TheMouseForLess Resort Reviews

TheMouseForLess members review Walt Disney World resorts.

Shades of Green
Shades of Green Armed Forces
Recreation Center (AFRC) Website: Shades of Green

Submitted By: Moser family- Steven and Beth, best friend Matt who just returned from his 1 1/2 year tour in Iraq!

Date Of Stay: October 10-14, 2007

Type Of Resort: Deluxe hotel on Disney property

Rate Paid During Your Stay: approx. $100/per day for 3 adults in room based on military rank, contacted SOG directly for reservations. At first we were told they were booked solid, but they put our names on a waiting list. Within a week, they called with a vacancy.

Room Sleeps : 6 I guess- there were 2 queen beds and a pullout couch.

Please Rate The Following On A Scale From 1-10 (10 being the best):

Theming: 8- it's your basic hotel decor so don't be expecting to see Mickey everywhere. The lobby is very nicely decorated and the grounds are very pretty.
Room Size: 9 - The room is quite large for a basic hotel room. The bathroom and balcony were very nice size as well.
Amenities: 8- I was disappointed that we did not get the Disney Resort TV channels as I always like watching that. The room had a mini-fridge which was very convenient. The bathroom was very large, but I did not like the soap/shampoo dispensor in the shower. I prefer individual toiletries. The gift shop is nice and has some great military as well as Disney merchandise. It is not the WDW trademarked merchandise you will find in the Disney resorts or parks though. There is a Starbucks outside the giftshop which was nice. We did not eat at any of the restaurants at SOG. You can also purchase your park tickets here at a military discounted rate.
Quality: 10-The room is very nice and the price is very good for the size.
Cleanliness: 10
Transportation: 7- This resort has it's own bus system. The downside is that it does not take you directly to the MK, you must use the TTC. If you miss it, you must wait. We had a rental car which we used, we also walked to the Poly (a 5-10 minute walk) and rode the monorail.
Recreation: 10- My husband and his best friend played golf and enjoyed the Magnolia and Palm courses immensly. Be sure to check for military discounts. The pool was nice, though I never could locate the hot tub. There were also little boats you could race in the pond along w/ lots of fish to feed.
Value: 9- All in all a very nice place to stay if you want a little break from the Disney immersion. I prefer to stay in a Disney resort b/c I think the Disney-staffed cast members on the whole are more pleasant. This is a great place to stay for the price and being in the MK area is definitely a plus.

Over All Rating: 9

Don't Miss: Golf, feeding the fish, enjoying the beautiful scenery.

Room Location Suggestion: This resort is quite large. When you park in the parking deck, it can be a long walk to your room from there. We stayed in the newly remodeled section of the resort. Our room overlooked the fish pond and gazebo area at the back of the resort. Very quiet and serene setting. The pool was a long walk from our particular room and the hallways are a little confusing at first.

The Mouse For Less Tip: If you are eligible to stay here, it's definitely worth the money. But just be prepared that it's not a Disney-owned resort and if you want to be surrouned by Disney 24/7, this might not be the place for you.

Comments: I enjoyed this resort for the most part. I did miss being around Disney 24/7 as I enjoy that. But for the money we saved by staying here, it was a good solution for this particular trip. A nice thing about staying here is the feeling of appreciation you get from seeing all of our military and their families and realize what they sacrifice for our freedom every day. It provides a common ground for many of the soldiers who may be on leave from wherever in the world they are stationed, a place where they meet people who are going through the same things they are.

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