Hi Julie, welcome to planDisney!
Thank you or your family member for the military service that qualifies you to stay at the picturesque Shades of Green Resort during your
holiday visit. Shades of Green is an Armed Forces Recreation Center (AFRC) located on Walt Disney World Resort property. I've stayed at this resort a couple of times in the past few years and especially enjoy the spacious rooms, lush grounds, and proximity to the theme parks.
As a valued Shades of Green Guest, Julie, you can take advantage of most of the perks of staying at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel as long as your reservation is
linked to your My Disney Experience account. These perks include access to
Early Theme Park Entry each day as well as
Extended Evening Theme Park Hours at select parks on
select days, including EPCOT on December 21, 2023. You can also purchase up to two
Individual Lightning Lanes beginning at 7:00 a.m. each park day. All Guests can purchase
Disney Genie+ service any time after midnight each park day and make their first Genie+ Lightning Lane reservation at 7:00 a.m.
Your options for making it to an 8:45 a.m. breakfast reservation at Magic Kingdom Park include driving or taking a Shades of Green bus to the Transportation and Ticket Center, and then enjoying a
ferry or monorail ride to Magic Kingdom Park. Walking is not an option because the pedestrian walkway between Shades of Green and Disney's Polynesian Village Resort has been permanently closed due to the World Drive Expansion Project.
I recommend downloading and familiarizing yourself with the current
Shades of Green bus schedule before your trip, Julie. I also recommend allowing at least 60 minutes to get from Shades of Green to your breakfast destination. Shades of Green buses run approximately every 10 minutes; make sure you have your Resort ID and Military ID Card or photo ID Card (if you are not the sponsor). Holiday crowds may require you to wait for the next bus, which is why it's important to allow extra transit time. Once you arrive at Magic Kingdom Park, you'll use your
method of entry (MagicBand, MagicBand+, Disney MagicMobile pass, or admission card) to enter the theme park. Depending on the location of your breakfast reservation, you may be asked to scan in with an additional Cast Member to access areas of the park closed to Guests without a dining reservation or Early Theme Park Entry privileges.
I hope your family enjoys making core memories at The Most Magical Place on Earth, Julie. Please stop by
planDisney with any other trip-planning questions.
Choose magic,
Jennifer