SHADES OF GREEN at Walt Disney World Resort Information & Questions

[ZellyB]

What is the current status of housekeeping at SoG. Daily or reduced? Are they still combining AK and HS busses?

We had daily housekeeping when we were there in January.

I'm not sure on the busses. Hopefully someone else can chime in.

 

[brockash]

What is the current status of housekeeping at SoG. Daily or reduced? Are they still combining AK and HS busses?

We had daily in Feb., which was refreshing as opposed to our last few Disney stays, and thought transportation was pretty terrible and just stopped using it and walked to Poly for everything. They did share AK and DHS...only every half hr and have to pull out ur id and lil slip of paper to get on the bus. It was such a ridiculous ordeal for subpar transportation.

 

[NavyDad]

We had daily in Feb., which was refreshing as opposed to our last few Disney stays, and thought transportation was pretty terrible and just stopped using it and walked to Poly for everything. They did share AK and DHS...only every half hr and have to pull out ur id and lil slip of paper to get on the bus. It was such a ridiculous ordeal for subpar transportation.

Just wanted to chime in with a different perspective:

We stayed at SOG for the first time ever las month (April) and we expected the transportation to be horrible based on reviews. We actually found the SOG busses to be fantastic which wildly exceeded our expectations.

When we checked in we got a full transportation schedule for the week which we found to be accurate to within a few minutes. Out entire week we never waited for more than 5-10 minutes for a bus going either way. We found the bus drivers to be very engaging and helpful. We had the same 2-3 drivers pretty much every day.

I didn't think I would like taking the bus to the TTC but it was a quick 5-10 minute ride. The bus dropped you off very close to the entrance to the monorail where you could choose MK or Epcot loop. We found this to be much more convenient than the bus service at any Disney resort we stayed at on property. In almost every case we found that the SOG busses actually got us closer to the main gate of each park than the Disney owned and operated busses. We liked that the AK bus ran on an exact schedule with pickups coming at the bottom and top of the hour. We decided we were done at AK around 1 PM on the day of our visit. We knew the next bus would be there at 1:30 so we made our way slowly back to the park and had short walk to the covered pavilion they dropped us off at. We got there at 1:25 and exactly at 1:30 the driver was pulling up.

I will say it is very nice an convenient being right across the street from the Poly. We did the walk back and forth 2-3 times. It was nice to have easy access to their dining, shopping and transportation options. It's not a long walk but it's not really short either so after a few days in the park we decided we didn't want the extra walking anymore and relied solely on SOG transportation with absolutely no regrets.

IMO - one of the best things about SOG is you have the internal transportation options AND you can easily walk across the street and use Poly transportation.

WIN-WIN

 

[dorchrislen]

Just wanted to chime in with a different perspective:

We stayed at SOG for the first time ever las month (April) and we expected the transportation to be horrible based on reviews. We actually found the SOG busses to be fantastic which wildly exceeded our expectations.

When we checked in we got a full transportation schedule for the week which we found to be accurate to within a few minutes. Out entire week we never waited for more than 5-10 minutes for a bus going either way. We found the bus drivers to be very engaging and helpful. We had the same 2-3 drivers pretty much every day.

I didn't think I would like taking the bus to the TTC but it was a quick 5-10 minute ride. The bus dropped you off very close to the entrance to the monorail where you could choose MK or Epcot loop. We found this to be much more convenient than the bus service at any Disney resort we stayed at on property. In almost every case we found that the SOG busses actually got us closer to the main gate of each park than the Disney owned and operated busses. We liked that the AK bus ran on an exact schedule with pickups coming at the bottom and top of the hour. We decided we were done at AK around 1 PM on the day of our visit. We knew the next bus would be there at 1:30 so we made our way slowly back to the park and had short walk to the covered pavilion they dropped us off at. We got there at 1:25 and exactly at 1:30 the driver was pulling up.

