Shades of Green – www.shadesofgreen.org
Shades of Green is a Walt Disney World hotel for military personnel and their families. This includes active duty and retirees. With almost 600 rooms, a beautiful pool, and lush gardens and a waterfall this hotel is a great place for military families to vacation.
There is bus service from Shades of Green to the Transportation and TicketCenter for the MagicKingdom, and direct bus service to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Epcot, and Animal Kingdom.
Those families who stay here can enjoy fine dining as well as casual dining with 6 very different places to eat. You will find an Ice Cream Shop, a Café, a coffee house and more when you stay here on your visit to Walt Disney World.
- Garden Gallery Restaurant
- Evergreen Sports Bar and Grill
- Express Café
- America , the Ice Cream Parlor (serves home made ice cream)
- Java Café (serves Starbucks)
- Mangino’s for fine dining Italian Style
At Shades of Green you will find a championship golf course (Magnolia), and a second course, the Palms. Both courses are owned and operated by Walt Disney World cast members. There are a variety of golf packages to guests of Shades of Green.
Here are the eligibility requirements: (this information is also on the Shades of Green website)
- Armed Forces Service members and their family members- Service Members on Active Duty, Reserve Components (Ready Reserve and National Guard; Reservists in Training) Cadets of Service Academies.
- Other Uniformed Services- Members of the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service and Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on active duty.
- Armed Forces retirees and their family members- Armed Forces Retirees (and their families) who retired from active duty or retired from the Reserves with pay, and retired without pay (gray area).
- Others separated from the Armed Forces and their family members- Honorably Discharged Veterans with 100% service-connected disability (and their families) and involuntarily separated service members under the Transition Assistance Management Program. Personnel separated under the Voluntary Separation Incentive (VSI)and Special Separation Benefit (SSB) programs for two years after separation.
- Special category- Medal of Honor Recipients.
- Others associated with the Department of Defense- Former Prisoners of War (POWs) and spouses of current POWs or Service members missing in action. Un-remarried surviving spouses of personnel who died while on active duty or while in retired status.
- Former and/or surviving spouses and family members- Un-remarried former spouses who were married to military members for at least 20 years while the military member was on active duty to the Armed Forces. Orphans of military members, when not adopted by new parents, under 21 years old (or over if they are incapable of supporting themselves, or 23 years old if they are in full-time study)
- Other supporters of DoD- U.S. Federal employees when assigned in areas outside the U.S. Medical personnel under contract to the military DoD Component during periods when they are residing on the installation. Military personnel of foreign nations and their family members when on orders from the U.S. Armed Forces, or in overseas areas when the major command commander grants privileges in the best interest of the U.S. Paid members of the American Red Cross, Young Men's Christian Association, United Service Organization and other type 1 private organizations identified in DoD Instruction 1000.15 (reference (s)) when assigned with U.S. Armed Forces outside the U.S. U.S. employees of firms under contract to Department of Defense working on an installation when assigned in areas outside the U.S.
- U.S. DoD civilians and family members- Both APF and NAF, and retired DoD civilians.
- DoD contract personnel and technical representatives- Working full time on the installation.
- Other Federal employees- Non DoD Federal employees working on a military installation.
- Guests- Who are not otherwise eligible to use MWR programs, when specifically invited and accompanied by an authorized patron.
- Members of the public within the U. S. - Leaders in the local community designated by the installation commander Individuals are recertified annually. Members of the general public can attend infrequent MWR-sponsored events when the installation meets controls established by the DoD Component, to include at minimum, to the following criteria:
· Commander (General Manager) determines that adequate facilities are available and currently underutilized by authorized patrons
· Written agreements are obtained from local government officials or other appropriate community leaders indicating that they have no objections to expanded use of military MWR programs
· Allowing these individuals to use these facilities is beneficial to both the military members and civilians in the community
· No conflict exists with Federal, State, or local laws and specifically approved by the DoD Component. This approval authority may not be delegated below the Military Service level.
- Others associated with the Department of Defense- Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadets when participating in field training or practice cruises. Delayed Entry/Delayed Training Program (DEP/DTP) recruits (these recruits are part of the Ready Reserve force.
Shades of Green has well appointed oversized rooms which all contain a refrigerator, coffee maker, hair dryer, iron and ironing board, and in-room safe. The rooms have patios or balconies overlooking the wonderful grounds.
If you meet the qualifications to stay here, be sure to give Shades of Green a call. Your room rate will be completely dependant on the rank of the military personnel in your family. The phone number to call is: 888-593-2242
If you are staying at Shades of Green, you can purchase your park tickets here as well. They sell Walt Disney World Passes. Universal Studios and more!