Shades of Green announced a big change today that effects getting around at Disney World.
Lake Buena Vista 4 April 2023 – Starting on 1 May 2023 Shades of Green guests will no longer be able to walk to the Polynesian Village resort via the walkway along the Shades of Green/ Palm and Magnolia Golf Courses driveway.
UPDATED 6 April – Shades of Green released an update which I’ve copied at the bottom. AND how to voice your displeasure with Disney.
This will be a permanent closure of the popular walkway that many have used for years due to the ongoing construction of Floridian Way (through 2027 according to Shades of Green), which Shades of Green is located off of, and the eventual widening of Floridian Way into a 4-lane divided road without a pedestrian crossing.
Disney has been engaged for the last several years in upgrading the roadways in the Magic Kingdom area, first working on the World Drive inbound lanes on the opposite side of the Transportation and Ticket Center form Shades of Green, but now the upgrades to Floridian Way and World Drive have begun to effect the Military Only, Disney World Resort.
A Popular Nicety
Shades of Green’s Polynesian Walkway
The walkway from Shades of Green to the Polynesian Village Resort had many fans!
People liked to use the walkway for many reasons:
- To dine or Shop at the Poly
- To catch the monorail to the Magic Kingdom or Transportation and Ticket Center (and on to EPCOT)
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- Thus missing the huge security lines from the parking lots at the TTC (where Shades buses drop their guests)
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- To take the boat service to the magic Kingdom
- To continue the walk all the way to the Magic Kingdom via the Poly-Grand Floridian and GF-MK walks
- Many with scooters took this route vs waiting on a bus (that can only take 2 scooters at a time)
Shades of Green at top of pic, Poly at bottom. Walking path in orange. Click for a bigger version
I used the walkway myself all the time!
To be clear, it is the crosswalk that will close! the sidewalk along the driveway to Shades of Green and the Golf Courses will remain.
It should be noted that Shades of Green operates a “limited” bus service to some points on Disney property. All locations where the Shades of Green buses have stops are less than ideal. Guests bound for the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT are dropped at the Transportation and Ticket Center where they have to take additional Disney transportation to the theme parks. Via Monorail or ferry boat for the three quarters of a mile trip to the Magic Kingdom or to EPCOT via the over 4 mile long EPCOT monorail line.
Lines for security at the TTC are also quite long as this is where all guests arriving for the Magic Kingdom via car process through security.
Disney Guilty not Shades of Green
It should be noted that this is a decision made solely by Disney and not Shades of Green, as part of a roadway “improvement” project. The changes are being made off of what is essentially Shades of Green’s property.
Shades of Green is not Helping!
Current Crosswalk on Floridian Way from Shades of Green.
Shades of Green has done essentially nothing to alleviate the situation!
The one thing they have said is that they will be adding additional buses to the TTC route (for the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT). They already run every 20 minutes. I guess they will be every 10 now…
Shades of Green has NOT said that they will advocate with Disney to get Free Theme Park Parking restored for Shades’ guests, or stop charging overnight parking fees in their own parking structure which has seen outrageous price increases over the years even though the structure was paid for long ago. Note, all of the Disney resorts stopped charging for overnight parking in 2023.
They also have not said that they will engage with Disney to get an over the road walkway bridge installed either as a shared cost or by one party.
Announcement Timing
Disney’s Pop Century Resort
This project is a LONG multi-year project that has been goin on for many years already. Permits for this particular portion of the project were filed with the county in 2021.
But Shades of Green waited until 27 days prior to the closure to notify their guests (via facebook and emails to those with reservations). This ridiculously short notice makes it extremely difficult to impossible to make other arrangements. It’s too late to find other resorts with a discount if the lack of the walk is a deal breaker for you!
Not making this announcement 6 to 12 months out is unacceptable!
Tempers Flared
Shades of Green made the announcement on their Facebook page today, in what has turned out to be their most highly commented on post of all time!
Tempers were high on both sides, with some outraged about the closure and others indifferent to not caring at all. Some folks went so far as to thank those that said they would not return for opening up availability for those who don’t care about the walk.
People also critiqued Shades of Green’s bus service which will now have to pick up the slack, while others defended it.
Voice your Displeasure to Disney
When I first posted yesterday, I neglected to mention that you can voice your displeasure with Disney over this slight to the military community.
See my Contact Disney Officials Page for how.
