Experiences at Dog-Friendly Disney Resorts

[Lynne M]

If you have an experience (good or bad) at one of the four dog-friendly Disney resorts, please share it here.

If you brought your dog(s) and you’d like to tell us how it went, please do!

If you’re not a fan of dogs and you want to relate an experience you had at one of these resorts, please do!

This thread is a bit of an experiment, so there may be some changes to the format and “rules of the road" as time goes on.

Here are the ground rules for this thread:

1) NO DEBATE. Any posts other than reports of experiences with dogs will be removed. If you have questions about the policy, or want to discuss the policy, there's probably a thread on the dog policy on the Resorts board. If you can't find one, feel free to start a new one.

2) You’ll notice that I haven’t invited reports of dogs in theme parks or resorts not participating in the trial. That’s because at this point, we have to assume that those dogs are service dogs, and are there with the knowledge and approval of the resort or theme park. This thread isn’t the place to discuss that. If you want to complain about the presence or validity of service dogs at WDW, send it to this address: WDW.Guest.Communications@disneyworld.com

3) NEW: Please don’t copy and paste social media posts about experiences with dogs at Disney resorts. The purpose of this thread is to report YOUR personal experiences. Otherwise, we’re just going to end up with yet another out-of-control argument thread where people argue their side by pasting in Twitter and Facebook posts that support their position. Any such posts from external sites will be deleted.

 

[Wood Nymph]

We just returned for four nights at Port Orleans Riverside. We didn't see any dogs anywhere at the resort during our five days there. But when I was walking around the buildings I did see someone on the bench next to building 24 with round, red dog carrier. I didn't go close enough to see if they had a dog in it, but it would have been a small dog, if there was one in there. I spoke to some CM's at the resort and they hadn't seen any dogs, either. We had a lovely trip and the dogs were a non-issue during our trip.

 

[dinameri]

Just returned from Yacht Club 10/21-10/28. I did not see any dogs there the entire time. I had requested no dogs be near us (my young son is afraid of them), and the CM told me they are keeping dogs on the first floor in a certain area of the resort only.

 

[Jason2015]

Was just at WDW (10/22-10/30) and stayed at AoA (10/22-10/24) and Pop (10/25-10/30). Didn't see any dogs at the resort. Did see two dogs together in Epcot (10/30) and one at Animal Kingdom (10/30). All three were service dogs.

 

[Bmath]

Just stayed at Yacht Club 10/27-11/1 and didn't see a dog either. I was on the second floor but frequently went downstairs through the emergency stairs.

 

[shoreward]

I was a guest at the YC the last weekend of October. A CM told me that he checked in one dog the week before.

The only evidence I saw of the YC being a dog-friendly resort was the dispenser of bags for dog waste disposal. The bag dispenser was located along the pathway to the YC's Quiet Pool.

I think it would have been better to have the dispenser face the walkway, instead of the pool, for easier accessibility. There will be issues if the ground around the dispenser becomes muddy, due to one of those afternoon downpours.

 

[kjw42]

We just returned from POR and I'm pretty certain we were in a dog friendly area, the potty area was right around the corner. We never saw one though I did hear one barking for a short time from a room somewhere as we were packing up the car to leave for the airport.

 

[FeralCatRogue]

In one of the prior threads I said I'd post about any negative or positive dog experiences I had sine people were worried how AOA would effect Pop. I saw no dogs at all there. I did see someone sneak 2 dogs into epcot though...which after having my entire wallet gone thru was interesting to see them get 2 dogs in by hiding them in a baby carriage as if it was a child.

 

[Suziepeach]

We just returned this very day from a week at Fort Wilderness & we saw many dogs. I asked the front desk about it and they couldn't give me a straight answer, you'd of thought I'd asked the $24,000.00 question. I did find out that one RV'er had 9 corgies, another had 3 American Boxers and two Pomeranians, also saw a tiny Yorkie coming off of Haunted with this young girl (being held) and we saw them again at the bus stop at the Fort, the little dog had a "in training" thing on but I didn't see any trainer, this dog was tiny.. I'll keep my feelings to myself but will note that when we got on the bus, another rider asked me about it and we were both wondering the same thing. Also the dogs we saw at the bus stops at the Fort, there were no crates plus dogs were being walked all around, not a certain area as, I believe, they said there was. We were in the 2600 loop and early this morning when we were headed to take the golf cart back (me in car, hubbby on cart) we saw this gentleman in the grass trying to clean the bottom of one of his shoes off, like it was poop but we don't know for sure but it looked like it by his actions (that depoop shuffle) and he was alone Still in the fog about the do's an don'ts. Let me add a something, we were in line for Big Thunder and in front of us was a young man, he lost both of his legs and part of his arm and we were so taken back about his strength and walking without a dog or assistance- that sure brings things back into prospective but like I wrote Disney- no one is enforcing anything and the more you let people get away with, the more they'll do.. I don't want to think they brought that tiny dog into Magic on a fake something but another camper told us you can buy certification stuff online.. and I did ask, when I wrote Disney, if they checked all credentials. so that's my take..

