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Results 1 to 12 of 12
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Lafayette, Louisiana
    Posts
    6,624
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    Default Shades of Green, convince me it'll be ok!

    I need some reassurance about a possible stay at Shades of Green. Or perhaps someone will talk me out of it. LOL.

    I just found out the dates of my kids' fall break in Oct. We have never been to Food and Wine Festival, and it's something DH and I have wanted to do for a long time.

    Typically we use the military discount and stay in a Disney resort. I know that last year during the months of Oct. and Nov. the military discounts were hard to come by. Ideally we would want to stay at Beach Club but, not without the discount. I know that everyone wants to stay in the Epcot resort area for F&W, so I am guessing that discounts for any of those resorts will be slim to none. Our second choice would be Wilderness Lodge. Again, not sure we will be able to secure the military discount there either.

    Since DH would like to golf a morning or two while we are there, and also because of the great prices, we are considering Shades of Green. I plan to book it soon, and then cancel if we happen to get the military discount elsewhere.

    My problem is I am not sold on this resort. We've stayed a few times before, but only for a night before or after a trip. Really the main thing I didn't care for was the bus service. I am looking for pros and cons from guests who have stayed there for a whole trip. How were the buses? How is the resort for an extended stay?

    Thanks!
    Denise

    Resorts we've stayed at in 20+ trips: ASMo, ASMu, ASSp, PC, CSR, CBR, POR, POFQ, WL, AKL Jambo, AKL Kidani, Poly, Contemporary, BC, YC, BWV, OKW, SSR, Swan, Shades of Green, Vero Beach, Disneyland Resort

    Next Trip: ???

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    MICHIGAN
    Posts
    2,507
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    Default

    I didn't mind the buses. They leave on time and pick up at the parks on time. A bit inconvenient for MK and EPCOT 'cause you pick the bus up at TTC. I liked the resort for the larger rooms...not much disney theming which is OK for me.
    Pirate Granny



    October 2020 — 3 nights OKW, 3 nights Poly Lakeview and 1 night BWV studios
    November 2020 — BRV studio 9 nights
    December 2020 entire family GV OKW
    December 2020 January 2021 BCV studio

    OH YEAH BABY !!! Proud owners at OKW + BCV + BRV + RR

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Easley, SC
    Posts
    1,104
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    The bus to TTC runs regularly about every 15-20 minutes...so getting to Epcot is very easy...bus to TTC, and pick up the Epcot monorail...
    To the MK, just take the short walk to the Poly, and hop the monorail, or the boat...
    Since the buses to AK and DHS runs about once an hour, I often took the more frequent bus to the TTC, and got the Disney buses to those two parks...and the same on return, unless the direct bus was immediately available.
    The resort is much better than the Disney moderates, and the buses are usually less crowded than the Mods, or value buses.
    We love the larger rooms. We usually request a ground floor room, in the newer section...DW loves sitting on the patio, and watching the wild life, including the golfers. The food venues, at least on our last several trips, were good, and much lower in price than other on-property venues.
    Next Visit-June 2013

    75,80,81,82,99,02,03,05 CR
    83,85 FW (Cabins)
    84 Poly
    96, 04, 06, 07, 08, 10, 11 SoG
    99 WL
    2000 (Christmas) DL (POR)

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    Georgia
    Posts
    1,251
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    I enjoyed the timed bus schedule. Staying at a Disney owned hotel there were times when it would get frustrating waiting for the right bus to come. At least with SOG you know when the bus is coming and you can plan accordingly.
    "I'm so hungry! I sure hope those Princesses' can cook!" my DD before our breakfast at CRT

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Posts
    204
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    They got all new buses last fall. Really like knowing my bus will always be there at the stated time. Never have to wait and wait for a bus. This is our favorite resort.
    WORK TO PAY FOR DISNEY
    2020 June SOG
    2017 MNSSHP POP
    2014 August Shades of Green
    2012 August POP
    2008 September POP
    2007 April Shades of Green
    2004 April Shades of Green
    2001 March Shades of Green
    1998 December Shades of Green
    1995 March off site

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Location
    PA, Amish Country
    Posts
    4,503
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    We stayed for 8 nights last December and are going back this December. I did not like the bus system either. I loved the rooms and everyone was very friendly. I learned not to ask anyone about the SOG buses except when at the resort. The cast members in park bus areas directing at night have no idea where, when, or what to do to get to SOG. I learned after our first night going back to the room. I think this trip we may just walk back from Poly at night. Morning buses were easy. Once we leave the room in the morning we don't go back until evening. If you like to go back for a mid-day rest I would find it very frustrating.
    We'll Go On....Off To Neverland

    Wishes!

