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Home » Blog Posts » Shades of Green Resort Walt Disney World Benefits

Shades of Green Resort Walt Disney World Benefits

26 February 2024 by Steve Bell 6 Comments

When Military families stay at Shades of Green Resort on Walt Disney World property, they are eligible for many of the same benefits that those staying at a Disney World-owned resort are eligible for (but not all!).

The History of the Shades of Green Resort at Walt Disney World

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • When Military families stay at Shades of Green Resort on Walt Disney World property, they are eligible for many of the same benefits that those staying at a Disney World-owned resort are eligible for (but not all!).
  • Walt Disney World Benefits that Shades of Green Guests are Eligible For:
    • Participation in Early Entry & Extended Evening Hours
    • Early Lightning Lane Purchase
    • Advance Dining Reservations for the entire trip
  • Walt Disney World Benefits that Shades of Green Guests are not eligible for:
    • Free Theme Park Parking
    • Disney’s Check-In Day Free Water Park Entry
    • Disney Dining Plan
    • Charging Disney purchases to your room
    • Magic Bands
  • Wrap-Up

This list has both grown and shrunk over the years.

So, let’s get right to the list…

Walt Disney World Benefits that Shades of Green Guests are Eligible For:

Participation in Early Entry & Extended Evening Hours

Starting in October 2021, Shades of Green guests became eligible for Disney World’s Early Entry & Extended Evening Hours, which replaced the old Extra Magic Hours.

Shades of Green guests may both enter every theme park early every day and stay late on select days at select Walt Disney World theme parks.

See these posts for detailed info:

  • Early Entry
  • Extended Evening Hours

Early Lightning Lane Purchase

For those who would like to purchase and use the paid Lightning Lane options, purchasing is available 7 days prior to your check-in date. Disney extends this benefit to Shades of Green guests. Others have to wait until 3 days prior.

  • Lightning Land Multi Pass and Single Pass
  • Lightning Land Premier Pass

Advance Dining Reservations for the entire trip

Shades of Green guests may make their Advance Dining Reservations 60 days prior to check in, for their entire trip (Up to 10 days).

Those without this benefit can only make them 60 days prior to the date needed.

This extended window gives you an advantage over those waiting until 60 days prior to the desired date.

To take advantage of the extended window, your resort reservation needs to be linked to your My Disney Experience account.

See:

  • Linking Your Shades of Green Reservation to My Disney Experience
  • The Ultimate Guide to Advance Dining Reservations

Walt Disney World Benefits that Shades of Green Guests are not eligible for:

Free Theme Park Parking

For many, many years, Shades of Green’s guests did not pay the parking fee at Disney World’s theme parks, just like Disney Resort Hotel guests. But in 2010, a change was made. I suspect that at that time, Disney wanted to charge Shades of Green a fee to continue this practice, so it ended.

Shades of Green guests pay $25 per day to park at the theme parks

Disney’s Check-In Day Free Water Park Entry

When you reserve a Disney Resort room in 2025, you will receive a Free Disney Water Park Entry on your check-in day!

See this related information:

New Walt Disney World Resort Room Perk in 2025

Disney Dining Plan

(Currently not offered by Disney due to staffing shortages)

The popular Disney Dining Plan cannot be added to your Shades of Green reservation. It can only be aded ro reservations made at Disney Resorts.

See 11 Reasons Why I Don’t Recommend the Disney Dining Plan

Charging Disney purchases to your room

Sorry, only purchases at Shades of Green may be added to your Shades of Green room charge. Those made at Disney locations cannot.

Magic Bands

Walt Disney World Resorts sells discounted Magic Bands to their Resort guests as part of their reservation. Not so at Shades of Green.

Disney Resorts guests use Magic Bands for everything: Park entry, Genie+, room key, charging to the room, and resort access, to name most uses.

Shades of Green doesn’t use these. You get a plastic key card for your room and a paper resort ID for access and charges, and you’ll use your Disney ticket for park entry and Genie+.

You can however, opt to use Magic Bands that you buy on your own or ones that you have from a previous Disney Resort stay while you are staying at Shades of Green for the things it will do for you.

To learn more, see Magic Bands for Shades of Green Guests.

Shades of Green Resort

Wrap-Up

Well, that’s the info on Shades of Green Disney benefits.

What are your thoughts? Are there any you wish were on the list but aren’t? Let us know in the comments section below!


This MDT Post By: Steve Bell

Steve is the Military Disney Tips Founder. He is a retired U.S. Military Member who's been touring the Disney Parks since 1971! He has been writing about Disney for the US Military Community here for 18 years. Steve's mission is to help military families with their Disney vacations in every way possible.
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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
  • How to make reservations at Shades of Green
  • Shades of Green Resort Activities and Amenities
  • Disney Tickets at Shades of Green
  • Magic Bands for Shades of Green Guests
  • Shades of Green Fact Sheet and FAQ

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
Learn about the Disney Armed Forces Salute the best military discount that there is for Disney. See our Topic Overview Pages:
  • Resorts/Hotel Overview Page
  • Dining Overview Page
  • Transportation Overview Page
  • Shades of Green, WDW’s Military Only Resort

Military Disney Tips' Recommended Disney Travel Agent

Save on your Disney Vacation With Military Ears of Experience

Ears of Experience Disney Only Travel Agency. Military family owned and operated! They know all the ins and outs of Disney military discounts!

 
 
 

 

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Filed Under: Shades of Green Tagged With: Shades of Green, Shades of Green Tour, Walt Disney World

Comments

  1. Brenda Bentz says

    30 October 2021 at 18:17

    Can you use a Disney Refillable cup at Shades of green?

    Reply
    • Steve says

      31 October 2021 at 06:00

      Hi Brenda,

      Sorry, no you can’t use Disney’s refillable mugs at Shades of Green. Shades is not a Disney owned resort.

      Reply

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