Dog-Friendly Resort Hotels at Disney World
Four Walt Disney World resort hotels are now permanently pet-friendly. This post shares details about WDW’s dog-friendly program, where to stay & avoid (if you dislike doggos), nightly costs, and what we think of this surprisingly controversial change.
As basic background, this started as a one-year pilot program in 2018 that was extended in 2019 with a quiet update to Walt Disney World’s FAQ page. As WDW’s dog-friendly hotel policy has been hugely controversial, we no longer expect this to be expanded to other resorts. Between the guest backlash and the switch from a pilot program to standard policy, what’s covered here is likely the permanent policy going forward.
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–and not worth reopening that divisive can of worms. What follows is current information about the dog-friendly policy, which will remain accurate through 2026…
The following four Disney Resort hotels have designated dog-friendly accommodations:
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
- The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort – A Disney Vacation Club Resort
Pet-friendly is a bit of a misnomer, as dogs are the only pets allowed, with a maximum of 2 dogs per room. All dogs are expected to be well-behaved, leashed in public areas and properly vaccinated.
Despite the dogs-only rule, it is worth referring to this as a pet-friendly policy in order to distinguish between dogs as pets and dogs as service animals. This policy concerns the former, whereas the ADA governs the latter. The same restrictions do not apply to service animals as what’s covered here.
Each Walt Disney World resort hotel has a very limited number of designated rooms that are dog-friendly for pet owners. 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.
It’s our understanding that roughly 250 rooms at Walt Disney World are pet-friendly. To put this into perspective, Walt Disney World has ~30,000 total rooms just in the Disney-owned resorts. The grand total number of pet-friendly hotel rooms is fewer than the total room inventory at Bay Lake Tower (which is not pet-friendly–it’s just the easiest comparison).
It’s also our understanding that the resorts with the most pet-friendly room inventory are Fort Wilderness and Art of Animation. The latter has pet-friendly rooms in Cars and Finding Nemo Family Suites, as well as the Little Mermaid standard rooms. Over at Fort Wilderness, select DVC Cabins and standard loops are pet 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
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.
The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort also accommodates dogs, which is a longstanding policy. When booking your campsite, you may request a pet-friendly loop for an additional $5.00 per night plus tax.
If you make your reservations online, select the “Add” button in the “Room and Amenity Requests” section. You will then be able to request a pet-friendly loop. Please note: Pets are not allowed in pop-up trailers or tents. Fort Wilderness also offers the Waggin’ Trails Dog Park.
Again, the distinct between pets and service animals is significant. Other than service animals, dogs are not permitted in theme parks, water parks or common areas such as restaurants, pools and recreational spaces. It’s also worth noting that service animals are allowed at resort hotels where pets are not.
This being a change at Walt Disney World, of course it has been met with controversy. But honestly, we never anticipated the backlash to this when the pilot program was first announced…
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.
If anything, the existence of service animals throughout Walt Disney World should undercut most complaints about select hotels and select rooms being pet-friendly. In the last decade, there’s been a proliferation of fake service dogs.
This is similar to the increased misuse and abuse of Disability Access Service (DAS), which got so bad that it was addressed by a crackdown and policy changes at Walt Disney World. The difference is that it’s more difficult for Disney to address fake service animals. Giving guests who really want their dogs to travel with them a legitimate means of doing so might actually help reduce the issue–or at least consolidate dogs into fewer resorts.
It’s impossible to say just how many fake service dogs there are at Walt Disney World, but answering that question is essentially irrelevant. The reality is that service animals (real or fake) already exist throughout Walt Disney World. Opening the door to pets with strict parameters at less than 1% of all guest rooms shouldn’t be make or break.
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, 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!
What is the status of claiming your dog is. a “Service Animal,” as so many falsely do with airlines? Will dogs now be more prevalent in the parks due to increasing accommodations at Disney Hotels? I am a dog lover, but am saddened that lawns, benches, paintings, etc. at the Beach & Yacht Clubs and elsewhere will now be targets for dogs “on walks.”
