Greetings, Keirsten! Thank you to you and your party for their service to our country! I recently stayed with my brother, who serves in the Coast Guard, at
Shades of Green Resort and Hotel. It was a welcoming, family experience that we enjoyed. While Shades of Green is located on Disney property, there are a few differences between it and a Disney owned Resort.
First of all, Shades of Green is not owned or operated by the Walt Disney Company. That means your
MagicBands will only work inside the park for fast passes, PhotoPass and Park tickets with My Disney Experience. They are not included with your stay, but you can bring your old ones from home. You won’t be able to use your MagicBands for purchases inside the parks, and you will be able to make FastPass+ arrangements only 30 days in advance, for each day of your vacation.
Transportation is a bit different, too. Shades of Green does not participate in Disney’s Magical Express or Disney Park Transportation. Shades of Green has it’s own bus system, so it’s important to visit the front desk and understand bus drop off locations as well as pick up times so you can make the most of your schedule. If you are pressed for time, use the sidewalks to get to Disney’s Polynesian Resort to make use of the bus system in a pinch.
Be sure to take the service member of your party to Shades of Green’s ticket attraction desk. There, you’ll be able to purchase military Park Hopper tickets at a discount, and link them to your Magic Bands using the hard tickets. Be sure to carry those hard tickets with you at all times. Staying at Shades of Green is similar to an off-property experience, but you will remain close to all the fun.
I hope you enjoy your Shades of Green stay and it’s close proximity to the Walt Disney World Parks! ~Lindsey