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Over the last decade, Mark and I have visited Walt Disney World countless times and had the privilege of staying in many of the Value, Moderate, and Good Neighbor Hotels on and around Disney property. Someday, I’d like to have experienced every single Disney hotel, and just last month, we finally stayed at one of the most unique resorts in the Disney bubble: Shades of Green at Walt Disney World Resort!
Shades of Green is an Armed Forces Recreation Center (AFRC) on Walt Disney World property. It’s a unique, value-oriented lodging experience exclusively for military service members, retirees, and their families – all within the magical Disney World Resort bubble.
We have been annual pass holders since 2016, and honestly, I didn’t even know this resort existed until I heard about it on the Rise and Run Podcast. Since Mark is a US Army Military Veteran, I knew we had to check it out. We booked this resort for the 2024 RunDisney Wine and Dine Race Weekend – Here are all the details!
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Shades of Green History
Originally known as The Golf Resort and later The Disney Inn, the property has an interesting history, deep connections to military service members, and a reputation as a comfortable and welcoming retreat.
The resort first opened in 1973 as The Golf Resort, catering to guests drawn to Disney’s Palm and Magnolia golf courses.
In 1986, the property was renamed The Disney Inn, and its theming was updated to give it a cozy, woodsy ambiance.
In 1994, the U.S. Department of Defense leased the property and rebranded it as Shades of Green, establishing it as an official AFRC. In 1996, the DOD purchased the resort, making it a permanent retreat for service members.
Shades of Green offers spacious accommodations in beautiful surroundings, convenient access to Disney Parks, and local attraction tickets, all at a price point that makes a Disney vacation more affordable for service members.
Who is eligible to stay at Shades of Green?
Explained directly from the Shades of Green Website:
“The Armed Forces Recreation Centers (AFRC) Resorts serve members of the U.S. Armed Forces, their families, and other authorized users. The AFRCs are Category C Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) activities operated by the U.S. Army as executive agent for the Department of Defense (DOD). Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM) G9 directly manages the AFRCs to provide all uniformed services with high-quality, affordable resort-style facilities consistent with the Army’s focus on readiness and quality of life for Service Members and their Families. Personnel eligible to use AFRC guestrooms, food and beverage, recreation, facilities, and other guest services are defined below.
DISABLED VETERANS EQUAL ACCESS ACT 2018
In January 2020, we received new Department of Defense/Army Regulations that expand authorized use at AFRC Resorts to Purple Heart recipients, former prisoners of war (POW), veterans with VA-documented service-connected disability ratings, and Primary Family Caregivers of eligible Veterans under the VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers.
Below are the guidelines for the new authorized users at Dragon Hill Lodge, Hale Koa Hotel, and the Shades of Green Resort:
Veterans who are Purple Heart recipients, veterans who are former POWs, all veterans with VA-documented service-connected disability ratings, and individuals assessed, approved, and designated as the Primary Family Caregivers of eligible veterans under the VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers are eligible Shades of Green Resort users when identified as follows:
Veterans must present a Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC) indicating at least one of the three acceptable eligibility statuses (PURPLE HEART, FORMER POW, or SERVICE CONNECTED) or HEC form H623A indicating placement in VA health care priority group 8E paired with an acceptable credential like a REAL ID-compliant State driver’s license or a U.S. passport.”
You can find even more information on their website here.
Salute to our Veterans Program
Through the Shades of Green “Salute to Our Veterans” program, all military veterans who have received an honorable discharge can vacation at Shades of Green during January and September.
Proof of honorable discharge is required with a copy of a current DD-214 form. Rooms booked with this special promotion will pay the Category 3 rate. You can sponsor up to three rooms.
Shades of Green Rooms
The Room rates are based on rank and military status, explained in detail on their website, and determined by time of year. You can check that information out here.
Shades of Green has standard rooms, suites, and family rooms that are larger than most Disney resort rooms. They comfortably accommodate up to five guests. We stayed in a Standard room with a view of the Magnolia Pool area.