A few well-posted videos of dogs doing their business on Disney properties should circulate the visual message that Disney World is no longer going to be the magical, pristine world away that we value.
Just as people lie with the airlines, they lie with Disney. I’m not sure how common it is, but I do not know of any counter-measures to stop it.
I have just changed Hotels because of this for next April, I feel Disney is just looking to squeeze a few extra bucks outta people rather than actually caring. I have to say I hope the first time someone slips on dog mess or worse gets knocked over or bitten they sue the backside off Disney (as is the way it seems in the states) since no warning given and they should have turned ONE WHOLE hotel into a dog zone if that’s what they want and let all the dog lovers be together
I agree with MiMiL5 until they have to prove Service dog, I hope dogs in parks don’t become more prevalent. And regular hotels are 1-2 night stays these stays could be for your whole family trip, and there’s not much worse than a barking dog shy of a yelling kid. Wondering how good they’ll inforce you giving up your park experience to attend to your dog barking within the 30 minute allowance. Plus so many don’t realize how hot it gets in the parks. Nuff said for now.
I know it’s “only 4 resorts” but seriously, we are a family of 5 with a preschooler who is terrified of dogs. Unless we break our budget and go deluxe, you just just took half our options off the table!!!! And CBR is under construction!!
Just to let you people know that this will be short lived the first time a dog attacks a kid it will be the end of this policy. I feel bad for the kids you egotistical people don’t think about. This coming from a person attacked by a dog when I was a kid. Best of luck to that family and best of luck if it attacks my daughter is all I will say about that
You’ve made how you feel abundantly clear. Please stop posting the same comment under multiple names.
No we are a family, sorry for any misunderstanding
I’m late to this tempest in a teapot! I am a dog tolerator and severely allergic to cats. I’m finding most of the complaints on this topic, however, quite unnecessarily dramatic. While I personally would prefer a pet-free environment, these are my thoughts:
(1) If your concern is about allergies, it is almost certain that Disney will properly take care of you. I’ve experienced the way Disney has taken extreme care about food allergies – one of the reasons why it’s so enjoyable for me to vacation at Disney, unlike anywhere else – and for them to not treat pet allergies similarly would be silly and bad for business.
I have stayed in pet-friendly hotels and have never had a problem with my allergies. I did have trouble on an airplane once – did you know people can easily pay additional sums to bring certain small pets on a plane with them? – but the air stewardesses were quick to move me to a different section of the plane to avoid further trouble. I cannot imagine that Disney, of all places, would not do the same.
(2) To those worried about the dirt and messes – Disney custodial staff works its magic to keep its grounds clean, and there’s no indication that they’d stop doing that. Lots of people litter and dirty up the grounds every day, but we don’t see it because Disney has a well-trained custodial team.
(3) To those worried about dogs barking in rooms – if you happen to be placed in a room next to a constant dog barking, make a noise complaint. This is no different than if a group of people were partying it up at all hours. There’s no need to worry and make a potential fuss over this if it hasn’t happened yet.
(4) To those who are fearful of dogs and the mere sight of a dog will ruin your vacation — your mental anxieties and phobias are completely valid, but they should not be stopping you from enjoying your vacation. A qualified therapist may be able to assist, as I’m sure your fear makes it difficult for you to live comfortably outside of Disney too — pets are common everywhere in the world.
Very well said, on all points.
Very well said indeed. It’s what I have been trying ti express all along. However you hit the nail on the head very nicely. Thank you
I know the discussion is about WDW hotel resorts, as a owner of a handicapped dog (blind and with diabetes), we have brought our dog to the Disneyland resort many times over the years, stayed at a offsite hotel and then would take our dog to the Disneyland Kennel and exit the park to give our dog a 15 minute break every 4 hours. WDW has Best Friends Care for all day care. I hope (we) as dog owners will respect the concerns of non-animal owners, so all Disney fans can enjoy the parks and resorts in harmony.
