Shades of Green Resort Review & Info
Shades of Green is a military hotel at Walt Disney World that offers Deluxe Resort-caliber accommodations, and is located in the Magic Kingdom area. In this review, we’ll share thoughts on our past stays here, provide basic info, a photo tour, and whether it’s worth sacrificing theme for the heavily discounted nightly room rates. (Updated April 6, 2023.)
Most Walt Disney World guests are not eligible to book Shades of Green; the hotel is available for military service members, their families, and sponsored guests. As an Armed Forces Recreation Center, the resort has eligibility requirements that must be met in order to qualify for booking, with U.S. Department of Defense civilians and survivor families qualifying just being some of the eligible guests. Refer to this chart to determine whether you qualify.
Growing up, Shades of Green became my family’s go-to resort for our annual trips from around the time the U.S. Department of Defense leased the resort from Disney in 1994 until around the early 2000s, with one stay at Dixie Landings during that time because Shades of Green had overbooked. We’ve stayed again more recently with my parents, and wanted to share thoughts and photos from our experiences…
Much of the online discussion around Shades of Green seems to revolve around whether it feels “Disney” enough. From a thematic perspective, this is more akin to a golf resort than it is a themed Walt Disney World resort.
In fact, back when it was Disney owned, Shades of Green was originally known as the Golf Resort. Later, it was changed to the Disney Inn due to a lack of popularity, with an accompanying Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs motif.
We’ve stayed at three different golf resorts in Central Florida, and Shades of Green is a quintessential example of these. Muted green and beige color schemes, classy but understated design, and indoor-outdoor design. I don’t know what the exact style is, but parts of it remind me of a 1970s Floridian merger of modern and craftsman. (Other areas, like the lobby, are more like modern-rustic.)
Suffice to say, you don’t stay at Shades of Green for in-your-face theme. It’s more like a place to escape theme, with the bordering golf courses, water features, and landscaping all imparting a sense of relaxation and serenity. You most definitely will not find oversized Disney characters or re-created locales. Shades of Green is very taste-specific; I happen to like it, but your mileage may vary.
April 6, 2023 Update: One of our favorite features of Shades of Green is that it’s located across the street from Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort; less than 15 minutes lobby to lobby. Whenever we stayed at Shades of Green, we would do this walk to the Poly and use the monorail or boats for transportation to Magic Kingdom or EPCOT. This is far quicker than using the Shades of Green bus, as it drops you off at the TTC.
Unfortunately, that will no longer be possible next month. Due to the World Drive Expansion Project, the walkway between the Shades of Green Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort will permanently close on May 1, 2023. This is not simply a construction closure; the sidewalk is being removed as World Drive is widened from two lanes to a 4-lane highway with no crosswalk once finished in 2027.
In an attempt to offset the sidewalk closure, which is a big blow for guests who preferred walking, Shades of Green has indicated that it’ll add buses to the TTC route. That should help, but it honestly will not be the same. Shades of Green bus service is inefficient, and waits can be especially bad for guests with ECVs.
For Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs, we used Shades of Green buses. We found them always to be on time and efficient. Here’s hoping that the expanded bus service to TTC makes getting to Magic Kingdom and EPCOT easier and quicker, too.
On a positive note, even though Shades of Green is not owned by Walt Disney World, it is still largely treated as an on-site resort with Disney benefits. This means that Shades of Green guests have access to Early Entry and Extended Evening Hours, both of which are hugely advantageous.
That means bonus access to TRON Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT, both of which are currently still using virtual queues. Previously, Shades of Green did not offer other on-site perks (like Disney’s Magical Express or free MagicBands), but those have all been eliminated for Disney-owned hotels, so the gap is almost non-existent. If anything, the on-site perks at Shades of Green are better than Value or Moderate Resorts (minus transportation and parking).
Even if Shades of Green is not your cup of tea thematically, if you are eligible to stay at Shades of Green, you absolutely should. For starters, the rooms are huge. Size-wise, they’re roughly equivalent to the Polynesian (remember, both resorts are ‘Vacation Kingdom’ era Disney), but price-wise, they are a fraction of the cost.
