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!
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This has been an interesting topic to generate so much hate! It sounds like the dog areas will be pretty confined so people don’t need to worry at all that they are going to be staying in rooms that dogs have been in. I actually really dislike dogs and cats a LOT, but this doesn’t bother me at all if other people want to pay for it. Maybe in the future they will expand the pet list and I can bring my snakes! (I would never actually do that, but they are sure better suited to be left alone in a room alone all day than dogs are)
I don’t agree with dogs in the resorts, I am allergic and have been to some “ pet friendly” hotels where I had to leave because a dog was in the room prior to me. I also don’t agree because the owners think because they are paying for the pet ithey can do what they want regard the rules . I am paying more than $ 50.00 for “ my space” at the resort and would not appreciate a barking dog !
Are the “ pets “going to be allowed in the food courts ? Soon they will be walking around the parks. I don’t think it’s fair to these animals to be locked up while the owners are at the parks all day, again a barking dog in a room. Will they be allowed by the pools ? Very disappointed in Disney’s decision ! We are booked at Port Orleans Riverside in 2 weeks one of the resorts that is accepting this , Wish I would have known sooner would have stood st Universal Park Resort .☹ï¸
First of all, we love dogs. We own two Chocolate Labs and have cared for other dogs when friends or family travel. Yet, I think this is bad idea for many reasons. While Disney has laid out some very specific guidelines most of these are, for the most part, unenforceable. I called and asked would guests just have to endure a barking dog if the owner did not respond to attempts to contact them. The answer, “Pretty much, yes”.
As with most rules, there WILL be pet owners who will think and act as if these rules do not apply to them. After all, they are paying $$ to have their pet there so they should be able to do as they please. In this situation, their actions have great potential to negatively impact other guest’s experiences.
I have a personal interest because we booked our upcoming stay at the Yacht Club Resort almost 8 months ago to celebrate our anniversary. The Yacht and Beach Club Resorts have been our choice for some years now. We love Stormalong Bay and their location. Had I known this was coming I would have booked the Beach Club Resort instead, but less than 40 days out, there is no availability there. It would have been nice to have been given notice while there was still time to possibly book another resort “of MY choice”. So we are basically stuck and will have to see how it all plays out. Hopefully, it will be better than expected, not worse.
Exactly why this is a BAD IDEA, Disney. This poor guest should be moved to the location of their choice. I too have had dogs as well, and am saddened by the lack of considerate care I see exercised by dog owners these days.
Just because you draft dog guest guidelines, it does not mean they will be followed. What a mess. Good luck with this, Disney. Not a well thought-out move at all.
Very disappointed
I used to train and show my golden retrievers on a regular basis. That meant traveling and hotel visits. My girls were well trained and I understood the behavior that was expected to make us all welcome guests. This was not rocket science. Traveling with our service and companion animals is a trend that is only going to increase.
I am allergic to dogs, so I am very careful when I book a hotel. If the hotel’s website says it is pet friendly, I find another place to stay. Even if I wasn’t allergic, I do not agree with people taking their pets anywhere and everywhere, especially grocery stores and restaurants.
I’ve canceled our Disney resort and rebooked at a resort that doesn’t allow dogs. Call me heartless if you will, but I want to relax while on vacation. I get enough of dogs in my neighborhood that bark at all hours of the day and night and poop in my yard without the owners bothering to clean it up. I certainly don’t want to pay in the 1,000’s for a vacation to have the same thing. I can’t even fathom why you would want to leave your dog/s penned up in a small hotel room while you’re at the parks the entire day.
Luckily, I haven’t noticed this trend you claim exists for more and more hotels allowing pets. When I search for a hotel, I find very few that allow pets and never book at one that does. And it boggles my mind to see people comparing a dog to a child!
I don’t think that’s heartless, at all. While this dog policy doesn’t bother me, personally, and I don’t think it’ll be as big of a deal as people think, I can also appreciate that others would rather not risk it.
Moreover, if people are really averse to this policy, the best thing they can do to help prevent it from spreading is voting with their wallets. Given the initial response to this (already), I’m inclined to back down from my prediction that this will spread further.
My son and husband are allergic to pets and one has asthma. While booking a hotel that is one of the first things I look for. If I see at pet friendly symbol even if it is just designated rooms I run the other direction. I wouldn’t care if they were free. I don’t dislike animals and would have one if it wasn’t for health reasons. I also wouldn’t stay because of odor and the cleanliness of the rooms. I am very picky about carpet, showers, beds and smells.
I would not have my child running around without shoes where someone has had an animal that they didn’t clean up after. Its bad enough what adults do in rooms let alone animals. Some people don’t have respect for others to clean it up like it should be done and just think the cleaning lady will take care. This also will cause more work the over worked cleaning staff at disney anyway. When we return to disney, I will be sure to check this out and hope that all the hotels don’t go this direction. I go to relax on vacation not worry or feeling like I have to sanitize the room.
It’s my understanding, and Tom correct me if I’m wrong but I I thought only certain floors will accommodate pets so any issue with an unclean carpet due to accidents wouldn’t be a concern if you are not not staying on a designated pet floor.