Most pet friendly hotels, have the pet owners in a section, where most guests would not know they were in a “pet-friendly” hotel. I assume Disney will do the same for their guests.
Tom, for your Disneyland hotels reviews, if you could put a “pet-friendly” flag with your reviews, it would be great. You do awesome work. Thanks,
The e-mail I got from Disney letting me know about this change in policy clearly said “for a limited time”. Does it mean it definately is temporary? I think it is just Disney’s way of testing the waters while allowing them to end the program with grace, if necessary.
Of course Disney if for children…both by age and by personality. I am a very mature and responsible 57 year old business woman, but at Disney, i feel like a kid again. So people, please stop making cracks about children running around screaming, knocking things over, with smelly diapers. Those are not the norm (I have been to Disney often enough to know). And it is the parents who are to blame, for allowing such behavior.
It is no different than if it were dogs. If they are not taught to behave, and held to proper behavior, and cleaned up after by their owners, it is not the fault of the dogs, just as it is not the fault of the kids.
This is why I think Disney’s e-mail said “limited”. They want to offer this option, but they also want to make sure the people taking them up on it are responsible and caring, and making the right decisions for the right reasons.
I personally know both children and adults that are NOT good candidates for staying at Disney hotels. I also know that many dogs that would not do well in such circumstances. We had a Golden named Shadow so hyper when we adopted him, he would have destroyed the room in ten minutes, a black Lab also named Shadow (both were rescues and already knew their names) who needed someone with him 24/7 when we adopted him, or he would cry in abject misery, and a sheltie with bladder issues. I would NEVER have taken them to Disney, because i put the needs of my furbabies first. But our beloved husky, Spike, was a perfect candidate to stay at Disney. And as I prefer to absorb Disney a few hours at a time, he could have kept me company while i chilled in the room, or went for walks around the hotel.
If everyone deals with this calmly and responsibly while Disney tweeks and fine tunes it, it could be a wonderful thing.
And just as people are responsible for damages they or their children cause, so too would they have to pay for damages caused by their pets. I know someone who had to pay 1/5th of a $6580 bill after their teen, and 4 others, destroyed two hotel rooms in Myrtle Beach. That alone would make people act at least reasonably responsible, one would hope.
Please, let us give Disney a chance.
I do travel occasionally with my dogs, but to places they can be taken exploring with me not being left in a room. So I would not take my dogs to Disney. How ever most dogs are left alone 8 to 10 hours a day while thier families work. So why is this such a big issue for a resort. Many people who travel with pets are responsible, concerned pet owners. That being said what get me upset in the extreme over reaction to Disney accepting Dogs in 4 of there 29 resorts in designated, rooms and areas only it really would not effect a mass morality of other guest. Also Disney has very stronger policies and housekeeping standards. A dog won’t be sitting next to you on space mounting, hogging the buffet at Chef Mickeys, swimming in the pool with you or stalking your room to break in, roll on the edge, pee on the floor and pick off flee because it’s fun. The overreaction is unfounded. The four resorts dogs will be allowed in only designated areas are huge. Chances are you won’t even see a dog. And if just the mere sight of one is sight of upsetting I would like to know what part of the world you live in that’s 100% dog free.
The reaction is for those of us to change resorts due to its immediate rollout and lack of availability to go elsewhere. Want pet friendly….fine….but role it out giving guests the time opportunity to make other accommodations. I am stuck in a pet friendly resort due to lack of availability due to time frame. Had I had the time option to change and time to save another $5000 plus dollars to make the change, I wouldn’t be upset. I don’t own a big dog because I am terrified of them having suffered an unprovoked attack as a child.
I too was not happy (to say the least) having a room booked at the Yacht Club in January. We planned the trip a year ago. My 4 year old is terrified of dogs. After waiting on the phone for literally over 3 hours on Saturday to speak to a guest relations supervisor’s supervisor my husband was finally able to get us switched for no change in fees- this was after being told by 3 other cast members it would cost me an additional $600 to move to the Boardwalk. Disney changed the terms of the contract you agreed to- they need to move you to a comparable hotel with no change in fees. It may take hours on the phone but be firm.
