Shades of Green is the Armed Forces Recreation Center located right on Walt Disney World property.
It is a fantastic, first class resort located right in the middle of all the the magic.
Walt Disney World offers military discounted rooms with the Disney Armed Forces Salute. But the Disney Armed Forces Salute room discount is not a guaranteed, always available, across the board offer. A limited number of rooms are discounted based upon the availability at each individual resort on each date.
The more rooms that are booked the fewer military discounted rooms are offered, until finally none are.
If you miss out on making a Disney resort reservation for your dates using the Disney Military Discount, Shades of Green would be a great alternative for you!
Overview
The Shades of Green Resort was originally owned and operated by the Walt Disney World Company under various names. Since 1994 it has been operated as an Armed Forces Recreation Center, open only to a very special clientele.
See our post on Shades of Green’s History
Shades is a DoD facility and as such has strict ID requirements.
Shades of Green is dedicated to serving the men and women of the U.S. Armed Services community, their families, other eligible Department of Defense employees, and those they sponsor.
The Shades of Green Resort is a wonderfully spacious hotel. Remodeled and expanded in 2004 it has 586 of the largest standard resort rooms on Walt Disney World property, plus eleven family suites.
Shades of Green’s Poolside Rooms
Pricing
You will find Shades of Green has very reasonable room rates compared with many Disney World Resorts and other hotels in the local area. Rates are based upon rank/pay grade, with junior member paying much less.
Shades of Green’s rates are constant all year long, except for various specials which they run from time to time.
Shades of Green Eligibility
- Current Military Members
- Those retired from the Military
- Honorably discharged veterans with 100 percent Permanent Service-connected disability
- Involuntarily separated service members under the Transition Assistance Management Program
- Personnel separated under the Voluntary Separation Incentive (VSI) and Special Separation Benefit (SSB) programs for two years after separation
- Public Health Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps. (Current and Retired)
- John McCain Defense Authorization Act Veterans – Purple Heart recipients, former prisoners of war, those with service-connected disabilities, and Primary Family Caregivers of eligible Veterans under the VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers
- All Veterans (with honorable DD-214) only for stays during the months of January and September!
- Current and retired (APF and NAF) Department of Defense (DoD) and Coast Guard (CG) civilian employees
- Military personnel of foreign nations and their family members when assigned or attached to a U.S. military unit or installation
- U.S. employees of firms under contract to Department of Defense working in the Pacific Region outside the U.S. on Department of Defense Government orders
- Spouses of Military listed above
- Un-remarried surviving spouses of personnel who died while on active duty or while in retired status
- Un-remarried former spouses who were married to military members for at least 20 years while the military member was on active duty
- Family members who have suffered a loss of an Active Duty sponsor regardless of the cause
See our Shades of Green Eligibility Page for full details
And our Full Military Veteran Discount Disney Discount Guide
Amenities
Shades of Green has two lovely heated pools, one in the shape of Mickey Mouse’s head and ears! There is an awesome kiddy Splash Area too.
The Mill Pond (Mickey) Pool
There’s a sports bar and grill and two full-service restaurants, and several quick service options available for dining.
Shades of Green’s Mangions Steak House
Shades of Green Ticket Sales Office – Military Discounted Tickets!
Shades of Green – Ticket Office
Shades of Green’s AAFES General Store
Shades of Green Dining Options
Shades of Green Transportation
Summary
If you can’t get into a Disney Resort, you should definitely give Shades of Green a try!
You will not be disappointed!
We stay there often, it is a great resort with a very relaxed and friendly environment.
Share your Shades of Green experiences in the comments 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. |
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
- Disney Tickets at Shades of Green
- 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?
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
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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! |
Comments
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I just think it is a shame that Shades of Green does not do Disney Magical Express. This is one of the main reasons we would never stay at Shades of Green. We would have to pay to get to and from the airport, or rent a car, and it just isn’t worth it. Do you think this will ever change?
Hi Rose,
Unfortunately I don’t think it will ever happen.
Shades would have to pay Disney for the service, keep in mind there has never been free parking at the parks since Shades opened, they would have to pay for that too.
Shades is on a tight budget. To pay for something, such as all the recent remodeling something else has to suffer, food quality in this case.
Also Shades prices have only gone up $3(cat1) to $6 since 2008!
Steve, had you heard anything about renovations taking place later this year at Shades of Green and the impact it will have on availability later this year?
I’ve just heard rumors Cynthia. But when they do renovations, they only do a section at a time, so should be OK,
My husband is retired DoD. If he were unable to stay would I be able to book a room or two? What about surviving spouses?
Hi Debbie,
Yes Shades eligibility rules state: U.S. Department of Defense Civilians and Family Members – Current and retired (APF and NAF) Department of Defense (DoD) and Coast Guard (CG) civilian employees. DOD or CG ID card, Retired ID card, or current Leave and Earnings Statement with photo ID required for check-in.
So you’d need a copy of his ID for check in.
Just mention this when you make the reservation to be sure this is all you need.
Thanks!