Dogs allowed?

[dianeschlicht]

If I saw a dog at a DVC resort that was obviously NOT a guide dog, I would be reporting it to the front desk and I AM a dog owner. Rules like that are NOT meant to be broken any more than the occupancy and fire codes are.

 

[Dean]

It is not an exception, service animals are permitted by law. Disney does a great job in accommodating them and making both guests (two and four legged) feel welcome.

I have seen several service animals on Disney property (our own daughter's excluded) and on DCL. Cash, a service animal for another guest, was on the Panama Canal Cruise.

For timeshares there can be restrictions on service animals but it depends on specifics. Timeshares come MORE under the condo rules than the hotel rules. With the set up of DVC, it's hard to know how they fall within the ADA. For example, several of the Marriott's restrict (at least on paper) service animals. They require insurance, prior notification and approval, reserve the right to charge the owner for cleaning, install liability to the owner if there is a problem with the pet, etc.

HH allows pets in some areas related to the boat slips though I doubt it is in writing.

 

[rayelias]

The guide dogs at OKW that I referred to in my earlier post do not go to the parks with these particular guests. The reason is they feel the heat is too hard on them. Instead, they hire a personal guide who takes them around the parks.

If having a personal guide is typical for vision-impared guests, I guess that's why I've only seen a single guide dog in all my visits.

I guess Splash Mountain isn't practical to cool off a seeing-eye dog, huh?

<--- there are no dog smileys? What's THAT about!

 

[Beach_Bound9]

Of all the resorts, seems like OKW, SSR and FW have the potential to be the least dog unfriendly for those who skirt around the no dog rule.

I can see why the poster above was asking if dog allowed buildings could be available at SSR and OKW. It might help sales at SSR if they provided a dogs allowed building. However, I doubt this rule will change, but I think it is broken from time to time. Not by us.

 

[JimC]

We visit roughly 3-4X a year and our last visit was the first time we saw a service dog. Actually, it was in "training." We have a friend with a service dog, and it always amazes me the discipline that the dog has. It was very interesting to watch a dog in "training" as compared to one who is in service. I would bet that WDW is a perfect "test" to see how the animals handle large crowds.

From a purely statistical standpoint, I would be interested to learn the % of the general population who has a service pet. The reason I ask is there APPEARS (non-scientific) to be an extraordinarily large percentage of differently-abled people who visit WDW, based on the # of wheelchairs, etc. I've seen THOUSANDS of people in wheelchairs (yes, I know that many of them, in "real life" have never even sat in a wheelchair before setting foot on WDW property - such a shame for the people who REALLY need it). But, I've only seen one service dog. I've noticed several people who have difficulty hearing making use of the teleprompters (sorry, don't know the technical name) in the attractions.

I find it curious that people with vision problems don't visit in the same percentages. I would think, especially since Disney does such a wonderful job with theming, that people with vision problems would absolutely LOVE the experience. The "feel" of the streets in the different lands, the change in smells in the different lands, the change in sounds in the different lands, etc.

Perhaps, I haven't been paying that much attention. Again, it SEEMS that a considerably higher % of physically disabled and hearing disabled people visit WDW than vision disabled.

Yes, it is a good training ground for service animals, as are shopping malls during the holidays. The large diverse crowds, distractions of noise and scent all must be mastered by the service animal.

As to discipline, our daughter was going into a pet store to get some supplies for her dog and a dog not under control attacked her guide dog just outside the store. He stood his ground, did not flinch and got her safely inside the store. Just think of the traiing necessary to overcome that natural instinct. I was amazed.

Our daughter will often not take the dog to the parks. The heat can be particularly hard. And her dog does not like the booties to protect his paws from the hot asphalt. Also the dog comes under the "baby swap" rules and her dog is not pleased to be separated from her. She uses a sighted guide instead. And that can be difficult to spot unless you know what you are looking for. I suspect many other visually impaired travel this way. So I beleive ther % who visit is higher than we guests are aware.

 

[JimC]

For timeshares there can be restrictions on service animals but it depends on specifics. Timeshares come MORE under the condo rules than the hotel rules. With the set up of DVC, it's hard to know how they fall within the ADA. For example, several of the Marriott's restrict (at least on paper) service animals. They require insurance, prior notification and approval, reserve the right to charge the owner for cleaning, install liability to the owner if there is a problem with the pet, etc.

HH allows pets in some areas related to the boat slips though I doubt it is in writing.

Under the ADA when the resorts are listed for rent to the general public they must be open to the disabled. Disney rents to the general public and so does Marriott. It is also good business -- who is dumb enough or insensitive enough to deny access to the disabled?

For condos the disabled are protected by the Fair Housing Act, as amended in 1988, which prohibits housing discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, and national origin. Its coverage includes private housing.

 

[Dean]

Under the ADA when the resorts are listed for rent to the general public they must be open to the disabled. Disney rents to the general public and so does Marriott. It is also good business -- who is dumb enough or insensitive enough to deny access to the disabled?

For condos the disabled are protected by the Fair Housing Act, as amended in 1988, which prohibits housing discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, and national origin. Its coverage includes private housing.

Jim, I've posted the wording about Marriott previously, I believe you've read it. It came from Marriott's lawyers in response to a problem with people taking pets and claiming they were service animals. I don't know how well they try to enforce it, my guess is they only use it for obviously problems. But I don't think it's as simple as quoting the ADA and saying that all timeshares have to conform the same way hotels do. As I acknowledged, Disney may be different based on the scope of their hotel type rentals.