Debbie I agree with you 100% about the water Disney handled the roll out of this. Opps surprise if your staying at one of these resorts. I even feel in was rude, inappropriate not to allow people to prepare and acclimate.
As I’ve stated I personally would not bring my dogs to Disney as it would be unfair to them as hard is it is for both parties to be seporated. It’s sky is falling reacation to this pilot program. People screaming there be poop every where you step. Dogs barking relentlessly even if there in day care. Every single person will be in a room that dogs have been in. Dogs are the only thing the creates odors. The key word here is DESIGNATED. Special spaces set aside and designed for guest with this need or desire in a small area of the the property when you consider how many resorts and mass area of Disney property.
The resort properties are huge. Port Orleans Riverside has at least 18 very large buildings. If dogs are limited to building 17 and 18 and your in building 10 chances are you will not even see a dog. Again not to mention Disneys high standard of enforcing polocies. Personally don’t care if Disney allows dogs or not. But the way people are reacting is beyond reasonable. Give it chance before you condemn it. Most people may not be affected by this.
Disney world was one until they started with this b.s. it’s too bad disney has to ruin it for most to appease a few. That’s ok first lawsuit due to a dog bite it will be stopped
I understand this is a hot-button issue, but everyone needs to take a deep breath before commenting and evaluate whether what they’re about to type is really adding anything of value to the conversation, or is just abrasive, antagonistic, or nasty.
There are legitimate points to be made, and experiences to be shared, on both sides of this debate. Let’s hear more of those and less unfettered anger. 🙂
Mr.Bricker, I appreciate your efforts to a open and logical discussion. I’m not a dog lover but do appreciate people’s attachments to them. My true problem was the way it was done. Heard nothing of this til it was done and to late to change. Going in 3 weeks to a cars suit for our grand daughter. This put me in a very bad passion as she loves lighting McQueen but is terrified of dogs. I really wish some dog owns could see why some people my not want to be put in this position. Thank you again.
The roll-out by Walt Disney World has been pretty abysmal (which, sadly, is par for the course with WDW on things like this). Way more advance notice should have been given, and in hindsight, I suspect WDW management would agree with that.
I suspect the response also caught them a bit flat footed. It certainly surprised me–I’ve seen a couple of Twitter polls go round, and on them, 75-85% of respondents were against the new dog-friendly policy at the 4 hotels. For the reasons stated in this article, I would’ve never guessed that many people would be against this.
There are definitely legitimate concerns and complaints to be made about this new policy, and I hope people on both sides of the debate can continue to discuss it in a constructive manner! 🙂
I love dogs and cats, but would not bring a pet to Disney. I wonder if people who elect to bring their dog(s) will be decent human beings and stop back every 4-5 hours to walk the dog to avoid accidents in the room?
I am furious. Nov, 2017 will be my 30 (international) visit to Disney. I pay almost 40% more due to currency exchange. To send me an email one month before my trip about AofA going pet friendly is not acceptable. I am terrified by large dogs, being tormented by them on multiple occasions as a child. I choose my hotels and vacations that exclude pets due to this debilitating fear I have of them. I have tried contacting Disney, have spent 2 hours so far on hold and still cannot reach anyone to reslove this. Again factor in the unexpected expense of sitting on hold for 2hrs so far with an international call. Disney should have announced their plans at least 12 months in advance to allow guests who have no desire to share their living space during their expensive vacation with animals, in particular dogs. My plans were paid in full including airport hotel fees and flights before this announcement. I hope they resolve this concern of mine so I can sleep at night in the days now leading up to my family trip. In the future, now that I know what 4 resorts they announced, I plan never to book those resorts. One big dog walking too close to me will ruin my trip. I normally book 11-21 days each trip and alternate park days with resort days due to small children and handicapped relatives. No notice of this decision is extremely unfair to guests who oppose.
