Pets at Portafino...........????????

[Gail T AGAIN]

I don't know if anyone feels the way I do but I was upset to read that PBH allows animals in the rooms. I am thinking to stay on Disney property instead of there. Pets are great but they to me shouldn't be allowed in a hotel that is geared towards travelers. OK, calm down all you dog lovers, I know I love my cat but she stays home and I pay to have someone come to feed he, change her litter boxed and make sure she is OK. I am just so upset, I have till tomorrow to decide what I am going to do, my son thinks I am nuts for thinking this way. I don't want to stay in a room that a dog might of gone to the bathroom on the carpet, has flees, YUCK.

[h20jag]

Don't worry about it. Never read a negative post about pets at PBH here. Especially PBH.
If there was ever an incident of any kind, pet or people (and ya gotta wonder what some people have done), then I'm sure all proper sanitary procedures have been followed.
Go to Portofino and enjoy the place. You won't regret it. In fact, you may plan your next trip there completely.
Jim

[Sleepy]

Pet owner in favor of Loews policy

I for one have a cat who has separation anxiety. In the past we have always left him at home with my parents, but as the days go into weeks his condition worsens. I know the average person would think this is ridiculous and that the cat would be fine left with others or at home and attended to occasionally for food, etc, but even when my husband and I are home and our son spends the night somewhere else the cat goes nuts meowing for him through the night. I would love to be able to take this cat with us on vacation. (probably never would for fear of losing him accidentally) When I heard Loews accepts pets I was thrilled. It does seem a bit scarey to think about things such as fleas or pet odors, but there is nothing that says you can't request another room that is more acceptable....and I am sure that most pets who are well traveled are also pretty house trained as well. The only thing I would worry about is an unneutered male cat and that obviously leaves a horrible odor, or a female pet that has not been spade and might be in heat leaving marks of her own...all of which I would think the owners would consider and handle accordingly. You would never know I even have a cat in my house unless you went to a secluded bathroom upstairs and saw a litterpan. He has no claws on front paws to ruin furniture, has been neutered, has all shots including leukemia (I would worry if I had a cat NOT on this shot and visited a strange place), is on flea preventive and always uses his litterpan. I say if you have a problem with a room you are given, just politely notify front desk and get moved to one more suitable. As someone else stated.......People can be pretty nasty creatures too, but that does not keep us from enjoying our resorts.

[Spaceman Spiff]

I do believe there are special rooms for travelers carrying there pets, I know at HRH there is.



We need a Universal/Lowes resort employee on this board for these types of questions. :)

[MLindaG]

If they want to allow pets they should keep them to a certain area of the hotel. I am VERY ALLERGIC.........Asthma to dogs. I'm very sensitive and have taken a test drive in a car at a dealership and knew they had a dog in the car recently. I'm staying at the new RPH at the end of June - hoping it won't be a problem.:smooth:

[Gail T AGAIN]

MLindaG, the hotel is going to be opening on the 19 so I would hope it wouldn't be a problem. I know that not everyone travels with there pets, I know I don't and it is to bad if the cat takes a hissy when I get home but she is a cat and staying home and having a caretaker look after her is the best thing. I just cancelled my room tonight after going back and forth. I did call the hotel, I was told animals could be on any location in the hotel except concierge but I was not willing to chance it. It is costing me #20 more to stay in the club level of the swan hotel. Ok, so we don't get front access to the rides but I can deal with that.

[CPM]

As far as PBH, We've stayed there at least 10 times without a problem. We did have to move out of one room at HRH, they say they allow pets in only certain rooms but frankly I've seen them in all areas of the hotel. My DH is highly allergic to dogs, and his eyes sweled up in the room we were in & he couldn't stop sneezing! So obviously there was a dog in the room before we got there. They did move us w/o a problem.
Don't worry, enjoy yourself at the most beautiful hotel!
BTW, there are lots of hotel chains that allow animals! Hampton Inn & Embassy suites are two that I know of.