 

[JimC]

Jim, I've posted the wording about Marriott previously, I believe you've read it. It came from Marriott's lawyers in response to a problem with people taking pets and claiming they were service animals. I don't know how well they try to enforce it, my guess is they only use it for obviously problems. But I don't think it's as simple as quoting the ADA and saying that all timeshares have to conform the same way hotels do. As I acknowledged, Disney may be different based on the scope of their hotel type rentals.

Dean, I believe timeshares are covered under the non-discrimination provisions of the fair housing act, not the ADA. Marriott lawyers may assert that position on behalf of their client, but that does not necessarily mean that they could or would even try to sustain it in a legitimate service animal case. We probably should just agree to disagree on this point as we each seem to have fairly firmly held views on this topic.

 

[Dean]

Dean, I believe timeshares are covered under the non-discrimination provisions of the fair housing act, not the ADA. Marriott lawyers may assert that position on behalf of their client, but that does not necessarily mean that they could or would even try to sustain it in a legitimate service animal case. We probably should just agree to disagree on this point as we each seem to have fairly firmly held views on this topic.

I'm not sure we disagree that much. I'm only reporting the info I have at my disposal and am certainly not an ADA expert no have I EVER expressed my personal views on the subject, at least that I recall. I only know that I asked the GM at one of the resorts when the policy came out. He said that he approached MVCI with the problem of people bringing pets and they came back with a 2.5 page legal document with the info I've summarized above. Whether it'd hold up is anyone's guess but I'd bet on Marriott over an individual complaint.

 

[CarolAnnC]

During a visit to The Studios this week, I saw a young woman who was visually impaired touring with her guide dog. There was a man holding a leash and leading the dog from the front. The dog had one of those harness type restraints with a holder attached that the young woman held. I was waiting for my DD's to ride Rock n Roller Coaster, and these folks entered the area and returned in less than a half hour. I cannot say if they actually entered the ride, but I am assuming so. I give her a lot of credit for navigating the crowds and enjoying life.

 

[Beach_Bound9]

As to discipline, our daughter was going into a pet store to get some supplies for her dog and a dog not under control attacked her guide dog just outside the store. He stood his ground, did not flinch and got her safely inside the store. Just think of the traiing necessary to overcome that natural instinct. I was amazed.

Wow, that is fascinating. Thanks for sharing this story. One of the philanthropies I have supported in the past was pilot dogs, where dogs go through the training.

 

[crazywig]

i saw a service dog in training at the columbia harbor house last month! my first thought also was what a great place wdw would be to train a dog in crowds. it was also an opportunity to teach my 3yr old son about service dogs

 

[NMW]

During a visit to The Studios this week, I saw a young woman who was visually impaired touring with her guide dog. There was a man holding a leash and leading the dog from the front. The dog had one of those harness type restraints with a holder attached that the young woman held. I was waiting for my DD's to ride Rock n Roller Coaster, and these folks entered the area and returned in less than a half hour. I cannot say if they actually entered the ride, but I am assuming so. I give her a lot of credit for navigating the crowds and enjoying life.

That's exactly how I felt about the girl at my college! My housemate was a special ed major and one night I went to pick her up from her class (it was a mobility for the blind class). She had to be blind folded and allow another student to walk her up and down a flight of stairs. She said she was terrified having someone lead her down stairs when she could not see. I can't even imagine going someplace like Disney World!

 

[spiceycat]

WDW has 4 kennels - AK, Studios, Epcot, T&T (MK) and FW.

I like FW and Epcot the best - more places for your pet to run, explore, and just watch the wildlive.

Epcot use to be the best. but there is a large turtle in the water area near the kennel and pets are no longer allowed in this area.

Spicey happens to love the kennels. He actually eats there. (he doesn't always at home).Every animal is different. Some like the kennels, some hate them.

the only timeshares (currently opened) that accepts pets is Celebration WOrld resort near WDW.
www.celebrationworldresort.com
this is an RCI exchange. It also appears on skyauction.com.
the pet fee for the entire week is $50.

the II one - Summerfield Resort - it was badly damanged in the hurricanes and only recently reopened. Sometimes you can find it in the getaways from II but not often. It is in Kissimmee - so Celebration world resort is much closer to WDW.
www.summerfieldcondo.com

 

[drakethib]

I'm a dog owner and have had dogs all my life, but never on vacations. If DVC started letting dogs stay at the resort, I would be first in line to sell my points. Mind you, it's not the dogs, it's the dog's owners, who think that everyone else in the neighborhood love listnening to their little Fido bark for hours on end....

Amen.

I love dogs and think they are great but I do not want to get my room and see a bunch of pet stains and smells or have a reason for Disney to up my maint. charges to clean or replace furniture or flooring.

 

[Disney Doll]

Only registered assistance dogs (ie-seeing eye dogs or similar).

 

[erikthewise]

No animals allowed on any part of disney property.

Minor exception for AK and AKL.

 

[d-r]

my mil often brings her miniature yorkie and keeps her at a kennel, usually fw or the ttc. A few years ago she still had her with her when we were checking in at the bwv and the desk check in person told her just to keep her in the room. She didn't though, she took her to the kennel. I did see a woman walking her dog by the dolphin one time. And I think that wdw cast members may have their dogs at wilderness lodge during the hurricanes when they needed a place to stay. But that is really understandable of course.

Something else I've seen before in addition to guide dogs are the younger guide dogs in training. I guess the idea is that it helps the dogs to be in a situation like that.

 

[Beach_Bound9]

My parents will probably be bringing thier dog with them when they join us for our trip. I think I'll have them sneak their dog into our DVC resort and see how it goes.....

 

[jmminarik]

I think I'll have them sneak their dog into our DVC resort and see how it goes.....

Most male dogs lift their legs, except when they're hurt or sick. Female dogs squat. My dogs prefer trees and my geraniums to firehydrants though.

-Joe