Shades of Green

Joining three other Armed Forces Recreation Centers across the globe, Shades of Green originally opened in 1994 as the only AFRC in the continental United States. In response to ever-increasing demand the resort undertook a massive expansion and renovation in 2002. Increasing in both size and services offered, Shades of Green more than doubled the number of guest rooms, added ten family suites, additional dining options, meeting facilities, a fitness center, and multi-level parking garage. Reopening in March 2004, Shades of Green has emerged as a premier resort destination in the heart of Walt Disney World.

Activities and Entertainment

Head over to the Shades of Green Mini Marina for some nautical fun and the chance to steer one of the military's smallest fleets ever! The boats operate electronically and can be activated by purchasing tokens on the dock. One token gets you two minutes with the boat of your choice, and for most the only opportunity to ever commandeer a military ship. Choose from the USS Army, USS Marine Corps, USS Navy, USS Coast Guard, USS Air Force or USS Lest We Forget!

Four wheel monster truck fans can test their skills at our outdoor coin operated course next to Evergreen's. Try your skills at one of the Video Arcades where dozens of games and alluring prizes can be yours! Two brand new game rooms are located on the resort. There is one adjacent to Evergreen's, where you can also shoot a game of pool while watching sporting events on one of the big televisions at the bar. The other arcade is located inside the hotel on the first floor of the Magnolia Wing and has an air hockey table, pool table, and the latest video games.

Fitness Facilities

Fitness Center

A state of the art Fitness Center is open every day from 0700-2200 for exclusive use. Equipped with the best machines to give a satisfying workout, it has been designed with the fitness conscious guest in mind. A valid room key is required for access.

Tennis Courts

Two hard surface, lighted tennis courts are located on property and open 24 hours a day.

Pools

Swim laps or relax in the bubbling hot tub at the Magnolia Pool, or splash with the kids in the children's wading pool and Millpond Pool, located next to the playground. Both pools have areas for relaxing with sun chairs, tables, and umbrellas. The Millpond Pool Pavilion provides towel service. No lifeguards are on duty, but swim aids are permitted.

Pools are open from 0700-Midnight. Hot tub hours are 0700-2200.

Special Events

Shades of Green will host events. Brand-new facilities include over 7,400 square feet of versatile event space ideal for meetings, reunions, banquets, weddings, receptions, and all types of parties. Professional and courteous staff will do everything to ensure that events are a success. With experience and expertise in catering, beautiful scenery, and exceptional facilities, Shades of Green is the perfect place for an upcoming occasion.

Contact the sales and marketing department at extension 6257, or call them at (407) 824-6257.

Dining and Shopping

Mangino's

Delicious cuisine and casual elegance come together in a signature Northern Italian restaurant. With nightly specials, an array of traditional Tuscan dishes, and a sprawling wine list, Mangino's invites you to experience all the flair of Italy without ever leaving the resort.

Open daily from 1730 with the last seating at 2100.

The Garden Gallery

Enjoy a relaxed family meal in this bright and spacious restaurant. The delicious themed meals include a great selection of international cuisine and a fresh fruit, soup and salad bar. Open every day for breakfast from 0700-1100 and dinner from 1700-2130.

Evergreen's Sports Bar and Grill

Catch a casual meal at this lively sports bar and restaurant. Evergreens serves traditional American cuisine with favorites like burgers, grilled sandwiches, soups, salads and pizza.

Evergreen's Sport Bar and Grill is open daily from 1100-2400, with the regular menu served until 2200, and pizza only menu from 2200-2400.

Carry out service and pizza delivery are also available, dial extension 2515.

Food

• Fish and Chips: Nice simple meal, the fish is deep fried but with a light batter, and was quite tasty. This is served with tartar sauce, which interestingly enough is really good to dip hot wings in.
• Hot Wings: These are quite good. Served with celery and usually either ranch or blue cheese.

Magnolia Pool Bar

Serving quick and delicious grilled hot dogs, sausages, hamburgers, quick snacks and cold drinks. Open from 0600-1700.

Room Service

Room service is available during breakfast 0700-1100 and dinner 1600-2300. Please dial extension 6120.

Express Cafe

A great alternative for breakfast on the run, this counter service restaurant features breakfast sandwiches, pastries, snacks, fresh coffee, tea, and more. Express Cafe is located next to the resort bus area. Exit the main lobby doors and take the stairs or elevator down to the ground floor.

