Shades of Green Transportation Options

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:

• Mears Connect
• Limo Service
• Taxi
• Bus Service
• Rental Car
• Uber or Lyft
• Split your stay between Shades of Green and a Disney World Resort(s)

Mears Connect – Is the Disney’s Magical Express replacement that starts operation 1 January 2022. It’s the same service as the Magical Express, except it’s paid and goes to Shades of Green also.

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.

My Airport Transportation Recommendations

Use a Traditional Transport Service.

Your options are:

• Mears Connect
• Taxi
• Limo Service
• Bus Service
• Rent a Car

Mears Connect – Is the Disney’s Magical Express replacement that starts operation 1 January 2022. It’s the same service as the Magical Express, except it’s paid and goes to Shades of Green also.

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 – 3.76

Convenience – 3.60

See the Full Survey Post for all ratings plus guest comments in each category!

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

Disney’s Minnie Van Service (Not Currently Offered)

Getting Around Walt Disney World for Shades of Green Guests

Split Stays at Walt Disney World Resorts and Shades of Green 

Disney’s Magical Express

Mears Connect