I will say it is very nice an convenient being right across the street from the Poly. We did the walk back and forth 2-3 times. It was nice to have easy access to their dining, shopping and transportation options. It's not a long walk but it's not really short either so after a few days in the park we decided we didn't want the extra walking anymore and relied solely on SOG transportation with absolutely no regrets.

IMO - one of the best things about SOG is you have the internal transportation options AND you can easily walk across the street and use Poly transportation.

WIN-WIN

Thank you for this information!

How early did you use the bus to the TTC. We’d like to get to Magic Kingdom and Epcot as early as possible for the early entry.

 

[brockash]

Thank you for this information!

How early did you use the bus to the TTC. We’d like to get to Magic Kingdom and Epcot as early as possible for the early entry.

If you want to be in the first few hundred in the park, your best bet is to walk to Poly to catch the first bus. This was another negative of their and really any transportation that's not Disney owned...they're not going to get you to the parks to really be in the front part of the early hours crowd.

 

[NavyDad]

Thank you for this information!

How early did you use the bus to the TTC. We’d like to get to Magic Kingdom and Epcot as early as possible for the early entry.

I need to find my bus schedule to refresh my memory but IIRC the first bus ran 1 hour prior to early entry time last month. The first bus was usually packed with people standing but we got on every time. The bus dropped us off at TTC that morning at a lot that is literally just around a short corner to the monorail entrance. We did security check prior to getting on the monorail and I can remember vividly that when we arrived at Epcot the down ramp took as past security (didn't have to do it twice) and we were able to go right past all the big lines of people coming in from parking lot and bus stops right to the tap-styles. I think there was probably 10-20 people ahead of us for early entry.

The nice thing about going to MK is the monorail stop at TTC is for the experss monorail that goes right to MK and doesn't stop at any of the resorts. We found that to be MUCH quicker than the resort monorail that stops at Poly, GF an Contemp. There was almost no one at TTC in the morning getting on the monorail.

We tried pretty much every possible transportation from SOG bus, Disney bus, monorail, water taxi and whatever during our week at SOG. We found the SOG bus to TTC to be the quickest, most reliable and most convenient option for MK and Epcot. We were not really pushing it too much on our day to AK which shares a bus with DHS. I think AK is the earliest opening park right now so I would just look at the schedule and see if that schedule works for you or if it might be better to walk over to Poly in the morning.

We have stayed a lot of resorts on Disney property (as you can see from my signature) including value resorts to a monorail resort. I came to SOG expecting that I would hate the transportation based on previous comments here on this board. I am not sure if they changed something or if we just got lucky but we found SOG buses to more reliable and convenient than the Disney operated buses and it wasn't really close.

 

[dorchrislen]

Excellent info!

 

[slaveone]

Great thread all. I finally managed to get a two night reservation for this coming weekend but I do have one very important and possibly life saving question. What type of coffee pot is in the standard room?

 

[LvnDsny]

Great thread all. I finally managed to get a two night reservation for this coming weekend but I do have one very important and possibly life saving question. What type of coffee pot is in the standard room?

They have single serve pots in the room that use this type of filter pack.




Can't remember the brand, nothing gourmet, but will do in a pinch. Like if you have to leave to catch your return flight at 4 am and can't function without coffee.

We usually go down and grab a Starbucks when the Java Cafe in the lobby opens @ 6am.

 

[slaveone]

They have single serve pots in the room that use this type of filter pack.

View attachment 672486


Can't remember the brand, nothing gourmet, but will do in a pinch. Like if you have to leave to catch your return flight at 4 am and can't function without coffee.

We usually go down and grab a Starbucks when the Java Cafe in the lobby opens @ 6am.

Thank you just was trying to plan necessary caffeine intake. I extended to three days and gotta have a functioning coffee source. It doesn’t have to be good coffee per say but I didn’t know if I was going to have to lean it on a rock or something to survive.

 

[marauder]

We arrive in two weeks. Question from my wife, does the store at Shades sell cases of water? I know they sell individual bottles but figured between the two families we have at SoG it would be much easier to buy cases.

