Shades of Green rooms and more (new ? Aug. 10th) About This Page:

[jx4familynmustang]

<font color="purple"> </font> We are going to WDW in Mid October and are staying at SOG. If you have stayed here can you offer any advice on which part of the hotel to request? Can you fax in room request like other WDW hotels? We are staying in a JR suite for the first half and then moving to a standard room for the last half. It will be my DH 43 me 40 DS1- 10 and DS2 5 on this <font color="purple"> </font> Jennifer <font color="blue"> </font>

[Minnie Lor]

[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/welcome3.gif[/img] to the boards. I've stayed SOG twice. Once this past May and once in Oct. 2004. You will love SOG. The lobby and the grounds are beautiful. The rooms and bathroom are really good sized. Our party consists of DH and myself. We request the new section because it seems to be quieter to us and it's closer to the parking garage. If I had kids with me I would request the original section and closer to the pool. From what I understand from previous posts is that the original section was completely rehabbed. Several people have written that they prefer the original section better. Not sure why you are doing a split stay between a suite and a regular room but if it were me I'd get a room next to the pool. We ate quite a few meals at Evergreen's which is mext to the pool. Very reasonable and good quality.
I'm not sure about the faxing. We weren't overly concerned.

I'm not sure what you are looking for at the store. There's sunscreen, snacks, female products, over-the-counter Rx, various souviners including T shirts, jackets, hats, pj's. They have a bit of everything. What specific thing are you looking for?

I'm sure that you'll love SOG.

[jx4familynmustang]

We wanted to have a jr suite the whole time, but they were booked starting Thur the 19th.( This would give my husband and I some privacy and us all a bit of space during the week.)

I guess mainly I was wondering if I need to make a stop at walmart before we get to our resort for things like bottled water, breakfast and snack items.

[KathyL]

Welcome to the boards!!!

You will love SOG. DH and I always stay there, because we love the extra space for the money. While I am sure the Jr. Suite will be wonderful, I think that you will find that the rooms are certainly comfortable enough for 4. As for the new or old section, both are nice. The big difference between the two sections, is that the old or original area is closer to the restaurants, pools, etc.

If you are able to stop at Walmart or the grocery store before you arrival at SOG, go for it. Water, snacks, soda, etc., are still cheaper at Walmart or the grocery store.

DH and I enjoy Evergreens sports bar for a quick and expensive meal for lunch or dinner. If you don't want to sit, the take out menu is also inexpensive and pretty good. We also have no problems with the Garden Galley restuarant on site. It is typical buffet fare, with a different theme each night. However, if you don't want to go back to Disney to eat or don't want to wait in crowds, it is also an inexpensive meal. You kids are young enough to pay the childrens rate (1/2 price) for the buffet meals.

The swimming pools are also fun at SOG. The big family pool is shaped like Mickeys Head, and there is also a small Kiddie pool with about 8 inches of water in it. If you walk around the property, you may be lucky enough to see a small alligator in one of the ponds.

Enjoy you stay. DH and I are looking forward to returning to SOG Christmas week and then again at the end of February.

KathyL [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[DogLady]

WE haven't stayed there since it's been renovated but our favorite room was one by the pool (the one by the Evergreens restaurant) it was on the first floor, had a patio and a view of the pool and the restaurant.
was very convenient for the kids, to just run out to the pool while we sat on the patio.
It was a horribly long walk to the lobby though.
noreen

[Minnie Lor]

[ QUOTE ]
our favorite room was one by the pool (the one by the Evergreens restaurant) it was on the first floor, had a patio and a view of the pool and the restaurant.
was very convenient for the kids, to just run out to the pool while we sat on the patio.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's where I'd stay if I had kids. I found my map of the property. The rooms that Noreen are talking about are room numbers 132-164. The numbering system for me is hard to understand so the room numbers might be 1132-1164. The rooms are first floor with a patio overlooking Millpond Pool. There is beautiful landscaping so you don't feel exposed.

If you can stop at Walmart - great. If not, the store sells snacks but I don't think they sell a whole lot of breakfast stuff. There are three places to get breakfast at SOG. The Garden Grill restaurant, the Express Cafe, and a Starbucks. There are a few tables near the Express Cafe. I sent my DH to pick up breakfast from Starbucks or Express Cafe. He'd bring back a muffin or a bagel and juice. We have coffee in the room. Costs were reasonable by Disney standards. I think he spent just under $5 for a breakfast for the two of us. He also preferred going to the Starbucks because it was less busy.