[Afroman]

In both Hotels, there are special rooms just for pets. There are very few of these bc the need for pets at the hotels is not great. So in any normal case you won't have a room that pets were in. And if you are worried about it call the reservationist and request a room that is not a pet room.:jester:

[Gail T AGAIN]

I called and talked to the manager last night, he said "there are no specified rooms for pets but they CAN NOT go on the concierge level. I took his word for it, that is gross, what if the animal has fleas, I doubt they are going to do the whole hotel like people have to de-flea their houses. End of conversation, I am not staying there, I was just trying to give heads up to others if they have a problem with this like I did.

[SouthernMom]

We just got back from PB. I am highly allergic to cats, so was a little concerned. However, there was no sign there had ever been a pet in the room. We noticed three different rooms having the carpets shampooed on different mornings, so I wonder if they do this after every pet stay??? We only saw two people with pets. They were both very LARGE dogs, which surprised me, but they were well behaved. I wouldn't worry. PB is such a nice place, I can't imagine them allowing pets to contaminate a room.

By the way ... be sure to check out the special room service menu for pets ... we got a huge chuckle out of this! What was even better was seeing a GORGIOUS bowl of milk being delivered to a neighboring room (I ASSUME for a cat!) :-)

Have a great time! You're going to LOVE PB!

[CarolMN]

Thanks for posting this info, Gail T AGAIN. I'm surprised (and disappointed) to learn that pets are accepted at PBH and that they are allowed to be in any room except conceirge. Since I am very allergic to cats, I will not chance staying there. It doesn't matter if they shampoo the carpets afterwards (and I doubt very much they do it after every pet stay anyway). My eyes will still get very red and swell up and I'd still be sneezing.

I really appreciate the heads up. If we decide to go to Universal on our next trip, I'll be sure to call and specifcally ask the Manager about the policy for HRH and RP.

PS. I don't hate cats, I just can't be around them and I especially don't want to be miserable on vacation because of them!

[CPM]

Just a heads up, we have stayed at PBH many times. My DH is highly allergic to cats & long haired dogs. We have NEVER had a problem at PBH!!! There are many many hotel chains that allow dogs believe it or not!

[RobinLyn]

Do they allow dogs and cats in the parks? What do these people do with the animal when they go to a restaurant or the park if not allowed there? I'm not talking seeing eye dog here......I don't want a room next to someone who has a dog who may bark at night either, cats can be loud and distrubing too. Do we need to request a room away from animals now too? I also love our pets, but not on vacation at US/IOA or WDW, sorry animal lovers. Staying at the new RPR in August, I think......

RobinLyn :confused:

[manhattan]

We take our Yorkie with us on vacation and we make a point of going to back to the room during lunchtime on the days that we go to the parks. But I would like to add that we do need to have a pet health certificate that is no older than 10 days whenever we do travel. It is requested before we board the plane and before checking into the hotel. It is not cheap to travel with pets, but we rather spend the extra money than leaving him home. I doubt that someone who cannot afford to keep their pets well groomed and healthy would spend the extra money to take their pets with them on vacation.

You can never be sure where pets have been and have heard stories how people sneak their pets into their rooms at the Disney resorts.

[DisneyDazed]

When I first saw this thread about animals allowed in the hotel I had to stop myself from reaching for the phone and canceling my ressies. Instead I sat back and read all everyone had to say and I can see both sides here. I personally love animals, yet would NEVER take them on a plane and leave them in a strange room. That is just me. There are so many ways of looking at this but the bottom line is.... pet owners.... respect those in the hotel who arent. Just like parents of young children, respect those who are traveling without children. Animals may bark and cause a mess if the owners are neglectful and children will scream and cry and make a mess as well if left unattended. Nobody or animal is perfect and accidents happen, its how they are handled that counts. Be kind, considerate and respectful of others and all will be right. Thats not too much to ask is it? I hope we ALL enjoy our trips! :Pinkbounc :bounce:

[MLindaG]

Originally posted by DisneyDazed
When I first saw this thread about animals allowed in the hotel I had to stop myself from reaching for the phone and canceling my ressies. Instead I sat back and read all everyone had to say and I can see both sides here. I personally love animals, yet would NEVER take them on a plane and leave them in a strange room. That is just me. There are so many ways of looking at this but the bottom line is.... pet owners.... respect those in the hotel who arent. Just like parents of young children, respect those who are traveling without children. Animals may bark and cause a mess if the owners are neglectful and children will scream and cry and make a mess as well if left unattended. Nobody or animal is perfect and accidents happen, its how they are handled that counts. Be kind, considerate and respectful of others and all will be right. Thats not too much to ask is it? I hope we ALL enjoy our trips! :Pinkbounc :bounce:

The problem is that some people may be like myself who is VERY Allergic to pets. I usually immediately feel it both in my eyes (red and swollen....actual eye ball swells) but also in my lungs (I have asthma to dogs- no other asthma thankgoodness). Sometimes despite using my inhaler as quickly as I realize I've been exposed I still get a full blown attack and I'm down and out for a couple of days. I have two types of inhalers..........one I take when I know that I'm going to be exposed and it works very well to keep the asthma to a minimum..........one that I take after I've been exposed. I would have never thought that these hotels would allow pets. I probably will use my before exposure inhaler until I know that the room hasn't had a dog. I'm grateful for this thread.

[donnamerry]

As much as I want to stay at one of the US on property resorts, I just hate the thought of being exposed to 'dog dander'. I am highly allergic to where my throat just 'closes' up and can't breathe. It's a 911 thing for me. I don't want to take the chance. It's scary not being able to breathe. I guess I will stay on Disney property for this reason (not that that's a bad thing!)LOL! I love WDW and don't have to worry about dogs being in the rooms there.

[MLindaG]

I just talked with reservations and requested a non pet room. What she said is that they usually keep the pets to the first two floors. So hopefully I will have no trouble. How many people really want to take their pets along on vacation?? Hopefully not too many. :)

[nhrenee]

Originally posted by MLindaG
How many people really want to take their pets along on vacation?? Hopefully not too many. :)

Not me, that's for sure! We have 2 labs, it'd be like taking 2 more kids, lol! Seriously, we've stayed at the Portofino 5 differant times and I've never seen any animals. Hope it works out for you.:D

[TiggerT]

DH is very allergic to cats, and dogs. We recently stayed at a Residence Inn and I saw in their hotel literature that pets are welcome but they charge $150 cleaning fee when you depart. I would hope that means they give the room a very thorough cleaning for the sake of allergic people. Although even walking down the common areas DH may react to an animal that was there. All hotels should do this if they allow pets. Luckily we saw no pets at that hotel while we were there.

[Gail T AGAIN]

I am back, I stayed at a hotel with pets but they were on the outside, Animal Kingdom Lodge and loved it. it was refreshing knowing that a dog or cat was not climbing on the bed or having any accidents in the room, I was so happy I cancelled PBH and stayed at AKL.:)

[locoexw]

Got back today from HRH. There was a dog on our floor - actually, now that I think about it there were a few. We were on the Club Level. The hotel asked that the dogs not be brought into the lounge when there was food, but otherwise they had free run (on a leash of course...).

Overheard the concierge telling one pet owner that they can arrange a service where someone comes and walks your dog and plays with it while you are out at the park. Half hour increments.

Hmmm...

