Special Info for these Crazy Times:
News for 2021:
- Planning and Executing Your Walt Disney World Vacation During These Trying Times
- 2021 Walt Disney World Armed Forces Salute Ticket Announcement
- Using Disney Armed Forces Salute Tickets in 2021
- Using the Walt Disney World Theme Park Reservation System
- Park Hopping Returns to Walt Disney World Starting in 2021
Everything is Different at WDW since it Reopened. See Our Trip Reports:
- Our Return to Walt Disney World (Aug/Sep 2020)
- Our Second Trip Back to Walt Disney World (Nov 2020)
- Our Third Trip Back to Walt Disney World (Jan 2021)
Here are your Transportation Options at the Shades of Green Resort, the Armed Forces Recreation Center Resort located right on Walt Disney World property.
On this page we’ll cover getting to Shades of Green and then getting around Walt Disney World once you are there.
Getting to Shades of Green
While Walt Disney World provides free airport transportation for guests of their Resort Hotels via the Disney’s Magical Express. Those staying at Shades of Green are NOT eligible and must find their own way to Shades of Green from the Orlando Airport.
Transportation Options for Shades of Green
Here are the various options for your transportation from Orlando International Airport to Shades of Green:
- Limo Service
- Taxi
- Bus Service
- Rental Car
- Uber or Lyft
- Split your stay between Shades of Green and a Disney World Resort(s)
Limo Service – There are numerous limo services available to take you to Walt Disney World.
Taxi – Taxis at the airport are about $75 each way to Disney World.
Bus Service – A company called Mears Transport offers vans, and limos from the airport to all WDW and local area resorts. They are about $100-120 one way
Car Rental – You might be able to find a good military rate. I’m a USAA member and they have discounts negotiated with all the major car rental companies.
Uber and Lyft -Are great alternatives to traditional transportation companies. Uber and Lyft ares are currently starting at around $30 one way to WDW.
Disney World’s Minnie Van Service will transport you from the airport to anywhere on WDW property and back for $150 each way. Note Minnie Van Service has been suspended and it’s unknown if it will return.
Split Stay – A Split Stay is when you spend part of your vacation at one or more Disney World Resorts and the remainder elsewhere. You could bookend your Shades of Green stay with a night on each end at a Disney Resort, thus obtaining free airport transportation on each end (and free Magic Bands). We have a post which discuses Split Stays in detail.
My Airport Transportation Recommendations
Use a Traditional Transport Service.
Your options are:
- Taxi
- Limo Service
- Bus Service
- Rent a Car
Taxi – Taxis at the airport are about $75 each way for Walt Disney World.
Limo Service – There are numerous limo services available to take you to WDW. Prices start near $100 one-way. Many will make a food stop for room supplies.
Bus Service – A company called Mears Transport runs regular buses vans and limos from the airport to all WDW and local area resorts. They are about $80-100 one-way.
Car Rental – You might be able to find a good military rate. I’m a USAA member and they have discounts negotiated with all the major car rental companies.
Use Uber or Lyft
Uber and Lyft are a great alternatives to traditional transportation services. Fares to and around Walt Disney World can be much lower that other commercial options.
If you, or someone in your party doesn’t yet have a Uber account, you can get a free ride up to $15 by signing up via this link for Uber (or use the promo code steveb14703ue if the link doesn’t work). This promo is for your first ride only, any value not used expires so this is not good for a quick hop across WDW property, but it is perfect for a ride from Orlando International to WDW.
If you, or someone in your party doesn’t yet have a Lyft account, you can get a $5 credit towards your first ride when you sign up for Lyft using this link. This promo is for your first ride only, this is perfect for a quick hop across WDW property.
Here is a link to Uber’s Orlando International page for pickup instructions and price estimates.
See our Using Uber, Lyft, and Minnie Vans at Disney World post
Once you do arrive at Shades of Green its easy to get around
A great benefit to staying at Shades of Green is the complimentary bus transportation to the Walt Disney World Theme Parks and to the Transportation and Ticket Center.
Shades of Green buses run throughout the day on a seasonal schedule. ADA options include ramps and lifts for certain designated routes. Shuttles and transportation to other areas around Central Florida are available at an additional charge.
The bus loading area conveniently located in the front of the resort on the lower level. Click here for pictures and directions to the Shades of Green bus loading area.
Note: In order to use Shades of Green’s fleet of buses, all adults will have to show either a military ID AND their Shades of Green resort ID (non military sponsored guests show their photo ID).