When voicing your displeasure, also provide solutions. I have 2 in mind, immediately allow Shades of Green Guests to park for free at the theme parks (prior to 2010 Disney did this!) and as part of the construction project install a pedestrian bridge over the road, just like they did for guests at the non-Disney, Disney Springs Resort Hotels when Disney widened Buena Vista Drive (it’s actually 2 bridges there).
Pedestrian Bridges over Buena Vista Drive for non-Disney hotels to get to Disney Springs
Shades of Green’s Update
On 5 April Shades of Green released the below update on their original facebook post. It offers some OK to ridiculous workarounds to navigate to the Polynesian.
- You can drive and park for free at the Polynesian
- Take SOG bus to TTC and walk to the Polynesian
- Take SOG bus to TTC and take the resort monorail to the Polynesian
- Use a rideshare service (Lyft, Uber, or MinnieVan)
- Take SOG bus to TTC and walk to the Polynesian
- Take SOG bus to TTC and take the resort monorail to the
- Polynesian
- Use a rideshare service (Lyft, Uber, or MinnieVan)
- Resort Monorail TTC stop: join the line – approx. 2 min walk
- For Disney Parks Bus Access: Walk from TTC to Polynesian Bus Stop – approx. 5 min walk
- For Boats to Magic Kingdom or Resort Monorail Polynesian stop: walk from TTC to Polynesian Great Ceremonial House – approx. 8 min walk
What Say You?
Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
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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. |
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Thanks for the post, Steve. I received the email yesterday and was so disappointed! We use that path on every single trip. Even if we’re not staying at SOG, we usually go there at some point for some reason and use this path.
This is a HUGE bummer, this decision made by Disney. Was hoping maybe WDW would announce they’ll now allow free parking at the parks for Shades of Green guests or something to offset. ( I assumed Shades of Green won’t remove resort parking fees.)
That pedestrian bridge idea would be ideal! It seems it would have been natural to consider SOG guests when making such huge road improvements since the resort is located on Disney property. Don’t the Swan and Dolphin hotels all have accessible walking paths to the parks they are near? And also easy access to Disney transportation?
This change definitely affects our June and future trips. On our Magic Kingdom days, at least once a trip, we walk the path from Poly – Grand Floridian – MK in the morning. We also often use the transportation at the Polynesian to the parks, along with shopping and getting food at the other monorail resorts on non-park days.
Great comments and points Leigh,
This brings to mind another similar situation, that being the pedestrian bridges Disney installed over Buena Vista Drive when they expanded that road for the guests at the non-Disney, Disney Springs Hotels to safely get to Disney Springs
Thanks for the idea Kat and Steve for the contact information to send an email! I just sent one in myself.
This is just such a huge blow the more we think about our upcoming and future trips. Since Disney lowered resort discounts (I’m honestly finding better transparent prices on Priceline than with Disney’s military resort discount), we don’t stay at a Disney resort as often anymore or, if we do, we split the week with Shades of Green.
Shades of Green buses are better than they used to be, but for early morning and late night park visitors, it’s not really the greatest transportation option unfortunately. My adult daughter loves to visit all the monorail resorts to shop. My teen and I love to walk to MK. – there is just something magical about that!
Hi Leigh,
Magic… That’s what we’ve been losing over the years.
Frustrating, but we still love it! I try to ignore the things that detract and focus on what I love and what is still magical (and there is a lot).
Terribly disappointing news! Will definitely rethink future reservations here vs “on property” resorts offering a military discount…
This is a huge disappointment for our family. We have stayed at Shades at least once a year for 7 years now. The ease of access to the monorail and Poly restaurants really was the biggest draw for us. Being able to spontaneously head for a dole whip or to the parks without having to watch a bus schedule or unload and fold the stroller full of sleeping babies after a park day. We have even walked all the way back from MK after Villians nights or late hours, and I run the path during our stays regularly. I anticipate we will still stay at Shades if we continue going to Disney but this is just a real loss of amenities and value to my family’s vacation. Oh well, many disney changes have stung. This is just another on the list. As usual, I emailed my thoughts to Disney communications. Maybe if enough people do, a cross walk will return some day.
Thanks Kat,
Great point about contacting Disney. Can’t believe I forgot to mention that.