While I understand people’s objections to dogs in a hotel sometimes life happens and if our pet sitting arrangements fell through and given the cancellation penalty involved we would opt for the alternative solution.
If the dogs or cats stay in the hotel room and only go out to designated areas to do their business or just walk I am fine with that.But if they are allowed to be at the parks,transportation or any of the public places I am not in favor of it . I see people in Lowes,Walmart,Home Depot and other places with their pets. Why can’t I bring my chimp or parrot ect ect.
I am very tired of going places and they’re being dogs. they don’t belong in restaurants they shouldn’t be in downtown areas. I do not choose a hotel that allows dogs when I book them. I don’t really dislike all dogs I have allergies and really very uncomfortable around them. we have been coming for years to Disney and now I will second-guess booking our trips. we have a trip already booked for January for 11 people for 8 days and I’m considering canceling that one also. From what I read or understand they are allowed in the Parks also if that’s the case we will probably find somewhere else to vacation. I have two grandchildren who love dogs but their dogs stay at home with sitters. just my take on it I know there are many dog lovers that just have to drag their dogs along with them everywhere. my biggest dislike is to go into a restaurant or an outdoor eating establishment and see a dog in there while I’m eating. I think Disney is made of big mistake allowing dogs and their hotels and Parks. it has been our favorite vacation place for us, our children, and our grandchildren since 1973 when we visited the first time. it’s sad that we have to now give up our vacations for dog-people.
Who knew there were so many anti- dog people in this world? Sigh. I am allergic to peanuts and never request a room or flight that has never touched a peanut in it’s lifetime.. this is getting a bit dramatic. Though I don’t foresee myself utilizing this amenity (Our dog Hamilton is family and when we have children they have some living up to do) due the the cost, I am thrilled Disney is welcoming dogs on (4, out of 25..) property and can only hope to meet some good boys and girls on our next trip! Woohoo dogs!
It isn’t only about allergies. It’s about the cleanliness and disturbance aspect on a highly-priced vacation. Just because owners are SUPPOSED to clean up their pet’s droppings doesn’t mean it’s going to happen. I see that enough in my neighborhood with people who walk their dogs. And just because dogs are supposed to be quiet in the rooms doesn’t mean that will happen, either.
But as for the allergy aspect, I think there’s a bit difference between peanuts and animals. The allergy is due to the pet dander, something not always easily cleaned up by vacuuming. Do you eat at restaurants where peanuts may come in contact with your food?
I can’t even see why you would want to leave your dog penned up in a small hotel room while you spend the entire day at the parks. For the amount of time most people spend in their resort rooms, it seems a bit cruel to me.
Well I suppose it is inevitable. I’m not against pets in such Hotels as long as there is an opportunity to ensure you get a room in a non pet friendly block. I hope this option is available even having already booked. As an allergy sufferer I do not want a room that has been used as a Pet friendly room… Overall though no issue
My kids have allergies to pets, but my bigger concern is my son’s dog anxiety. Most places, the rare encounter with a dog, we can put ourselves between him and the dog. At a dog-friendly hotel, he has the fear of a dog around any corner. That’s not a fun Disney experience. Moving forward, we can book at the non-pet hotels. However, when we’ve already booked and paid for a trip that is now a pet-friendly section of a resort, it’s a bigger issue. It took an hour on the phone with Disney, but we finally found another room that would accommodate us without a crazy rate change. I’m a little disappointed that we don’t get the original place we booked. Anyway, my point is that I don’t care for the policy, and I really don’t like that it changed our trip plans.
I have 2 dogs and I am appalled by these against dog friendly hotel comments. Why should we not be able to stay at a Disney hotel just because we want to bring our dogs. It’s about time disney does allow it. My one dog is a very fussy eater so I have to take him with me. Boarding and pet sitters don’t work for me. People bringing dogs on vacation aren’t going to bring vicious dogs with them so what’s the problem. Hotels alway have certain rooms that are pet friendly so I am sure disney will do the same so people that are allergic don’t have to worry about staying in those rooms.
So we should be able to bring our cats, birds, or whatever pet we may own? Why only dogs? Fair’s fair.
And no, hotels don’t always have certain rooms that are pet friendly. I’ve yet to stay in a “pet friendly” hotel and don’t ever plan to. I’ve even canceled the reservation I had with Disney when I saw this policy would start before our arrival.
And I don’t know of anyone who’s mentioned it not being a good idea because the dog would be vicious lol. That wouldn’t be my concern, either. But I don’t like the smell, the waste on the grounds that often aren’t picked up by the owners, or the barking while trying to relax on a high-cost vacation.
I am looking forward to seeing how this goes. Luckily I usually don’t have issues finding a place for my 2 small dogs to go, but this adds one more option. I agree that people get annoying with bringing their pets EVERYWHERE and I would not like going into a restaurant and someone has their pets there (unless it’s an actual service animal, not the ones that people are trying to pass off as one). I have never stayed in a Disney Resort and this would be nice to be able to go back after a few hours to let them out.