And your kids scare me.
Children don’t bite, and if kids scare you why Disney which is child centred. My children were adopted, and they love everything Disney. Want pet friendly….fine, BUT…they should have given advance notice before rolling it out and not implementing it immediately giving no one an option out unless that option is to throw away $20,000…….yes that is how much my trip with flight cost….we arrive in a month, downgrade with no refund, refund Disney portion of expense losing $3000 in flight costs if cancel, or pay thousands to upgrade. Those were my options from Disney’s booking agent after sitting on hold for a total of 6hrs to address this issue. Then the agent have enough nerve to state that if my child should get bit by a dog not controlled by its owner, it would be mutual responsibility….since when is it a small child’s fault if for some reason a dog owner fails to control their pet, especially if spooked for whatever reason. Disney should do the right thing…..update announcement to a projected date of the near future, message those affected by the new pilot project with an option to stay put or move to another resort with time to plan for incurred costs. I am not a dog hater, just terrified of big dogs and for good reason
But are you allergic to them I think not
When did Disney stop being about children.
We are seniors that drive from Canada to Florida (and other areas) with our cats. Many hotels enroute are pet friendly, it is never a problem to find one except at Disney. We either camp or rent a house or condo because we can’t stay in Disney hotels. We cover the furniture the cats gravitate to with sheets we bring for this purpose to minimize their presence. Kenneling the cats is not an option. We don’t leave them for extended periods of time to go into the parks. We do worry about the temperature in the vehicle and about the possibility of the AC malfunctioning. The cats come with us because we are away from home for a month or more. They are good little campers. If a Disney hotel was a possibility for us we’d definitely do that for a few nights. Glad to see Disney moving ahead with this.
To all people that think their vacation is more important than so many other people let me explain. The people not bringing their animals far outweigh the people that do take them. It is very unfair for the good of the few to outweigh the good of the many. Maybe you can do this with your family but they put your wants higher than people you don’t know to be expecting people to be accepting of this just isn’t realistic
I love my pet like family and can’t travel to many places like Disney.? I love it there but boarding your pet is costly and they are sad. I for one am very excited to see my beloved Disney again. My pet is a rescue and deserves respect for always being there for me. You folks have many other choices and should not take this away from us dog lovers. He is my familyâ¤ï¸
Us folks shouldn’t have to pay good money to go on vacation and then accomodate people we don’t know. Why are you under the assumption that although I don’t know you that I should put your feelings ahead of my own. It is very egotistical to think that people should be happy about this. Like I have said the first dog bite will be the end of this enjoy it while it lasts.
Truly excited to see this change and can’t wait until it comes to a Disney Vacation Club resort. My parents bought into DVC back when it was first released and now, after a quarter of a century of seeing/experiencing the parks, pretty much just use Disney as a place to escape a harsh north east winter. My Mom would LOVE to be able to keep her special needs, small breed dog with her in the room, rather than needing to board her in a kennel during each visit. If Disney had pet-sitting/day care available allowing them to leave the room for the odd meal that would be even better! I don’t think allowing dogs will ever be for the family’s that are interested in Disney solely for the parks, as it would be unconscionable to leave a dog alone in a hotel room all day, but would instead be for the people who stay at Disney as a resort.
I also hope that it comes to the DVC resorts . Being DVC members , my family and I visit Disney frequently . My lab is better behaved then a lot of people. She is like a family member and it breaks my heart when I have to leave her every year. This past summer our usual pet sitter was unable to stay with her . We had rented a house and luckily the owner allowed us to take her. It was one of our best vacations . I don’t need to spend all day in the parks but we love our Disney resort. Disney resorts are large enough to allow certain areas to be pet friendly. It would definitely be more of a home away from home if I could bring my very well behaved Labrador .
