4 Disney World Hotels Becoming Dog-Friendly
Four Walt Disney World resort hotels are now dog-friendly as part of a pilot program that we’d expect will expand to other hotels if successful. In this post, we’ll share details about WDW’s dog-friendly program, fees, and what we think of this change.
August 14, 2018 UPDATE: The one-year pilot program was quietly extended with an email notice yesterday, and Walt Disney World’s FAQ page about this policy now reflects that it is an “ongoing pilot program.” The email contained no new details, and did not elaborate on future plans. As Walt Disney World’s dog-friendly hotel policy has been hugely controversial, we no longer expect this to be expanded to other resorts–at least not in the immediate future.
If the dog-friendly program is expanded, it will likely be done by quietly updating that FAQ and certainly without a splashy press release. From what we’ve heard, Walt Disney World was caught off-guard by the blowback to this policy, and given the low percentage of guests taking advantage of this program, it’s unlikely it was worth the initial blowback. At this point, it’s one of those, “what done is done” kind of things–but not worth reopening that divisive can of worms. In any case, what follows is the original info about the dog-friendly policy, which will remain accurate through 2019…
First, the details. As noted, this is starting at only four Walt Disney World resort hotels, which will each have a number of designated rooms that are dog-friendly. This means that there are still 20+ hotels at Walt Disney World that do not accommodate pets, along with all of the rooms in those 4 hotels that are not dog-friendly. Below is each hotel’s per night/per room pet-cleaning rate is:
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – $50/night
- Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort – $50/night
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort – $75/night
- Cabins at Disney’s Ft. Wilderness Resort – $50/night
A maximum of two dogs per room can be accommodated. Each guest room will have easy access to outdoor pet walkways for exercise and green spaces with pet relief areas. Guests will also receive an amenity at check-in called “Pluto’s Welcome Kit” that includes a mat, bowls, a pet ID tag, courtesy plastic disposable bags, puppy pads, a doggie do not disturb door hanger, and dog walking maps.
There are also rules: while dogs will be allowed to stay in guest rooms, they will be expected to be well behaved, leashed in public resort areas and properly vaccinated. This being a change at Walt Disney World, of course it has been met with some degree of controversy…
As soon as Walt Disney World announced this change on the Disney Parks Blog, social media blew up. To be fair, a lot of the comments were of the positive and excited variety, but a disproportionate (in our estimation) number were outrage over this program.
I was honestly a bit taken aback by the comments expressing intense disapproval. Not because I think anyone who dislikes dogs is a heartless monster, but because it’s only four hotels. Moreover, it really isn’t some ground-breaking program. It was an inevitability given the larger hospitality industry. While I can empathize with those who have pet allergies, this is a growing movement among hoteliers, and the practical reality is that service animals have been staying in hotels for ages, and if you didn’t notice an issue then, you probably won’t going forward.
It’s not as if Walt Disney World is suddenly going to become Canine City, a lawless place overrun with dogs, fleas, and feces. What will prevent this (aside from rules, responsible pet owners, and a cleaning staff) is the fact that bringing a pet on vacation is prohibitively expensive and inconvenient for most guests. For a minority of visitors, that’s not the case, and this represents a nice option for them.
We know this because the concept of a pet-friendly hotel is not something Walt Disney World invented. It has been a growing trend in the hotel industry for the last several years (if not longer) and is a feature that is prominently advertised because people like–even non-owners. In fact, Hotels.com indicates that around 25% of the hotels it lists are pet-friendly. Another report by Fortune shows the number as high as 60%.
This is another reason why the outrage comes as a surprise. A growing number of hotels welcome pets, and not just the ‘run-down’ ones, either. As those articles points out, W Hotels, Loews, Park Hyatt, and Kimpton welcome pets, as do other posh and trendy luxury hotels (an estimated 80% of luxury hotels are pet friendly). It’s also increasingly commonplace among boutique hotels and other segments of the industry, so it should really come as no surprise that Walt Disney World is finally catching up with this industry standard.
This is especially the case given that Walt Disney World has far greater latitude than the average hotel in simultaneously accommodating both pets and those with pet allergies. With each of the four hotels above either having multiple wings or separate satellite buildings, it’s easy for Disney to designate one section pet-friendly, and reserve those rooms for pet owners, while leaving the rest of the hotel ‘normal.’
Walt Disney World has indicated in its FAQ that this separation will occur with “Certain floors or sections of a hotel will be designated as dog-friendly, while the majority of areas will remain canine-free to accommodate Guests with allergies or other concerns.” (Given the ease with which Disney hotels can accommodate dogs while also accommodating others, we would be surprised if this pilot program does not expand to many additional hotels at Walt Disney World.)