While the room was a little dated, it was spotless and one of the largest and most comfortable rooms we have ever stayed at on Disney property. The cost versus the space and amenities is honestly unmatched. We really enjoyed this room and it’s location in the Magnolia Wing.
Shades of Green Amenities
Shades of Green has a lot to offer regarding amenities. Many are unique only to this property in the Disney World bubble.
Dining: The resort offers multiple dining options, including the Garden Gallery buffet, Mangino’s Italian restaurant, and more casual options like Express Café and Evergreens Sports Bar. They also have Java Cafe, which serves Starbucks coffee, ice cream, Dole Whip, pastries, and more small bites.
Recreation and Relaxation: Shades of Green offers two heated pools, a hot tub, a splash park, and easy access to the golf courses Disney’s Palm, Magnolia, and Oak Trail, which offer special rates for Shades of Green guests.
Explore Ticket Discounts: Shades of Green has an onsite ticket office that offers discounted Disney tickets and sometimes special deals on multi-day passes. This is an excellent perk for service members with busy schedules and makes it easy to show up and have help planning your vacation.
Enjoy Tax-Free Shopping: The resort’s shops are tax-free and feature a selection of Disney merchandise, perfect for souvenirs. They also have a small grocery where you can buy cases of water and food in bulk. It is super convenient for more extended stays and larger families.
Evergreens Sports Bar
Evergreens Sports Bar was an incredible on-site perk. This gastropub-inspired sports bar, located next to the Mill Pond Pool area, had a great laid-back atmosphere. They had tons of TVs to watch and an arcade for plenty of entertainment for everyone.
The food was top-notch, and they even made it convenient to carry food out and return it to your room or balcony. We enjoyed drinks at the bar and carried out food twice, and the quality and prices were phenomenal.
Proximity and Transportation to the Parks
Complimentary Transportation: The resort offers shuttle service to all Walt Disney World theme parks and the Disney Springs area. Guests can also use the walkway to the Polynesian Village Resort and access its monorail station. (although currently closed for construction).
Bus Procedures: To board the buses at Shades of Green, you must keep a Guest ID card for each party member and provide a valid photo ID each time you enter the bus. There is no other resort on the property that has this procedure. This prevents resort hopping for guests who do not belong at the resort.
Pro Tip: While Shades of Green offers complimentary bus transportation, you need to allow extra time compared to other resorts. They do not provide direct routes to each location individually because they often group various stops into the same bus route.
Examples: If you want to go to Magic Kingdom or Epcot, you are dropped off at the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) and must enter security and then continue on the Monorail to your final stop.
If you want to go to Disney Springs, it is combined with stops at both water parks and is the last stop on the route. It also drops you off behind Cirque du Soleil and is a bit of a walk to security.
If you want to go to Animal Kingdom or Hollywood Studios, your bus will stop at both locations – Hollywood Studios is the second stop. Knowing this can help you allot the appropriate timelines to plan your day if you have dining or other reservations.
Shades of Green Run Disney Transportation
Like all Walt Disney World Resorts, Shades of Green provided transportation to and from all the RunDisney events throughout the weekend, right from the lobby. It was a great place to stay for the value; we will keep it in mind for future events.
Overall, we were highly impressed with our stay at Shades of Green for Wine and Dine Race Weekend.
In addition to Walt Disney World in Florida, AFRC offers other exclusive vacation options in Hawaii, Korea, and Germany. I really love that AFRC Resorts has provided such an excellent place for service members and their families to enjoy an array of affordable vacation opportunities exclusively for them. Especially at the Most Magical Place on Earth!
We would love to go back, and highly recommend it for anyone who is eligible to stay at Shades of Green Resort to indulge in an affordable and magical escape!
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I’m so glad this is being offered to our military! They deserve so much more than can ever be repaid.
That sounds like a great opportunity for a veteran. Dad and I should do that sometime.☺️❤️