A Look at Disney's Shades of Green

By: Jacqueline aka Jersey Diva 

Being in the military has it's perks. Even a trip to Walt Disney World offers many discounts for Service Members and their guests. A list of Military discounts offered at Walt Disney World can be found here.

There is even a Walt Disney World resort that takes pride in "Serving Those Who Serve." You can see some photos of the resort on their official site.

Requirements
Shades of Green is a resort designed to provide R&R for service members and their families. Certain other people may be eligible as well. Eligibility Requirements can be found here. If you are eligible to make a reservation at Shades of Green, you may also sponsor up to three rooms. A dependent spouse may also sponsor up to three rooms as well. Certain conditions must be met before sponsoring a room. Those conditions are as follows:

• You must be a registered guest
• You must agree to be responsible for your guests
• You must be present when your guest checks in
• Your guest must check in on the same day as you and must leave either a day before or the same day as you
• You must be present when your guest purchases attraction tickets
• Your guest must agree to follow the rules of the resort

Rooms
Shades of Green offers standard oversized guest rooms. Each room has two queen size beds and a single sleeper sofa. Each room also comes with a coffeemaker, refrigerator, safe, hairdryer, iron and ironing board. As if that's not great enough, each room offers either a private balcony or patio that overlooks a lush tropical setting.

Shades of Green also has suites!!! They have "five family" suites that sleep up to six people, and "six family" suites that sleep up to eight people. The suites include a separate bedroom with a king size bed and full size bath, living area with two queen size beds and another full bath, dining table with chairs, microwave oven, coffeemaker, refrigerator, safe, hair dryer, iron and ironing board.

Dining
If the great rooms aren't enough to get you to choose Shades of Green, let me tell you about the dining options. If you are looking for an affordable, relaxed meal, check out Garden Gallery for breakfast. If a beverage or light snack is more your speed, check out Evergreens. The Express Cafe offers breakfast sandwiches, bagels, pastries, snacks, coffee, tea, cappuccino and espresso which are perfect to pick up before you head out for a day at the parks. On The Greens has a great lunch menu. Shades of Green's featured restaurant is Mangino's Bistro. They serve lunch and dinner and also have a to go service. Shades of Green even makes it's own ice cream which they serve at "America, The Ice Cream Parlor." If you are a fan of Starbucks coffee, Java Cafe is the place for you.

Spa
Ok, have you called to make your reservation yet? NO?!?!?! What more could you need? A spa? Yes, they have one of those too. Magnolia Spa is a three level spa operated by the current owner and operator of the Grand Floridian Spa. They offer massages, facials, manicures and pedicures. They also have salon and barber services so if the urge for a haircut hits you, you are in the right place.

Golf
Now I know you are making that reservation but here's another wonderful amenity that Shades of Green has to offer....GOLF! Owned and operated by Arnold Palmer Golf Management, the Magnolia and Palm are the two PGA Championship Golf Courses surrounding Shades of Green. Military rates are available for eligible guests.

Fitness Center
Shades of Green also has a fitness center, in case all the walking around the parks isn't enough exercise for you. There is also a jogging path that runs from Shades of Green to the Polynesian and Grand Floridian resorts.

Photos
One of my favorite amenities that Shades of Green has is Photo Magic. They offer affordable packages to capture that wonderful family vacation.

Transportation & Extra Magic Hours
Just like the Walt Disney World Resorts, Shades of Green offers transportation to the theme parks for registered guests. Guests are also able to take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours Benefit that is offered to guests of the Walt Disney World Resorts. Each day one of the four Disney Theme Parks opens an hour early or stays open up to an extra three hours after regular closing so Shades of Green and other Walt Disney World Resort guests can have extra time in the parks.

Hope this helps make your decision on where to stay easy. Enjoy your trip!!! And just to get you excited here's a Shades of Green video.

This article was originally posted on the Tips From the Disney Divas and Devos blog, where Jersey Diva is a contributing writer.