That’s how it works at many other hotels in the world who welcome pooches, and the problems are not nearly as dire or widespread as the ‘sky is falling’ crowd on social media is anticipating. We spend a ton of time in pet-friendly hotels every year (never with our own dog, since he’s not exactly…uh…”social”), and we’ve yet to have an issue with a barking dog or pet-soiled room. To the contrary, we rarely even see dogs in hotels, except for in hotels that are aggressively catering to dog owners. (Shorebreak Huntington Beach is a great choice if you want to see plenty of doggos on your vacation.)
Numerous other hotels have managed to figure this out (along with pretty much the entirety of Europe), so there’s already proof of concept on pet-friendly hotels. It can work. Hotels already do offer stays without incident for dog-owners and those who dislike dogs or have allergies. We don’t utter the “trust in Disney” cliche often, but this is probably a scenario where you can safely trust that Walt Disney World will be able to handle something that so many other hoteliers have done just fine with implementing.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
Do you agree or disagree with our take on 4 Walt Disney World hotels becoming pet friendly? Are you concerned about allergies, noise, smell, cleanliness, or some other issue? Excited to see more dogs at Walt Dogsney World? 😉 Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Thank you so much for the information! With Corona over, we finally feel like it may be worth traveling soon and it will certainly be much easier with more hotels being pet friendly! : )
En la actualidad, pasamos mucho tiempo trabajando y fuera del hogar, asà que cuando llega el fin de semana y queremos dedicarles tiempo a nuestros animales es harto difÃcil. Si vamos a hacer gestiones administrativas en la calle, hemos de dejarles en casa porque no se admite su entrada en establecimientos públicos. Si tenemos pensado ir de compras, tampoco podremos garantizar que allà donde entremos serán bien recibidos.
I travel with my cat, so this should not only apply to dogs! My cat is welll behaved, does not make any noise, uses its box and sleeps most of the time. He is my companion.
Booked and now told it’s only pilot program . Booked for December . They suck. Too much money involved with flights and such wouldn’t help to book the dogs anywhere . Have 3 rooms confirmations don’t mean a thing . Customer reservation supervisor NO HELP! $$$$$$,. They are not gonna be my magical place if we get thru this. Hell of a 60 the birthday with first time grandson. So disappointed in DISNEY right now. Will discuss with family the options if any now. People took off from work . Heart break not MAGICAL at all.DISGUSTED.
Love the new pilot allowing dogs! We will be booking for sure with our dogs.
In searching for info on the Disney policy of allowing pets at certain resorts, I have come across outrageous comments from travelers being upset about Disney now allowing dogs at certain resorts. (not the one by kalebsmom). As a dog owner I am thrilled with Disney’s new pet-friendly policy and as a dog owner I am outraged at the stupid comments I have been reading. These negative comments have been ridiculous in my opinion, “I’m allergic”, “my kids are afraid of dogs” “the smell”, “I don’t want to stay in a room that a dog has been in”, etc. etc. etc.
Guess what people? Disney has been allowing service dogs in their resorts for years, they are in the guest rooms, in the parks, in the restaurants. Have you bitched when you’ve seen someone with a service dog? Do you bitch when you see the police K-9 units patrolling the parks for your safety? You probably didn’t even know that your resort room was assigned to someone with a service dog the week before you checked in! I can’t help but wonder what all you dog haters do when you’ve made a reservation at one of the Disney restaurants, get seated, and then see someone with a disability there in the same restaurant enjoying their meal with their service dog seated quietly beside them. Do you get up and leave? Do your kids scream (probably) because they are “afraid of dogs”! Do you start sneezing ridiculously and make a scene? (probably) Or do you as a responsible parent gently explain to your kids that the dog won’t hurt them and is an INTEGRAL part of that person’s existence required for their health and happiness. Do you as a caring individual look kindly upon them and smile that they can have a wonderful, magical Disney experience too thanks to a dog that provides a dedicated and wonderful service to their person? While I understand that service animals are very well trained, many of our pets are trained also, just as well behaved and bother no one!
I am thrilled with Disney’s new pet-friendly policy as a dog owner and feel that my dog is an important member of our family. It’s about time that Disney got with the times as so many hotels and restaurants welcome pets which allows pet owners to truly enjoy their vacations with ALL members of the family. We have been going to Disney World every year for over 25 years now and it’s always been heartbreaking to leave my best friend in boarding while we enjoyed our vacation, and generally by the end of the week I was missing them so much I couldn’t wait to get home. Before this new policy, I seriously was thinking that our last trip to Disney would be our last trip as I no longer want to leave my beloved dog in a boarding facility hundreds of miles away. I cannot wait to book our stay at one of the pet-friendly Disney resorts! (perhaps with my niece too who HAS a service dog for PTSD!) I wish all those who are bitching about the new policy would stop for a moment and think about what you are saying and if it makes any sense!
