Hotel Dog Policy - Question for those who have stayed with dogs

[kaytieeldr]

Exactly. Because this is a bit unclear, I was looking to hear what others' experiences have been.

I'm sorry if I wasn't more clear in that. I'm not saying that I feel it isn't being enforced. I'm just saying that traditionally, policies are enforced differently by different cast members. Not criticizing, it's just the nature of a large company with tens of thousands of employees. A good example would be Fastpasses. Some CMs let people go through when the tapstile turns blue. Others don't. The one stark exception to this is height restrictions on rides, which is a policy I have yet to see a CM deviate from.

But it really, truly, 100% doesn't matter how, or even if, it's enforced, or by whom. When bringing a dog, the guest must have proof of (timely) vaccination available.

A dog is not a FastPass.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

Thank you for sharing your experience. Sounds like it's a good idea to have them even though they probably won't be needed. Sort of like 100 other things people pack with them when they go on a Disney vacation.

Yes, especially when traveling to another state. Proof of rabies shots in case of a liability issue.

Edit...just an FYI. In case you have to board your dog due to issues that may arise. The Best Friends Pet Care at WDW has requirements ( if they will be open)


Required Documentation
All pets visiting Best Friends Pet Care must be up to date with their vaccines. Written proof is required from your veterinarian. Please present a copy upon check-in or ask your vet's office to fax it to (203) 840-5207 before arriving. For information on vaccine requirements, call (407) 209-3126. Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call.

 

[kaytieeldr]

203 area code is Connecticut, so don't wait until the last minute if having it faxed.

 

[ELMC]

But it really, truly, 100% doesn't matter how, or even if, it's enforced, or by whom. When bringing a dog, the guest must have proof of (timely) vaccination available.

A dog is not a FastPass.

Let me be clear, I'm not trying to get around any rules, just trying to learn the process. With that in mind, how and when it is enforced is important because it determines certain aspects of my vacation such as check-in process, housekeeping, communication with CMs, etc. Thanks everyone for your helpful input.

 

[Novatrix]

When we stayed at Art of Animation 3 years ago with our two dogs, they did not request the vaccination records during checkin, but they did require that I go to the front desk to check in rather than through the app. I will note, they may not have asked because half way through the check-in process I voluntarily showed them the records.

 

[Novatrix]

Oh, I forgot to add, housekeeping will not come into your room when your pet is present. They give you a hangtag which must be placed on your door whenever the pet is in the room. (Although I hope they improved the design since then as it kept flying off the door handle.)

No Cast member ever asked for vaccination records when taking the dogs on potty breaks.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Had you decided the Hotel Dog Policy pinned thread https://disboards.com/threads/dog-friendly-resorts-faq.3697508/#post-59558140?
"Will I need to bring proof of vaccination for my dogs?

Vaccination records must be provided to the resort upon request, so do bring them. According to the sample pet agreement mentioned above, DHPPv/DA2PPv, Rabies and Bordetella vaccinations are required."

if you read that entire first post, it should answer any questions. If something isn't clear, use common sense, and err on the side of caution.

 

[ELMC]

Had you decided the Hotel Dog Policy pinned thread https://disboards.com/threads/dog-friendly-resorts-faq.3697508/#post-59558140?
"Will I need to bring proof of vaccination for my dogs?

Vaccination records must be provided to the resort upon request, so do bring them. According to the sample pet agreement mentioned above, DHPPv/DA2PPv, Rabies and Bordetella vaccinations are required."

if you read that entire first post, it should answer any questions. If something isn't clear, use common sense, and err on the side of caution.

Once again, I read the pinned thread. I read the policy. I understand the policy. But the term "must be available upon request" is nebulous, a point you agree with in this post:

It sounds random.

All I'm asking is for people who have stayed with dogs to share their experiences. To be clear, I have the documentation. I plan on bringing the documentation with me. I have never suggested anything other than that. I'm not sure where else this thread can go, other than to have dog owners who have brought their dogs to Disney hotels to share their experiences, which is really all I was looking for in the first place.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Once again, I read the pinned thread. I read the policy. I understand the policy. But the term "must be available upon request" is nebulous, a point you agree with in this post:

It's not nebulous. It doesn't matter if anybody requests to see the vaccination proof. You have to have it available. It genuinely doesn't matter if one person has had to show it, or ten, or 500, or none. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Get the dog vaccinated, get a copy of the proof, and bring it with you.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

Once again, I read the pinned thread. I read the policy. I understand the policy. But the term "must be available upon request" is nebulous, a point you agree with in this post:



All I'm asking is for people who have stayed with dogs to share their experiences. To be clear, I have the documentation. I plan on bringing the documentation with me. I have never suggested anything other than that. I'm not sure where else this thread can go, other than to have dog owners who have brought their dogs to Disney hotels to share their experiences, which is really all I was looking for in the first place.

This is still the best thread for that Dog-Friendly Resorts FAQ

FWIW...I contacted GS to check on whether they will be allowing pet dogs at the resorts due to Covid. Dogs can get the virus.

 

[Mrsjvb]

Once again, I read the pinned thread. I read the policy. I understand the policy. But the term "must be available upon request" is nebulous

pretty clear and cut n dried. MUST does not indicate any leeway or laxness . That’s why I suggested both hard copy and a pic on your phone. The hard copy can be presented at check in, the phone can be shown at any other time for immediate gratification.
besides, any responsible dog owner would have automatically ensured such documentation is readily available when traveling.

 

[focusondisney]

Nobody has stated the obvious.... should your dog bite someone, you will need to have proof of vaccinations available immediately. I know, no one’s dog will ever bite anyone. Until they do. So if all goes well, you may never have to show the proof. If the unexpected happens, you will be all set. Possibly preventing your dog being held by animal control, or unneeded shots by the victim.

