WAYS TO SAVE SOME GREEN

Shades of Green, one of five Armed Forces Recreation Centers worldwide and the only one in the continental U.S., is a resort serving members of the U.S. Armed forces and their guests. It welcomes military members on active, reserve and National Guard duty, retirees and Dept. of Defense civilians. It is located in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., near Orlando, at Walt Disney World. Room rates are tiered according to rank, starting at $109 for a standard room for E1-E6 and cadets. Shades of Green has guest rooms designed to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, plus larger elevators, bus transportation with lifts, and square poolside tables to accommodate wheelchairs.

A standard room at Shades of Green sleeps five, with two queen-size beds and a sofa sleeper. At an average 450 square feet, Shades of Green’s rooms are among the roomiest to be found at Walt Disney World Resort. Each standard guest room features either a private balcony or patio that overlooks the tropical grounds. Shades of Green also offers 11 family suite combinations. Five family suites sleep up to six guests and six sleep up to eight guests. Because the number of family suites is limited, these rooms reserve quickly.

The resort offers package deals including meals and lodging by season.

Disney is promoting a special “Salute” discount for active or retired members of the U.S. military. Choose between a four-day ticket for $209 and a five-day ticket for $224. Each includes an option to come and go each day of the ticket from the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The tickets are available at Shades of Green’s Ticket and Attractions office (email ticketinfo@shadesofgreen.org) and at U.S. military bases.

Shades of Green provides free bus transportation during park hours to the Walt Disney World Resort Transportation Center, which allows guests to hop on a monorail to the Magic Kingdom or Epcot. Buses are also available to Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom and Disney Springs. Ramps and lifts are available.

Round-trip shuttle transportation from Shades of Green to Universal Orlando costs $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 4 and up (children under 4 ride free). Orlando is the home of Sea World and many other Orlando-area attractions; discounted tickets can be purchased through Shades of Green’s Ticket and Attractions Office.

The resort’s Survivors’ Family Discount Program provides a 50-percent discount off normal room rates for Gold Star families, or those who have suffered the loss of an active-duty family member. See shadesofgreen.org for room rates by category.

For complete information on the resort, tickets to attractions, visit www.shadesofgreen.org.

Other Armed Forces Recreation Centers include the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany; the Dragon Hill Lodge in Seoul, South Korea; and the Hale Koa Hotel in Fort DeRussy, Hawaii. For information, go to www.armymwr.com/travel/armed-forces-hotels-resorts.

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