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!
To all thes people who have so many issues with seeing a dog on vacation…what do you do in the real world?? Omg! Do you not go to parks? Walk down public streets? Do you stay in the house in case you may run into a dog? I have traveled the east coast with my dogs and have stayed at some of the nicest hotels ( 90 percent happen to be dog friendly now) without any problems. Universal Loews hotels are all dog friendly and the hotels are spotless. We will now take advantage of the WDW new policy also. The parks are not dog friendly which I agree with. I would not bring my dogs even if it was allowed. Please people…calm down. I’m sure you must see dogs in your normal lives.
I have a daughter who is extremely asthmatic. Her trigger is dog dander. She does not go to any house that has a pet. We do not hang our coats at a coat check because she will have an asthma attack if the coat was placed next to a pet owner. This is hereditary her uncle and grandfather both have the condition. When we go on vacation we book rooms that are pet free but see customers sneak their pets up the fire escape stairs. We have to map out the route to closest hospital just in case. My daughter school had already booked her senior trip at Port Orleans before the announcement of the new policy. It takes 6 month of cleaning and no dogs for a hotel to make a room safe for our daughter, She has to now wear a mask on a plane because of the proliferation of pets on planes. There is no calm down in our case when you see a child not being able to breathe.
Just as an FYI, The Art Of Animation is one of the only affordable hotels with the suites that have separate showers from the tub unit. This is great for elderly travelers that don’t need a handicapped room but like the walk-in type shower. Now that hotel has Dogs at it and we WON’T stay there anymore…too bad it had nice big suites that were more affordable for families who require or just want more space.
I hope Disney REMOVES the dog friendly hotel policy soon…
Does anyone know direct name or email address at Disney resorts for us to keep sending our comments to? Please keep sending the negative dog friendly hotel comments to Disney so we can get this policy STOPPED…soon!
Boo hoo hoo… cry a river why don’t you? There are other places you can stay but first go read their pet policy. The dogs and their owners have a designated space and walking area separate from those who prefer or cannot be around dogs! I think this is a WONDERFUL idea on Disney’s part and pray it continues! Thank you Disney!
I think this is the worst idea Disney has ever had. I don’t go on vacation to be barked at sniffed or lose a night sleep because of dogs. VERY DISAPPOINTED…There are people who don’t clean up after their animals. There are children as well as adults that are afraid of dogs . There goes the HAPPIEST place on earth for those people because you know the dogs will be everywhere .I may need to rethink my yearly vacation spots. VERY DISAPPOINTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In general I think this is a policy that does not take into consideration the needs of all guests and should be abandoned for several reasons. For many non-pet owning families this idea adds anxiety to their favourite place to spend making magical memories. We all have favourite resorts for various reasons and why should anyone have to avoid their favourite resort because they have allergies or fear of dogs? Our son has severe allergies and we always request deep cleaning before we arrive which is not always perfect and would be hard pressed to convince us that dog smell and hair can ever be eliminated once it is introduced into a room. I am not surprised about the negative reaction given the passion we all have for our Disney vacation to be magical for our family and the fear such a change introduces to the mix. I definitely disagree with the notion that people who oppose this should change their vacation plans to accommodate. I
Orilan you have it all WRONG! The dogs and their owners have a designated space and walking area separate from those who prefer or cannot be around dogs; so stop accusing Disney World of being inconsiderate. Be thankful you’re blessed with children but be mindful of those who for reasons beyond their control could not have human children and have had to make do with a pet of some type to make their life feel complete. They love their animal like most people do their children so why shouldn’t they be allowed to bring their loved one with them too? I think this is a WONDERFUL idea on Disney’s part and pray it continues! Disney should be applauded for this! Thank you Disney!
Please, contact Disney if you would like accurate and complete information about thier pet polocies, restrictions and regulations. Much information relayed by other can be misinterpreted or importent details left out or eliminated. Disney would be happy to give all guest the correct information regarding designated areas, room category and buildings. As well as what areas non service pets are permitted and other public arias and reservation requirements for pets. They will even mail you a copy of thier pet polocies and regulations.
It’s well worth the time to contact them to insure your piece of mind and recieve accurate and official information so you can enjoy your vacation, whether you would like to avoid pets or have your pet joined you.