[DisneyDazed]

Pet owners taking thier pets off the "pet floors" is something I dont understand. I feel its inconsiderate and rude. Its just my opinion but why take your pets only to leave them in a room? I know many people love their pets like others love thier children but please. I mean if the hotel clearly says pets on the first two floors, is it really so hard to do so? You know the rules going in, the least pet owners could do is respect other guests and follow them. As far as I am concerned its just like someone smoking in a nonsmoking room or lighting up in a non smoking part of a resturant. As for any accidents pets may have..... owning our own carpet business we know for a fact, you can clean but not completely get rid of the urine, as it soaks into the padding and becomes nearly impossiable to bring up. SO it may look clean and may smell clean (for awhile at least as the odors do come back and they must keep refreshing ) but the "stuff" still remains under the carpet and can make its way back to the surface fibers. I am not saying people shouldnt bring their pets if thats what they wish to do, I am just stating that if they do so follow the hotel requests and keep them on the first 2 floors, Please. Sorry just needed to vent

[RobinLyn]

"Usually pets are kept on the first two floors" obviously isn't what's happening at Universal Resorts, it's really sad. Animals on the Club level? I'm slowly losing interest in staying at the Royal Pacific Resort this summer, and we were so excited :(

RobinLyn

[locoexw]

I'm sorry if my post was confusing. The people who had their dogs on the Club level were staying on the Club level. You can only get onto that floor if you are staying there. The animals were not "snuck" onto the floor; they were resident there. Probably when they say that pets are only on the first two floors, they mean for regular rooms, not Club level.

A further note, for the 3 or 4 dogs I think were at the HRH, I think I saw them for a GRAND TOTAL of 3 or 4 minutes in the 5 days we were there. I never heard a sound from any of them.

I also deliberately didn't say anything about this in my last post, but I don't get the reaction to pets in the hotel. If they can give you a room on the floors where no pets are allowed, then I don't see this as any different than living in an apartment building where your downstairs neighbors have pets. I'm fairly certain there are thousands of highly allergic people who have to live in apartment buildings, and live to tell about it.

Just trying to add a little perspective.

Elaine

[donnamerry]

It just amazes me that the Loews Hotels will spend millions of dollars on these 'amazing resort' and then open the rooms up to dog(s) to basically 'soil' them! An above post stated, yes you can shampoo the carpet, etc. but that just camouflages the area for awhile.
I would love to stay at one of the 3 on property @ Universal but I just can't take that chance! Loews needs to watch carefully which rooms were occupied with a pet before the next guest occupies that same room with a high allergy or there could be some sorry consequences!

[DisneyDazed]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by DisneyDazed
[B]Pet owners taking thier pets off the "pet floors" is something I dont understand. I feel its inconsiderate and rude. Its just my opinion but why take your pets only to leave them in a room? I know many people love their pets like others love thier children but please. I mean if the hotel clearly says pets on the first two floors, is it really so hard to do so? You know the rules going in, the least pet owners could do is respect other guests and follow them.


When I said taking pets off first two floors I meant people asking for rooms on other floors other than the pet floors. Sorry for the confusion. Everytime I call they clearly say no pets on club level. What I was trying to say is... if pet owners know going in, that the first two floors are the only ones where you are allowed pets...then why ask for or get a room on another floor. I would feel better knowing that when they say a non pet floor...that it truely has been free of animals. Dont get me wrong, I do enjoy animals and it wouldnt phase me if I saw them there....IF they were on the pet floors.

[RobinLyn]

I was hoping that it was true that pets were kept in a certain area or floor. We have ressie's at RPR, Club level and now it seems people with pets are allowed to room on any floor at Loews Resorts.

RobinLyn:confused:

[A Mickeyfan]

I have ressies for RPH Club Level & a husband who is highly alergic to cats & a son who is somewhat alergic......I know the rooms are new....but I sure hope we don't have one that a cat just checked out of or we will be checking out real fast....with a REFUND! I have 2 dogs so it isn't that I am not an animal lover. I wouldn't take my dogs to a hotel knowing that someone may be alergic checking into the room after me.....