Everyone, see: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/how-to-contact-disney-and-disney-officials/
I recently took my daughter and her husband and two grandkids to
Disney World and stayed at Shades of Green. The whole thing was fabulous because of the walkway from SOG too the Polynesian. Disney has made quite a few changes since my wife and I used to go there annually BEFORE we had .kids. Most recent changes would have ‘Walt turn in his grave, as the Disney machine is focused more on making money than entertainment. I probably won’t ever go there again, since Universal is now a much better deal. Without the path from SOG to the Polynesian, I definitely won’t go there again;.
So disappointed that Disney corp has no consideration on veterans. And families making it more difficult to enjoy the park after so many years .a crossover bridge would be soeasey,as other bridges that are at other hotels shame on Disney .
Thanks for the info, Steve. I just sent the following letter, for what it’s worth:
I am respectfully writing to encourage Walt Disney World to keep open the walking path from the Shades of Green Hotel to the Polynesian Hotel. It would be a small inconvenience to keep a crosswalk open during construction and to build a footbridge, which could replace the crosswalk once completed. But it would be a huge inconvenience for Shades of Green guests to lose access to that walking path, as the path is one of the major advantages of staying at that hotel.
The biggest losers in the decision to close the path are military veterans with ECVs and military families with young children in strollers. ECVs and strollers are hard to get onto the busses, and there is limited space for them, often resulting in long delays as one must wait for another bus.
As you know, Grand Floridian guests can now walk to the Magic Kingdom, and the bridge over Buena Vista Drive lets guests at non-Disney hotels continue to cross that now-widened street. In a similar spirit, I encourage you to ensure that military guests at Shades of Green continue to enjoy their longstanding walking access to the Polynesian (and from there to the TTC, and more recently to the Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom as well).
On top of everything else, guests who have planned trips to Walt Disney World this summer or fall and are staying at the Shades of Green just had this change sprung upon them with almost no notice. If nothing else, I encourage you to keep the walkway open through this year, or at least through this summer, to avoid inconveniencing already-booked guests while plans for a bridge are worked out.
Taking such actions would be greatly appreciated by a wide swath of military guests who value that walkway more than you may know. Such actions would be highly appreciated and would bring the Disney Corporation a great deal of good will at a politically charged moment, at minimal cost or inconvenience.
Thanks for sharing Jeff!
Steve,
I contacted Shades of Green, and they wouldn’t even say that they will run the busses to the TTC more frequently at all. They said they’ll run MORE busses, but not necessarily any more frequently than the current 20-minute intervals. It should be 5 minutes once the walkway closes. They should really be held accountable for this. As you said, they’re not helping!
Thanks Jeff,
Well, I’m not surprised… About what I expected, lip service from Shades of Green.
Inquiring minds want to know, how they will run more buses on the same 20 minute schedule? Will they buses not in use pile up in the driveway? Just sayin…
Steve,
Well, now Shades of Green has released the bus schedule for the first week of May, and it looks just like the bus schedule for when the walkway to the Polynesian was still open. SOG seems to be pretending that nothing happened, rather than being focused on servicing their guests with more buses that run more frequently.
Also, I have a question for you: Was it always possible to walk between the Polynesian and the Golf Resort/Disney Inn/Shades of Green from 1973-onward, until now? Whether or not there was a nice path, could one always walk, at least along the side of the road, across that 50-year span?
Thanks,
Jeff
Hi Jeff,
The path has been there as long as I can remember. My first stay was in 2000.
I suspect that it was there all the way back to 1971.
Steve, I thought this article (“Disney Blocks Access to Premier Military Resort”) might be of interest/use: https://amgreatness.com/2023/05/03/disney-blocks-access-to-premier-military-resort/
Hi Jeff,
Nicely written post. Thanks for the link!
Steve
I am a 100 per cent service connected permanently and totally disabled veteran. I took my two grand kids to disney last year. Five of our family use electric
Scooters to get around. Unless an under road tunnel or overhead bridge is built we can never go to shades of
Green again. The villages can do it why can’t Disney?
Please consider the military families that have the opportunity to visit Disney and spend money at the parks; therefore please add a bridge or two to have access to the monorail or to dine/shop at Disney stores. Free parking for military should be a given as they provide our Country’s protection at all costs. Many disabled vets find it difficult waiting for a bus, or on a scooter only two to a bus. Please set up and provide additional options for the military families, small children, family time together as elderly and disabled. Thank you.
