion is, however components of it remind me of a Seventies Floridian merger of contemporary and craftsman. (Other areas, just like the foyer, are extra like modern-rustic.)
Suffice to say, you don’t keep at Shades of Green for in-your-face theme. It’s extra like a spot to escape theme, with the bordering golf programs, water options, and landscaping all imparting a way of rest and serenity. You most positively is not going to discover outsized Disney characters or re-created locales. Shades of Green may be very taste-specific; I occur to love it, however your mileage could fluctuate.
April 6, 2023 Update: One of our favourite options of Shades of Green is that it’s situated throughout the road from Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort; lower than quarter-hour foyer to foyer. Whenever we stayed at Shades of Green, we might do that stroll to the Poly and use the monorail or boats for transportation to Magic Kingdom or EPCOT. This is much faster than utilizing the Shades of Green bus, because it drops you off on the TTC.
Unfortunately, that may not be potential subsequent month. Due to the World Drive Expansion Project, the walkway between the Shades of Green Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort will completely shut on May 1, 2023. This is just not merely a development closure; the sidewalk is being eliminated as World Drive is widened from two lanes to a 4-lane freeway with no crosswalk as soon as completed in 2027.
In an try and offset the sidewalk closure, which is an enormous blow for company who most popular strolling, Shades of Green has indicated that it’ll add buses to the TTC route. That ought to assist, however it truthfully is not going to be the identical. Shades of Green bus service is inefficient, and waits may be particularly dangerous for company with ECVs.
For Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs, we used Shades of Green buses. We discovered them at all times to be on time and environment friendly. Here’s hoping that the expanded bus service to TTC makes attending to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT simpler and faster, too.
On a optimistic word, although Shades of Green is just not owned by Walt Disney World, it’s nonetheless largely handled as an on-site resort with Disney advantages. This implies that Shades of Green company have entry to Early Entry and Extended Evening Hours, each of that are massively advantageous.
That means bonus entry to TRON Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT, each of that are at present nonetheless utilizing digital queues. Previously, Shades of Green didn’t provide different on-site perks (like Disney’s Magical Express or free MagicBands), however these have all been eradicated for Disney-owned lodges, so the hole is nearly non-existent. If something, the on-site perks at Shades of Green are higher than Value or Moderate Resorts (minus transportation and parking).
Even if Shades of Green is just not your cup of tea thematically, if you’re eligible to remain at Shades of Green, you completely ought to. For starters, the rooms are enormous. Size-wise, they’re roughly equal to the Polynesian (bear in mind, each resorts are ‘Vacation Kingdom’ period Disney), however price-wise, they’re a fraction of the associated fee.
Nightly charges rely upon rank, room class, and variety of adults, however costs for two adults in a regular room (which is bigger than visitor rooms on the Grand Floridian) begin at underneath $200 per evening. The rooms are pretty nondescript, however that value can’t be beat. (You can see room photographs and charges based mostly upon rank right here.)
Even if you happen to’re in a position to rating a 40% off army fee on the Polynesian or Contemporary, you’re nonetheless double–or doubtlessly triple-those charges. Unless the thematic touches matter quite a bit, I can not fathom paying a lot extra for a monorail loop resort.
Due to its pricing, Shades of Green is often absolutely booked, and infrequently sells out months upfront. Reservations may be made a yr upfront, and reserving as near that yr mark is suggested for some seasons. December is particularly widespread.
In phrases of facilities, the 2 huge ones are swimming pools and eating. There are a number of eating places at Shades of Green, starting from seize and go cafes and occasional spots (serving Starbucks!) to the complete service Mangino’s and Evergreen’s. These eating places are all extremely reasonably priced, with ‘real-world’ costs moderately than Walt Disney World inflation.
I can’t actually provide perception into the standard of any of those eating places. Evergreen’s was my household’s go-to rising up, and I completely beloved ordering the dinosaur nuggets and taking part in Twilight Zone pinball there. Ten yr previous me would give these dinosaur nuggets an A+, however I’m not so certain that’s a reputable evaluate (nor am I certain they even provide dinosaur nuggets anymore, however it will be a travesty if not).
The Mill Pond Pool is Mickey Mouse-shaped and encompasses a splash park together with a three-level playscape & waterslide. This is the primary pool at Shades of Green, with zero entry, a sizzling tub, lap lane, and number of video games each day.
Magnolia Pool is extra laid again, ideally suited for lounging or a sport of Marco Polo.
Another vital amenity is the ticket workplace. This is the place army members should purchase tickets at steep reductions, together with the favored Walt Disney World Armed Forces Salute and the Stars & Stripes ticket affords. Note that you simply do not should be staying at Shades of Green to buy tickets right here (you continue to have to be eligible army, although), and the advantage of shopping for at Shades of Green is the shortage of gross sales tax.
In addition to Walt Disney World tickets, the workplace right here sells a wide range of different discounted tickets for different parks and points of interest in Orlando and the larger Central Florida space.
One different factor to contemplate is the vibe at Shades of Green. This could fluctuate a lot enchantment to members of your social gathering who are usually not completely “into” the entire Disney factor. As to what I imply by this, I’ll provide my dad for instance. He is the stereotypical army man: will get up on the morning time each day for no discernible cause, gruff demeanor, and pretty reserved. I’m undecided to what diploma he favored our annual journeys to Walt Disney World after I was a child, or if what he principally loved was seeing the enjoyment it introduced my mother and me.
In any case, age has positively not made him extra of a fan. During our most up-to-date keep at Shades of Green, unquestionably his favourite factor was getting up on the morning time, getting espresso, and speaking to different retirees. His second favourite factor was coming back from the parks, sitting within the foyer, and chatting. This was a pleasant respite from the parks for him, and after we took my dad and mom again to Walt Disney World extra just lately and stayed at Fort Wilderness, I may inform he positively missed the camaraderie supplied by Shades of Green.
I might guess this dynamic is just not distinctive to my household, and is one thing to contemplate if the army member in your social gathering is much less enthusiastic a couple of journey to Walt Disney World. Staying at Shades of Green may make the holiday extra pleasant for them, which can in flip make it extra nice for you. There is undoubtedly a conviviality current at Shades of Green that you simply gained’t discover at different Walt Disney World resorts.
Overall, you most likely don’t want this evaluate to “sell” you on Shades of Green. If you’re eligible to guide right here, we’d extremely suggest doing so. The bang in your buck supplied by Shades of Green is exponentially increased than different Walt Disney World resorts, and aside from the understated theme, there’s little cause to guide elsewhere. Shades of Green is a beautiful, Deluxe-caliber resort at below-market costs, and its proximity to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort makes an awesome possibility if you happen to want your Disney repair…or monorail transportation.
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Your Thoughts
Have you stayed at Shades of Green? What did you consider the design and environment of the resort? Was it sufficiently “Disney” for you? Would you keep at Shades of Green once more? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluate? Any questions we can assist you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!