4 Walt Disney World Resorts to accept dogs

[larryz]

From what others have posted who are in the field of dog training there is no "Service Dog" documentation issued at the County, State or Federal level; until there is people will abuse service dog status. Unfortunately WDW hands are tied as far a determining service dog status thus they are placed throughout the various resorts. Now that WDW will allow all dogs will "service dogs" be restricted to designated resorts and buildings? Let me state I have no problem with valid service dogs, they are well behaved and do a great service

Isn't it interesting how the government can regulate handicapped tags and plates on vehicles (identifying that the driver has a disability of some sort) but can't seem to adequately regulate what constitutes a duly trained and experienced assistance animal?

 

[Pixieish]

Isn't it interesting how the government can regulate handicapped tags and plates on vehicles (identifying that the driver has a disability of some sort) but can't seem to adequately regulate what constitutes a duly trained and experienced assistance animal?

EXACTLY. And in the case of plates, it doesn't reveal WHAT the person's disability is, so it doesn't violate HIPPA. Service animals should have legally required identification - especially because of all the abuse that occurs.

 

[disnyfan89]

I haven't ignored the fact, I've mentioned it before.
Service dogs - real ones - are highly trained animals.
Their numbers are comparatively few, and due to this and their high training - their impact is little.
Opening up the hotels to the "fur babies" crew is a whole 'nother ball game.
A completely different class (in most cases) of dog owner and dog behavior.
Due to this, along with the increased number of dogs - the impact will be greater.

Your argument is the parks are not designed for dogs. Disney isn't letting in just any pet to the MK.

Mythbusters tested this, and it came up negative.

Actually it was Confirmed!
"Astonishingly, all the toothbrushes were speckled with microscopic fecal matter, including the ones that had never seen the inside of a bathroom. The confirmed myth unfortunately proved that there's indeed fecal matter on toothbrushes — and also everywhere else."
Source: http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/mythbusters-database/fecal-matter-on-toothbrush/

 

[Pixieish]

Your argument is the parks are not designed for dogs. Disney isn't letting in just any pet to the MK.

Sorry...but they basically do if the owner claims it's a service animal...which people do.

 

[larryz]

"Astonishingly, all the toothbrushes were speckled with microscopic fecal matter, including the ones that had never seen the inside of a bathroom. The confirmed myth unfortunately proved that there's indeed fecal matter on toothbrushes — and also everywhere else."
Source: http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/mythbusters-database/fecal-matter-on-toothbrush/

A very good reason to soak your toothbrush in mouthwash every couple of days...

 

[disnyfan89]

Sorry...but they basically do if the owner claims it's a service animal...which people do.

And Disney security/Management is trained on how to handle those situations. It's a lot more rare than people are making it out to be, plus if the person is lying at the parks they probably do that everywhere they go. Your average guest isn't going to try a stunt like that.

 

[Pixieish]

And Disney security/Management is trained on how to handle those situations. It's a lot more rare than people are making it out to be, plus if the person is lying at the parks they probably do that everywhere they go. Your average guest isn't going to try a stunt like that.

Tell that to the person who saw two dogs at the parks recently that most definitely weren't service dogs. It's getting to be more and more common.

 

[John park hopper]

A very good reason to soak your toothbrush in mouthwash every couple of days...

I guess that's because a lot of crap (will crap be deleted?) comes out of peoples mouths when they speak

 

[disnyfan89]

Tell that to the person who saw two dogs at the parks recently that most definitely weren't service dogs. It's getting to be more and more common.

I was not there and did not see the guest or dogs myself. I am unable to judge based off what is most likely a biased report from a second hand source who I have never met and therefore can not verify the credibility of their report.

I can however comment on the fact that I met a wonderful service animal this past weekend at HHN who was very well behaved and helping train a very excited puppy (jumping, barking, trying to get attention from random guests) to be a service animal who sounds like they exhibited the same behaviors as the dog the person you are referring to witnessed.

