The ins and outs of Overflow Rates.
Overflow Rates are a wonderful benefit provided by Shades of Green!
Shades of Green often fills up to capacity, in the event this happens they offer “Overflow Rates” at Walt Disney World Resorts! While Shades of Green has the most spacious rooms they are not “themed” in Disney fashion as are the Disney resorts. Obtaining an overflow rate can get you some of the best rooms on property at a great discount, or a very good rate on a Disney Value Resort.
Disney World classifies its resorts into four basic categories: Value, Moderate, Deluxe, and Home Away from Home. Shades of Green’s rooms are comparable to a Disney Deluxe room but without the Disney theme throughout.
If you’d rather get the full Disney experience and stay in a Disney resort it’s possible with careful planning and timing to get a very discounted rate on a Disney room. It’s possible to get a Deluxe for close to or somewhat higher than you’d pay at Shades of Green, a moderate for less than Shades, and a Value for much less than Shades,
In order to get these rates Shades of Green must be sold out for one of the nights during your intended stay. When they start offering Overflow Rates it is on an escalating scale. The cheapest Overflow Rates are offered first and when a certain amount are reserved the rate goes up. The rate keeps stepping up until it is the same as what Disney is offering.
One word of caution, if you are unhappy with the overflow rates or resorts offered there is no fall back option to stay at Shades of Green, as it’s not possible to have a reservation with Shades and get an Overflow Rate for the same period. So have another plan that you’ve set up ahead of time: a reservation at a Disney Resort (one night’s deposit required) or at one of the national chains just in case. You can cancel this reservation after getting that great rate through Shades of Green.
OK ready to talk specifics?
It’s all about timing!
Shades of Green has an interactive calendar on their web site which makes it easy to track whether they are full on a specific day. Each day is color-coded: green = rooms available, amber = limited availability, red = sold out.
Shades of Green calendar link
As far out as possible start watching your intended dates. You can make reservations through Shades of Green one year in advance and peak seasons do start to fill up soon after that. Always click on the refresh icon just below the calendar, as sometimes it will show all days as green until you do so. As your dates start to fill up you’ll see one or some of the days turn amber. You’ll want to check each day, Shades updates their data at 9 am Eastern Time. When one of the days turns red you’ll want to call Shades of Green Reservations at (888) 593-2242. There is a link on the site to submit a request via an Internet form but you’ll want to skip this and call in as the form takes a day or two. Occasionally the web site is a little off and they may still have a few rooms available, if so call back later that day or the next.
When you get the reservationist on the phone tell them that one of the dates for your intended stay shows as full on the web site and you are interested in an Overflow Rate. If you are interested in a specific resort, resort type or area let the reservationist know. Or if you’d like to hear all the options they’ll tell you. One night’s deposit is required to reserve the room and then you’ll receive a confirmation letter from Disney in the mail. You can pay the balance when you check out or make payments ahead so your room will be covered by the time you get there.