Oh and BTW, I have seen and heard way more parents yelling at their kids, making their kids feel awful and creating quite a scene which makes an uncomfortable situation for anyone around them! (what? at the “happiest place on earth”? YEP! not so happy for ANYONE around THEM!) I’ve never seen a dog cause an issue like humans do!
Hello Belle 116,
The one thing your response missed, was that (SERVICE DOGS) are especially well-behaved and well groomed. The dogs that folks are talking about in their comments of opposition are referring to the dogs owned by individuals who do not groom or train them properly.
Just saying
My dogs are extremely well groomed and well trained. I would even go as far to say they are cleaner than most children and they are not service dogs, they are family.
There is a flaw in your logic. The type of people who travel with their dogs are the type of people who groom them and treat them as family. Also, dogs who travel are much more ‘socialized’ than your neighbor’s mangy backyard pooch that has caused whatever phobia you apparently have.
It is human nature to react — and sometimes OVER react — to any given situation, particularly when it involves the unexpected, or the unknown. People were caught off guard by the announcement that Disney was allowing dogs in some of their hotels because it came so suddenly, with almost no warning or time between the announcement and the implementation. Also, the facts of this situation have, even now, not been disseminated to the public in a way that assures ONLY the facts are spread, while rumors and misinformation are not. Unfortunately, it appears that it is the exact opposite, judging by what I’ve read. And even when someone counters incorrect information with the truth, there are those that simply do not want to hear it. They have, by God, made up their minds, and NOTHING will change it, or them. Several even claim that each person at Disney they speak to gives them different information, while I have spoke to multiple cast members, all of whom quote their information directly from the same written guidelines that are passed out to each dog owner that arrives with their pet in tow.
Yes, there are two sides to this situation. There are people with dogs, be they service animals or pets, and there are people who, either for health reasons or comfort reasons, do not want to be around dogs on vacation (or ever, in some cases). I can CLEARLY see both sides.
1. Disney did not arbitrarily make EVERY hotel, or even half, or even a fourth, dog-friendly. In fact, by my calculations, it appears that they picked approximately 10 percent. For those that don’t know what that means, it means for EACH hotel that IS dog friendly, you have NINE OTHERS that are not, to pick from. Approximately.
2. Yes, perhaps one of your favorites was one of the four selected. Why could they not pick a different hotel, you angrily and self-righteously exclaim? But every hotel is beloved by someone, so who is to chose? No matter which hotels they selected, there would be people crying foul.
3. Your vacation was already planned! Now it is ruined! But Disney WILL allow you to switch hotels, even dates, without penalty. And if you explain why, they will even do the legwork for you. Was it fair to spring this on people with so little warning? Of course not! But what’s done is done, and fair or not, it has become policy. At least, for now. You might even discover there’s another hotel out there that you like as much as, or maybe even more than, your current favorite.
4. EVERY SINGLE DISNEY HOTEL has ALWAYS allowed service animals. IT’S A LAW. Period. So those pristine hotels you have been staying at in the past, the ones you fear will be ruined forever by Fido and Spot, have ALREADY had dogs in them. And you stayed in them without problem, when you did not know this. Service dogs have hair, fur, and dander, the same as pet dogs. Being a service dog doesn’t make them hypo-allergenic. If you can stay in hotels that have housed service dogs, what difference will someone’s pet make?
5. For those that want a hotel room to look as if no one has ever stayed in it before them, your expectations are absurd. Disney hotels are cleaner than most hotels I’ve stayed at. And if you check the remote or light switches in your own home, just how clean are THEY? Would THEY stand up to a “white glove” test? (And btw, while I’ve never seen a filthy remote in a Disney hotel, the germaphobe in our family sticks it in a ziplock bag before she uses it the first time, and there it stays until we leave. It wouldn’t matter if I washed it with rubbing alcohol and sprayed it repeatedly with Lysol, in the bag it would go).