 

[larryz]

I guess that's because a lot of crap (will crap be deleted?) comes out of peoples mouths when they speak

Well, here's the thing. If the bacteria on your toothbrush are local (that is, came from you), you're not all that likely to have a problem with re-introducing them to yourself.

It's the "stranger danger" bacteria that will likely cause the system upset... so don't let strangers near your toothbrush and you should be OK. (but keep the Listerine close at hand, just in case...)

I can however comment on the fact that I met a wonderful service animal this past weekend at HHN who was very well behaved and helping train a very excited puppy (jumping, barking, trying to get attention from random guests) to be a service animal who sounds like they exhibited the same behaviors as the dog the person you are referring to witnessed.

I, too, have seen many service dogs in training -- most wear vests stating that fact. I wonder what Disney's policy says about SDIT's... seems like a young, excitable SDIT is a liability lawyer's happy dream.

 

[GoofGoof]

Agreed. I'm not advocating the right to let any dog that comes to WDW into the parks, just that dogs on property are nothing new. They've been allowed in the campground for years and Im sure there have been many a guest that have snuck their dogs into the hotels plus Disney has always had kennels on property to watch your dogs while you play in the park.

This whole notion that the parks/hotels are designed for humans and therefore are unsuitable for dogs is completely childish. My house where my dog lives was designed for humans, my car that I transport him in was designed for humans, and yet my dog survives just fine in an environment not centered on him.

I’m not getting into this whole debate on whether dogs are dirty. I’ve had dogs most of my life and they were not dirty to me. My house had dog hair in it and on furniture to some extent. It’s pretty much unavoidable. It never bothered me because it was my dog’s hair. I knew my dogs were clean. I knew they didn’t have fleas. I don’t want to stay in a hotel room that is frequented by other people’s pets. I don’t trust the humans that they all take proper care of their dogs. I’m sure the vast majority of dog owners who frequently travel with their dogs have clean pets, but the rules have to be designed to protect the public from the lowest common denominator. Having segregated dog rooms should help that a lot.

Service dogs are an exception. My desire to stay in a dog free room is trumped by a blind guy’s desire to get around freely. I’m cool with that and it’s federal law anyway so even if I wasn’t it really wouldn’t matter. The point has also already been brought up that service dogs will be with the owners almost all of the time so they won’t be left in the room unattended and will likely spend a lot less time in the hotel rooms overall than a pet would. My desire to stay in a dog free room should not be trumped by another person’s desire to bring their dog with them. That’s Disney’s call as a business, and both parties have the option to stay somewhere else if they don’t like the decision.

The point that people snuck dogs into the hotels for years is irrelevant. You don’t change a policy because some person decided to break the rules. I have heard stories of people who snuck guns into Disney parks (hopefully not anymore with better security) and I know there are people who sneak liquor in so since that happens anyway should we just allow guns and booze to be brought into the MK by anyone since they have been snuck in anyway? That’s not how policy is set.

The campground allowed dogs outdoors. The kennels are designed specifically for dogs. There’s a big difference between that and a dog staying in your actual hotel room or even walking through stores and in the lobby of a resort. Dogs were never allowed in indoor public spaces at WDW with the exception of service animals until this policy.

IMHO WDW is not a great place to bring a dog. There’s very little for dogs to do there. The primary entertainment options for most people are not dog friendly: theme parks, Disney Springs, pools, restaurants, etc. There is a small dog park at Fort Wilderness Campground and the dog relief areas at these 4 resorts and that’s about it. You could drive off property to some more dog friendly stuff if you have a car. There are plenty of other places to go with a dog where the dog can sit at an outdoor restaurant with you or hike trails in a park or even run on the beach. To each their own and as long as Disney allows it who am I to tell someone else what to do with their pet or their vacation, just giving my personal take.

 

[Pixieish]

I run a Disney FB group and the words "fake service animals" basically trigger a revolt because it's become such a common occurrence. Dogs laying on tables where people eat, dog poop left lying on regularly-trafficked areas, dogs in strollers, dogs in shoulder-bags...