Nightly rates depend upon rank, room category, and number of adults, but prices for 2 adults in a standard room (which is larger than guest rooms at the Grand Floridian) start at under $200 per night. The rooms are fairly nondescript, but that price cannot be beat. (You can see room photos and rates based upon rank here.)
Even if you’re able to score a 40% off military rate at the Polynesian or Contemporary, you’re still looking at double–or potentially triple-those rates. Unless the thematic touches matter a lot, I cannot fathom paying so much more for a monorail loop resort.
Due to its pricing, Shades of Green is usually fully booked, and often sells out months in advance. Reservations can be made a year in advance, and booking as close to that year mark is advised for some seasons. December is especially popular.
In terms of amenities, the two big ones are pools and dining. There are several restaurants at Shades of Green, ranging from grab and go cafes and coffee spots (serving Starbucks!) to the full service Mangino’s and Evergreen’s. These restaurants are all incredibly affordable, with ‘real-world’ prices rather than Walt Disney World inflation.
I can’t really offer insight into the quality of any of these restaurants. Evergreen’s was my family’s go-to growing up, and I absolutely loved ordering the dinosaur nuggets and playing Twilight Zone pinball there. Ten year old me would give those dinosaur nuggets an A+, but I’m not so sure that’s a credible review (nor am I sure they even offer dinosaur nuggets anymore, but it would be a travesty if not).
The Mill Pond Pool is Mickey Mouse-shaped and features a splash park along with a three-level playscape & waterslide. This is the main pool at Shades of Green, with zero entry, a hot tub, lap lane, and variety of games daily.
Magnolia Pool is more laid back, ideal for lounging or a game of Marco Polo.
Another important amenity is the ticket office. This is where military members can purchase tickets at steep discounts, including the popular Walt Disney World Armed Forces Salute and the Stars & Stripes ticket offers. Note that you do not have to be staying at Shades of Green to purchase tickets here (you still must be eligible military, though), and the benefit of buying at Shades of Green is the lack of sales tax.
In addition to Walt Disney World tickets, the office here sells a variety of other discounted tickets for other parks and attractions in Orlando and the greater Central Florida area.
One other thing to consider is the vibe at Shades of Green. This may vary much appeal to members of your party who are not totally “into” the whole Disney thing. As to what I mean by this, I’ll offer my dad as an example. He is the stereotypical military man: gets up at the crack of dawn daily for no discernible reason, gruff demeanor, and fairly reserved. I’m not sure to what degree he liked our annual trips to Walt Disney World when I was a kid, or if what he mostly enjoyed was seeing the joy it brought my mom and me.
In any case, age has definitely not made him more of a fan. During our most recent stay at Shades of Green, unquestionably his favorite thing was getting up at the crack of dawn, getting coffee, and talking to other retirees. His second favorite thing was getting back from the parks, sitting in the lobby, and chatting. This was a nice respite from the parks for him, and when we took my parents back to Walt Disney World more recently and stayed at Fort Wilderness, I could tell he definitely missed the camaraderie offered by Shades of Green.
I would bet this dynamic is not unique to my family, and is something to consider if the military member in your party is less enthusiastic about a trip to Walt Disney World. Staying at Shades of Green might make the vacation more enjoyable for them, which will in turn make it more pleasant for you. There is undoubtedly a conviviality present at Shades of Green that you won’t find at other Walt Disney World resorts.
Overall, you probably don’t need this review to “sell” you on Shades of Green. If you’re eligible to book here, we’d highly recommend doing so. The bang for your buck offered by Shades of Green is exponentially higher than other Walt Disney World resorts, and other than the understated theme, there is little reason to book elsewhere. Shades of Green is a lovely, Deluxe-caliber resort at below-market prices, and its proximity to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort makes a great option if you need your Disney fix…or monorail transportation.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
Have you stayed at Shades of Green? What did you think of the design and atmosphere of the resort? Was it sufficiently “Disney” for you? Would you stay at Shades of Green again? Do you agree or disagree with our review? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
I mean, Tom…. I really do love you and I’ve followed your blog for YEARS!! But you have to stop giving away all the secrets! You know I’m kidding – my most successful Disney trips were because I followed your “secret” advice. We love SOG – thanks for the nice write-up.