 

[mom2rtk]

I did find out that one RV'er had 9 corgies,

Hey, maybe Queen Elizabeth is staying at the Fort in an RV. We need photos!

 

[ArwenMarie]

We just returned this very day from a week at Fort Wilderness & we saw many dogs. I asked the front desk about it and they couldn't give me a straight answer, you'd of thought I'd asked the $24,000.00 question. I did find out that one RV'er had 9 corgies, another had 3 American Boxers and two Pomeranians, also saw a tiny Yorkie coming off of Haunted with this young girl (being held) and we saw them again at the bus stop at the Fort, the little dog had a "in training" thing on but I didn't see any trainer, this dog was tiny.. I'll keep my feelings to myself but will note that when we got on the bus, another rider asked me about it and we were both wondering the same thing. Also the dogs we saw at the bus stops at the Fort, there were no crates plus dogs were being walked all around, not a certain area as, I believe, they said there was. We were in the 2600 loop and early this morning when we were headed to take the golf cart back (me in car, hubbby on cart) we saw this gentleman in the grass trying to clean the bottom of one of his shoes off, like it was poop but we don't know for sure but it looked like it by his actions (that depoop shuffle) and he was alone Still in the fog about the do's an don'ts. Let me add a something, we were in line for Big Thunder and in front of us was a young man, he lost both of his legs and part of his arm and we were so taken back about his strength and walking without a dog or assistance- that sure brings things back into prospective but like I wrote Disney- no one is enforcing anything and the more you let people get away with, the more they'll do.. I don't want to think they brought that tiny dog into Magic on a fake something but another camper told us you can buy certification stuff online.. and I did ask, when I wrote Disney, if they checked all credentials. so that's my take..

Didn't the RVs always have dogs? Or were you in the cabins?

 

[Suziepeach]

Didn't the RVs always have dogs? Or were you in the cabins?

We were in the 2600 cabin loop- I was told this by an RV'er on the boat coming back from Magic. There was a dog in our loop as well but we only saw he/she once being walked.
But dogs were being walked everywhere, not in a designated area & as I said, I couldn't get a straight answer from anyone at the Fort's front desk.. I honestly don't think those poor CM's have a clue or told what to say.. Yes RV'ers brought dogs previously but we had no idea so many dogs were being brought in..

 

[kiwi0621]

I just came back from vacation at Beach Club Villas and there was a small dog being carried by a woman at the Stormalong Pool lounge chair area. At first, I let it go but then I noticed she had the dog at Hurricane Hana’s and I don’t believe a non-service dog should be by food and drinks. I mentioned something to a cast member - Im not sure if they did anything because there was a fire drill and the whole area was evacuated. I also got a picture and will be emailing Guest Services.

 

[Suziepeach]

I apologize to everyone, I forgot to mention this- we parked our golf cart, to have dinner at Trails End and some guy tied his dog to a post, to run get something from Trails End. I stood there and talked to this precious dog, his little tail just a'waggin'. They'd come down in a golf cart, the same gentleman passed us going back as we were headed to check in. Now see, in my opinion, this just isn't right. Why couldn't he have left little dog back at their campsite.. gorgeous little wire haired terrier..

 

[HopperFan]

Reported this week on an AoA FB group:
- Guests told dogs could be in any building but they had to stay on 1st floor.
- Guests staying in Bldg 5, 1st Floor, Little Nemo had a dog barking non-stop their stay, CMs would not do anything.

 

[Lynne M]

Just a reminder - this is not a thread for comments, rants, complaint or discussion about the dog policy. Any post that is not a report of an experience at a dog-friendly Disney resort will be deleted.

 

[marikujawa]

We were at Port Orleans Riverside from 11/1 to 11/8 in building 28. Our first day, we saw two dogs being walked near building 24. They started to bark when they saw us, but the owner told them to quiet down and they did. A few days later, I saw a large dog (looked like a golden retriever) being walked on the path in front of the plantation homes. I never heard any barking coming from the rooms.

 

[BlondePirateofSC]

Just back from a four night stay at POR. Saw one service dog that was staying near us. It was a small breed, well behaved and did not bark that we heard the entire trip. I ran daily a few miles each morning and I saw no other dogs.

 

[DavidHobart]

Just checked out after three days in the Yacht Club. Saw between 2 and 5 dogs--some may have been duplicates! All tiny, no noises at any time.

 

[DavidHobart]

I also saw this unaccompanied feline back by the pet relief area...