This page as everything that you need to know about the resort activities and amenities that are offered at the Shades of Green Military Resort at Walt Disney World.
Shades of Green is an Armed Forces Recreation Center located right on Walt Disney World property. Military personnel can have a great vacation here while enjoying a great military discount.
What type of resort activities and amenities does Shades of Green have?
The Shades of Green Resort has many different types of activities and amenities for its guests. Whether you’re looking for something to do on your arrival or departure day, or you are taking a well deserved break during your vacation, there is lots to do here!
AAFES General Store
Shades of Green has an Armed Forces Exchange Service General Store on property.
It’s a small convenience store that carries your typical convenience items plus has a small selection of Disney items as well as Orlando and Florida souvenirs.
They carry typical sundry items such as:
- Soda, water, milk, and juice
- Liquor, beer, and wine
- Snack foods
- Breakfast items
- Over the counter medicines
- Tobacco products
- And many more items
Check out these AFFES pages:
- Shades of Green’s AAFES General Store Information
- Shades of Green AAFES Store Items and Prices page (with Pictures)
Military Sales Ticket Office
At the Shades of Green Ticket Sales Office you may purchase military discounted tickets including, Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets as well as all other varieties of Disney World tickets, plus tickets for other Orlando area attractions like: Universal Studios, Sea World, and many other Orlando/Central Florida area attractions.
Prices at the Shades of Green Ticket Sales Office are comparable to those that you’d find at your local Base MWR Ticket Office and no sales tax is charged.
The ticket office except all forms of payment including the Star Card.
See the Shades of Green Military Ticket Sales Office page for more info.
Swimming Pools
Shades of Green has two beautiful swimming pools!
Unlike Disney’s crowded pools, these are lightly used during the day. Perfect for relaxing on your arrival day!
Shades of Green’s Mill Pond Pool
The Mill Pond Pool, is the large Mickey-shaped pool with a water slide for kids 47 inches and taller.
Shades of Green’s Mill Pond Splash Area.
For little ones, a the close by Water Splash Area is a perfect spot to play in the water. It offers a smaller water slide that is more age appropriate.
View of the Magnolia Pool from a Shades of Green Poolside Room
The other pool at Shades of Green is the Magnolia Pool. It is generally the less trafficked and hence more quiet pool. The Magnolia pool is a zero-entry U-shaped pool with a hot tub and pool volleyball net.
The Magnolia Pool at Shades of Green
Both pools have handicap entry assist devices, complimentary towels, life jackets, ample seating with lounge chairs, small side tables, and/or tables with umbrellas. There are bathrooms located at both pools but no private showers. The Mill Pond Pool does have a family bathroom with a separate changing area if you need an area to change.
Dining at Shades of Green
Shades offers both quick service and full service options as well as a buffet. The quick service options are open throughout the day while the full service and buffet are closed for lunch.
Express Café – Is a counter service location which features breakfast sandwiches, pastries, snacks, fresh coffee, tea and more.
Java Cafe – The Java Café is located in the lobby. They serve fresh Starbucks coffee and assorted pastry items.
Chip n’ Dale’s Deli is located near the Magnolia Pool. They serve quick and delicious grilled hot dogs, Italian sausage, hamburgers, sandwiches, quick snacks and cold drinks.
Evergreens Sports Bar & Grill is located next to the Mill Pond Pool Serves sandwiches, wraps and burgers, salads, pizza, wings, and nachos.
The Garden Gallery offers a daily breakfast buffet. Lines can be long in the morning.
Manginos Steakhouse. Manginos serves a variety of steaks, seafood, and chicken plus they have nightly specials and a very large wine list.
See our Shades of Green Dining Overview for more info and links to individual reviews of each dining location.
Golf
Shades of Green is located between 2 PGA golf courses! Disney’s Palm and Magnolia courses surround Shades of Green forming a lovely backdrop for the resort and providing great views from the rooms.
The Clubhouse for the 2 courses is just steps away from Shades of Green’s lobby and military discounted tee times are available!
FYI Shades of Green was formerly the Disney Inn, Disney’s golf resort.
Arcade, Playground, and Outdoor Games
Shades of Green has some great options for your family to spend time at the resort on your arrival day, departure day, or down day during your much-needed vacation.
These fun activities are all located right by the the Mill Pond Pool. Evergreens Sports Bar has an attached arcade with your standard video games, Air Hockey, hoops and pool tables.
Just outside Evergreens, you will find the kids playground and several outdoor games.
The outdoor games are a ping pong table, a large Connect Four, Jenga, Cornhole, Chess/Checkers area.
Complimentary Bus Transportation
Shades of Green’s Bus Stop
Another great amenity of Shades of Green is the Complimentary Bus Transportation.
Shades of Green has a separate bus system from Disney, just for Shades of Green guests.
Three different bus lines will take you several destinations on the Walt Disney World Resort.