Disney official information contact # 1-407-934-7639 or 1-407-W-DISNEY
The problem is that I asked three different people the same questions and got different answers each time. And I did not misinterpret the answers. I think Disney just rolled this out before thoroughly analyzing their plan of action. Maybe they did not expect the amount of negative response. Maybe they thought only guests who want to bring pets would give it more than a passing glance. When you are scrambling to amend policies before the change even gets started I think that’s an indication that someone dropped the ball a little too soon.
Audrey, sorry If you took this personally. But I did not directed this to anybody. I simply made a logical sugestions for people to get the accurate information from the source itself. I called Disney and got the same identical information as thier printed polocies. I don’t know where or how you took in as directed to you. But it does prove my point of misinterpretation. So people please contact the sorce
for correct information if you would like the correct information.
Linda,
Not to worry. There was nothing to take personal. I agree that there is a lot of misinformation out there about this issue. It’s just needs to be said that some of that misinformation is coming from Disney employees. As I said, I think they just rolled out this program without enough forethought and planning. When even their own representatives cannot seem to agree on the details it is definitely not confidence building for the guests.
I’m in total agreement that this was rolled out in a very bad and in my opinion inappropriately. Existing reservations should of been given 90 if not 180 days notice with option to change to same category resorts of non designated areas at no additional cost. As well as spent this time training cast members on the new pet polocies and insuring consistent information.
My heart goes out to those with true specials needs and circumstances that this was was sprung on. They of all should not have obstacles to be burdened and surprised with.
Still your best sonce of information will come from Disney as it will be unemotional and hopefully most fast members informed of the correct information.
Thanks for posting this contact information!
I have no problem with dogs or cats staying at the resorts, but I have a huge problem with them in the parks. I have a dog and I have an allergy to dog dander, but I love them and I do what I can to alleviate the problem. I am not aware of anyone dying from an allergy to dog dander. Anyway, my problem with dogs staying at a place like WDW is if people are cruel enough to walk them in the parks. The last couple of years at WDW, I saw dogs in the parks and it broke my heart. The high temps, the sun, the very, very hot cement are all just torture for any animal. Just try walking on the cement, on a sunny day, barefooted. Dogs pads are very sensitive and dogs are very prone to heat stroke. Shame on Disney for contributing to animal suffering for profit! I will definitely complain about this,
The dogs I saw at WDW this past summer were service dogs and wearing vests. These dogs are working dogs. They perform a specific service for their owners. They are not “pets.” Pets do not have the right to be in every public place. Only certified service dogs do. The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) has guidelines on what constitutes a “service” animal, and only dogs can be service animals. It is possible that Disney is simply accommodating the legal requirements of ADA by offering rooms for people with service animals. For more information, see https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm
There are only 4 hotels that accommodate dogs, so visitors who don’t like that can avoid them. I’m guessing that the high daily cleaning fee will cut down on the number of dogs as well, plus not all rooms will house them, just a select number. As Tom noted, service animals and therapy animals are becoming more common. They always wear a vest when they are working and they are highly trained animals. I’m sure Disney has guidelines that dog owners must observe and if not, they probably have the right to eject them. With all the lawyers working for Disney, I’m guessing that dog owners must sign some sort of disclaimer indicating that they are aware of the rules. I remember seeing therapy dogs this past summer at Disney wearing their red vests and they were well behaved. (They probably weren’t staying on Disney property, though, so there must already be hotels that accommodate them.)
I would love to see Disney accommodate cats as well. My husband and I always travel with our two cats Snickers and Tinker Bell. We have been to Disney World at least once every year for the last 21 years. We have not been able to enjoy the Disney Resort experience because they won’t allow pets (and now only dogs). My babies are both rescues with special dietary and prescription medication needs. I will not leave them and have them feel abandoned ever again. They have never thrown temper tantrums, drawn on the walls with crayons, spilt juice or any other beverage on the carpet or damaged anything. They do not go outside, are very clean and pest free and I would give anything to be able to be a resort guest but not at the expense of my furbabies feeling abandoned.
And what do you call abandoning them to go to the park 10 hours each day. I have a rescue dog that honestly never touched grass for first three years of her life. She is very skiddish and scared of people she doesn’t know. She also was either born with one eye or lost it before we got her. There is no way on God’s green I would take her to a place to torture her. We leave her with family that she is comfortable with.