Shades of Green’s Bus System
Shades of Green currently offers bus service to:
- Magic Kingdom
- Epcot
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Disney Springs
Note: These destinations and routes have been modified for park and Disney transportation closures. Normally the Magic Kingdom and Epcot share a bus that arrives at the Transportation and Ticket Center. Guests then take a monorail or ferry to the Magic Kingdom or the monorail to Epcot. The Epcot Monorail is closed so a separate bus takes those guests directly to Epcot. The Water Parks are closed and they normally share the Hollywood Studios and Disney Springs buses.
Shades of Green Bus Schedule
Bus service is dependent on the daily theme park schedules. Service typically begins aproximity 45 minutes prior to a park opening.
- Magic Kingdom – Bus departs approximately every 20 minutes to and from the Transportation and Ticket Center where it stops at Bus Space C10
- Epcot – Bus departs approximately every hour on the half hour from Shades of Green and from Bus Space 32 at Epcot at 45 past the hour
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Bus departs approximately every 30 minutes at 15 and 45 after the hour from Shades of Green and from the Charter Bus lot at Animal Kingdom on the hour and half hour
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Bus departs approximately every 30 minutes at 15 and 45 after the hour from Shades of Green and from the Westside Charter Bus loop Space 60 at Hollywood Studios on the hour and half hour
- Disney Springs – Bus departs approximately every hour on the half hour from Shades of Green and from Westside Charter Bus loop Spaces 1-7 on the hour
For the Magic Kingdon, from the Transportation and Ticket Center you can take a monorail to the Magic Kingdom or EPCOT, or another option for the Magic Kingdom is to take the ferryboat.
At the Magic Kingdom you can board Disney World transportation buses for destinations all over the WDW resort.
Shades of Green guests have access to the Walt Disney Transportation System, which includes monorail, ferry boat and bus transportation to destinations all over Disney World property.
Shades buses do start running early and run late for specific theme parks on days that they have Extra Magic Hours and also for special late night events like Mickey’s Not-So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
Shades of Green’s Bus System Ratings
Here’s how MDT Readers rate Shades of Green’s Bus System on a 1 to 5 scale in our Shades of Green Surveys:
Overall Satisfaction – 3.93
Convenience – 3.74
Click Here to see Shades of Green’s current bus schedule
ID Checks on Shades of Green Buses
Walt Disney World Transportation System
Shades of Green guests have access to the Walt Disney Transportation System which includes: monorail, ferry boat and bus transportation all over Disney World property.
Walking / Disney’s Monorail
Shades of Green is located within walking distance of Disney’s Polynesian Resort. It’s about a ten or fifteen minute walk. From there you can take the monorail to the Magic Kingdom, the Transportation and Ticket Center (to transfer to the EPCOT monorail or WDW buses to other destinations), or visit other Magic Kingdom Resorts. Click here for pictures and directions to the Polynesian Resort.
Note: The Polynesian’s Monorail Station is closed through summer 2021, during the renovation of the resort.
Shades of Green New Security Gate
Walt Disney World’s Transportation and Ticket Center
Shady Shuttle
The Shady Shuttle will run you around Shades’ property and half way to the Polynesian for the walk to the monorail station
Parking
Shades of Green has a large parking garage and there is a $13.00 fee per day for it’s use.
Shades of Green Guests pay $25 per day if they choose to drive their cars to the Disney theme parks.
Getting back to Shades of Green from the Magic Kingdom Parking Lot. Don’t go miles out of your way when driving a car!
Epcot Parking for Shades of Green’s Guests
Car Rental
Alamo Car Rental has a kiosk conveniently located in the Shades of Green lobby. Currently Closed.
Other Transportation Information
See our new Transportation Overview Page
Using Uber, Lyft, and Minnie Vans at Walt Disney World
Getting Around Walt Disney World for Shades of Green Guests
Split Stays at Walt Disney World Resorts and Shades of Green
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
- Shades of Green Rooms
- Shades of Green Room Rates
- Disney Tickets at Shades of Green
- Shades of Green Blog Tour
- Magic Bands for Shades of Green Guests
Planning a Disney Trip? Want to get the best military discounts that are available? Feeling a little confused? Get Our Email Newsletter
Read about the Temporary Changes to Disney World during their Post-Lockdown Re-Opening
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
- Technology 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! |
Mears shuttle closed in January and there are no other shuttles according to Mears representatives.
Hi Heather,
Mears did not close! You can go on their website right now and book a ride to Shades of Green or any other Disney or Orlando destination.
Googling any combo of Orlando, airport, and shuttle brings up multiple options.