Ever a DOG day at Disneyland?

[soma151]

do they ever have a day where people can bring dogs?

 

[figment_jii]

I remember reading about a Disney Side Dog's Day at the Magic Kingdom, but I don't recall reading about any similar event at DLR. Other than that, guests can bring their dogs and board them at the Pet Kennel, but aside from service animals, there aren't supposed to be any pets inside the parks.

 

[AngiTN]

I commented that I noticed more dogs at Disneyland and DCA in our 5 days there than I've seen in 5 trips to WDW. They all did have service animal vests on but I have to admit, I question the work being done by the Yorkie I saw in a guests lap in Fantasy Land. Maybe there are loose rules in the service they have to provide?

 

[DizMe]

Having dogs in the park is a bit of a hot topic. I saw more dogs on our trip this past weekend than I've ever seen in DL before. It's not a trend I embrace. People abuse the service dog loophole and I wish that weren't true, as I'd much prefer the park to be pet-free. Service dogs are a different matter but they are specially trained to deal with crowds without getting jumpy; I'd say the majority of dogs I saw were not trained to be service animals. As a person who has a fear of dogs after some nasty bite incidents, I resent that there are people who are willing to put aside rules and risk injury to others in order to bring their pets.

 

[AngiTN]

Having dogs in the park is a bit of a hot topic. I saw more dogs on our trip this past weekend than I've ever seen in DL before. It's not a trend I embrace. People abuse the service dog loophole and I wish that weren't true, as I'd much prefer the park to be pet-free. Service dogs are a different matter but they are specially trained to deal with crowds without getting jumpy; I'd say the majority of dogs I saw were not trained to be service animals. As a person who has a fear of dogs after some nasty bite incidents, I resent that there are people who are willing to put aside rules and risk injury to others in order to bring their pets.

Ah, that probably explains it. It was the first week of June that I saw so many. Some were clearly working dog but some it was not very clear on what service they were providing. I bet Disney is afraid to question those that bring them in too much for fear of offending someone

 

[Malcon10t]

Having dogs in the park is a bit of a hot topic. I saw more dogs on our trip this past weekend than I've ever seen in DL before. It's not a trend I embrace. People abuse the service dog loophole and I wish that weren't true, as I'd much prefer the park to be pet-free. Service dogs are a different matter but they are specially trained to deal with crowds without getting jumpy; I'd say the majority of dogs I saw were not trained to be service animals. As a person who has a fear of dogs after some nasty bite incidents, I resent that there are people who are willing to put aside rules and risk injury to others in order to bring their pets.

I'm going to agree with you, but for a completely different reason. We raise service dogs. Disneyland is a GREAT place to train the pups. HOWEVER, over the past 10 years, there have been so many abuses with people bringing unprepared dogs, it makes having a true service dog there difficult. Our dogs are trained to be submissive. I've had our dogs lunged at by "service dogs", I've had other dogs barking their heads off at our dogs, and we fear our dogs being attacked. People say "But I want to have my dog with me ALL the time, and my dog loves being with me." They really do not understand how stressful it is to the dog. Yes, they are with their owner, but it is in a place with lots of sounds, colors, smells, and people. We work HARD to train our dogs to even get to the point where they are "bomb proof". It is like taking a 2yo to Disneyland. We start with very short visits, maybe 15 mins on Main St, where they may see characters from a distance, watch the horse go by, out of the throngs of people. We slowly work up to meeting characters, riding rides (it may take 10 visits before they are prepared to ride Buzz Lightyear!) and sleeping through the fireworks. They have to learn to keep walking and ignore when a 2yo offers them a sucker or ice cream, to walk over the spilled popcorn.

But when you are walking out of Space Mountain, and there is a "service dog" pack of Newfies (I love Newfies) who pull their handlers off their feet while barking and trying to get to our dog, it isn't a good thing.

 

[pindecisive]

I'm from California, and here we have a huge problem with pets being given "service" certification so owners can get around "no pet" apartment policies. While I find the reasons, such as depression, pain, anxiety, valid... I find bringing un-trained "service animals" into spaces where they lunge, bite, growl to be problematic. I wish people with these valid concerns would find other options for their day in the park - maybe a stuffed animal, or how I handle my anxiety - headphones.

