Another service dog question.

[DG25]

Hi, in the year I've been on the site have not seen this so I will ask.

We are going for two weeks in June. We will be changing resorts a lot,
WLV
BLT
BWV
AKV Jumbo
Poly

So two on monorail. One on boat. One on Boardwalk. And animal kingdom.

My question, I really have never rented a car. We have had small problems, well seem small now, but at the time made us mad. Like you forget the pain of childbirth after a while, we forget the pain of long waits, or standing for three buses and then being squished like sardines in.

Anyway, I am afraid what it will be like to have the service dog when the crowds are big morning and end of day. We have always gone on low crowds days. 2 to 4. In June the crowds will be 6 to 8. I am afraid of someone stepping on the dog when buses are full, even if we are allowed to board the bus first, a big if, the dog will slide and can end up with a paw to be stepped on. She is a good size dog, a lab 70 lbs.

So I reserved a car. But I feel very nervous about it. First to get an affordable car for two weeks I have to do it from airport. Which means no DME, and me driving to WDW, which I don't know the way and easy to get lost. Second, there will be days the car just sits because I won't need it if at BLT and going to MK. Third how does handicap parking work.

I'm thinking a little about saying forget the car and do uber, but I've never done uber, but I'm thinking it may cost about the same, one or two rides a day, or less at $10 would put me under the $350 or so for the car, but I could be way off on price.

Okay I think I got all my worries, and I know nothing really about the service dog, but I figured that would get the people who use a service animal to read it. Or yes, if I had a car and the dog needed a break, I could get the dog to the pet center, because she may need a break day or two during our trip.

 

[tobikaye]

We have never been to WDW with a service dog, so these are just my thoughts and some things I can answer.

So I reserved a car. But I feel very nervous about it. First to get an affordable car for two weeks I have to do it from airport. Which means no DME, and me driving to WDW, which I don't know the way and easy to get lost. Second, there will be days the car just sits because I won't need it if at BLT and going to MK. Third how does handicap parking work..

Do you think you would need the car for the entire trip? You are staying moving among 5 different hotels over a 2 week period so you might want to move your things on your own. If not, figure out which stays you thing you would really use the car and see about renting for a shorter number of days to cover a specific stay. You could then look at the on-site rental companies and then use DME to and from the airport.

• WLV - Boat to MK
  
• BLT - Walk to MK (or monorail, but that is a waste of time); Monorail to Epcot
  
• BWV - Boat/Walk to Epcot and DHS
  
• AKV Jumbo - Bus everywhere
  
• Poly - Monorail/Boat to MK, Monorail to Epcot (although you might want to walk to TTC to catch the monorail)

As for handicap parking, after you go through the parking booths, there should be a blue line on the side of the road. You follow this line to the HC parking areas. If you come across a CM before then, just point out your HC sticker and let them know you need HC parking. From HC parking you will need to walk to the entrance as there are no tram stops in these lots.

Things to note:

• TTC HC parking for MK: Parking can be a bit of a walk into MK.
• DHS HC parking: I have been turned away when it was already full and would have had to park in the regular lot. We decided to leave and just to to AK instead since we had no set plans

Now, if you do ride the bus, you could put the dog on the inside of a row by the window to keep from being stepped on. If the bus is too full, unless you are in a rush, you can ask to wait for the next bus and then be guaranteed a seat.

 

[powellrj]

Usually the prices for rental cars will go down. I would keep checking the sites and also check the transportation board for rental codes to bring your price down. We always rent a car when we fly because we hate to use the busses and have never had a problems getting around. Everything is really well marked.

 

[gap2368]

I think it could be do able with out a car

if the busses are packed you could take a taxi they are all over the only time you would have to really walk fair is at the MK either go to the TTC or the contrary next door and get one there not sure how much it is.

 

[limabeanmom2003]

Since you are switching resorts so many times I would definitely rent a car. When we fly to wdw we rent a car. We prefer to have our own transportation to and from the parks. You are right about buses- you sometimes have to wait a while and then are crammed in like sardines. Mush easier to just drive yourself. Getting to wdw from the airport is easy. Just ask at the rental counter for directions or use your gps app.

 

[mamabunny]

...So I reserved a car. But I feel very nervous about it. First to get an affordable car for two weeks I have to do it from airport. Which means no DME, and me driving to WDW, which I don't know the way and easy to get lost.

If you have a smartphone (iPhone, etc.) you have a navigation system in your car. Some rentals also have GPS Nav systems built-in as well. Practice using your smartphone to navigate to different places in your hometown to get a feel for how it works. Our daughter has zero sense of direction or place, and literally cannot drive without some form of guidance. With her smartphone and the Nav built into her car, she can go anywhere with little concern about getting lost. (my Mom suffered from the same thing, and used to get around pre-GPS with a lot of notes taped to the dash, and a notebook full of turn-by-turn instructions my dad would create for her using landmarks. Oddly enough, this affliction "skipped" me, but landed squarely on our daughter)

 

[North of Mouse]

Reading the OP's post really made me stop and think! Since MK opened, we have 'never' seen a service dog on 'any' Disney transportation!! Not saying it hasn't happened, but we didn't experience it! Guess most people would have their own personal transportation if they had service animals.

Really can't imagine putting an animal through that. A pp mentioned about putting the dog near the window on buses, but quite honestly most of the buses now are not configured that way anymore, but rather seating all around the sides of the bus, and empty in the middle. Seems it would be too traumatic to subject a dog to the hassle, especially when crowded. Paws could so easily get crushed!