“abandoning them to go to the park 10 hours each day”
Um…so people that have jobs should not be allowed to have animals? I have a job that keeps me away from home for a little over 10 hours, with travel time and lunch. The cats nap most of the time I’m gone, and are clearly less than concerned with my absence. Before our dog became ill (he has since passed over the rainbow bridge) he had no problem spending 10 hours in the house without us. After he became ill and needed to go to the bathroom more frequently (he had Cushing’s Syndrome), I paid someone to come to the house to let him out twice or three times a day. I would not have taken an ill dog to Disney, but had I been given the chance to take him while he was healthy, 10 hours wouldn’t have been a problem. Not that I would have been at the park that long, since I have my own health issues, and 5-6 hours is about my limit before I need to rest. How nice it would have been to come back to rest at the hotel and had my best friend waiting there for me!
We have had three Siberians Husky’s (all rescues) in the last 12 years. Of those three, there is only one that I would have taken to Disney with us. One was much too hyper. She had a habit of racing around the room, leaping over small children and galloping across furniture (sometimes while people were sitting on said furniture) as if she was in the Olympics. She could sustain that level of activity for ten minutes or more, knocking over anything on table tops or book shelves…and after a short rest, she would do it all again. The other, having been badly abused for years prior to being rescued, was very timid and nervous around strangers. She would have hidden in the bathroom, behind a curtain, under a table, any place she could have been out of sight. But….Spike would have been a perfect fit. Relaxed, easy going, laid-back, gentle, sweet, roll-with-the-punches Spike, nothing fazed him. He happily adjusted to everything life threw at him. Even while he was ill, he was the happiest dog I’d ever known! SPIKE would have been a perfect fit for Disney, and if we had had the chance, we would have taken him. Neither Sky nor Lark would have been a good fit, and we would not have taken either of them.
And yes, most responsible dog owners (those willing to pay the price to bring their babies on vacation with them) would be able to evaluate whether their dogs would benefit from staying at a Disney Hotel to be with their families…or not. Contrary to what appears to be popular belief around here, not many people want to pay 50 or 75 dollars a day to torture their pets. You can get a pet sitter that is licensed, bonded, with pet insurance and pet CPR training, for 25 a day! If you’re willing to pay three times that, it’s because you want to SPEND TIME with your pet WHILE on vacation, not “abandon them to go to the park”.
Horrible idea, Disney! STOP the dog friendly hotel policy. My kids love The Art of Animation suites. We stay there every year. If there are dogs on the property, we will no longer stay there. One daughter is deathly afraid of dogs and the other is highly allergic. They are allowing dogs in the lobby, to be walked at the hotel, etc. Even if they separate the dogs onto one floor, are they allowed in the elevator? The other hotel we live is Port Orleans Riverside Princess Rooms. Now we can’t stay there either! BAD IDEA….Disney should stop this policy!
Sandra – just an update I will be staying at Port Orleans Riverside in a royal room, and I called about our dog allergies and Disney customer service assured me that dogs are not allowed in any of the royal room buildings – they will be in another part of the resort.
Thanks Laila. Your information helped me a lot. Have a great day!
Must have been a recent policy change, because I just read on the Port Orleans.org Facebook page that dogs will be allowed in building 95, which is a royal room building. I also read that Disney did not expect such a negative response, and as a result, are reviewing and revamping the policy daily. That said, not much has changed since rollout.
As of today, dogs are allowed in the lobby, store and all common areas, except food and pool locations. Riverside has been told to try and contain dogs to building 24, but in some cases, this will be impossible. Guests can bring dog(s) without giving prior notice, meaning Disney may not have rooms available in building 24.
According to the policy, buildings currently being assigned to guests with dogs are 15, 24, 80 and 95. However, this could change as time goes on. And as more complaints roll in.
I agree with Amanda. My 20 year old daughter was viscously attacked by a ” nice family dog”.It took 3 adults to get it off, and it bit the owner, as well. Before This, it was always calm. If she had been a child, she probably would have died. These people who insist on taking their dogs are in my opinion, selfish, but may be singing a different tune, if and when something like that happens to them or their loved one..
I have read numerous comments on many blogs about this and i am not only a dog owner but also work for an airline in Canada.
I can tell you that it is RARE to see a kennel checked in for a US flight for guests going on a family vacation. The majority is people who own their own homes down there (or visiting a family member who does) and hunting dogs that came up to Canada for hunting season. The other small group of people traveling with dogs are Service Animals.
In general I feel that most people don’t want the stress of accommodating a pet in a “stress free” trip so they find a dog sitter or a boarding kennel. We stayed once in a hotel with our dog (we were moving) and for those 3 days I would have rather chosen to move 50 times over than doing that again. He is well behaved but without the conveniences of home it is tough.
