What Is Shades of Green’s Salute to Our Veterans Program? If you served in the U.S. military, received an honorable discharge, and did not retire, you can stay at Shades of Green during January and September through the Salute to Our Veterans program. Shades of Green has offered special access for honorably discharged non-retired veterans […]
Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act: Disney Discounts and Shades of Green
What the Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act Means for Disney Planning The Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018 expanded access to military Morale, Welfare, and Recreation benefits for certain veterans and caregivers beginning January 1, 2020. The law was included in the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal […]
Shades of Green vs. Disney Deluxe Resorts: Which Is Better?
by Shades of Green and Disney’s Deluxe Resorts can both give military families a premium Walt Disney World stay—but they deliver that value in very different ways. For eligible military families, the decision isn’t simply whether Shades of Green is cheaper or whether a Disney Deluxe Resort is more luxurious. Shades of Green gives you […]
Shades of Green vs. Disney Value Resorts: Which Is Better?
Shades of Green and Disney’s Value Resorts can both be smart choices for military families—but they solve very different vacation problems. This may be the most price-sensitive comparison in the Shades of Green – Disney Resort series. Unlike the Moderate and Deluxe comparisons, there are times when a Disney Value Resort can cost less than […]
Sponsoring Guests at Shades of Green
Eligible Shades of Green guests can sponsor rooms for family and friends who could not otherwise stay at the military resort. This is one of the most useful—and sometimes misunderstood—benefits of staying at Shades of Green. You do not have to limit your Walt Disney World vacation group to people who are independently eligible for […]
Shades of Green Walt Disney World’s Military Resort Room Rates
Shades of Green room rates are based on your military pay grade or status—not on when you visit. That makes Shades of Green pricing very different from Disney-owned resorts. Disney Resort prices can change dramatically based on the season, day of the week, demand, and room type. Shades of Green sets its regular room rates […]
When Is a Minnie Van Actually Worth the Money at Disney World?
Minnie Vans are one of the most expensive ways to get around Walt Disney World. Disney transportation is free, and an Uber or Lyft will usually cost considerably less for the same drive. Even so, we use Minnie Vans on almost every Disney World trip. The key is that we don’t use them for every […]
How Many Miles Do You Walk at EPCOT? Distances, Loops & Shortcuts
How Many Miles Is EPCOT Going to Put on My Feet? If you have never visited EPCOT before, it can be hard to appreciate just how much walking this park can involve. But if you’re wondering whether you’re really going to walk that much at EPCOT, the short answer is: yes, yes you will! All […]
2026 Disney Memory Maker Military Discount: Save on PhotoPass at Disney World
2026 Disney Memory Maker Military Discount at Walt Disney World Walt Disney World offers eligible U.S. military members and spouses a deeply discounted Memory Maker for $98 in 2026. The military price is available through December 18, 2026. Regular Memory Maker currently costs $185 when purchased at least three days in advance or $210 at […]
The History of the Shades of Green Resort at Walt Disney World
Before it became Walt Disney World’s military resort, Shades of Green was one of Disney’s earliest—and most unusual—resort hotels. The resort military families know today as Shades of Green began as a golf clubhouse, became Disney’s Golf Resort, was reinvented as The Disney Inn, and eventually became an Armed Forces Recreation Center in the middle […]
Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Package vs. Room-Only Reservation: Which Should You Book?