I think Disney will crack down on it when they have an incident with a child being bitten, or someone tries to bring in something that causes issues (such as a snake, hedgehog, etc.) but until then, they'll probably just so what SF does and take the "service" paperwork at face value.

 

[soma151]

We love dogs but ours never leave the farm and they like it that way. The dog on the person lap could be one to help the person stay calm? I guess i can see the Apt. thing, but its so sad to see dogs living in Apt….I was thinking more like a Disney dog day when every one brought the dog? I really understand the dog love thing, we are just starting on a 9ac pet cemetery on our land and we have already sold 102 spots and its not even done yet. They all have told me they cremated Mom & Dad but pay to bury fido. We are doing cremation as well and we have already cremated 4 horses @ $3800 each, and one Orangutan from the zoo, and we have a Mausoleum you can put there remains in. A chapel you can have services in. And its just a cool little place along the river you can just hang out with your dead pet. i know crazy huh….Only in America.

 

[bumbershoot]

I commented that I noticed more dogs at Disneyland and DCA in our 5 days there than I've seen in 5 trips to WDW. They all did have service animal vests on but I have to admit, I question the work being done by the Yorkie I saw in a guests lap in Fantasy Land. Maybe there are loose rules in the service they have to provide?

A dog on a lap could easily be a dog that can sense changes in blood sugar before the owner thinks to test, or even detecting an oncoming seizure. The latter is helpful because the person can get themselves safe before it happens. I have a friend who seized in the bathroom (much like john travolta's son did, which caused him to fatally injure himself) and while she was ok, having a seizure alerting dog with her would have allowed her to sit on the door or get out of the bathroom so the fall on the hard bathroom surfaces didn't happen.

That sort of service dog doesn't require standards to be loose at all.

Not all service dogs are Seeing Eye Dogs with the vest and a lifetime of training. There's no vest required at all. They mainly keep people from assuming the worst, and keep peoples' hands off of the working dogs.

I'm from California, and here we have a huge problem with pets being given "service" certification so owners can get around "no pet" apartment policies.

By the ADA there is no certification necessary, so anyone cheating n your described situation is going beyond what they need to do. And if the service dog causes problems at the apartment or a restaurant, etc, just like a human (which is how they are to be treated) who causes problems they can be kicked out. When that happens, so far, the courts back the business as long as it was righteous and not just "get the dog out".

While I find the reasons, such as depression, pain, anxiety, valid

Those are not valid reasons for a "service" animal, though. Those are good for Companion animals but that's a different category. They are NOT allowed everywhere. There's a distinction.

 

[bumbershoot]

I guess i can see the Apt. thing, but its so sad to see dogs living in Apt

How is it sad???? It requires that they be taken out for walks, vs living in a house with a yard where they might just be left out all day. Or sent outside to do their business with no exercise involved.

My mom's first malamute got *several* walks a day when they lived in an apartment in San Francisco vs once we moved to a house with a big backyard. He got to frolic in the yard, but went down to one walk, and it wasn't as big because we lived rurally with pastures with bulls, and two lane roads with 45mph. Not safe for walks.

I'm sure he thought of the apartment as his den, and the walks were around his territory. Nothing sad about his life at the apartment at all.

 

[PlutoRocks]

I commented that I noticed more dogs at Disneyland and DCA in our 5 days there than I've seen in 5 trips to WDW. They all did have service animal vests on but I have to admit, I question the work being done by the Yorkie I saw in a guests lap in Fantasy Land. Maybe there are loose rules in the service they have to provide?

AngiTN - I made the same remark - I saw so many dogs this year when we went. I think we may have been there around the same time - first week of June. The one that cracked me up was the guy pushing his service dog (Bulldog) in the wheelchair. He also had another dog as well (so 2 total in his group) the second one walked alongside him.

I even saw a big doberman which surprised me. They were all very well behaved when I saw them but that was during the earlier hours with smaller crowds. I didn't see any when the crowds were so thick you couldn't move six inches without bumping into several people.