I have complete faith that WDW will uphold their standard of pristine grounds and creating an enjoyable experience for everyone. As for the yellow grass spots….i assume they will have astro turf because it is also easier to sanitize and they have dog walking areas and routes. Scared of dogs, don’t like them or just don’t want to see them….dont go to those areas.
Bed bugs, fleas etc…..i am going under the assumption that when cleaning those rooms that extra care and inspection will be carried out to mitigate any issues.
Let’s just have faith that WDW has dotted their “I’s” and crossed their “t’s” before you become unhinged. Change in this world is inevitable….roll with it and see where it takes you. You never know…..something enjoyable may come out of it.
Thank you Diana for being a voice of reason. As you said something enjoyable may Come out of this as many childen delite in seeing animals. Many Disney movies and theams are bassed around animals and childrens love of animals. Thinking about it the Disney empire was built on it
Bambi, Dumbo, Lion King, Lady and Tramp, 101 Dalmatians, Arista Cats, Goofy, Pluto, Cinderella, Snow White, Snow Dogs, Donald Duck, Finding Nemo, The list goes on and on. Hance Animal Kingdom. And let’s not forget the face of Disney it’s self MICKEY MOUSE.
Disney gave these animals a personally, feelings, heart and soul. He pointed out the atroussities of cruelty and non acceptance with messages to children of compasion, respect, acceptance, kindness, and fareness to all living creatures. Walt Disney himself understood that the best way to show humanity was by teaching respect and tolerance of all living beings. Unfortunately from so many of these post and reactions he sadly missed his mark with a large part of his target audience.
Seems we can’t even show tolerance among our human counterparts with something that’s supposed to be enjoyable like a vacation. Many people are just overlooking many key factors and just focusing on how this displeased or inconveniences theme (medical and special needs aside).
Factors like this was more then just a fly by night decision. There are factors such as insurance and liability providers that would not allow this to roll out without insurance of the greatest of care to medical and special needs accomidations and safety to all guest. That Disney has strict enforcement and monitoring of policies and cleanliness. That the majority of options, resorts and available rooms will remain pet free. Only licensed (not certified) service animals will be allowed into the parks (same as before) and non designated public areas. (Licensing in strict and regulated by law, certification is not) I’m sure that resort, park and other public area cast members will be well trained and informed on this. Same as smoking. And again let’s not forget the all mighty insurance providers monitoring of this.
As for fllee and bed bugs. There something that responcable and loving pet owners treat there dogs with call flee prevention. As I’m sure they prefer not to have flees in there homes as well or want there pets to suffer with them. All boarding kennels insist on this as well as pretty much all pet sitters. I’m sure (although not stated in thier pet polocies) Disney will do the same or implement the this.
And finally, it’s only four out of 29 Disney resorts with designated pet friendly section and room types and limited availability. I’m sure these bookings will fill up quickly and stay book throughout the pilot program not allowing non owners the opertunity or availability of these rooms and sections even if they very doubtfully wanted theme. This is Disney after all. Not to be rude but use some sensible and logical reasoning before working this into a unfounded, unacepable dog appocololis. Chances are there will be very little if any impact on your vacation. Relax, have some faith in Disney and thier track record of enforcement and polocies and enjoy your vacation.
Linda, if you are going to post a long comment, please get spellcheck or at the very least, a dictionary, because I find it difficult to take your comment seriously the way it is written. And for someone who called me out for posting too many comments on the subject, I have to say, you’ve definitely out-posted me.
You seem to only be happy with comments from people who agree with you, while refusing to admit there is another valid side to the story. People with allergies, children and adults who fear dogs and those not wanting an expensive vacation ruined by barking dogs and poop deserve the same respect as you expect.
If you think Disney hotels are squeaky clean, next time you’re in one, take a Clorox wipe and clean the remote, light switches and door knobs. You will be quite surprised at the filth on these items. And don’t even get me started on the carpeting. So why would I trust a company, that rolled out a new policy affecting guests without giving advance notice, to have my best welfare in mind? Disney is in the business of selling hotel rooms. The majority of their profit does not come from theme parks.