Honestly ever since Paris Hilton and her idiot friends made stroller and accessory dogs popular, it's gotten to be ridiculous.

 

[larryz]

I run a Disney FB group and the words "fake service animals" basically trigger a revolt because it's become such a common occurrence. Dogs laying on tables where people eat, dog poop left lying on regularly-trafficked areas, dogs in strollers, dogs in shoulder-bags...

Honestly ever since Paris Hilton and her idiot friends made stroller and accessory dogs popular, it's gotten to be ridiculous.

It should be OK as long as the dogs serve some useful purpose... like this puli-on-a-stick...

 

[Incomudro]

I run a Disney FB group and the words "fake service animals" basically trigger a revolt because it's become such a common occurrence. Dogs laying on tables where people eat, dog poop left lying on regularly-trafficked areas, dogs in strollers, dogs in shoulder-bags...

Honestly ever since Paris Hilton and her idiot friends made stroller and accessory dogs popular, it's gotten to be ridiculous.

It's funny you should mention Paris Hilton!
She popped to mind when all of this nonsense about allowing dogs in WDW hotels came up.
In my mind, her toting her dog everywhere was the beginning of the "I can't go anywhere without my dog" trend.
From there, this trend had spread from toy dogs that fit in pocketbooks, to increasingly larger dogs, and increasingly more people bringing them to more places.

 

[Pixieish]

It's funny you should mention Paris Hilton!
She popped to mind when all of this nonsense about allowing dogs in WDW hotels came up.
In my mind, her toting her dog everywhere was the beginning of the "I can't go anywhere without my dog" trend.
From their, this trend had spread from toy dogs that fit in pocketbooks, to increasingly larger dogs, and increasingly more people bringing them to more places.

EXACTLY.

 

[Incomudro]

It should be OK as long as the dogs serve some useful purpose... like this puli-on-a-stick...

We had two Puli's when I was younger.
The second one was black like the one pictured here.
Comical and smart dogs.

 

[Incomudro]

Your argument is the parks are not designed for dogs. Disney isn't letting in just any pet to the MK.



Actually it was Confirmed!
"Astonishingly, all the toothbrushes were speckled with microscopic fecal matter, including the ones that had never seen the inside of a bathroom. The confirmed myth unfortunately proved that there's indeed fecal matter on toothbrushes — and also everywhere else."
Source: http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/mythbusters-database/fecal-matter-on-toothbrush/

Perhaps I remembered wrong.
From my memory, they were trying to demonstrate whether the flushing of toilets atomized the water.
I could swear they found no difference from location to location.
It's been a while since I saw that episode though.

 

[disnyfan89]

Perhaps I remembered wrong.
From my memory, they were trying to demonstrate whether the flushing of toilets atomized the water.
I could swear they found no difference from location to location.
It's been a while since I saw that episode though.

I had to look it up myself LOL. I remembered the episode but didnt remember the outcome.

 

[21stamps]

I think this thread just gave me a few more laugh lines.

On a serious note.. I’m currently online deciding on a hotel to book in Miami or Ft Lauderdale. None of them explicitly state pet policy’s on their home pages.
I did check a couple of them out of curiosity.. can’t believe the nerve of all of these trashy $300+ per night hotels.. I mean- Germs, Dander, Feces!!! Such horrible establishments. How do they stay in business?!

Any reported incidents at Disney yet?

 

[bhg469]

I think this thread just gave me a few more laugh lines.

On a serious note.. I’m currently online deciding on a hotel to book in Miami or Ft Lauderdale. None of them explicitly state pet policy’s on their home pages.
I did check a couple of them out of curiosity.. can’t believe the nerve of all of these trashy $300+ per night hotels.. I mean- Germs, Dander, Feces!!! Such horrible establishments. How do they stay in business?!

Any reported incidents at Disney yet?

If there is an incident I guarantee it will be because of the dog owner and not disney.