- Transportation & Ticket Center: This bus drops you at the TTC, where you will hop on the Monorail to go to either Magic Kingdom or EPCOT
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios: first stops at Animal Kingdom and then goes to Hollywood Studios and then back to Shades of Green
- Disney’s Blizzard Beach and Disney Springs – THis bus stops at Blizzard Beach first, followed by Disney Springs, and then back to Shades of Green.
Note: There are two different Monorail lines to Magic Kingdom at the TTC. The Express Monorail line takes you directly to the Magic Kingdom and back to the Transportation & Ticket Center, there are no other stops. The Resort Monorail line will stop at the Polynesian Village Resort and Grand Floridian Resort and Spa on the way to the Magic Kingdom and then the Contemporary Resort on the way back to theTTC.
You can also catch the Ferry Boat to Magic Kingdom from the Transportation & Ticket Center.
There is 1 monorail line at the TTC that goes to EPCOT and back.
Shades of Green guests can also use any form of Disney transportation; you are not restricted to just Shades of Green busses.
Getting Around Disney World for Shades of Green Guests
Fitness Center
Shades of Green also has a Fitness Center for any guests who aren’t getting enough steps in, or those who want to keep their gym routine while on vacation.
There are plenty of cardio machines, free weights, weight machines, and almost all of your gym needs. There are men’s and women’s restrooms available for changing but no showers or lockers for storage.
Shades of Green’s Gym
The Fitness Center is open 24/7. All you need is your room key to access the gym.
Tennis Courts
Two lighted tennis courts are available near the Mill Pond Pool and Evergreen’s Sports Bar.
Magnolia Spa
Another great amenity at Shades of Green is the Magnolia Spa. The Magnolia Spa offers a variety of services that include massage, facials, nails & hair services and well as kid’s princess and pirate makeovers makeovers.
For more information see the Magnolia Spa page.
Laundry Facilities
Shades of Green has two laundromats located on either wing of the resort. In the Palm Wing, the laundry room is located on the 3rd floor, and in the Magnolia Wing, the laundry room is located on the 2nd Floor.
Each laundry room has a microwave (non-suite rooms do not have microwaves) and a dispenser that sells laundry detergent and dryer sheets. The washer, dryer, and soap dispenser all use a credit card or Apple/Google Pay. These machines DO NOT use cash or coins.
Disney Benefits
EPCOT’s Ticket Boots and Entrance
Shades, while not one of the Disney Resorts affords some of the same benefits as staying at a Disney owned property,such as:
- Early Entry & Extended Evening Hours
- Making Advance Dining Reservations for your entire trip 60 days prior to your check in day
- Free use of all Disney Transportation
Who is eligible to use Shades of Green?
As an Armed Forces Recreation Center Shades of Green has eligibility requirements and is exclusively for the use of active and retired service members of the US Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Space Force, and Coast Guard, Reserves, National Guard, as well as current and retired DOD civilians. Also eligible are U.S. Public Health Officers, those who fall under the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act and other supporters of the US Military. Reserve and Guardsmen do not need to be on active duty to use this facility.
During January and September all military veterans with and honorable discharge veterans may stay at the resort with their DD-214.
Have comments or questions, be sure to leave them in the Comment Section Below!
This MDT Post By: Steve Bell Steve is the the Military Disney Tips Founder. He a retired U.S. Military Member who's been touring the Disney Parks since 1971! Steve's mission is to help military families with their Disney vacations in every way. Check out Steve's Bio. Subscribe to Steve's email newsletter to get website updates and news by clicking this link. |
Information on Shades of Green the Military Hotel on Disney World property
See all the current Shades of Green Discounts and Packages
A Special Note on Shades of Green Discounts: Something to be aware of is that Shades constantly changes the dates and discounts offered of their specials and packages. Shades of Green Links
- Shades of Green
- Military Members Review and Rate Shades of Green
- Why Stay at Shades of Green?
- Shades of Green Rooms
- Shades of Green Room Rates
- Shades of Green Resort Activities and Amenities
- Disney Tickets at Shades of Green
- Magic Bands for Shades of Green Guests
- Shades of Green Fact Sheet and FAQ
Planning a Disney Trip? Want to get the best military discounts that are available? Feeling a little confused?
See Our Great Disney Discount and Planning Info:
- Disney Veteran & Military Discount Eligibility Guide
- The Military Family’s Walt Disney World Comprehensive Vacation Planning and Preparation Guide
- Military Disney Tips Disney Packing Checklist
- Disney Military Tickets – Your Start to Finish Guide
- Resorts/Hotel Overview Page
- Dining Overview Page
- Transportation Overview Page
- Shades of Green, WDW’s Military Only Resort
Military Disney Tips' Recommended Disney Travel Agent Ears of Experience Disney Only Travel Agency. Military family owned and operated! They know all the ins and outs of Disney military discounts! |
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