I agree in theory that there are plenty of hotels at WDW such that 4 dog friendly is not a big deal, but then… why Yacht Club? Doesn’t that effectively turn all of the Beach Club common areas and the Crescent Lake walking paths into doggie central? I do have mild dog allergies, and if staying at a Kimpton is brutal for me (it is), I can’t imagine what it must like for people with severe allergies. If Disney wanted a Deluxe dog-friendly hotel, why not something a little more remote and self-contained, like the (thematically appropriate) Animal Kingdom Lodge?
My dogs are my family, just like your kids are your family.
I’ve never met anyone who was (literally) allergic to kids though, so there is a difference, and a good reason to keep pets somewhere a little more self-contained than a very heavily trafficked and inter-connected section of Disney World like the Crescent Lake resort area.
Like I said, I am not at all opposed to having some self-contained resorts designated as dog-friendly. I just question the choice of Yacht Club. After all, I live in a city where there are numerous restaurants, museums, events, hotels, gyms and other facilities that are not kid-friendly. I love my kids, but I know I can’t take them everywhere.
Side note: Am I the only one having issues with seeing older comments? I have cleared my cache / cookies / browsing history and still can’t see them. Have the same problem using both Google Chrome and IE. Any suggestions? Does it have anything to do with the new “notify me” feature? I really enjoy the mostly good-natured back & forth on these controversial topics.
I am a dog lover / cat disliker. Read between the lines on that one. Had many dogs growing up and now as an adult with a family of my own, I am continuing that family tradition. That said, I hate this idea, mostly because I would never consider bringing my dog to Disney. Really don’t have any concrete reasons why, but I hope this trial period fails… and fails miserably so Disney never considers it again. I don’t mind service dogs at the hotel because the serve a specific purpose. Without them, some people could not enjoy the parks. And service dogs are impeccably well behaved. The idea of seeing someone carrying a Bichon in a purse, or walking a Chihuahua in a stroller, or even walking a Lab on a leash does not fit the Disney atmosphere. I don’t like seeing dogs in supermarkets, malls or restaurants. Unless that dog has that “I am a service dog” vest on, I don’t think they belong there.
I consider my dog as a member of the family, but he is most definitely NOT on the same level as my children or wife. So throw that argument out the window! I will tolerate unruly kids, but most definitely not unruly pets!
Guess it comes down to the famous Disney bubble. In my version of the bubble, I don’t want to see a dog doing its business, smell its business, hear it yapping, fighting / mingling with other dogs… My only solution would be to keep the LIMITED NUMBER of dog friendly rooms to specific buildings only, and not the entire resort. Dogs should not be allowed at pools, in restaurants, on public transportation, at parks / water parks / Disney Springs, hotel lobbies. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.
“Side note: Am I the only one having issues with seeing older comments? I have cleared my cache / cookies / browsing history and still can’t see them. Have the same problem using both Google Chrome and IE. Any suggestions? Does it have anything to do with the new “notify me” feature? I really enjoy the mostly good-natured back & forth on these controversial topics.”
This is *not* just you. I’ve tried fixing this several times, to no avail. It started happening when the notification feature was added, but I’m not sure whether that was the cause, or if it’s coincidental.
To make it more confusing, the Older Comments link was working properly AFTER I originally posted my comments above. But checking it moments ago, the link was NOT working properly.
Good luck! My computer nerd skillz are not that strong.
“I consider my dog as a member of the family, but he is most definitely NOT on the same level as my children or wife.” Dogs are sentient beings, they just happen to speak a different language than you do.
“I will tolerate unruly kids, but most definitely not unruly pets!” How nice of you! Disney sure has plenty of unruly children so tolerate away.
“In my version of the bubble, I don’t want to see a dog doing its business, smell its business, hear it yapping, fighting / mingling with other dogs.” Have you looked around Disney? Have you ever tried to walk on the right side of a path at Disney?
Dogs are way more well behaved than a majority of Disney patrons.
Your dog is obviously not a part of your family.. they are the kindest souls and we don’t deserve them. I treat my dog like my child. If I can tolerate your kids screaming at their top of their lungs, smelling their dirty diapers, watching them puke, and dealing with their general rude/obnoxious/dirty behavior, then you can tolerate the small possibility of seeing a dog at a resort. It’s 2017… get used to a dog friendly America.