This change essentially downgrades the hotel. A big complaint of Animal Kingdom Lodge, also rated as a deluxe resort, is that it only has bus transportation. It seems to me that if DOD is interested in maintaining the health and fitness of personnel wishing to have a 5 to 15 minute walk to the monorail would be important, supporting those that are walking would be of help.
Where road improvements in other projects interfered with pedestrian flow, Disney built underpasses and overpasses. I think DOD is missing out by not speaking up about how this change for Disney decreases the value of the lease they are paying for the property. It certainly has a negative effect on military customers and their families.
Our family used the walkway to gain easy access to the monorail resorts and the transportation available at them. When the walkway was extended all the way to the Magic Kingdom, it was a pleasant walk back to the hotel via that path and it’s connecting pathways. What a shame. Hope this is fixed.
Like many I was disappointed to receive this news. I currently have a six day stay at SOG scheduled in May for my birthday that I will be changing . One of the great benefits for us was the freedom to walk off the resort at your leisure .
I am curious to see if/how the roadway improvements will impact the walkway crossing World Drive from the Contemporary Resort to the Magic Kingdom, as this seems to a least be a similar situation with the SOG walkway.
Good morning,
I used Jeff and other’s input to draft my letter and sent it this morning. One other item I included was the possible financial impact to Disney. My family uses the Polynesian monorail to go to the other monorail hotels retail stores and dining our first and last days at the resort, which is when we do most of our spending. Without the easy access to the monorail we’ll probably not make it to the monorail hotels in the future. I know a pedestrian bridge would be expensive, but I’d expect some marginal loss of revenue with the loss of access.
Great point John!!!
I was thinking the same thing! I’m going to email them too and add that.
We have reservations for late November, sadly we are going to cancel. Got one of the last rooms available at POP (standard only).
My email never got a response (refined what I wrote in my initial post here). My husband sent his email in over the weekend and here’s the gist of it:
“Please know that both Walt Disney World Resort and Shades of Green recognize the impact this change may have on Shades of Green Guests. That is why Shades of Green has added additional bus capacity to transport Guests to the Transportation and Ticket Center where they may board the Monorails to Magic Kingdom® Park, Epcot®, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. We hope this additional service will ensure Guests have a magical experience during their stay. “
Thanks for sharing the reply!
I’m afraid that Disney like Shades of Green seem to think the TTC is an acceptable alternative…
Seems that way :(. We’ll be there in June and will see what that’s like.
As of right now, we’ll keep the first 4 nights of our trip at SOG, but now up in the air about where we’ll stay the second 4 nights.
Also, I wanted to follow up since I too got a reply a few hours after I posted the above. The email I got was very close to the one my husband got, but with this addition:
“Please be assured that we have shared your comments with our leadership team, along with the appropriate management, as feedback such as yours is taken very seriously.”
I don’t know if that really means anything different?
In my email, I mentioned how often we spend $$$ at monorail resorts. Also (nicely) asked why military community/SOG guests weren’t considered in decision-making for the roadwork, mentioning how Swan/Dolphin resort guests use the walkways and Disney transportation, along with the Buena Vista bridge for non-Disney guests. (Can anyone imagine a world where the Marriott hotels were blocked access?)
After you mentioned the Springs overpass, I looked it up and the Sentinel reported back then Disney pushed for it and shared the costs with other parties? This made me muse…would Disney have considered spending for an overpass on World Drive if SOG/DoD or another party absorbed part of the cost? Could that be part of it?
Leigh, thanks again. We’ll never know the behind the scenes stuff that went on.
Years ago I had that type of relationship with Disney where I could have found out, but as people who cared about our community moved out of those positions, they stopped officially communicating with me.
We are staying at SOG in May and I am livid because we can’t get affordable rooms at hotels that wee would have liked in the event of the closure. The short notice is the biggest problem. I spoke directly with the top manager of SoG (had to go through several lower level mangers first) his attitude was disgusting. He does not advocate for or truly care about the military community. He supposedly only ever talked to lawyers at Disney. I suggested several alternatives such as dropping us off directly at Magic running a bus to the Polynesian but he was just going to go along with whatever Disney mandated. There was zero advocacy for us or compassion. This put us in a real bind and wa the whole reason we picked SOG. Devasted.
Sadly, just what I’s expect from Shades of Green
I’m in a cynical mood this morning but can you imagine the hue and cry from Congress when someone spots a line item for a walkway at Disney? Honestly, this should have been considered when the original planning occurred. In thinking this through again, I am willing to bet that whoever was responsible for the planning simply ignored SoG because they’re not a “real Disney Resort”. And it sounds like the sorta clueless move Chapek might have approved.