A victim of a dog bite will be looking for this information & holding someone accountable for it. Disney is clearly putting the responsibility back where it belongs, on the dog owner.

 

[Buzzster]

We were at the cabins in FW last week. While you need a copy of updated vaccinations, they just require you sign the contract indicating up to date records. They did not ask for our copy from our vet, which we had just in case.

 

[ELMC]

We were at the cabins in FW last week. While you need a copy of updated vaccinations, they just require you sign the contract indicating up to date records. They did not ask for our copy from our vet, which we had just in case.

Thank you.

 

[monkeydawn]

I understand wanting to know how having a dog may change the check in procedure. I am hearing impaired and am comforted by knowing what to expect, especially in situations where there might be communication issues, like ESL or CMs looking down at a computer screen so I cant easily lip read (not to mention the current mask situation). So I get wanting to know what to expect since this is your first time. I'm sorry I cant help with that specifically.

If you plan on traveling with your pets frequently you might consider getting all relevant information onto one sheet, keeping a physical sheet with you, a photo of the sheet and an emailed backup. For my pets I always included a picture of the pet, contact information (and a secondary contact method) and and known medical issues (allergies and medications). On the bottom half I had a scaled down picture of the dog's rabies vaccine, a scaled down photo of licensing paperwork, vet contact information and all other vaccinations information. I recommend something like this because it keeps all the info in one place and also if your pet should go missing the top half can quickly serve as a master copy for a lost poster.

 

[ELMC]

I understand wanting to know how having a dog may change the check in procedure. I am hearing impaired and am comforted by knowing what to expect, especially in situations where there might be communication issues, like ESL or CMs looking down at a computer screen so I cant easily lip read (not to mention the current mask situation). So I get wanting to know what to expect since this is your first time. I'm sorry I cant help with that specifically.

If you plan on traveling with your pets frequently you might consider getting all relevant information onto one sheet, keeping a physical sheet with you, a photo of the sheet and an emailed backup. For my pets I always included a picture of the pet, contact information (and a secondary contact method) and and known medical issues (allergies and medications). On the bottom half I had a scaled down picture of the dog's rabies vaccine, a scaled down photo of licensing paperwork, vet contact information and all other vaccinations information. I recommend something like this because it keeps all the info in one place and also if your pet should go missing the top half can quickly serve as a master copy for a lost poster.

Thank you for not only understanding exactly why I was asking, but for sharing your experiences as well. It was very helpful.

 

[kaytieeldr]

It does not matter what experience any other person bringing a dog to a Walt Disney World resort has in the past or will have in the future (the question you asked). Past performance is not indicative of future results.

The one and only thing that matters is that you must have proof of vaccination. You may not ever be asked. You might be asked every time you leave the room with your dog. It doesn't matter.

It truly, genuinely sounds as if the dog is not vaccinated and there are no plans for vaccination (therefore no proof available. So consider this: what backup plan is in place for being made to leave the resort due to lack of requested proof?

My question is whether or not you were actually asked for documentation at any point in time during your stay. I ask because I'm wondering how this might be handled if we are doing online check-in.

 

[monkeydawn]

It does not matter what experience any other person bringing a dog to a Walt Disney World resort has in the past or will have in the future (the question you asked). Past performance is not indicative of future results.

The one and only thing that matters is that you must have proof of vaccination. You may not ever be asked. You might be asked every time you leave the room with your dog. It doesn't matter.

It truly, genuinely sounds as if the dog is not vaccinated and there are no plans for vaccination (therefore no proof available. So consider this: what backup plan is in place for being made to leave the resort due to lack of requested proof?

OP has clearly stated on more than one occasion that she has the necessary documentation and that she plans on bringing it. Her plan is not to skirt the policy she is simply wondering how this policy affects on line check in which typically requires no staff member interaction since there is no place during on line check in to upload the vaccination certificate.

Why is this so hard for so many people to grasp? Is it that you dont believe the OP when she states she has the documentation? Are people typlically that cagey here that you basically have to assume everyone is just looking for tips on skirting policy rather than asking the question actually posed? I ask because this has been implied several times.

 

[ELMC]

OP has clearly stated on more than one occasion that she has the necessary documentation and that she plans on bringing it. Her plan is not to skirt the policy she is simply wondering how this policy affects on line check in which typically requires no staff member interaction since there is no place during on line check in to upload the vaccination certificate.

Why is this so hard for so many people to grasp? Is it that you dont believe the OP when she states she has the documentation? Are people typlically that cagey here that you basically have to assume everyone is just looking for tips on skirting policy rather than asking the question actually posed? I ask because this has been implied several times.

THANK YOU! And to confirm what you're saying, both our dogs are completely up to date on their vaccinations and we have the supporting documentation. You're right, if people had just asked to clarify instead of assuming the worst then this thread wouldn't have taken the nasty turn that it did. Thank you for making that point far more eloquently than I could have.

 

[monkeydawn]

THANK YOU! And to confirm what you're saying, both our dogs are completely up to date on their vaccinations and we have the supporting documentation. You're right, if people had just asked to clarify instead of assuming the worst then this thread wouldn't have taken the nasty turn that it did. Thank you for making that point far more eloquently than I could have.

I felt bad for you. I could easily see myself creating the same sort of thread, it being crystal clear in my mind but then a misinterpretation by someone else snowballing. LOL

But the way things were being picked apart here and on another thread seriously made me wonder what kind of world I had stumbled into, yesterday was my first day in the lodging area of dis. I was thinking maybe here is where everyone goes to thwart the rules and some people are just not having it? The tone here is just so different than elsewhere on the dis that is had my head spinning.