6. Before he passed away, and may he rest in peace, beloved boy, we had a Siberian Husky. If you know ANYTHING about husky’s, you know that they “blow coat” like crazy, and it’s almost impossible to keep up on the hair flying around the house. We would launder our clothes before packing, arrive at the hotel, unpack, and discover that our supposedly clean clothes were still speckled with dog hairs. Lots of them. LOTS. I am sure we are not the only ones that, without meaning to, provided dog hairs by indirect transfer to a Disney hotel room. Given the fact that any room could thus be “contaminated”, it seems that a room that has undergone a “deep cleaning” after a dog stayed in it would be much cleaner than a room that had dog hairs “transferred” from clothing and luggage. Just saying…
7. Everyone keeps harping about all the dog owners that are going to leave poor Fido and Spot in the hotel from dawn to midnight, thus torturing them, because of course everyone that goes to Disney does so to have marathon stays at the parks themselves, not to spend time at the hotel. IF this is true, and given that only certain sections of the hotels have dogs, and only certain areas are for the walking of the dogs, then during your trip, you should have no contact at all with them, since you would only be at the hotel to sleep. Although, personally I spend as much time at our hotel as I do at the parks. Sometimes more, since I have health issues, and a job that keeps me on my feet all day, making a “lay around the hotel room, or pool” the perfect vacation for me, while the rest of the family is more energetic and energized. Having our dog with me on past trips would have been amazing, as he was the best companion ever. Alas, he passed almost within days of this policy going into effect. But given the chance, we would have taken him. We had no “trusted family” to leave him with, we had to take him to a pet sitter. And while he loved being at her house, he loved having his family with him even more. For OUR dog, going with us would have been the best thing for him. Perhaps not so for other families, and hopefully they would recognize this fact and not bring their furbaby with them. If and when we rescue another dog, we would have to carefully evaluate his personality, behavior, energy levels and needs to determine if he would be a good “fit” to stay with us at a hotel on vacation. There’s still the pet sitter…
8. Allergies are no laughing matter. I watched my best friend pass out and stop breathing from a bee sting. A neighbor DIED from a bee sting. I saw my second-cousin, then just a toddler, desperately gasping for air, and turning shades of blue, after she was accidently wrapped in a wool blanket. A coworker’s daughter almost died the first time she ate peanut butter. I also have two friends who are allergic to animals. One, to all fur-bearing animals equally, and one predominately to dogs, and to a lesser degree, cats, but not so much other animals. Both have reactions when in contact with fur or dander, be it on the animal or off. One develops a wheezing cough almost immediately, while the other breaks out in hives and scratches herself raw. Luckily, both can take Benadryl to alleviate, or even eliminate, their symptoms, if they are proactive. In the past, both were able to come to my house as long as they took the Benadryl a few hours before arriving, and did not stay past the effectiveness of the medication without taking another dose. I am NOT saying you should have to drug yourself or your child to take a safe vacation. I am saying that THERE ARE alternatives. Pick a different hotel. Request a room that has a SECOND deep cleaning. Take a prescription allergy medication. Take an OTC allergy medication. ALTERNATIVES to simply saying, “If I can’t have what I want, it’s because my needs don’t matter to Disney.” Because of course they matter! 68 percent of households in the US have pets. Of those, most have dogs. But let’s say it’s just 50 percent. Until last year, how many hotels were pet-friendly at Disney? Zero. Half of America have dogs, but Disney didn’t roll out the welcome mat for ANY of them until last year, and then only at 10 percent of their hotels, while all people, whether with or without health issues, have always been welcome at all of their hotels. Why should your vacation be ruined so that someone can bring Fido with them? If, as you claim, your allergies are that severe, you have more than 30 other hotels to pick from that allow only service animals, not pets (as they always have). Those that want to bring their pets have only 4 hotels to pick from. None of the four are my favorites, or even close to it, but if ever again we have a dog that would be a good travel companion, I would compromise, and pick a hotel other than my first couple dozen choices, so that our vacation would be better served.
9. Life, all walks of life, is a series of compromises. Could this whole situation have been handled better by Disney? Yes. Six months notice would have been better. Even better, the construction of a hotel that is JUST for people with pets, distant to all others so those with allergies or fears cannot say dander is blowing in the wind, or a dog can been seen with binoculars. But as I said, what’s done is done, and instead of being immature about it and continuing to cry and whine about what has already come to pass, and at least for the next 7 months cannot be changed, COMPROMISE! As Elsa said, LET IT GO. We’ll all know, in just over half-a-year, if this experiment was a success, or a bust. I have to admit, we’ve stayed at two of the four hotels on the list since this policy went into effect, both times for ten days, and never saw a single dog. I asked at Art of Animation. They had two dogs staying there while we were there. We never saw them, nor any sign they were there, despite the fact that by my request we were in one of the sections reserved for them. (When walking about the hotel, one of the NON-dog areas smelled like wet dogs, but it had nothing to do with dogs. I think it was a mildew problem in a corner of the hallway).