This is so awesome!! Most people who are irresponsible pet owners won’t spend this type of money to have their pets tag along. Most people upset about it probably stay at other pet friendly hotels and don’t even know it. Disney has always been good about keeping things clean and orderly and I highly doubt that stops here. It’s called getting with the times alot of people now days have pets that are family or they have pets instead of having children. It’s a great idea.
My thoughts are when you are at Disney you are rarely at your hotel, so why would you bring your dog to sit in a hotel and unfamiliar place alone?
I am totally in agreement about the cabins, but I just think the hotel rooms themselves aren’t the best idea.
When we go to Disney our dogs stay at home and we get a dog sitter, it works well for them and us!
I think part of the reason the response seems so negative on this policy (aside from the admittedly bungled roll out) is that people who are neutral or happy about it didn’t see this as hot button issue worth discussing and just smiled and moved on with their day. I was taken aback by the intensity of the negative reactions. Some very good points but also a lot of doom and gloom based on speculation (similar to when Starbucks came, or characters came to Epcot or really any “big” change).
Not everyone comes to Disney World for the parks. Some folks prefer to enjoy relaxing at the resort, are coming for an event like a wedding, or may be already en route from point a to b with Fido in tow. The cost will deter a lot of irresponsible dog owners — boarding is cheaper than the $50-$75 a day at Disney hotels. Universal and other hotels have been quietly pet-friendly for years without many of the issues people are worried out. I would also guess that some pet owners will take advantage of the doggy daycare at Best Friends and just bring Fluffy back to their room at night to snuggle.
Disney goes above and beyond to accommodate food allergies so odds are quite good they’ll do well here too. No one (pro or con) really knows how this will play out yet so everyone needs to take a deep breath and let’s see what happens.
You’re absolutely right about the neutral/pro camps just moving along with their day. As with most issues, it’s the vocal minority that defines the conversation…and usually the most vocal group is vocally upset. That doesn’t mean they are wrong–it just is what it is.
With this, I expected far more people to fall into the indifferent camp, and as such, this being a non-story. My expectation was based on this being a non-story at the tens of thousands of other hotels that are pet-friendly. If Disney were ahead of the curve on this, being one of the first major players in the industry to do this, I could see it being a hot topic. Here? They’re a good 3-4 years behind. It surprises me more people have not encountered these policies at other hotels before now, I guess.
Most people who prefer pet free book other hotels accordingly as do I. I arrive in 4 weeks and when opted to pay any difference was I found an option to move. Someone else also made a good point, other hotels people often stay 1-2 nights and not a week to 3 weeks which often how long I prefer to stay travelling internationally and plan to allow optimal rest between park visits to allow my children to rest, which definitely makes for happy children/ parent(s)
Thank you for letting us know about this. We have reservations in November for 8 days staying at the cabins (one of our favorite longer stay resorts)
We are definitely not interested in staying next to a cabin with dogs for many reasons. The most is I am really tired of going almost everywhere including Dunkin Donuts with dogs. The Disney kennel is amazing they take wonderful care of your pet so why couldn’t they just stay with that
I agree that it is only 4 hotel areas and only a certain number of rooms but it is still not something I like, just me for many reasons
I first visited WDW in March of 1972 and now are taking our granddaughter for her first visit. People have had pets for these 45 years including us, and we have all been able to travel without our pets coming on vacation with us
I wouldn’t stay at a hotel with dogs. R they going to be allowed in the parks also? Time to find a new vacation spot if they are.
Nope. The pet policy outlined by Disney strictly prohibits this, with the exception being Service Dogs (protected under ADA). The Blog on TouringPlans has an outstanding article detailing all the FAQs on this issue. It’s worth a read; I think it would put several folks’ minds at ease.
I wouldn’t stay at a hotel with dogs. R they going to be allowed in the parks also? Time to find a new vacation spot if they are.
I totally agree, people have travelled to Disney and had pet previsions in place prior to this. I have spent over £12 thousand English pounds to bring my family to Disney next year and stay in the Yacht club. I will not be happy if a dog is barking anywhere near me whilst I am relaxing on vacation, yet alone sniffing round me in a public place.!
Sadly then, I guess, I just stayed in
my favorite Riverside Resort for perhaps the last time. Tom, it’s the dog’s “pets” that are more often the problem than the dogs themselves. I am in the hospitality industry professionally, and the majority of ‘pet people’ we deal with, especially in restaurant environments, are thoughtless assumers… assuming that everyone wants to enjoy (be troubled with) their pets, and tricks, and antics, and vocalizing, and eating at tables, and urine, and fleas, and smell. It is sadly the rule, though we understand the exceptions.
I think you could also be referring to parents and their children. That doesn’t stop people from enjoying Disney though. Also, if my pet gets flees, I treat it like an emergency.. nothing we take on vacations with:-) I’m sure most people who sleep in close quarters with their pet do as well. At least the Ones who can afford to vacation with their animal. I am totally okay with this by the way, because I see this being more the retired grandparents bringing their beloved pet along not the parents with children because like myself, we can barely control our children let alone our pet. He most definitely would be in a kennel or visiting family while we are on vacation to the parks this .