As for fleas, last year I had a flea infestation in my house (and I don’t have any pets) that was one of the worst things I’ve ever dealt with. It was also quite expensive to treat. I never want to go through that again. So therefore, I will never stay at Riverside again. As for your other “29 Disney resorts”, not every budget can afford a deluxe or moderate hotel. Besides, I bet most people wouldn’t want someone else to decide how they should spend their vacation money. And you do know those cartoon animals you mentioned are just that, cartoon animals. They don’t have dander, they don’t bite people and they don’t poop.
Barbara……..do you have to resort to attacking people just because they don’t agree with You? Because that is what it seems like to me.
If you don’t like the new policy….don’t go or choose one if the MANY other hotels that don’t allow animals. It is that simple.
Diana, I was responding to Linda’s most recent comment. It wasn’t meant to be an attack.
This policy has caused major problems for people who spend lots of money on vacations. Disney has angered those most responsible for their bottom line. Not very smart. It seems more are against this policy than for it.
It’s not simple to change hotels last minute. Plus, why should I, when Disney didn’t have sense enough to make this announcement earlier, allowing guests sufficient time to change hotels? The answer is, I shouldn’t. But reality dictates that I must, and so I’ve already changed my reservation.
There are plenty of commenters who are just as unhappy, and have said so. Having said that, I believe this policy will go by the wayside. If it doesn’t, expect repercussions, and possibly a loss of revenue, which could be passed onto guests via increased prices.
You know sometimes we just have to agree to disagree. It is clear that most of the commenters here (myself included) feel passionately about this issue, either for or against dogs at Disney Resorts (my husband and children have another word for me–opinionated). But the fact of the matter is that we all have our opinions. Both sides have reasons they consider valid for their stance. Chances are my reasons against this new policy are not going to change the minds of those who support it and their reasons will not change mine.
But we SHOULD be able to express our opinions— without making it personal toward other commentors, without belittling or dismissing their feelings and without being condescending or critical.
For example, my feelings that there will be pet owners who will ignore the pet rules is not an attack on any particular person, it is my opinion based on my experiences. But I guess there are pet owners that would take it as a personal attack.
Another example is the opinion that says just stay at a different resort if you don’t want to vacation with dogs. I think to most of those that expressed this it just seems like the easiest way to solve the problem and was not meant to be condescending. But to those who are struggling to change reservations made months ago or those who have grown to love a certain resort for whatever reasons such remarks become personal attacks.
And then there are comments that have nothing to do with the issue at all. We won’t even go there.
A few days ago I responded to a comment by saying I could not find all the mean, biting and ugly posts the commenter talked about. Sadly, that has changed. We can all do better than this, can’t we?
I fully agree that Disney went about it the wrong way by implementing this change without sufficient notice. It is a HUGE inconvenience to many who have allergies, fear etc and now they are left scrambling trying to change their booking. I think the fair thing to do for Disney is allow these guests to change their hotel without a HUGE financial cost attached for them.
Thanks for such an insightful comment! Love it!!!
I have to say, I just booked a trip to Riverside because my kids REALLY wanted those royal rooms after watching Tom’s video clip of the magical headboards (plus, nearly everything else available was over our budget aside from Caribbean and Coronodo, and construction dust is probably worse for our allergies than dander). So I decided to place my faith in Disney customer service to accommodate our allergies, and hope that the spread-out nature of the resort would insulate us. I was very pleasantly surprised by my interaction with a Disney CM on this issue. She confirmed that only two categories of room had any dog friendly rooms in them at all (a limited section of regular Garden and Standard rooms, but not any other categories or any of the Royal Rooms). She also said that they would put a note on my reservation so that we would not be placed in a room in the non-dog friendly side that had a service dog stay in it before. I still have reservations about how this work at a resort where all the rooms are all in the same building (looking at you, Yacht Club) but at least for Riverside they seem to have a solid plan in place for allergies, and are open to accommodating guests who would prefer to stay in a dog-free zone.
Canceled our April 2018 Royal room, and reserved at Copper Creek in Wilderness Lodge. It will cost more, but it’s better than risking an allergy attack, ER visit or bringing home fleas.
Riverside has been our resort for decades, but feel it’s no longer in our best interest to book there. So it’s goodbye Riverside, hello Wilderness Lodge. The silver lining…we may enjoy Copper Creek more than Riverside.
This new policy has brought out the good, the bad and the ugly. I’m sure, none of which Disney (or even Tom) anticipated. Perhaps in the future, Disney will think twice about the way they introduce policy changes. One can only hope.