I have mixed feeling about this. As a dog owner, I love seeing more and more hotels becoming dog-friendly, and I’m still surprised it took Disney as long as it did to move this way. That said, when I travel to WDW, I’m usually in the parks from open to close – not the type of vacation I’m going to bring my dogs along on. But I can definitely see renting a cabin at the campgrounds and spending a long weekend sans parks, just relaxing and exploring with them. We do that every Thanksgiving and Christmas at local state/national parks already.
I guess, basically, I am thrilled with this change, but I don’t see myself taking advantage of it anytime soon.
I love pets, but I don’t travel with mine, it stresses them out. That said, i think this will be a nice option for some people. I’m not super excited about the idea of barky dogs everywhere, but I know my mom and sister would both really appreciate being able to bring their little dogs with them on vacation. If this is successful, as it likely will be, I’m sure it will be expanded to all or most resorts.
On the one hand, It might be fun to see dogs out on leashes in the mornings. On the other hand, I completely understand people’s concerns. I think we’ll just have to see how it plays out. It may not be as intrusive as people think. After all, pets have always been allowed at Fort Wilderness Campground, provided you were staying in a climate-controlled RV. I’ve never heard any horror stories from that.
My wife and I both have allergies to most dogs. My wife grew up in a home without pets is is dog-phobic. We both believe that we should never have to pay WDW resort / restaurant prices and see a dog licking itself while we attempt to enjoy our meals.
These comments are hilarious! Dogs aren’t the only living beings that lick themselves. Ever seen a kid in a highchair while dining at WDW?
Ashley, you don’t have to get so defensive. It’s natural for children to get excited at WDW. Although, I’ve been vacationing there since 1973, and have found most families and their children to be well behaved.
That said, dogs are not allowed in restaurants, theme parks, Disney Springs, water parks, or on any transportation. Just the hotels. And I’m hoping not in the hotel proper, like the check-in area or near the food court.
There are some of us who have serious allergies and cannot be exposed to animal dander. Some allergies are serious enough for a 911 call and may include a hospital visit. At the very least, it would require taking extra meds, and no one wants those side effects, especially while on vacation.
And yes Ashley, I do know Walt loved animals, But the only animals he allowed in his hotels and theme parks were cartoon characters.
According to Disney booking agent (407)934-7639, dogs can be transported on Disney bus if crated and going to doggie day care, dogs can be created in main lobbies at checkin and checkout, and on buses to and from the airport. Dogs in cabins on a plane as an FYI have to fit in a small carrier that fits under a seat….so no big dogs unlike what one may see at Disney. I am not allergic to dogs, but have a real fear of big dogs after childhood trauma with one that attacked unprovoked. Those who feel a dog should take presidency over a human allergic to animal dander has not obviously seen a full blown analphylactic react and struggle to live through this ordeal.
Ashley, are you referring to Peter Noone, or did you mean to type ‘no one’?
True, no one is forcing me to stay at the pet hotels, or even to vacation at Disney World. But I enjoy the area and have been staying at that hotel for decades. I actually pay a lot of money for that privilege. it’s not free.
Having said that, I’d certainly hope human guests would get preference over four legged ones. And by that I mean, give guests with dogs a building to themselves. If they were confined to just one building, away from the general areas, I wouldn’t mind. But I’ll be damned if my vacation is going to be interrupted by a policy that came out of nowhere and hasn’t been properly thought through.
And now I will try to honor Tom’s request to keep the comments friendly, by making this my last comment on the subject. There is one person on this site that has been consistently rude and overbearing, and she doesn’t warrant any more replies.
