How do I get to Shades of Green?

If you are bound for Shades of Green from Orlando International Airport, you are on your own!

Walt Disney World has its Magical Express transportation from the airport for guests staying at Disney owned resorts.

But Shades of Green guests are on their own for transportation from Orlando International Airport to the Military Resort on Disney property.

For many years I drove to Disney World from the Florida Base where I was stationed. Prior to those years my family and I only flew in to Orlando three times (2 were before Disney started the magical express).

Once we rented a car at the airport and used it to drive to Disney World and back. Then we had the rental car to drive to the parks or wherever we wanted to go. 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.

The other times we used a limo service and Disney’s Magical Express.

Here are 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 WDW.

Taxi – Taxis at the airport are about $75 each way to Disney.

Bus Service – A company called Mears Transport runs regular buses vans and limos from the airport to all WDW and local area resorts. 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.

Uber and Lyft -Are great alternatives to traditional transportation companies. Fares are currently starting at around $30 one way to WDW.

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 Transportation Recommendations

Use a Limo Service.

Military Disney Tips has negotiated a Military Discount with Orlando Shuttle Service. This special offer is exclusive to MDT Readers, you’ll get $15 off the basic round trip pricing of private transportation to ANY Orlando hotel or resort when you book at Orlando Shuttle Service. Just enter the promo code MDT15. This code is valid online or via phone.

Orlando Shuttle Service is the ONLY company doing what they do in Orlando. They search out all of the local transportation companies & list true total trip pricing in one place (before driver gratuity). They’ve been at this for over 9 years.

OrlandoShuttleService.com is proud of our military and pleased to offer this exclusive discount code for all military & their families: Get $15 off the basic round trip pricing of private transportation to ANY Orlando hotel or resort, including Shades of Green. Just enter the promo code MDT15″

Email: customer.service@orlandoshuttleservice.com, Phone: 1-407-574-4671 (9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern, M-F)

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.

How can I get to Other Destinations like Universal Studios, SeaWorld, or Legoland?

As far as getting to Universal or Sea World from Shades of Green you have a few options.

There is an Alamo kiosk just off the Shades of Green lobby you could rent a car for the day or more if you have other excursions planned.

There is a shuttle bus available for Universal and SeaWorld at Shades. You need to make a reservation 24 hours in advance with the Shades of Green Ticket Sales Office. The round trip cost is $ 10.00 per adult and $ 5.00 per child. Under 4 is free. Pickup times are set so you’ll need to stick to their schedule. Departs Shades of Green Lobby (Lobby Level) promptly at 8:15 am. Return trip from Universal 6:30 pm return trip from Sea World 6:45pm.

For other destinations like Legoland Florida, Kennedy Space Center, and your Disney Cruise at Port Canaveral I again recommend OrlandoShuttleService.com, or Uber/Lyft. The ride to another theme park would also be a great use of the  $15 off your first Uber trip, or the $5 credit towards your first Lyft ride.

Getting around WDW

Once you are at Shades there are lots of transportation options.

Shades has its own small fleet of buses to take you around Disney World and you can use Disney’s transportation free options (Buses, Monorail, Boats) without staying at a Disney Resort and they also offer a fleet of Minnie Vans, a new paid Disney run uber like service.

For those planning on using Uber or Lyft during your stay here are the official pickup/drop off locations:

Magic Kingdom – The Transportation and Ticket Center near the Non-Disney bus pickup area. My friend Tom at the Disney Tourist Blog recommends a pick up/drop off at the Contemporary resort or at the intersection between the Contemporary and the Magic Kingdom.

Epcot – Also near the Non-Disney bus pickup area. Tom also has a recommendation here, to use one of the Epcot Resort Hotels as your pick up and drop off location where you can use the International Gateway to enter Epcot.

Disney Hollywood Studios – In the taxi pick up area in the parking lot on the far side of the non-Disney bus pickup area. Note: with lots of construction going on in the parking/arrival area this is in flux, look for a sign or ask a cast member.

Animal Kingdom – right at the edge of the parking lot, just prior to the Shades of Green bus pickup area.

Check out this page for more info on transportation options at WDW for Shades of Green Guests

Or these other posts which you might find helpful:

Your Guide to Disney World Transportation

Shades of Green’s Bus Stops

Magic Kingdom Parking for Shades of Green’s Guests

Epcot Parking for Shades of Green’s Guests

Have you flown into Orlando and stayed at Shades of Green? How did you get there?

Let us know in the comments below!

---

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
• Links to Everything Shades of Green
• Shades of Green Blog Tour
• Magic Bands for Shades of Green Guests

---