Open daily from 0600-1700.

Address

Post Office Box 22789
1950 West Magnolia Palm Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL
32830-2789
(407) 825-3400 Fax (407)824-3460
Reservations: (888) 593-2242

Policies

• Parking Fees
  • Self Parking $5.00 per day
  • Valet Parking $10.00 for each day used
• Check-out time is 1100 hours. Late check outs can be requested on the morning of your departure and are subject to availability. An additional fee will apply.
• Phone Charges: Local and 800 numbers $0.50/first 30 minutes, $0.75/additional 30 minute intervals. Please refer to rate card in room for additional information.
• Early Departures: Early departures are subject to a one night charge.
• Smoking Policy: The entire facility, to include pool areas, is smoke free. If the smoke free policy is violated in the guest rooms, a penalty will be incurred. Smoking is permitted on the guest room balconies and patios as long as the door is closed.
• Electrical Items: For your safety, your personal electrical items, such as cooking appliances and coffee pots, are not allowed in the rooms.
• Pet Policy: Pets are not permitted on Shades of Green property. If the pet policy is violated, a penalty will be incurred.
• No weapons of any kind are permitted at Shades of Green. For more information, contact the Security Department.
• Each room charges extra depending on the number of people you have in them:
  • $2 for a second adult
  • $15 for each adult after the second

Experiences

12-15 Mar 2007

Spent three nights at Shades of Green this time around. It was an enjoyable experience with a poolside room this time around. Room 155.

Ate at Evergreen's two nights, and the first night was horrible. The wait staff had no clue what they were doing, and the hostess really had no idea what she was doing. The only person there that had a clue was the bartender, as she was doing a decent job of both tending bar and helping out with tables that the rest of the wait staff apparently couldn't handle.

The second night was a lot better, and our waiter (Jonathan) was very good. He asked about things at the appropriate times and didn't bother us otherwise, which is something I look for in a waiter.

Also found out that the almond shampoo that they use is made by a company called "Body Concepts". I love this shampoo. The only place I have been able to find it online sells it by the case in four 1-gallon bottles. I am so seriously thinking of just buying a case and being done with it.

17 Feb 2007

I checked into Shades of Green at about 9pm in the evening after going to Megacon at the Orlando Convention Center. I went with Trish, Candice, Athena, and Marie. This is the stay where I found out that if you have more than two adults staying in the room, Shades of Green charges an extra $15 per person. Really quite annoying as they do not document this anywhere.

I slept on the pull-out bed in the couch of the room, which was not a bad rest. One thing that was annoying is that the pillows provided are not the best in the world, and entirely too soft. I prefer a much firmer pillow.

One comment from Candice was that she was surprised at just how large the room actually was.

14-15 Jan 2007

I checked into Shades of Green mid-morning, and the front desk personnel (Earlene) were quite helpful. Earlene was able to get my room assigned and it was ready to go at that time already. Usually the room is not ready until mid-afternoon, so this was a pleasant surprise. I got room 319, which is in the old section of the resort on the north side. From the balcony I had a commanding view of the putting green for one of the three golf courses located there. I don't know which course, and it could be a combined putting green for all three courses.

Once I had everything in the room ready to go, I headed out to the parks. One little hint for those that feel like buying a 20oz coke... buy them downstairs in the Express Cafe... their prices are a bit better than anywhere else in the resort for this sort of thing. I saved a quarter by going down there instead of buying one from a machine or at the AAFES shop, and it is on the way out to the buses anyway so no big deal.

Be aware that if you leave your balcony door open at night in order to catch some cool breezes (it was cool enough out that I could get away with this. During the summer, forget it!) it is very possible that you will be awoken at 3am by the sound of leaf blowers. This is their ground maitenance period.

The almond shampoo that they keep in the showers is wonderful. I had an experience a couple of months ago there where they had run out of the almond stuff and had replaced it with some mint crap, so that your only two choices were mint or strawberry. It sucked. If that is the case, all I ask is that they provide something that is simple soap, and none of this smelly stuff.

Watching the in-room entertainment, it was an absolute joy to me to see that they have cut out the NASA advertisement that they used to run in conjunction with the ads for Walt Disney World (Top Seven Must See Attractions) and Universal Studios. The darned ad ran for a good forty five minutes, and really I just wanted it to cycle through so that I could get another good look at Stacy in the Disney World video.