Unless you are current active duty or retired after a full twenty, I would highly recommend calling to ensure your eligibility. For example, I separated after less than 20 and have a DD Form 2. I am eligible to stay there, but only during certain months. I didn’t see this clearly enumerated on any of the eligibility listings, but it might have been user error :-).
We have stayed at Shades if Green many many times. It was the reason my kids grew up experiencing Disney almost every year. It can’t be beat. My oldest daughter even had our wedding there and it was great and reasonably priced for luxury feel. We have been blessed by Shades of Green being our vacation spot!
Another note: for those that think the walk from the Poly to SOG is too long (or if you’re just too tired at the end of the day), SOG has the Shady Shuttle, which is a lovely golf cart that will take you from the lobby to the edge of property next to the Poly crosswalk. If you call the front desk, they will also pick you back up on return trips. My mom’s favorite part of staying at SOG 🙂
We tried SoG once and would rather stay in a value or off site then stay here again. The dreadful experience started at check in. Our check in was fine, but they had people lined up with problems in room reservations. Then he h buses! They were disgusting. The seats were ripped with stuffing coming out. I didn’t want to sit down but the bus driver yelled at me that he wouldn’t go anywhere until I sat. I do understand that since it wa Easter week they brought extra old buses over from Disney. It was 6:00 in the morning, I don’t see why they needed those old things already. We were on the R&R package and told were could use it for Easter dinner. Then when we went to make our reservations they had to check on it, it took 2 days for them to figure out we couldn’t eat there. After they already looked into at chck in. Then there was the room that was a mile away. After a long day, we get to the room and the air conditioning wasn’t working. So the kids opened the patio door for air. The engineer came right away and told us it was our fault for opening the patio door, that broke the air conditioning. Didn’t seem to matter that it was broken when we came in. The food was terrible although we didn’t mind breakfast too much. We ended spending our meals off property which defeated the purpose of the R&R package. And that was just the highlights!
My boyfriend is in the army, and we have stayed twice at SOG in the past year. We LOVE it there! My boyfriend loves the vacation vibe and relaxed, less hectic atmosphere. I love how close it is to the Poly and the rooms are HUGE and well laid out. We have done split stays each time we visited WDW this year. First we stayed at the Waldorf for a night, then the rest at SOG. The last time we went we stayed at AKL- Kidani Village, then SOG. Honestly, we both preferred SOG! There’s something to be said about the non-stuffy, tranquil environment. Plus, that morning walk to the Poly is so nice. It really is a special place. I can’t wait to go back, hopefully soon!! =)
We just got back from a week long stay at Shades of Green. I’ve stayed there 4 times now since 1996. It’s such a beautiful resort. The grounds are well maintained. The rooms are spacious. They are completing the refurb of the second wing, they did the first wing a few years ago. So all the rooms should be completely updated soon. The location is amazing. We enjoyed the walk to and from the Poly for the monorail and used their buses a time or two. Shades buses run on a set schedule which is nice as you do always know when the next one will arrive. No need to rush out of the park if it will be a while until the next bus. The on site food is good. Didn’t see dinosaur chicken nuggets at Evergreens though. I’ve stayed at Value, Value plus, and Moderate as well as offsite and Shades is my first choice for our trips. The atmosphere after the parks is a nice respectful one at Shades which is always welcome.
Funny timing that you posted this – we just got back from a trip to Disney and stayed at Shades of Green. My BIL is in the reserves and was able to book us extra rooms. The space was fantastic for my husband and I, as we were traveling with our 10 month old. My two gripes were transportation and the food. The transportation system was SO difficult, especially with an infant. The food that we had ranged from mediocre to horrendous (buffet..). Loved having the military tax free exchange store though! I guess my only other complaint was lacking the feel and magic of staying at Disney resort (we’ve previously always stayed at the Yacht club). Although we didn’t quite feel the magic, our wallets certainly didn’t feel quite as light after the trip!
I agree almost entirely with your review, Tom. Your dad seems like a fun guy to hang out with!