I wrote Disney last week and received this response from them.
Dear David,
Thank you for your e-mail to the Walt Disney World® Resort.
On behalf of our Cast Members at the Walt Disney World® Resort, we would first like to acknowledge and thank you and your family for your service and sacrifice.
We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback with us and we are sorry for the disappointments you mentioned in your e-mail regarding the permanent closure of the Shades of Green® walkway to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.
We would like to assure you that our goals for providing a happy and unique experience at Walt Disney World® have remained constant throughout the years. One of the ways in which we attempt to maintain this goal is to continually evaluate the various aspects of our operation and make changes at times. We do sincerely appreciate your feedback, as it remains our goal to create magical memories and exceed the expectations of our Guests during each and every interaction that you have with us.
Please be assured that we have shared your comments regarding this change with our leadership team, along with the appropriate management, as feedback such as yours is greatly appreciated.
Once again, thank you for contacting us. We sincerely hope that we will have an opportunity to entertain you soon.
Sincerely,
Edith Lynn
Sales and Solutions
Thanks for sharing David!
I guess we just cross out fingers at this point…
Keep writing in everyone!
I shot a message off on the Governer’s website with the hope that maybe the newly formed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District could weigh in the issue? Not sure if that will help as much as getting the managers of SoG to take effective action on the issue. More busses, traffic, and fuel to the TTC for eternity can’t be cheaper or more eco-friendly than building a new pedestrian crosswalk or bridge. I wonder what Marriot would do if Disney similarly isolated Swan and Dolphin guests?
Hey Ron,
Great idea!!!
I hadn’t thought of getting the Governor involved. There is the big feud going on…
The way that program’s going, I don’t see going to the new Board will help. I also suspect it’d simply be ammunition for the Governor to try to interfere with Disney again.
One issue I see is Disney isn’t treating SoG guests like their own resort guests. This is something that needs to be addressed. Since SoG management is responsible to DoD, I doubt they’ll be allowed to raise much fuss with Disney as a private entity.
I did the same before I read you comment. lol
Thank you Steve for your article and the contact info for Disney!
Being able to walk to the Polynesian is HUGE. Our family of 17 was just there in October and none of us are happy about this!!
~Jennifer
You bet Jennifer. I wish it was happier news that I was sharing.
I know that, in general, short letters are more effective. I couldn’t write “short”. Instead, they get to learn about the concept of BLUF. I also asked if this is part of a deliberate move to degrade the SoG experience, offering them the out that, if this was a Chapek decision it’s time to revisit it. I’ve indicated by including several questions that I expect a response. If I get one, I’ll post the results.
Thanks Gerry!
I wrote a letter to Disney here is their reply. Note that they now indicate that perhaps t may not be a permanent closure, but maybe only during construction. And I still can’t figure out why SOG won’t lobby for the ped bridge. We need to keep pressure on them, as well as send messages up the food chain to Iger, and the president of WDW. Neva (Disney Parks)
Apr 15, 2023, 9:08 AM EDT
Dear Bari,
Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World® Resort!
We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback with us and are sorry for the disappointments you mentioned in your e-mail regarding the World Drive Expansion Project will begin between Shades of Green and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.
Our goal is to create magical memories and exceed the expectations of our guests’ expectations during every interaction you have with us. Rest assured that we have shared your comments with our leadership team, along with the appropriate management, as feedback such as yours is taken very seriously.
Please know that there is no indication that this closure will be permanent, however, the walkway will be closed during the construction phases for the safety of our guests. You may be pleased to learn that additional motorcoaches are being to the Transportation and Ticket Center route so that Guests are still able to get to their destination as efficiently as possible.
Once again, thank you for contacting us. We sincerely hope that we will have an opportunity to entertain you soon.
Sincerely,
Neva
Sales and Solutions
I sent an email to Disney about the crosswalk (and spent a lot of time composing said email). I got back a canned response about the walkway between the Polynesian and the Magic Kingdom being temporarily closed. It’s nice to know they took my concern seriously. (insert eye roll here).
Thanks for the intel Natalie!
I too tried contacting Disney and you can’t go very high on list of managers to ge tto someone who can affect change unfortunately
Unfortunately true for the phone Jackie. .