    It's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow....Where Dreams Really Do Come True

    Never Forget It was All Started By A Mouse....TTFN

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Easley, SC
    Posts
    1,104
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    Default

    As I learned on last several stays at SoG...return trips to SoG that worked best...from MK, boat or monorail to Poly, then walk to SoG, for EPCOT, monorail to TTC, then SoG bus from TTC...from AK or DHS, either SoG bus (which runs only once an hour), or Disney bus to TTC, and SoG bus to SoG...worked great for me, although I did note others decried this approach. I never had problems catching Disney buses to TTC, and never had problems with crowding on buses.

    The walk to/from Poly was easy. Last several visits, DW and I got refillable mugs at Poly, and usually enjoyed a beverage and/or a Dole Whip on the walk to SoG.
    Next Visit-June 2013

    75,80,81,82,99,02,03,05 CR
    83,85 FW (Cabins)
    84 Poly
    96, 04, 06, 07, 08, 10, 11 SoG
    99 WL
    2000 (Christmas) DL (POR)

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Alabama (Gulf Coast)
    Posts
    254
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    We are going in Oct as well, and plan on spending lots of time at F&W. We have stayed at SOG many times, several since the renovation. We love it there.

    Prior posters have pretty much covered the bus issue. I can back up what they said. Buses are not a huge problem at SOG. We usually drive so we have our car available, but we have used the buses before, and have found them to be timely and efficient. Plus we always enjoy striking up a conversation with people (DH will tell ANYONE about her DD who used to be a CP Intern and is coming back for another round).
    DD is headed back this summer for a 2nd tour as a CP Intern!
    Time to renew our annual passes.


    Last trip was Mar 2015
    Next trip is Aug 2015
    Began with day trips in 70's
    Too many trips to count

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    42,477
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    Is it the schedule folks don't like about the buses? I've never understood the complaints. We take them when convenient, and if not, walk from the Poly. I actually love doing this.

    Love SoG. The value for what you get is undeniable.

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    42,477
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    Quote Originally Posted by wdwfansince75 View Post
    The walk to/from Poly was easy. Last several visits, DW and I got refillable mugs at Poly, and usually enjoyed a beverage and/or a Dole Whip on the walk to SoG.

    That's a great idea!

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Location
    PA, Amish Country
    Posts
    4,503
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    Quote Originally Posted by Melanie View Post
    Is it the schedule folks don't like about the buses? I've never understood the complaints. We take them when convenient, and if not, walk from the Poly. I actually love doing this.

    Love SoG. The value for what you get is undeniable.
    The problems we had with the system-

    The first 2 days of our trip the board inside the building ( in little coffee shop) was blank and no instruction at bus stop. We were a little confused until we rode a few times. And staying late at parks we had a hard time getting back from Epcot.

    Also, the monorail was down several early mornings and no instructions on how to get to MK and Epcot. We took the resort monorail but other SOG guests were walking around in confusion.

    Can't wait for our December trip. Now that we are familiar with the resort it will be like going home.
    We'll Go On....Off To Neverland

    Wishes!

    It's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow....Where Dreams Really Do Come True

    Never Forget It was All Started By A Mouse....TTFN

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    818
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    Default

    Just returned from my first trip to Shades of Green. Plenty of positives. Rooms are huge! The onsite restaurants and gift shops are much more reasonabley priced than Disney resorts. The bus service was an adjusstment, but we opted to walk to the Poly for MK and Epcot and use the monorail from there. The biggest draw back for me was the last of Disney customer service. While the customer service was fine, it was not Disney
    1981 - 2001
    1/02 - All Star Movie
    1/04 - POFQ
    1/06 - ASMov
    1/08 - ASMus
    5/09 - Contemporary
    5/11 - PC
    5/12 - ASM
    5/13 - Coronado Springs
    5/14 - Port Orleans Riverside
    6/5 - Shades of Green
    1/17 - A of A
    5/18 - POR
    9/19 - Caribbean
    11/19 - AKL
    4/21 - Pop Century
    12/21 - Polynesian

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