4 Walt Disney World Resorts to accept dogs

[EOD K9]

I have it confirmed that the $50 per evening will pay for the purchase of new Rug Doctors. After each visit, the carpets will be deep cleaned. This will keep the dander to a minimum. Also, as for furniture, each room will be provided with extra sheets to lay over the beds so as not to spread hair and dander on the beds and comforters. How do I know this? I asked to sit in the front of the monorail last week and the driver told me.
Full Disclosure: I wasn't in Disney last week.

 

[ford91exploder]

No, I don’t think our dog would choose anything over us but....when you say the name of his kennel/resort, he goes crazy and runs to the garage door. They have indoor and outdoor pools, several “sunning” areas, fire hydrant sprayers, treat time, fireplaces, giant ottomans to lounge on, and on and on. Cripes, sometimes I want to stay there! I do know he’d rather be there than alone all day.
Everyone vacations differently, like mentioned above. Rarely are we at one park all day but most of the time we are gone from morning to night. It would never work for us, for others, sure. Everybody’s different.

Your dog resort is similar to ours, An environment centered around canine needs.

 

[EOD K9]

Most owners know their dogs well enough to bring them on a trip. I wouldn't make WDW my first trip with a dog if I've never been somewhere else with him. Also, I can see a lot of anytime FPs given out due to the nature of complaints at the front desk from people who were annoyed by the barking.
This could be a trial run for now....it may eventually go the way of the cabanas in Tomorrowland.

 

[Casper Gutman]

People who support this policy should write letters voicing their opinion.

If they admitted dogs to TSL, that boondoggle would actually have something interesting and fun in it.

 

[PK2]

Those Fort Wilderness dog relief zones are horrendous. Imagine looking out your bedroom window and seeing a dog pooping. Because that's going to be possible now for only $340 a night. Disney magic™!

 

[ford91exploder]

Do you feel Loews and Four Seasons Hotels are fetid piles of dog feces and wet canine stench? At $400 a night, why wouldn't WDW be able to handle this as well as those chains?

And man, do you know what babies do in hotel rooms? They don't even wait until they get out onto the grass.

So far disney can't even keep rooms occupied by humans to industry cleanliness standards, How are the overworked mousekeepers who cant even get your room done by check in time gonna deal with pets

 

[Casper Gutman]

So far disney can't even keep rooms occupied by humans to industry cleanliness standards, How are the overworked mousekeepers who cant even get your room done by check in time gonna deal with pets

As I suspect you'll agree, that's a problem with WDW management, not theoretical dogs.

Look at it this way: either this drives WDW to improve room upkeep, or it makes the lack of upkeep visible enough that people start complaining more frequently and maybe a change takes place.

 

[PeterGriffin]

How about creating the "All Star Dog Resort".
Why mix dogs into the resorts.
If it's so important to Disney, then why not build a separate resort?

 

[Gitson Shiggles]

The Disney bunny and duck populations already hold their own against coyotes, alligators, stray cats, birds of prey, snakes, cars, grabby toddlers and overly excited tourists. If it came down to a fight, those bunnies and ducks could probably take out the pet dogs.

Disney can't control wildlife on property, but they can control the amount of dogs at any given resort. If an encounter takes place with wildlife and the dog is the aggressor, Disney will hear about it from witnesses.

 

[GoofGoof]

Those Fort Wilderness dog relief zones are horrendous. Imagine looking out your bedroom window and seeing a dog pooping. Because that's going to be possible now for only $340 a night. Disney magic™!

You are paying for a wilderness theme. Animals pooping happens in the wilderness. I’d say that’s in theme. The only exception is if the dog is wearing a sweater...that’s a violation

 

[GoofGoof]

How about creating the "All Star Dog Resort".
Why mix dogs into the resorts.
If it's so important to Disney, then why not build a separate resort?

It’s actually not a bad idea. I think they spread it out to have one resort from each price tier plus the campground.

If they elected to make one resort all dog friendly they could actually dedicate public areas to doggy entertainment. Dogs could socialize in common areas and poop anywhere they choose. They could have a fenced in area where the dogs could run free like some dog parks have. The rooms could have dog friendly features built in like dog beds and fancy auto filling water bowls and even have lower windows that allow the dogs to look outside if they wanted to. They could have a dedicated TV station at the resort showing dog friendly programming like nature shows or the puppy bowl or Mickey Shorts (even dogs have to find those funny). They could also move the dog sitting services on property to the resort grounds so if you did want to go to the parks and didn’t want to leave your dog in the room it would be super convenient. Obviously the whole place could be Goofy themed or maybe Pluto but we all know Goofy is the real star.

 

[EOD K9]

Mickey Shorts (even dogs have to find those funny).

All except "Dog Show". My K9 cringes every time he sees Pluto go over the edge.

 

[Brenthodge]

It’s actually not a bad idea. I think they spread it out to have one resort from each price tier plus the campground.