You could write Iger though: https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/how-to-contact-disney-and-disney-officials/
Here is what I sent to Disney:
WHY? Why would you close the fantastic little path from Shades of Green to the Polynesian? It is a favorite of our family! Now, we find out that the close is NOT temporary, but permanent? Are you punishing the Military for some reason? Or, should I say FURTHER punishing us? I have been using Shades since it opened! Every change you have made seems to be a kick in the teeth to Veterans. With this change, our only path to the parks now forces us to the TTC, period! Like the day trippers or off property guests. Why?
Over the years, our bus stops have gotten significantly worse. The Disney Springs stop is horrendous! All the way out back of Cirque! How nice that ,with so many disabled vets (!), we have to walk so far to get the bus! We used to be dropped off at the market or mid Springs! HS and AK are distant hikes as well! At least with the path, we could get to the Poly and be dropped nearer the park gates! Getting to parks will be a bigger hassle and cost to veterans. The answers given: we can drive our own cars and PAY to park. Or, we can pay a ride service. A while back, we did not have to pay to park! GEE Thanks. I guess our veterans aren’t handing over enough money to earn consideration.
We get two whole buses to transport us to the TTC, now our only means of getting around. Many vets use scooters and the buses can only hold 2 scooters. Two or three families with a disabled vet trying to get to the park means delays for many! The path to the Poly at least gave us an alternative. Not now. How nice. Should it rain, we veterans will have to wait even longer for a bus. And, again, our stops are right out there with public transportation! We are not treated as the paying Disney guests that we are!
Can you not work with Shades to at least include a bridge over the road? You have done so for other resorts. Heck, you built the skyline for distant resorts! In the mean time, why not add more buses directly TO the parks? Even MK! With decent stops. All other resorts – even NON Disney resorts- beyond the big 3 have a bus to MK, Not Shades of Green. They get direct transportation stopping near the park entrance. But, not our veterans. Nope, we just get lumped in with the masses. Why? It is a slap in the face of our veterans. With this loss of the path, we are also denied the boats from the Poly. We dine at Ohana and shop at the Poly. Now we have to work for the ‘privilege’.
Please consider creating the bridge and adding the buses with decent proximity stops.
Planning a trip with my daughter next year and SOG WAS our top choice, due in part to the walking path and the ability to access the monorail and ferry boat on foot. Having stayed at a Disney Springs Good Neighbor resort on out last trip, we’re not thrilled with non Disney transportation (or the TTC) and the walking path would have lessened our reliance on SOG buses. The loss of this perk may be the straw that broke the camel’s back. After all, if we stay at a Disney resort, we can park overnight and at the parks for free. It seems like the only perk now available at SOG is evening Magic Hours. But I’m not sure that one perk makes up for what we’ve lost. I can’t believe SOG is still charging for parking.
Hi Tom,
Thanks fo rate thoughtful comment (and kind words!).
The whole situation is a mess, sadly with little forethought or concern on both Disney’s and Shades of Green’s part.
It seems those in charge thought no one in out community would care, and when the uproar started on Shades’ Facebook announcement they threw out the extra bus thinking the lack of buses was the main issue and not the TTC…
Like you I encourage our community to write to Bob Iger’s office (https://www.militarydisneytips.com/blog/how-to-contact-disney-and-disney-officials/) with polite concerns, laying out what the path means to them and providing suggestions (primarily a foot bridge just like they built for the Disney Springs non-Disney hotels).
taking away access to the monorail is that part that hurts the most. now everyone will be dependent on their car or the SoG bus schedule. .
Our 3-generations family just returned from SOG/Disney. Although we did have meal reservations at the Polynesian, where the walking path would have been a nicety, we did not feel hindered by the pathway closure during our visit. During our 9-day stay, we only ever had one really packed bus and never waited more than a few minutes (important with an impatient 9-year old and a toddler in a stroller) when going to/coming from the TTC or parks. The bottom line is getting anywhere on the Disney complex takes time.
I am just learning of this whole debacle and it is devastating. That walkway was our calm before and after our high intensity park days. We spent more $ at the Poly than we ever would have staying somewhere else on property as we passed through 2x a day. I am sure many others did the same. Seems like a loss for them as well. I will never stay at shades again (after 14 stays and bringing many family members..)we will now pay more and stay elsewhere for convenience. It is a huge slap in the face and a major downgrade to the resort.