I understand the intent behind the business decision but I disagree with making pet friendly hotels at wdw. I am curious what percent of wdw clientele has a dog and how many people want to bring their dog on vacation. I think there is way more liability with this than anyone wants to deal with. My first thought is people won’t pick up after their dogs and I’ll be stepping in dog poop if I stay at one of these resorts. My own neighbors let their dog poop all of the neighborhood and I’m sure they’d be the same way at a place like Disney. Also, I can see housekeeping walking into a room and a dog attacking a room cleaner because they appear to be intruding. Lastly my other concern is fleas and bed bugs both of which animals carry at a higher rate than humans which leads to more problems for the hotel. Just doesn’t seem worth the minor upside to take on so many liabilities. Though I will say if anyone can figure out how to do this well it’s Disney. I am hoping they prove me wrong.
Would you have problems with service dogs?
Service dogs are EXTREMELY well trained, so they are used to crowds and gentle to strangers, so none of the safety concerns cited by the original poster would apply. It is only fair that if Disney accommodates my allergies (including by keeping track of rooms that service dogs stay in), they would accommodate a service dog for other guests who need them.
What an ignorant comment
Please tell me what is ignorant about the comment?
I have the same issues with service dogs as I do with family pets or “comfort/companion” animals. My allergies don’t care what the purpose of the animal is, just that they are very harmful for me to be around. I know I have asked this before somewhere on here, but why is it OK for someone else’s problem to be resolved by causing me a problem? Especially if there are other possible alternatives to make their vacation easier. The only thing that could prevent me from having an issue is not letting them bring an animal at all. But they are obviously the priority, not people like me.
You do realize that some of these people who have service dogs are Veterans who are disabled. Where is your compassion? You do know you will not be housed with them so what’s the problem?
I do know that I will not be housed with them and also that some could be assisting veterans. I love our veterans and appreciate all that they have done and continue to do for each and every one of us. But, where is the compassion for someone like me that books a Disney vacation and if the rooms is not meticulously cleaned after a guest visits with any kind of dog, service or otherwise, I will almost immediately have flu like symptoms for my entire stay and a few days after I leave. Did I not pay enough to enjoy my vacation? Also, are these dogs that disabled veterans have with them the only help they have? Did they come to Disney alone with their service animal? Maybe they could have human assistance for places like Disney and not put other people into a situation that causes them (an admittedly temporary) disability?
I think most of the dogs will be either service or therapy dogs. They won’t be left in the room. They will accompany their owners to the parks. I did see some last summer at Disney World wearing their “working vests.” These are animals that serve a legitimate need for their owners and allow them to experience things that otherwise they could not. Service and therapy dogs have to pass a test to be certified, and the ones I have always seen out and about are well behaved.
First of all let’s look at this realistically, families who can afford to stay at the beach and yacht club AND pay an additional $75 per night for their dogs are going to have fully vetted dogs on heartworm, flea and tick meds. And furthermore families who take the time to transport their family dogs all the way to Florida, those dogs are family and not some flea infested dog. My dogs are cleaner than most children. I live in area where everyone picks up the dogs poop on walks, it’s just what we do. I also have a son with cystic fibrosis and allergies and I don’t freak out over dander and dog hair. Good grief people.., don’t like the pilot project of allowing dogs… please go somewhere else.
I’m in total agreement to allow pets. Yes, I’m a pet lover and I understand the pros and cons. I’m hoping the pet owners are conscientious in their responsibility. Not everyone can afford, on top of the vacation cost to board their pet at Disney. My question is, are the pets allowed to stay in the room all day while your at the park? Thanks Disney for doing this.
As someone who has been viciously bitten by a dog the owner swore was ok to be near my 8-year old, and a former tenant of an upscale, new apartment building that now is surrounded by yellowing grass dotted with feces, I hope Disney decides to do away with the program. There may be responsible pet owners, but there are also irresponsible ones. I think they’ll find an influx of dog occupants, spotted grass and probably more than a few dog bite lawsuits. Disney has been an excellent vacation destination in part because there are no worries and everything is magical. Yellowing, smelly grass, random piles of poop and potential dog bites are neither magical or worry-free. (And for people bothered by children, you’ve come to the wrong place to vacation! : D)
Agreed 🙂
I think we all need to send over many letters expressing our anger over this bad policy!
ok. Let’s move on. The policy has changed.
You might get bit by a spider too or perhaps an animal that escapes from it’s enclosure.