On previous trips our transportation would let us stop at one location on the way and we would always pick up cases of water. Usually at the gas station at Disney. This trip we arranged with people staying at SoG and Wilderness Lodge. Since they are already stopping at two locations they would charge more just to stop at a gas station. All we ever want "extra" is water so the grocery stores that drops off isn't the best idea and not really worth the additional expenses.

 

[NavyDad]

We arrive in two weeks. Question from my wife, does the store at Shades sell cases of water? I know they sell individual bottles but figured between the two families we have at SoG it would be much easier to buy cases.

On previous trips our transportation would let us stop at one location on the way and we would always pick up cases of water. Usually at the gas station at Disney. This trip we arranged with people staying at SoG and Wilderness Lodge. Since they are already stopping at two locations they would charge more just to stop at a gas station. All we ever want "extra" is water so the grocery stores that drops off isn't the best idea and not really worth the additional expenses.

When we were there last month they had small cases (Dasani maybe?) on a shelf. I saw a picture on the facebook group last week that showed an entire pallet stack of cases of water in the Exchange.

 

[BigBlueWho]

Does anyone know of WDW will honor the genie+ part of the genie+ tickets, since they aren’t doing pre-sales on genie+?

 

[Leigh L]

Does anyone know of WDW will honor the genie+ part of the genie+ tickets, since they aren’t doing pre-sales on genie+?

I believe tickets bundled with Genie+ bought prior to June 8 will be honored. At least that's my understanding.

 

[brockash]

Does anyone know of WDW will honor the genie+ part of the genie+ tickets, since they aren’t doing pre-sales on genie+?

Yes, they will. If you buy the one with Genie+ included, then yes Disney will honor that.

 

[CaleCakes]

I believe tickets bundled with Genie+ bought prior to June 8 will be honored. At least that's my understanding.

Did you see that somewhere on the Shades website? We are booked for a trip in October and I was going to wait until end of July to buy tickets. Don't want to wait if it means missing the genie+ option.

 

[BigBlueWho]

Follow up: any thoughts on DAS vs Genie+. I am eligible for DAS, and wonder if I should splurge for Genie+.

 

[Leigh L]

Follow up: any thoughts on DAS vs Genie+. I am eligible for DAS, and wonder if I should splurge for Genie+.

My DD uses a DAS and we ultimately decided not to buy G+. Although, I'm reading many people are successfully using both.

DD just did the video interview last week online and then booked the preselected 2 attractions per day. She can't do the big coasters and thrill rides due to her condition, so DAS will work for her. The rest of us plan to do standby for rides she's not going on. If she was able to do the other rides, I might be more inclined to buy it.

Have you followed this thread? I found it very helpful!
https://www.disboards.com/threads/w...-genie-post-one-is-an-updated-summary.3849395

 

[Leigh L]

Did you see that somewhere on the Shades website? We are booked for a trip in October and I was going to wait until end of July to buy tickets. Don't want to wait if it means missing the genie+ option.

I did not see it there. In my experience, when Disney makes changes, SOG usually follows (and I'm guessing Disney calls the shots on that?)

Also, places like Undercover Tourist are currently advertising they're only selling tickets with Genie+ until 6/8 (unlike they do until supply runs out like when price increases occur.)

 

[BigBlueWho]

My DD uses a DAS and we ultimately decided not to buy G+. Although, I'm reading many people are successfully using both.

DD just did the video interview last week online and then booked the preselected 2 attractions per day. She can't do the big coasters and thrill rides due to her condition, so DAS will work for her. The rest of us plan to do standby for rides she's not going on. If she was able to do the other rides, I might be more inclined to buy it.

Have you followed this thread? I found it very helpful!
https://www.disboards.com/threads/w...-genie-post-one-is-an-updated-summary.3849395

Thank you. My July trip won't have Genie+ because I used left over tickets from last fall that converted into a credit. I couldn't use that credit for Military tickets, so no G+, and I had to pay extra for water and sports.
I will probably go ahead and get G+ for my fall trip (MNSSHP tickets leftover from last year) so my kids can ride coasters, etc. I cannot.