The laid-back atmosphere, golf resort style theme, location by the courses, large rooms and location are beyond reproach. I also agree that as a military retiree, it is really great to be able to sit and chat with other retirees from all branches of service. My family also enjoys the miniature military exchange that has co-branded Disney and military service items, the only place on property where you can find such things.
I will also agree that transportation is mostly a nightmare from SOG, and I have repeatedly wondered during our stays there why it is so difficult for them to fix such a seemingly simple problem. We ended up using Uber last time we stayed there, which we legitimately shouldn’t have to do.
The on-site dining is awful. The Starbucks is great, though. Overlooks the golf course. Really beautiful in the morning.
There is also a barber shop on site, which my oldest son and I have both used with great results.
The last thing to mention is that the theming really shines during the holidays. I know all the resorts on property can say that to some degree, but it really feels to me like shades of green is a much different place once the decorations go up.
Thanks for devoting time and space to SOG!
My family has been going to Shades of Green at least twice a year for the past 22 years (except during renovations when SOG guests stayed at the Contemporary). It is like “coming home” when we arrive. We are greeted by many of the same staff who always remember us and treat us like family. The rooms are spacious, hotel is relaxing, and we love the camaraderie with the other guests. We often see wild turkeys and deer that come out of the woods surrounding the golf courses. It is so peaceful after the crowds. Love the close proximity to the parks.
We Shades of Green guest are receiving the 180 day expanded dining reservation window. MDE recognizes the Shades of Green reservation confirmation number.
Thanks for the review, Tom. My wife and I are active-duty and are looking forward to our second stay at Shades of Green next spring. It is absolutely a fantastic value given its location, amenities, and the quality of service.
Our only (minor) gripe is the theming – not necessarily that SOG is not Disney enough, but more so that the theme is eerily reminiscent of every other military resort / hotel. At its worst, the similarities can make the resort feel like my workplace instead of a vacation getaway. That being said, there is undoubtedly a sense of camaraderie and respect at SOG that (along with the price!) make it a great stay – I always appreciate being able to learn from and share stories with veterans like your father. For our upcoming stay we’re planning to split-stay SOG and AKL to get the best of both worlds!
If I may, I’d like to recommend that any military families reading this post check out militarydisneytips.com. I’ve found that they always have up-to-date information and are quick to provide answers – often the local ITT on base is not going to be as knowledgeable when it comes to Disney in specific.
Thanks again for the post, I’m glad that Shades of Green continues to exist as an affordable option for military families!
Man I needed this post in 2017! So glad this is information is now available. I stayed here with 5 adults in 2017 for a 10 year CP reunion. One of our friend’s husband’s is military and we were able to get a great rate that was impossible to turn down, but I had absolutely no idea what to expect. We were all pleasantly surprised! The website last year pales in comparison to their current website (and of course I had scoured this blog – and others – for any info on Shades of Green last year too). But it’s hard to get a feel of the ambiance, room size, etc. on limited information.
The bus system is tricky if you don’t have a military ID (we had to have our friend w/ the ID with us at all times if we wanted to use the transportation), so we definitely utilized the Poly as well.
If I had access to these rates all the time it would be a no-brainer to stay here, and it is great that they offer this to those who have served.
Great review Tom. We stayed there in 2017 and are going back in March 2019…1st week in March, hopefully before any of the Spring Breakers! We go about every other year to Disney World and the rooms at SOG are easily the largest we’ve stayed in. I agree 100% with you on the transportation comments. We always walked to the Polynesian if we were going to Magic Kingdom or Epcot. As far as the food goes we ate at the buffet restaurant and it was decent…can’t beat the price! Also, the grab n go for breakfast items just inside the hotel from where the buses pick you up is good. I would mention though that you can book Advanced Dining Reservations at any Disney park or resort 180 days in advance, just like any other ‘on property’ location. We already have all of our reservations for our March trip. The last thing I would mention is on the tickets. You are right about the sales tax so that is a savings. However, if you wait to purchase them when you arrive, you won’t be able to do the Fast-Pass 60 days in advance. As you have mentioned in other posts, if you wait until you arrive you’re not going to have many Fast-Pass options available. We live in the Southwest Ohio area and purchased our tickets in advance at Wright-Patt Air Force Base in Dayton, OH.