If they elected to make one resort all dog friendly they could actually dedicate public areas to doggy entertainment. Dogs could socialize in common areas and poop anywhere they choose. They could have a fenced in area where the dogs could run free like some dog parks have. The rooms could have dog friendly features built in like dog beds and fancy auto filling water bowls and even have lower windows that allow the dogs to look outside if they wanted to. They could have a dedicated TV station at the resort showing dog friendly programming like nature shows or the puppy bowl or Mickey Shorts (even dogs have to find those funny). They could also move the dog sitting services on property to the resort grounds so if you did want to go to the parks and didn’t want to leave your dog in the room it would be super convenient. Obviously the whole place could be Goofy themed or maybe Pluto but we all know Goofy is the real star.

Bully ideas all.

 

[BrentSienna]

Recieved the canned response I expected to my email so I responded with a further email requesting a proper response to my concerns.

If you got a canned response, send more emails to even more levels of WDW. Let them know what you think and stay on them.

Just a quick addendum to my earlier post.

My second email sent today resulted in a telephone call approximately 30 minutes later from George Kalogridis' office and a discussion of my concerns with a Disney staffer from his office.

They are aware of concerns, both pro and con. Most importantly, they are listening and that is the only thing I could ask for. Whether it works out the way I prefer or not I at least someone made an effort to go beyond the standard form response and it is appreciated.

 

[AEfx]

"Crazy dog people"
"Precious little fleabags"
"Sickos"
"Diseased animalsl"
"Health of everyone at that resort is in possible danger"

Wow dramatic much? Dogs are almost everywhere in society and we are functioning just fine, except for the fearmongers and deathly allergic so chill with the doomsday talk. I have NO idea why WDW is taking this on but if there are issues I am sure they will cancel it. If for some reason you seriously think WDW is going to be literally overrun with diseased dogs biting people, ruining the resorts and taking over the parks then good news - your money and time is now free to go see the world outside of Disney!

Wow, reading comprehension much?

If you were paying attention, I was talking about people who LIE and claim a need/disability they do not have to enable them to take their dogs everywhere. Yes, they are sickos - people who take advantage of a system and a law that is there for people who NEED something medically versus the selfish people who just WANT something and feel entitled to it.

And yes, I have a problem with the fact that Disney is able to ask dog owners to provide proof of vaccination, etc. - but not for ones people state are service animals. Rabies outbreaks happen a lot in the south - there was just one a couple of hours from WDW.

My problem is with the poor way the ADA is written, not with all dog owners. As I said, most dog owners are responsible people. But the bad apples are unfortunately becoming more prevalent due to the Internet and people sharing their little tips and tricks for how to game a system.

That said, I feel really badly for the dogs who are dragged along on vacation to sit in a hotel room or kennel at WDW, but if someone wants to pay and legitimately do it at the resorts it is offered, go ahead - just make sure he doesn't jump up on me or lick me, and I'll just keep to myself about it, like I do whenever I see people who make poor decisions at WDW.

 

[Driver]

I was just thinking, who's going to protect the Disney ducks and rabbits?

Good point but I think that's why the leash is required that way you can hold the dog back from taking off after a critter.

 

[21stamps]

Honestly, the people who comprise the bulk of crowds at WDW these days? Yes. And even plenty of well-groomed dogs are still going to smell after being outside for a while.

And I am not aware of any dogs who can be cooped up in a room for 7 or 8 hours a day and not have some bathroom issues (one of the many reasons I am a cat person).

My dog is no longer in full time day care.. 3 days per week he is home for about 7-8 hours alone, until someone comes over to walk him.
A lot of people work full time jobs and don't use day care every day of the week.
The dogs are ok and don't pee all over the house.

As for the smell-Well groomed dogs aren't going to smell bad just because they went on a leashed walk outside.

People lie.
They lie to get what they want, and people who want to take their dogs with them are going to lie.
A responsible dog owner wouldn't even dream of taking their dog on to a WDW hotel.
They would get someone to watch their dog, put the dog in a kennel - there as some really good ones now, or choose a different vacation destination.
But "pet parents?"
These are an entirely different - pardon the pun - breed of people.
They think their dogs are human.
They are not going to be honest.

The "pet parents" are not the group who would purposely cause anxiety to their dog. They'd buy ear muffs

 

[21stamps]

Good point but I think that's why the leash is required that way you can hold the dog back from taking off after a critter.

I'm imagining a hotel of unruly, un-bathed, un-vaccinated, not potty trained, dirty, smelly, barking, attack dogs.. everywhere!!
Quick- email your concerns!

 

[ford91exploder]

As I suspect you'll agree, that's a problem with WDW management, not theoretical dogs.

Look at it this way: either this drives WDW to improve room upkeep, or it makes the lack of upkeep visible enough that people start complaining more frequently and maybe a change takes place.

The dogs in my mind have never been the problem It's how the resorts are managed and its the obvious corner cutting on Mousekeeping which concerns me the most WRT to Dogs at the resort.

If I had done this I would have created a fixed block of 'pet friendly' rooms with pet resistant surfaces as well as adding 'doggie day care' facilities to the resort so the Dogs could enjoy their stay as much as the humans which as a side benefit helps maintain room quality.

 

[John park hopper]

As an owner of a Golden Retriever I don't know if I would take advantage of WDW new policy on dogs. As far as unbathed, smelly, barking, unruly my dog is none of those things. She is a well cared for member of the family bathed regular (can't say that for some of the guests @WDW I have experienced with BO) trained and well behaved (can't say that for some of the kids @WDW I have experienced). It's nice to know dog owners have the option if needed.