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Overflow Rates

Saving for a Disney vacation and also once you’re there

Aug 28th, 2010
by Steve.
2 comments

Angela just left a great comment on my post about Disney’s Armed Forces Salute ending this year, she mentioned how pricey a disney vacation can be and it got me thinking. There are so many ways to save on a Disney vacation, I just want to throw out a couple.

One thing I’ve done for more than ten years is I that when I pay for something with cash I always use bills, I never pay with exact change. Even if it’s only a few cents over I’ll pay with a 5,10, or 20. Then at the end of every day the change from the day goes in my Disney Fund. This can add up! It depends on how long it is until your next Disney vacation, but one year I saved over three hundred dollars for our trip using this idea. The extra cash really came in handy during that year’s trip to Disney! I did recently buy one of those battery operated coin rollers, but when the kids were younger it was fun for them to help count out the coins.

A way to save once you are at Disney is while dining. Disney portions are often very large, so share your meals. You don’t want to get too full anyway because you’ll need room for those great Disney treats (Mickey bars, popcorn, churros, etc.). Buy one large soda and share, it’s cheaper that buying several mediums and Disney restaurants will give you a cup of ice for free to divide the soda into. Or just opt for a water served free in a soda cup instead of paying for a bottled water.

Angela mentioned it can be hard to make reservations and get into Shades of Green based on not knowing when you’ll be able to take leave. So if you find yourself in the situation where Shades is full, you’re going to have to try to find the best deal that you can at a Disney resort or elsewhere. Shades of Green does offer Overflow Rates (reservations made through Shades of Green for Disney World Resorts at a discounted rate), check what price they are offering and compare it to the best rate you can find through Disney. If you are trying to find the best Disney rate you might want to consider using a fee free travel professional like Amy at Ears of Experience, travel agents are on top of all the latest deals. Or you could stay off Disney property. Every hotel chain imaginable is located close to Disney World and they are often a cheaper option than Disney resorts. Many hotels have their own shuttles to get you to Disney. Or do you have any hotel points saved up for free nights? The amount of points required to stay near Disney are high but, every free night is one less to pay for.

Well those are a few of my ideas for helping save for and make a Disney vacation more affordable. How about you? I’d love to hear some of your favorites. Leave a comment on this post with your favorite one or two ideas. I’m sure there are lots of great ideas out there!

Thanks, Steve

Shades of Green Overflow Rates

May 15th, 2008
by Steve.
2 comments

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, a moderate for less than, and a Value for much less than you’d pay at Shades of Green.

One word of caution, 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.

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.

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