 

[mistysue]

I know we have never seen a dog on a Disney bus, my thought is this might be because people tend to use a car if they have a dog for the exact reasons you are considering it. Our not seeing them is actual information- my son has had to leave Disney restaurants before because a dog entered the room at a distance and within minutes and his face swelled up and he couldn't breathe due to the insanity of his dog allergy- the boy is like an animal detection device.
If you were to try it anyway, I would at least consider some sort of harness you could hold while sitting to help stabilize the dog. If it's super bright that might up the chances of people noticing and watching for the dog. It would also be courteous to avoid the dog on the seats as much as possible.

 

[aaarcher86]

I wouldn't put the dog on a seat. If you do end up on a bus I'd try and get into the back seats and have the dog sit between your legs on the floor. If you can keep him between your knees it'd help people notice him and avoid his tootsies/tail.

There was a woman with a large service dog at PAX least year (very crowded expo) and while she was standing at a table that poor dog had his tail stepped on a ton. She finally moved him in front of her to help.

 

[vanillagirl]

My daughter has a guide dog that is a 70lb yellow lab. She says "close" and he is trained to do a backwards army crawl & position himself under her seat. Maybe try and train your dog to do something similar?

If by chance we wind up standing (we have on monorails and the WL boat) we curl his tail in and form a barrier to protect her boy. He has made such a difference in her life and given her much more independence. They are together 24/7 and he adapts to her life wherever she is.

Good luck and happy travels.

 

[poprouge]

The buses get so crowded and people standing have no choice at times but to stumble around. I agree, sit in the back of the bus and try to tuck you baby between your legs. Another alternative, although not safe for a person, is stand by the doorway, and allow fido to sit in the marked off area. No hating, I've seen dad after dad stand in the doorway with a ridiculously oversized stroller. Might keep your babies tail a bit more protected. As a last resort stand in the front and let your pups tail face the front of the bus. Have a wonderful vacation!

 

[DisneyOma]

Hi, in the year I've been on the site have not seen this so I will ask.

We are going for two weeks in June. We will be changing resorts a lot,
WLV
BLT
BWV
AKV Jumbo
Poly

So two on monorail. One on boat. One on Boardwalk. And animal kingdom.

My question, I really have never rented a car. We have had small problems, well seem small now, but at the time made us mad. Like you forget the pain of childbirth after a while, we forget the pain of long waits, or standing for three buses and then being squished like sardines in.

Anyway, I am afraid what it will be like to have the service dog when the crowds are big morning and end of day. We have always gone on low crowds days. 2 to 4. In June the crowds will be 6 to 8. I am afraid of someone stepping on the dog when buses are full, even if we are allowed to board the bus first, a big if, the dog will slide and can end up with a paw to be stepped on. She is a good size dog, a lab 70 lbs.

So I reserved a car. But I feel very nervous about it. First to get an affordable car for two weeks I have to do it from airport. Which means no DME, and me driving to WDW, which I don't know the way and easy to get lost. Second, there will be days the car just sits because I won't need it if at BLT and going to MK. Third how does handicap parking work.

I'm thinking a little about saying forget the car and do uber, but I've never done uber, but I'm thinking it may cost about the same, one or two rides a day, or less at $10 would put me under the $350 or so for the car, but I could be way off on price.

Okay I think I got all my worries, and I know nothing really about the service dog, but I figured that would get the people who use a service animal to read it. Or yes, if I had a car and the dog needed a break, I could get the dog to the pet center, because she may need a break day or two during our trip.

Driving from the airport is easy - the signs are huge and plentiful. Use your phone beforehand and plot the drive so you have an idea of exits, etc.

Since uber is not a properly regulated service, (ride sharing - not a 'for hire') you may find a driver who will not allow a service dog - people are using their own vehicles, may have allergies, or family members with allergies. You should make sure your driver knows that there will be an animal involved. That way you won't have to wait for another driver.

Has the dog had practice/training on a boat?

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

Even when I had a car to use (trip with a friend who lived in FL, so we drove to Disney in her car), I always took Disney transportation. Like with any crowded situation, you just make sure your service dog is safe by placing them correctly, which of course includes a tail tuck, and watching as people load onto the bus. The problem I had on the buses is how slippery the floors were because some of those bus drivers don't exactly take turns slowly - my dog would start sliding on the floor. I don't know if the new buses are any better with that.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

First to get an affordable car for two weeks I have to do it from airport

1) NO.
2) Rent at WDW.
. . . you can rent right at WD and be picked up at your resort.
. . . you will be driven to the rental agency at MK.
. . . you sign the papers and drive away
4) When the vacation is over, the process is reversed.
. . . drive to agency at MNK
. . . pay for the car
. . . they drive you back to your resort
5) With this service, you can use DME easily and not worry about driving to/from the airport.

NOTE: I would still worry about the dog being stepped upon. In those large crowds, people simply do not pay attention to what is in front of them while walking.

 

[Disneykidsdad]

We have taken our daughters service dog to WDW 4 times. He is a 70 pound Lab/Golden cross. We always use Disney transportation.
When we get on a bus, he goes under the side facing seats and we sit in front of him so nobody can step on him. On the monorail, he sits next to my daughters wheelchair and either me or my wife stands in front of him. On the boats he lays down and we make sure nobody gets close to him.
We have never had a problem and we always go in the summer. We have gotten him used to wearing boots because of the hot pavement.