Life has risks. c’mon folks. There are scary “humans” out there too. Nobody checks their backgrounds before entering the parks. There are predators everywhere. So, get out and vacation or cancel because you “might”encounter dog poo or dog danger.. really
Agreed 🙂
This has got to be this has got to be the dumbest thing said ever, disney sprays for pests to keep the pest population down. If it’s ok to compare them maybe you’ll let someone spray a chemical to your dog so it isn’t a harm to someone else. Just telling you your dog bites someone in my family I’m going to get the best lawyer and take you for all your worth. But, no hard feelings
My child, who has celiac disease, is also afraid of dogs. So now the only place on earth that has gluten-free accommodations everywhere is no longer a place that where my child will be able to enjoy herself worry-free.
We used to be ” snowbirds ” traveling between the midwest & Florida twice per year and we took our dog with us. We stayed at LaQuinta hotels which is a dog friendly hotel chain. We did not experience problems with barking, dirty rooms, or messes in hallways or outside. We did that routine for about 8 years & actually loud children & adults were always more of a problem than dogs
the absurd amount of hurtful comments towards pets and pet owners just reminds me that humans are the real vicious animals that ruin other’s vacations, not the pets.
Marley, I am not a pet owner at the current time, but I would like to share with you a couple of problems that have happened me and my family when on vacation. First we were visiting San Diego and went to the beach to hang out. My grandchildren had taken off their shoes and left them on the sand while playing in the water. At one point we turned around to see a man with his dog standing over the shoes. The dog urinated on my grandsons shoes as the owner stood beside his dog. Then they just walked away. REALLY!!! Then another time we were walking down the hall of our “dog friendly hotel” and a woman with her leased dog walked by. The dog jumped up onto my granddaughter clawing at her. The owner pulled it away and it came right back at my granddaughter. It happened so fast that I could not react to the woman. I should have said, “how would you like my grandchildren jumping all over you clawing at the front of you?” I am sure no one would appreciate that. I know not all dog owners are this disrespectful, but I go on vacation to get away from things like this. I don’t understand how Disney World thinks this is a great idea. I get that they need to allow service dogs, but if anyone can take their dog with them there are going to be problems, because not all dog owners are respectful to people that do not enjoy or cannot handle being around animals. And will they be able take their dogs into the parks or do they leave them in the rooms. Not a good idea at all. I agree with the previous comments about if I am paying such a high price for a room I DO NOT want to hear, smell or worry about jumping, barking dogs.
We are staying at Riverside at the end of Dec. I have a child with multiple disabilities so to get a res. with the necessary accommodations such as a roll in shower we have to book way in advance. Now, let me just say we have a dog we adore so I am not anti-pet by any means. My thoughts are that ppl who may have a sensitive child who is afraid of dogs and need special rooms as we do are now in a situation where they have to worry about their child’s reaction and are faced with a situation they might have avoided if they knew in advance and most likely now can’t switch to a different hotel. The lack of advanced notice is disappointing. With that being said, we will keep our res as is because we love Riverdide but I think an option should have been offered.
As a dog lover and a former dog owner ( lost my beloved animal to cancer last year), I OBJECT to this idea. This is pretty simple. Loved my own dog living in my own home. I have no desire to see smell or listen to the barking of a dog when I am on vacation. Everyone will NOT clean up after their animals because many humans are slobs. And, how are you supposed to evade the barking if the room next to you or above you has a barking animal. You’re allowing this at the upscale Yacht Club hotel? Really??? What an idiotic idea. If I am subjected to this in a hotel which is costing me $600 a night, you can bet I will not be back, at least, not at this price.
You read my mind. Overall, it looks like the upper management may have taking a weak decision. I’m disappointed and surprised. You would expect more from Disney. If I want to book an hotel on a research engine hotel, I will have to check the box “half pet friendly”, “less or more pet friendly hotel?” 😉
Leslie, sorry for your loss ( I put down my furry friend almost 10 years ago). My guy was very well behaved (former show dog before I adopted him) at home, or in familiar places. Putting him in a strange place, such as a hotel room, would have stressed the poor pup out, especially as he had vision problems. I am just wondering if the majority of the dogs that guests bring will be working dogs, such as service dogs, or if some that are “only” companion animals will also be checking in. I did see several service dogs in the parks during my most recent visit to WDW in August 2017 all very well behaved (in fact, I made sure my 8 year old did not approach them, lest they get distracted). If the latter, I can see potential problems with a potentially stressed dog being left alone in a strange environment acting out by barking incessantly.