Here is a little known benefit for those who purchase tickets at Walt Disney World’s Shades of Green.
Siemens graciously allows Shades customers and their guests access to their lounge.
The VIP center is located inside Spaceship Earth.
An access card is required for entry!!!
UPDATE:
Sadly, Siemens has stopped this offer!
Once more military families found out about this little promoted benefit via this post and started using it, Siemens ended the offer.
It seems they just wanted to say they were doing something for the military versus actually doing it.
Siemens Corporation is a U.S. subsidiary of Siemens AG, a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for more than 165 years.
Siemens invites you and your guest(s) to our VIP Center located behind Spaceship Earth in Epcot. Please stop by before you ride the Spaceship Earth attraction.”
You can obtain an access card when you buy tickets at the Shades of Green’s Ticket Office. Just ask for the Siemens Access Card during your purchase. Sadly, Shades of Green’s Ticket Office never mentioned this to customers, you had to know about it and ask. THis severely limited the number of military families using the lounge.
The entrance to the lounge is on the right side of Spaceship Earth as you enter the park, across from the art of Disney.
Siemens VIP Lounge Entrance
As you enter immediately look for the door marked Siemens! Just open the door and you’ll be in the entryway with an ATM like panel to input your code from the back of your pass.
After you put your code in the inner door will unlock and you may enter.
You’ll head up a short flight of stairs and be greeted by the Siemens employee working the VIP Center. They’ll advise you what is available at the center and also about the special bonus of “back door” entry to the Spaceship Earth attraction.
After you sign in and indicate how many guests you have, you can sit, relax, and enjoy the air-conditioning while having a cold or hot beverage.
A device charging station is available for you use.
There are several high-tech displays, which show you all of the various endeavors that Siemens is involved with worldwide. A pair of bathrooms are also available
When you are ready to leave, don’t forget about the special back door access to Spaceship Earth!
Just let the person working the welcome desk that you are ready and they will escort you down a different stairway right into the unloading area for Spaceship Earth. You’ll board there as people exit the cars. You’ll then ride through the loading area and on to the ride.
Operating hours are 9 am to 4 pm M-F, 9 am to 1 pm Sat excluding National Holidays. Epcot admission is required.
Over to you. Do you think it sucks that Siemens cancelled this offer once people found out about it and started using it?
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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That is so awesome!! What a nice gesture 🙂
I did not know this! Thank you so much! My husband is retiring in December with 30 wonderful years in The USMC!! Can’t wait to visit Disney and Disney Epcot again, our children will love this!! Teresa Stoots
I was so excited to surprise our son with this. We are not Shades of Green guests as there was no room available. I called to confirm that I could obtain tickets with a military id. I was called back by Betty and told yes, just come to the ticket desk. I just took a cab from Coronado Springs and was told that they couldn’t give me tickets because Siemens called this week and told them to stop giving them out. No further explanation was given.. So disappointed. Was also told it wasn’t because we were not Shades of Green guests.
So sorry to hear that Helena!
Steve,
We are going in March. Is there a way to find out if this was temporary or permanent?
Hi Justin,
This was a permanent offer, but I recently heard that Seimens asked Shades to stop giving out the passes.
Once word got out they stopped the offer.
i just learned of Sienens VIP Lounge Access for Veterens through a military network. As a retired vet, I just wanted to write in appreciation of Siemens and Disney’s support to our veterans. This small token of appreciation really does go a long way in helping to reinforce to our vets and their families that their sacrifice is appreciated. Bravo Zulu! Which means “Well Done”
Dave Rochefort
Retired Coast Guard Master Chief
That’s a great perk, can’t wait to use it in Feb. Thanks for the tip Steve!
Heard a lot about the existance of the lounge, anxious for a look inside! Will try to check it out this December. 🙂
Is SOG the ONLY place to get this access card???
As far as I know Cat.
I didnt know about this for our past trips but will check it out on future ones. Thank you.
Yes I plan to use it.
Thank you, Siemens! We really appreciate this and look forward to visiting with you on our next trip to Epcot. We always make Spaceship Earth our first stop at Epcot. Thanks, again. Rich and Jan Hornbeak
Hello…….from what I’m reading, only active and retired members are welcomed. I’m a USAF Veterian, but not a retired member. I was wondering if this gesture is extended to all veterians. If not, that’s OK. It’s still a very nice project. I know this dosen’t mean much, but I did serve 25 years between the military and as police officer…..
Thank you..Keep up the good work!
Hi Frank,
You would be eligible to go to Shades of Green and get a pass in the months of January and September, when they do serve non-retired veterans.
See: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Shades-of-Green/Non-Retired-Veterans.html
Did not about this, I come to Disney yearly and will stop in to see this on my next trip. Thanks for having this
Wow did not know about this! We go in a month and will definitely be checking it out!!
What type of documentation is required to get a pass?
Hi James ,
The proper ID to enter Shades of Green and use their ticket office.
See: http://www.militarydisneytips.com/Shades-of-Green/Shades-of-Green-Eligibility.html
I have been going to WDW for 17 yrs now and have never known about this. Thanks Siemens for supporting the troops.
Alan, USAF (Retired)
We are going with extended family and another family that are friends of ours….will they be able to come with us or just our immediate family of 5?
I do not believe there is a limit Kerum.
The Siemens lounge is small and they do limit the groups to 8…a couple more if they are not busy. The lounge also host all Siemens employees worldwide and GIVE KIDS THE WORLD>
Thanks Jim!
Steve…
How can I contact you directly?
You have my email…contact me when possible.
Hi Jim,
I sent you an email several days ago. No reply yet.
Great tip. Thanks for posting. We stayed at Give Kids the World and were given a code, but didn’t use it. You mentioned stairs. Our son is in a wheelchair. Any chance there is a ramp?
I did not see a ramp, perhaps there is an elevator, but you’d have to ask…
Do you have to be a resort guest staying at Shades of Green to get the Siemens VIP Lounge Access Card. or is any military guest with park tickets eligible to get the access card.? If you have park tickets, do you have to have purchased them at the Shades of Green ticket office?
Hi Kirk,
Although the cards clearly say “Siemens VIP Center Welcomes the US Military and Veterans”, not Shades of Green Guests, Shades is the only place to get one and they unfortunately feel that only those who buy their park tickets from them should get the access card. Keeping the vast majority of those who could take advantage of this from participating.
In order for those not staying there to participate, you’d need to buy your tickets from them ahead of time and request a card when you do so.
So if I understand this correctly, even if my husband is Active Duty and we’re staying at Shades of Green, but we have an Annual Pass or purchased our tickets on base, we cannot access the lounge, is that correct?
That is the info that Shades of Green is putting out Amber. But ask if you do go by.