I'm a dog lover so it actually made my trip more enjoyable but I fully understand many people have different experiences and it can become an issue pretty quickly. I do think there needs to be a bit tighter regulation on the "service dog" exception.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

I'm just going to steer this back to the original topic for a minute and ask: Why? I'm trying to understand the desire to do this because I've had many dogs in my life and none of them would have enjoyed a day at Disneyland. Maybe it's because I live in southern California and already see such a huge group of people who bring their dogs everywhere, including the grocery store and other places that are suppose to maintain certain levels of sanitation. I see these ridiculous strollers for dogs that probably cost more than a baby stroller does. I love dogs. Don't get me wrong. But what would be the purpose of bringing your dog to Disneyland unless it was a service animal? Would your dog really enjoy riding Matterhorn with you? Or sitting in the boats for IASM? If not, where would you put your dog while you're riding? And, would every dog there be well trained not to go attack another dog? I just don't think an amusement park is an appropriate place to bring your dog with you. It's not fair to other people and it's not fair to them to be in such an overstimulating environment. There are a few hotels in the area that accept pets, so if you really want to bring your dog on vacation, great, we've done it, too, when we go camping or somewhere with a lot of open space. But not Disneyland. Please.

 

[Keels]

I love my dogs and they are my children - albeit furry children that can't speak and will never be able to get a job or take care of me when I'm old.

But, I'm not really sure they'd want to go on Tower of Terror or California Screamin'. I'm pretty sure the over-shoulder harness on Screamin' wouldn't work for them anyway, and I also wouldn't want to leave them leashed up in the sun all alone.

Would Rider Swap work for dog parents? I guess we'd have to utilize that?

 

[Malcon10t]

The DOJ has very specific guidelines for service animals. First, it must be a dog or miniature horse. No longer can a snake or a chicken be classified a service animal. (The laws changed a couple of years back to fix this abuse.) The issue really is Disney does not want to confront people who are claiming their pet is a service dog. There are very stringent rules. People fudge all the time, but police can be called should a dog create a disturbance. For me, the issue really is most dogs are not comfortable in the Disneyland setting. It is hard on them. But too often people's attitude is all about them, and not what is best for the dog.

And dogs for anxiety and depression are no longer classified service dogs. They are companion animals and not covered by the ADA. Therapy dogs also do not have ADA access. (Contrary to what the guy pushing his dirty therapy dog in a stroller to the Haunted Mansion thought.)

And yes, we use rider swap for our service dog. She is with my daughter and I watch her while my daughter rides, then we swap places.

 

[Keels]

Oh. My dogs are more like disservice animals, so it's probably best if I leave them at home then.

 

[DizMe]

I'm going to agree with you, but for a completely different reason. We raise service dogs. Disneyland is a GREAT place to train the pups. HOWEVER, over the past 10 years, there have been so many abuses with people bringing unprepared dogs, it makes having a true service dog there difficult. Our dogs are trained to be submissive. I've had our dogs lunged at by "service dogs", I've had other dogs barking their heads off at our dogs, and we fear our dogs being attacked. People say "But I want to have my dog with me ALL the time, and my dog loves being with me." They really do not understand how stressful it is to the dog. Yes, they are with their owner, but it is in a place with lots of sounds, colors, smells, and people. We work HARD to train our dogs to even get to the point where they are "bomb proof". It is like taking a 2yo to Disneyland. We start with very short visits, maybe 15 mins on Main St, where they may see characters from a distance, watch the horse go by, out of the throngs of people. We slowly work up to meeting characters, riding rides (it may take 10 visits before they are prepared to ride Buzz Lightyear!) and sleeping through the fireworks. They have to learn to keep walking and ignore when a 2yo offers them a sucker or ice cream, to walk over the spilled popcorn.

But when you are walking out of Space Mountain, and there is a "service dog" pack of Newfies (I love Newfies) who pull their handlers off their feet while barking and trying to get to our dog, it isn't a good thing.