If you are booking a Disney Armed Forces Salute room discount, should you choose a Room Only reservation or a Disney vacation package? For most eligible military families, I recommend booking a Room Only reservation. A Room Only reservation provides more flexible payment and cancellation rules, and eligible military families can purchase their deeply discounted […]
How Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Discounts Really Work (2026 Guide)
Disney’s advertised Armed Forces Salute room discount is the maximum you could receive—not the discount Disney promises for every reservation. 2026 Armed Forces Salute Room Discount Update The Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Discount continues in 2026, and Disney’s variable “up to” discount model remains in place. Instead of receiving one fixed percentage based only […]
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Military Discount 2026: Dates, Prices & How to Buy
Military Discounted Ticket Prices for the 2026 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Military discounted tickets for the 2026 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party are now available through Shades of Green for select party nights. 2026 Military Tickets Are Now Available! Shades of Green is selling discounted Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party tickets for 22 of […]
AAFES Exchange at Shades of Green (2026): Who Can Shop, Tax-Free Pricing & What It Sells
AAFES Exchange at Shades of Green (2026): Who Can Shop, Tax-Free Pricing & What It Sells You may use the Shades of Green Exchange more than you expect Most military families do not think much about the AAFES Exchange before they arrive at Shades of Green. Then they end up visiting it several times during […]
Shades of Green Dining Guide (2026): Restaurants, Menus & Best Times to Eat
Dining at Shades of Green works best when you use it strategically Shades of Green has several dining options, but the best way to think about resort dining is not simply by restaurant. The better question is: When does it actually make sense to eat at Shades of Green? For most Walt Disney World vacations, […]
Shades of Green Standard Rooms: Military Disney Guide
Shades of Green Standard Guest Rooms are some of the largest standard rooms at Walt Disney World, and for many military families, they are the main reason the resort works so well. If you are comparing Shades of Green with Disney resorts, the Standard Room is where the conversation really begins. The room rate matters. […]
Disney Military Discount Eligibility Guide: Which Disney Discounts Do You Qualify For? (2026)
Disney military and veteran discounts can be confusing because different discounts use different eligibility rules. If you are trying to figure out whether you qualify for Disney military tickets, Disney military resort discounts, Shades of Green, Disney Cruise Line military rates, or veteran-specific Disney options, the first thing to understand is this: There is no […]
Shades of Green vs Disney Resorts: Which Is Actually Cheaper?
Comparing Disney World Resorts to Shades of Green is not just about finding the cheapest room. One of the biggest decisions military families make when planning a Walt Disney World vacation is whether to stay at a Disney Resort or at Shades of Green. At first, this looks like a simple price comparison. Check […]
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Military Discount 2026: Dates, Prices & How to Buy
Military Discounted Ticket Prices for the 2026 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2026 Military Ticket Update: Walt Disney World has announced the 2026 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party dates, and Shades of Green has now released the 2026 military-discounted dates and pricing for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Popular October nights can sell out quickly, so don’t wait […]
Disney Room Only Reservation Versus a Package What’s the Difference?
It’s very important to know the difference between Disney’s Room Only and Package Reservations! Flexibility is often very important to US Military Families, and your selection affects your payment and cancellation schedules. What’s a Package? A Disney package is normally when you combine another option with your Disney Resort Room Reservation. The other option(s) could […]
11 Reasons Why I Don’t Recommend the Disney Dining Plan
We’ve only used the Disney Dining Plan once during over 50+ trips to Walt Disney World since the Disney Dining Plan started in 2005! And that one time was only for our research. Why, you ask, would such a seasoned Disney family not use the dining plan that so many people rave about? Because we […]
Chip n’ Dale’s Deli – Convenient to Shades of Green’s Magnolia Pool
The Chip n’ Dale’s Deli is a Disney-operated Quick Service location that is located right next to Shades of Green’s Magnolia Pool. For many years Shades of Green ran this location through a sub-contractor as the On the Greens Grill. But several years ago operation switched back to Disney and then in 2020 they renamed […]
Top Ten Things You Need To Know About Disney’s Armed Forces Salute Military Room Discounts for 2026
Disney’s Armed Forces Salute is a fantastic discount available to military members and retirees. This discount includes both ticket and room discounts. Here are the Top Ten Things that you need to know about military discounts on rooms using this offer. See our companion post about Military Discounted Tickets here: Top Ten Things You Need To Know […]
Which Disney Military Discount Ticket Should You Buy? (2026 Guide)
What’s the Right Military Discounted Disney Ticket for me? I am often asked some version of this question. A Very Complex Issue “I’d like to go to Disney World or Disneyland for 5 days, what’s the cheapest ticket to buy?” This question is typical of those that I receive, and while this is a seemingly […]
Top 2 Disney Military Discounted Theme Park Tickets for 2026
Here are the Top Two Military Tickets for Disney’s Theme Parks 2026 Update (11/11/2025): Walt Disney World: New Disney Celebrates America Military Salute Ticket joins the traditional 4-, 5-, and 6-Day Salute tickets for 2026, with all 2026 WDW prices and blockouts below. Disneyland: 2026 Military Salute Ticket pricing is now confirmed, with sales starting […]