[Gail T AGAIN]

I am so glad I didn't stay at a Universal hotel, Imagine they are also aloud on club level, I just dont undertsand why loews managment feels this way. I was ectited af first but front of the line staying at portofino but I am glad I didn't. I waited in lines but waited happily nowing I will go back to my room at Animal Kingdom lodge and the pets are on the outside, no dander in my room.

[manhattan]

Just as an FYI- Disney does allow eye-seeing dogs in their hotels and restaurants, so you may not want to stay at the disney resorts and risk being exposed.

[Gail T AGAIN]

manhattan, That tone of sarcasim was not called for. A seeing eye dog is for people who can not see, that is different then a pet. I am offended by that comment, I am disabled and I wouldn't want to thing that a comment is thrown that way towards me. manhattan, maybe you should go back and read all the posts, this was not dierected towards people that can't see, it was directed towards just pets. Please, you really got my blood boiling, my comment was not directed towards the disabled

[skiwee1]

Gail T, I don't think Manhattan was being sarcastic. You stated in a previous post about not having to worry about pet dander at WDW resorts. Manhattan was simply calling your attention to WDW allowing guide dogs in their rooms also. Just because they are working animals and not pets doesn't mean they have no dander!. So you saying that you are not bothered by guide dog dander? Only pet dog dander bothers you? Again, I have reread Manhattans post and it in no way comes across as being sarcastic. Merely informative for those that are bothered by dog dander, pet or otherwise.

[manhattan]

Thank you skiwee1. When I read the reply, I just bit my tongue. I did not mean it as being sarcastic, but more of did you know kind of deal. After I started reading this thread I thought about all the places you would never think a dog would be, but there is always an exception to the rules, and a dog may have been there. I guess perhaps I should have stated that there is no way to ever guarantee that a pet is not there or been there.

[Gail T AGAIN]

Seeing eye dogs are justthat seeing eye dogs and it they leave the hotel the dogs leave, they are in the room all day while their owners are out.

[skiwee1]

Gail T, yes the guidedogs do leave the room when the people do. They also sleep in the room when the people do. My point is that you are worried about dog dander. Guide dogs still spread dander around the room even if they are only in it for 12 hours as opposed to 24 hours. One good shake or scratch and there are dander particles floating all over the place. For someone that is disgusted by dog dander then it shouldn't matter why the dander is there. It still is. If someone is allergic to dogs then knowing guide dogs are also permitted is helpful too. I'm sure that people that are allergic to pet dog dander is allergic to guide dog dander too. LOL!:)

[Gail T AGAIN]

tO be honest what really bothers me is that a cat and a dog that is in the room all day can mess the carpet by releiving themselves, that bothes me big time even if they wash the carpet after and what is the likelyhood they wash it after each pet. Oh well, with all said and done my vacation is over and I opted to stay in Disney for the whole visit:)

[HauntFreaks.com]

please kill this thread!! :mad:

[skiwee1]

I understand your concern. I would not want to stay in a room either that a dog or cat has had free rein in all day. I just thought you couldn't handle the dander. Personally, WDW is my favorite and stay onsite 2-3 times a year. We are tacking on a 5 day trip to US/IOA on the next trip and I'm hoping there will be no problems at the HRH!:D

[CPM]

Originally posted by Gail T AGAIN
tO be honest what really bothers me is that a cat and a dog that is in the room all day can mess the carpet by releiving themselves, that bothes me big time even if they wash the carpet after and what is the likelyhood they wash it after each pet. Oh well, with all said and done my vacation is over and I opted to stay in Disney for the whole visit:)

Wel, I can vouch for anyone allergic to pets. No one hates the fact they they might have done thier duty on the floor more then me! After countless stays at Universal resorts none of this has EVER been a problem. I will take luxury & no wait lines over worrying about a pet being in my room any day.
I talked to the manager of RP (Scott) about this & he swears they are kept in separate rooms then guests w/o pets. Keep in mind that 8/10 hotel chains allow pets!

[Gail T AGAIN]

HauntFreaks.com, why kill it, I got this thread going, until I mentioned the situation at the US.IOA hotels nobody even knew this exsisted.

