Shades of Green is a 586-room resort tucked between the Magnolia and Palm golf courses in the Magic Kingdom Resort Area at Walt Disney World, right on Disney property but run by the U.S. Department of Defense rather than Disney itself. It began life in 1973 as Disney’s own Golf Resort, and after the DoD signed a long-term lease on the land, it reopened as an Armed Forces Recreation Center on February 1, 1994, one of only four such resorts the military operates worldwide.
The draw is simple: Deluxe-resort-caliber space and finishes at a fraction of what Disney charges for its comparable hotels, because rooms are priced on a sliding scale tied to military rank and pay grade rather than market rate. For eligible military families, that combination of quality, space (rooms here comfortably sleep five), and proximity to Magic Kingdom and Epcot makes it one of the best value stays in all of Walt Disney World, provided you qualify to book it in the first place.
Stats at a Glance
- Resort: Shades of Green (Armed Forces Recreation Center)
- Operator: U.S. Department of Defense (MWR)
- Location: Magic Kingdom Resort Area, Walt Disney World, Bay Lake, FL
- Opened: December 1973 as Disney’s Golf Resort; reopened as Shades of Green February 1, 1994
- Rooms: 586 rooms, including 11 family suites
- Price tier: Military-only, discounted rank-based rate (deluxe-quality, below-deluxe pricing)
- Park transport: Resort bus to the Transportation and Ticket Center, then monorail or ferry to Magic Kingdom or Epcot
- Eligibility: Active-duty, retired, and disabled veterans (Purple Heart, former POW, VA-documented service-connected disability) year-round; other honorably discharged veterans only during the January/September Salute to Our Veterans program with a DD-214
Rooms, Theming and Dining
Rooms at Shades of Green run larger than typical Disney hotel rooms, with most standard rooms sleeping up to five guests and family suites offering additional separated sleeping space, useful for military families traveling multigenerationally or with in-laws in tow. The resort’s look is understated compared to Disney’s heavily themed properties, closer to a spacious golf-course clubhouse hotel, with restaurants, pools, a fitness room, self-service laundry, a mini Exchange, and an on-site discounted ticket office rounding out the amenities.
Because it sits between two of Disney’s championship golf courses, golfers get easy access to tee times, and the general pace of the resort feels quieter and more low-key than staying inside a Disney-branded hotel.
Getting to the Parks and Perks
Shades of Green does not have direct monorail or boat service. Guests take a resort bus to the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC), then transfer to the monorail or ferry for Magic Kingdom, or the monorail for Epcot; buses also run directly to Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs. That extra transfer step is the main tradeoff for the savings versus a monorail-loop Disney resort.
Despite being independently operated, Shades of Green guests get the same Walt Disney World resort perks as Disney-owned hotels, including Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours where offered, plus access to discounted ticket sales through the resort’s own ticket office.
Who Should Stay Here
This resort is built specifically for eligible Department of Defense-affiliated guests: active-duty, Reserve, and National Guard members across all branches, military retirees, eligible surviving spouses, DoD civilian employees, and disabled veterans (Purple Heart recipients, former POWs, and veterans with a VA-documented service-connected disability) can book year-round. Other honorably discharged veterans without one of those qualifying categories can only book during the resort’s Salute to Our Veterans program, held in January and September, and must show a current DD-214.
For those who qualify, it’s an excellent fit for families wanting deluxe-level space and Magic Kingdom-area proximity without deluxe-level prices, especially larger groups that benefit from the bigger room and suite layouts. Travelers who want ferry or monorail service right outside their door, or who don’t fall into any eligible category or the veterans-program windows, should look at a Disney-owned Magic Kingdom-area resort instead.
Explore more: More Where to Stay guides, Magic Kingdom guide, Epcot guide.
Shades of Green FAQs
Do Shades of Green guests get Early Theme Park Entry and other Disney resort perks?
Yes. Even though it’s DoD-operated rather than Disney-owned, Shades of Green sits on Walt Disney World property and its guests receive the same Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours access as guests at Disney-owned resorts, since it functions as an official Walt Disney World resort hotel for perk purposes.
Is Shades of Green a good value compared to Disney’s Deluxe resorts?
For eligible guests, yes. Rooms are priced on a sliding scale based on military rank and pay grade rather than Disney’s standard rack rates, so most eligible families pay well below what a comparable Disney Deluxe resort room would cost, while getting similarly spacious rooms and a Magic Kingdom-area location.
Can any honorably discharged veteran book a room at Shades of Green?
Not year-round. Year-round booking is limited to active-duty and retired military, DoD civilians, eligible surviving spouses, and disabled veterans (Purple Heart, former POW, or VA-documented service-connected disability). Other honorably discharged veterans can only book during the Salute to Our Veterans program in January and September, and must present a current DD-214 as proof of honorable discharge.
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Photo: U.S. Army/Tim Hipps / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.