Guide dogs?

[hvivona]

My mother is blind and will be going to WDW with us this summer. Has anyone ever gone with a guide/service dog? How does disney deal with service animals when the person wants to ride?

 

[dclfun]

There are some rides that will allow a SD, but for most attractions someone will have to wait with the dog while the rest of the party rides. Be really careful in the summer with the heat and hot pavement too here in Orlando- dogs can easily overheat and die. The summer at Disney is grueling for my SD. ---Kathy

 

[donna in Oz]

We have taken my MIL to WDW four times; she is also blind, but we have never traveled with a service dog.

But if you have any other questions about "seeing" WDW with a member of your party who is blind, I'd be happy to answer any questions. Feel free to PM me!!

 

[LindaDVC]

Disney is great about service dogs-- on our October trip we found our d.dog had burrs all over him especially in his paws! We had stopped at the beach earlier that morning and he must have gotten them there.

I went to the first aide station and requested scissors since he had too many to pull out (for his pain and my fingers). They were wonderful and gave me scissors and a treatment room to use as long as we needed it. They brought Ned water and checked on my progress etc!

Summer is hot and we often don't take him into the parks due to the heat. However Disney has been great on the days that he has gone in.

Linda

 

[SueM in MN]

There is a link in the disABILITIES FAQs thread to the official WDW Guidebooks for Guests with Disabilities. This is a link to the part about Service Animals. If you check out the link to the Guidebook for each park, there is information for each attraction (it's not very complete, but does tell if there are any issues for service animals for that attraction).

 

[XenaTrek]

My mother is blind and will be going to WDW with us this summer. Has anyone ever gone with a guide/service dog? How does disney deal with service animals when the person wants to ride?

G'Evening!

I have a hearing/service dog "Rox" who helps me with sounds I am unable to hear. We also work at Disney with the characters as their "escorts" (was greeters). I've never had problems with "Rox" at Disney when both working and "playing"... and Disney has been on top of accomending and catering to her.

At both play and work... "Rox" has been offered water. When working with the characters if during the summer... I'm usually placed indoors or at a location with shade and multiple greeters so that I can take her off the 'set' for a cool down.

In reference to rides... you will need to check with the ride operator as to what rides are safe for SD to be on versus those that are not. I usually play in the parks with several friends... so if there is a ride that is not safe for "Rox" to be on we do what is called a "child swap" where one stays with the dog while the other rides the rides and then switch places that way everyone in the party can enjoy the rides.

They (the castmembers) should allow you to enter backstage or near one where you can have your dog relieve him/herself.

Again I am a cast member who has ultilizes a service dog and have had both positive and negative experience from both the employee side and guest side. So if you have any questions, concern and/or have any problems with your SD in the parks... do let me know and I'll see that the situation gets taken care of in a timely and appropriate manner.

Lis n "Rox"