[maggiebelle]

Hi,

I am so amazed how upset you are getting regarding "pets"
I just got back from HRH and RP with my yorkie. First HRH told me that pets stay only on the 5th floor. At RP they stay on the 1st floor, but they didnot have any room available so they upgraded me to a suite on the 3rd floor. I really enjoy taking her for walks around the "pet walking area" The landscaping if beautiful. What I did mind was kids running and screeming in the halls at all mornings and at night. Also, why don't you worry about who 's been sleeping in the bed (have you ever watched news report regarding this) If the hotel says they will not put you in a pet room, stop your worrying. The pet rooms I have been in are very clean, I have been in other room and you can still smell vomit where some child has thrown up in. For you traveling pet owners I like the Portofina best for pets. They put you on the 1st floor close to the pet walking area and the door opening outside is great you don't have to meet these anti-pet people. Just enjoy yourself Lowes Hotel's are great.

[Darla and Alfalfa]

WOW! As an allergy and asthma person I would not chance getting sick. Cleaning the carpets is not enough. Dander gets everywhere. In the drapes, bedspreads and the air. I would get sick in 30 minutes and it would take days to feel 100%. That is if I did not end up in the ER. At any hotel I always ask for non-smoking. Which is not always the case. If I smell a smoker has been in the room, I ask to be moved. And I have to check the pillows to make sure they are not feather. I know my chances at a Disney hotel are better than at a Universal one for a pet free room. Of course anywhere you go you never really know.

[DisneyDazed]

Maggie... I hardly think that the people that have replied to this post are considered ANTI PET PEOPLE . JUst concernced consumers. Like many people have stated... its not the pets but the fact that they are NOT always kept in pet rooms, that have people concerned. You pointed this out only all to well. You were given a room on the 3 floor rather than the first. Knowing that they do this for people...how are we to know which room has been visited by a pet??? You made a satement about noisey kids.... does that make you an ANTI KID PERSON?

[RobinLyn]

DisneyDazed, I agree with everything you said. Maggiebelle's post about children upset me and I didn't want to say what I was thinking. Now we are comparing kids with animals. She obviously doesn't have children. I know, I know.....you think of your pet as your child. Well I have both and believe me my children and pets are loved a lot, but there is no comparing the two in my opinion. Please lets stay on the subject and not let comments like this become the topic.

Maggiebelle, amusement parks are for children and they stay at hotels and resorts surrounding them. If you don't like screaming running excited kids, then I don't think Universal is your cup of tea to begin with, is it?

RobinLyn :D

[mickeyfal]

You go maggiebelle. I have 1 husband, 3 children and 2 dogs. We consider our dogs part of the family.:D I teach my children to respect all living creatures. My husband goes monthly for allergy shots and has no problems with our pets or the rooms at tht HRH and PBH. We are going to the RPH in Aug. and animal dander did not cross our minds. We just hope it does not rain. That will spoil our fun!!! I think amusement parks are not for children or pets . Can they ride the HULK, DUELING DRAGONS, etc. Thats what the hotel rooms are for.I guess GailT, Donnamerry and Disneydazed never thought about the people before them that they are sharing toliets with?

[mickeyfal]

You go maggiebelle. I have 1 husband, 3 children and 2 dogs. We consider our dogs part of the family.:D I teach my children to respect all living creatures. My husband goes monthly for allergy shots and has no problems with our pets or the rooms at tht HRH and PBH. We are going to the RPH in Aug. and animal dander did not cross our minds. We just hope it does not rain. Now that will spoil all the fun!!! I think amuesment parks are not for pets or the best place for children. Can they ride the HULK, DUELING DRAGONS, etc.? But thats what the rooms are for. I guess GAIL T, DONNA MERRY, AND DISNEYDAZED NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE BEFORE THEM THAT THEY ARE SHARING TOLIETS WITH.