Malcon10t, I had you in mind when I made my service dogs comment. THAT is what should be allowed; what you do is incredible and invaluable to so many people. It's the pseudo-service animals (pets) with which I take issue. I've seen a small dog at Disneyland, when approached by a child, begin growling and I think it would have bitten her if her parent hadn't pulled her back. That dog was probably terrified, too. I saw a woman try to sneak a poor little pink poodle onto Splash Mountain. The dog looked miserable and I was glad it didn't have to suffer the ride itself. I was angry at that woman who thought it was ok to try and circumvent the rules--obviously not for her dog's benefit.

Pets are wonderful, but I just don't feel they belong at Disneyland, and I think it's unfair to put that kind of liability on Disney. I suspect that if a person's dog bit someone, Disney would also be sued.

 

[squidlet]

... the issue really is most dogs are not comfortable in the Disneyland setting. It is hard on them. But too often people's attitude is all about them, and not what is best for the dog.

Well said.

 

[bumbershoot]

I've seen a small dog at Disneyland, when approached by a child, begin growling and I think it would have bitten her if her parent hadn't pulled her back.

I truly hope that her parents have learned to stop their child from going to pet an unknown dog, and especially a dog that is likely a service dog! My gosh, that's just basic standard "how to live in this world 101", to teach your kids to not pet strange dogs...

 

[Malcon10t]

Malcon10t, I had you in mind when I made my service dogs comment. THAT is what should be allowed; what you do is incredible and invaluable to so many people. It's the pseudo-service animals (pets) with which I take issue. I've seen a small dog at Disneyland, when approached by a child, begin growling and I think it would have bitten her if her parent hadn't pulled her back. That dog was probably terrified, too. I saw a woman try to sneak a poor little pink poodle onto Splash Mountain. The dog looked miserable and I was glad it didn't have to suffer the ride itself. I was angry at that woman who thought it was ok to try and circumvent the rules--obviously not for her dog's benefit.

Pets are wonderful, but I just don't feel they belong at Disneyland, and I think it's unfair to put that kind of liability on Disney. I suspect that if a person's dog bit someone, Disney would also be sued.

Thank you. That pink poodle is well known by cast members. I am truly shocked the owner has not been removed from the park. She has tried to sneak the dog on Tower of Terror, Indy, and numerous other rides the dog is not supposed to be on. It has gotten away from her several times, including once in the Crystal Arts shop on Main St, where there was some major damage done. It got away from her once at the exit to POTC, and we were there with our pup.

And I have seen the same, as far as dogs growling. We were in line for Matterhorn, when a Min Pin bit someone on NYE (about 4-5 years ago.) It had been barking and someone got too close. We exited the line as we had our dog and were not comfortable with the situation. We have had one of our pups in training attacked by a small child at Disneyland. They child was maybe 2-3, and grabbed onto our pup by the fur. Hard enough our pup was yelping and the parents were trying to detach the child. It took the dad grabbing him by the hair to get him to let go and my daughter picked our pup up and ran to a place where she could assess her for injuries. After that, the dog would cower around children, and was not able to become a service dog. 3 years later, we are still working with her to be around small children (she tries to hide, no aggression involved, she just tries to leave the area.)

I truly hope that her parents have learned to stop their child from going to pet an unknown dog, and especially a dog that is likely a service dog! My gosh, that's just basic standard "how to live in this world 101", to teach your kids to not pet strange dogs...

I seriously wish parents would teach this, but sadly it doesn't happen. I've actually had a parent tell me since we bring our dog in public, that means her kids are allowed to pet them. Now, I did question her parenting skills as her kids were maybe 4 and 6, and they were running down the east side of Harbor Bl about 100 YARDS ahead of her, and came running up to an 80lb black lab and grabbed him from behind. Now, this dog was pretty bomb proof and just kept moving, but when we asked her not to have the kids grab him or distract him, she informed us since we were in public they could pet him all they wanted. (Now, the angry Malcon10t did come out and I asked "Since your kids are in public can I pet them???") I had already tried explaining not all dogs in public are friendly and that service dogs are working and distracting them (especially a seeing eye or hearing dog) can be dangerous to the handler. She didn't get it.

 

[mr.bungle]

I sure hope not. It's bad enough navigating around kids, strollers and obese people on scooters. Adding dogs who will pee and poo and chase/fight other dogs would not be ideal. It's ok to keep them at home for a day.