You can also purchase your tickets in advance from Shades of Green and they will be already activated when you arrive so no need to stop at the gate. If you aren’t staying there they do charge you to FedEx hem. If you’re staying there they will hold them for you and email you the ticket numbers for Fastpass booking.
Thanks for that info Kari. Is the price then the same for a 5-day Park Hopper Pass whether it’s purchased at SOG in advance or a military base (less the sales tax at SOG that Tom mentioned)?
Also, when we went to the base our son whose in the Army had to go with us to show them his military ID. When purchasing in advance from SOG does he just need to fax or email a copy of his ID? Thanks again for the info Kari!
We ordered our tickets directly through SOG, they will send a form that the military member will fill out and fax back to order. The credit card also has to be in the military member’s name. The prices are the same as getting them on base with the substantial savings with the Military Promotional Tickets, with a limit of 6 tickets per military member. They sent the tickets Fed-Ex and we just added them straight to My Disney App to book our FP+. We are staying at a Disney resort.
I stayed at SOG 2 years ago via a sponsor, and without a doubt, the price and location are amazing, and cannot be beat. However, I have to mention that the guest rooms themselves, while very large, were much in need of updating. All the furniture was old and scuffed, and the upholstery on sofas and chairs were quite shabby. It was not really a “deluxe” experience in my view, and I did not enjoy my stay there for that reason. I far preferred the Disney Swan/Dolphin from the same visit, and I imagine the hotels near Disney Springs are also more comfortable and modern. Just 2 cents – again, the price is definitely great!
The Shades of Green eligibility web page is very misleading. I called for clarification and am glad that I did. When it says “Armed Forces Retirees and their Family Members” that actually means just the retiree and any family member with a military ID still. Military brat who is now a grown adult does not apply (understandably). However, I did learn that anyone with a honorable discharge and DD Form 214 can stay there during January and September only at a different rate. They should definitely add more detail to avoid folks having to call for more information.
we stayed there 2 times (granted a few years ago so maybe the rules changed) but only 2 in our group of 6 had military IDs (my dad and my mom; I’m now grown and no longer have one). As long as we had a sponsor we could stay there (I think there was a limit on the #).
Great review, Tom! We’ve stayed here many times and have always found the walk to the Poly to be very pleasant. Besides the cost being a huge benefit, we’ve always considered Shades of Green to be an extension of the Polynesian as if we needed further justification to stay here! The lobby is very warm and airy and it’s a great place to strike up conversations with other guests who share a love of Disney AND service to our great nation. I completely understand why your Dad loved it here!
This link provides a great overview for who can use this resort – https://www.shadesofgreen.org/accommodations/eligibility
A great benefit is that fact that the sponsor can book up to three rooms. The sponsor is responsible for his or her party members. Note that there are restrictions on the number of Military park tickets you can purchase. The savings on food, rooms and parking (only $7 a night at this resort), can save a ton of cash.
Our first trip to WDW with our then 3 year old daughter was 1986. Her response when we told her we were going was “Did we win the lottery?” We had brushed off previous requests from her to go there as it was too expensive. Then, the only onsite properties to stay at were the Contemporary and Polynesian. I don’t think GF was open yet. We enjoyed the walks to the Poly to catch the busses (no digital display as to the bus destination). Back then Disney had this weird multi colored flag system located on the side for the bus system and if you didn’t carry a guide you were screwed because there literally was no rhyme or reason to the system. I think green flag was our bus for Disney Inn. It’s a fond memory of a “first” of what would be many trips both to on site and off site accommodations, becoming a DVC member and seeing that 3 year old grow up and become part of the CP and go back after her graduation to become a CM in marketing and later merchandise at DHS. Now we take our granddaughter who is 5 and whose dream it is to stay at the Poly (her words) I think its wonderful that this resort is available to our deserving men and women who serve/served our country.
I had no idea this even existed.
Thanks for the review. My father is retired 82nd Airborne and I may have him stay there with the kids in the near future.