[KathyL]

If you do use the Express Cafe down by the SOG bus pick up, allow yourself extra time if you are planning to buy some breakfast stuff and then hop on the bus. The lines in the early morning (especially for the first couple of busses) can get really long and sometimes they move slowly. The PX store does sell individual packs of poptarts, granola bars, etc.

I am sure that you know this, but you have to request a "poolside" room ahead of time. The rate for the ground floor poolside rooms are $10.00 more on top of the rate you are paying.

KathyL [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[luvgoofy]

It seems all of your questions were answered except faxing room requests. I made our reservations and then realized we could make requests. I emailed them as soon as I realized it and they added it to my reservation. I then called a few days before to confirm our reservation and then mentioned the request again.
we stayed at SOG for the first time this last Nov/Dec and were very impressed. We were in the old section close to the pool. We had a great view of the golf course from our balcony and had deer grazing right underneath it at night. And the room had plenty of room for the 4 of us. We will stay there everytime we go now!

Amy

[mom23k9s]

You don't say if you're active duty, but you might want to know that SeaWorld and Busch Gardens are giving active duty military a free day for themselves and dependents. I think it's up to 3 dependents. We took advantage of this last year and are thrilled Anheuser Busch is offering it again. Shades of Green offers a shuttle to SeaWorld for a small fee, maybe 5 or 10 bucks each.

[tom&tina]

We stayed at SOG in 04 after the renovation and once while they were temporarily located at the Contemporary during the renovation. Which brings me to this point: You may have another option, SOG has a program that offers SOG discount rates at Disney resorts when SOG rooms aren’t available. Nothing wrong with SOG, nice rooms, decent restaurant, great rates, etc. But there is something magical about staying in a Disney resort.
SOG ticket office will save you a bunch of money. The PX is adequate, but their open hours weren’t always convenient. The bus service to the TTC is great; forget about walking to the Poly and hopping a monorail, the bus driver stopped and picked up grateful hikers several times during our stay. We used our car to go anywhere the monorail doesn’t go. SOG’s COVERED parking garage is better than any Disney self parking lot, but it can be a walk from your room.
You’ll love going in October; less crowded, slightly lower temperature, and The Food and Wine festival at Epcot is great. Have fun.
BTW I graduated from Mustang high in ‘77 and lived in Yukon until ‘84. Tom

[jx4familynmustang]

tom&amp;tina,

Thanks for the advice, Since We already have reservations at SOG and put down a deposit, could we still move?
I think staying at a Disney Resort would be great, and I know my kids would love it since they will be having withdraw from the disney channel..(I heard SOG does not have it). Which is not actually a bad thing.

I can't belive you grew up here, If you have not been here since 84 you will be shocked at the growth. My kids go to Mustang schools, but we have a Yukon mailing address and actually live in OKC city limits...which makes for a lot of confusion.

Thanks again for the info
Jennifer

[Minnie Lor]

[ QUOTE ]
Since We already have reservations at SOG and put down a deposit, could we still move?
Jennifer

[/ QUOTE ]

The only time that you can stay at a Disney resort at the SOG price is when the SOG is full. I don't think this happens very often since they added on. You'll still love SOG. We loved chatting with the other guests. We had other things in common besides our love for Disney. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/usa.gif[/img]

[Chelledun17]

I haven't stayed here, but I just wanted to say welcome and that I hope you have a WONDERFUL trip! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] I am sure you will love the resort, based on all the positive things I have heard about it!

[KathyL]

I feel that SOG has been trying hard to add more "Disney Magic" to the resort. The last time I was there (March 2006), there was a big Mickey Mouse statue in the great room where you could have family pictures taken. Also, the families staying at the resort make plenty of Disney Magic. Lots of kids running around getting excited to go into the parks, etc. Enjoy your stay at SOG. You really can't beat the great deal you can get. You will be able to find the magic.

KathyL [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[DogLady]

Keep in mind the SOG is a DELUXE hotel. If you switch to a DW hotel, dollar for dollar you wouldn't get your moneys worth in a DW hotel.
I think it's an excellent value for the money and i really didn't feel it took away from our fun that much. I would stay there again, already have been 3 times.
Nothing beats going disney deluxe if your wallet can handle it.
noreen