Horrible idea! Those walls are paper thin – now just instead of hearing kids next door we also get to hear dogs barking. They ARE allowing them in common areas and if anyone has stayed in Yacht Club knows there is only one elevator set for whole hotel so you can be crammed in with dogs. Bring on fleas and ticks. If you want a dog hotel build one away from areas people are walking to/from parks and not ones people booked a year in advance. Don’t ruin ones people already booked and love. yes there are service dogs but those are usually very well behaved – not like the ones I have seen at other hotels. Many dog owners feel entitled to let their pets do whatever wherever – it is a horrible cannot works once you open and honestly one part I loved about Disney was the lack of dealing with other people’s pets. I was able to get mine changed after 45min on phone but I should not have had to do that.
Another ironic comment: “Many dog owners feel entitled to let their pets do whatever wherever.”
Do you say the same thing about the tens of thousands of entitled humans who let their whiny kids run wild at WDW?
I’m going to Disney – of course there are kids there! Do you just enjoy trolling comments and adding no value? You seem to be doing that to every single person who disagrees with you.
I’m not a dog owner but maybe some came let me know what they think:
Is it not more distressing for your pup to be left in a strange hotel room with you coming in & out periodically, rather than be left with family or a (hopefully reputable) kennel?
Is a total shift/lack of routine stressful for them?
We had dogs in our hotel during Irma, I wholeheartedly agreed with the hotel allowing this during a very difficult time. But if this was permanent I am not sure I would stay there again.
Of course – personal choice completely.
I’m a dog owner and, though I love taking my dog with me when I travel, I would never take him to Disney to stay in the resort with me. Our pup has a ton of energy, and would be absolutely miserable inside of a room while we were gone all day. That said, he doesn’t even stay at home when my husband and I are at work; rather, we take him to daycare so he can play with other dogs and get out some energy! With this being a personal decision, we would much prefer to take him to the Best Friends kennel on property if we were to bring him down to Orlando. The kennel is cheaper, even when you include the doggy play time throughout the day.
I don’t see a ton of folks taking advantage of this. If I were to guess, my assumption would be that you would have folks with small dogs who are used to being home by themselves for extended periods of time. I understand people’s concern, but honestly, most pet owners are responsible enough to understand their specific pet(s)’ needs, and won’t be bringing obnoxious, un-social, or unfriendly dogs to these resorts.
And those pet owners who are irresponsible are not the kind of folks willing to shell out an additional $50-$75 per night (which is double what a kennel would charge). As a proud puppy parent, I can tell you that I’m excited for the program, as any chance to hang out with dogs is welcomed for me, but I will never be utilizing it. Hope this eased any concern!
Thanks Kristie, genuinely interested in what people think.
I know its a highly contentious subject. I do believe pets are family, but also that these situations can be stressful for them. But just like us people, they all have different strengths don’t they.
And I can absolutely see merit in taking a dog on vacation – one where they can run and have as much freedom as possible. The World really is different isn’t it.
We had some wonderfully behaved dogs (and owners) at our hotel off property during Irma, I was in awe of most of them coping so well.
I only traveled with my dogs in a hotel room once or twice, and similarly only left them in a kennel a couple times. The kennel was far more stressful for them. It took them probably a week after being in the kennel to be back to normal, whereas there was no issue when we traveled with them. Now that could be my particular dogs, the kennel I used, etc. but that’s my experience.
We’re luck enough to have a lot of family and dog-owning friends in the area, so most of the time the animals get to go to someone’s house (or we’ve hired a house sitter) and that’s been ideal.
Thanks Kevin, it’s really interesting to hear.
All pups are different aren’t they and its really down to the ‘parents’ to decide I think.
Its lovely for the whole entire family to have a vacation together, but WDW is such a different style of vacation to say, running on the beach/in the countryside etc.
Hi Kelly,
I love traveling with my dog and have often stayed at pet-friendly hotels, however if we are spending a day sightseeing or in this case at the parks I would sign her up for doggie daycare and then pick her up once we return in the evening, this way she is not kenneled for a whole week, but not bored during the day. I hope that many other guests taking advantage of this new policy would be thoughtful enough to do the same for their dogs. Personally I think it is a wonderful idea that Disney is trying out, I do see it being cost prohibitive for many families though.