Disney to allow dogs to stay at Walt Disney World Resort hotels

Oct 13, 2017 in "Walt Disney World Resorts"

Posted: Friday October 13, 2017 11:51am EDT by WDWMAGIC Staff

Beginning Sunday Oct 15 2017, Walt Disney World Resort will allow canine companions to stay at four resort hotels, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Disney Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and the cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground.

Disney's Art of Animation resort will be one of four to allow dogs

The new service permits up to two dogs per guest room with no weight or breed restrictions. Each resort also offers easy access to outdoor pet exercise areas and green spaces with pet relief areas.

Disney will not be designating specific rooms for dogs, but they will be staying in specific areas of each resort.

Dog lovers will find plenty of Disney amenities and special touches for their four-legged friends.

At check-in, Pluto’s Welcome Kit includes a mat, bowls, a pet ID tag, courtesy plastic disposable bags, puppy pads and dog walking maps. Also included: a Pluto “Do Not Disturb” door hanger indicating to hotel staff that a pet is in the room.
Day care and other pet services are offered nearby at Best Friends, an on-property full-service pet care facility. Fees apply.
Coming soon – select pet merchandise at the four resort properties.

The resorts’ per night/per room pet-cleaning rates are:

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

Dogs staying in a Disney resort Guest rooms must be well behaved, leashed in resort public areas and properly vaccinated.

Guest with dogs will be able to use Magical Express, Minnie Vans and internal buses at Fort Wilderness and Port Orleans, but dogs must travel in a pet carrier. Dogs will not be allowed on monorails or watercraft.

For more information about the new dog-friendly trial program, including other restrictions and policies, guests may contact 407 W-DISNEY. DVC Members should contact Member Services at 800-800-9800.

Discuss on the Forums

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GoofGoofJul 31, 2018

Agreed. To me it doesn’t seem like the kind of vacation suitable for a dog. There are plenty of places you could go and things you can do that could include the dog, but at Disney they aren’t allowed anywhere but the handful of dog friendly rooms.

Biff215Jul 31, 2018

Fair enough, but in my experience there are less expensive options at home where you don’t need to travel with the dog and return to the room to let them out. That doesn’t seem like a vacation to me.

GoofGoofJul 31, 2018

The $50 is about what it costs at Best Friends to board your dog depending on the level of accommodation selected. However, the program allows 2 dogs per room so a significant savings if you have 2 dogs.

Gitson ShigglesJul 31, 2018

While the bored and anxious are chewing up stuff in the room, Disney may as well make everything nutritionally beneficial for the precocious pups.

Biff215Jul 31, 2018

I disagree, you’re not avoiding the cost at all at the price Disney charges, plus you’re still responsible for your dog. I think that qualifies as wanting them there.

GoofGoofJul 31, 2018

I can almost guarantee you the dogs don’t care about plastic vs paper straws...they will gladly chew up and eat either if left in the room. However, the next day when they are out in the designated doggy area doing their thing they will probably be very glad they switched to paper straws ;)

raymusiccityJul 31, 2018

It's not so much that owners want or love having their dogs along with them on vacation........Most just want to avoid the cost of boarding them while they're away from home!

Gitson ShigglesJul 31, 2018

The dog can feel happy about the elimination of disposable in-room plastics while they’re left in the strange room.

larryzJul 31, 2018

Yes.

GoofGoofJul 30, 2018

Is that the sound of a happy dog who gets to go to WDW for another year....or a sad dog who is going to be left in a strange hotel room all day for another year;)

larryzJul 30, 2018

Woof. Bark-bark, growl. Whimper.

JohnDJul 30, 2018

So apparently the extension is true. http://www.disneydining.com/dog-friendly-resort-program-at-walt-disney-world-to-be-extended/

GoofGoofJul 27, 2018

I would assume the same resorts would continue. Port Orleans, Yacht Club, Art of Animation and the campground. There’s no official word from Disney except that the original pilot program ends on Oct 15. A poster here said a CM told them it was going to get extended. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/rooms-packages/hotels-pet-friendly/