Pet question

[olbear]

Hello,
We are going to the fort for the first time in 18 years with our new pop-up. We are taking our Chihuahua with us. I made ressies today, but forgot about the dog...DUH!!! So I have to call them back. but before I did I thought I'd ask your opinions on a good location/loop. I did not request a "preferred" since I can use computers up front, and don't care about TV that much. It is our wedding anniversary week, so I'm hoping we won't miss it much! LOL! I'd like it to be pretty shadded so AC won't have to work so hard. And close to comfort station.

So any suggestions?

Thanks and blessings,
Winnie

 

[CottontailCurl]

but before I did I thought I'd ask your opinions on a good location/loop. I'd like it to be pretty shadded so AC won't have to work so hard. And close to comfort station.
So any suggestions? Thanks and blessings,Winnie

Hey there! The 1600 loop might be right for you, it has lots of trees and is a pet loop. It's across from the store/pool/tennis area and right at a bus stop.

 

[VAN]

We were just there (arrive home yesterday) for a two-week stay. Each day was 90 degrees and we don't have A/C. We wanted a shaded spot and I must say that 1600 does not have all that much shade. Over the years they have been removing trees and underbrush so it looks pretty bare.

Anyway, we were first located in the 1600 loop and so requested to be moved to 1700. We loved it there and will request that loop in future. Obviously not all sites will be located close the the comfort station, but a lot of them are as the 1600 CS is at one end of the loop and there is a 1700/1900 CS located along another side of the loop.

Don't hesitate to use the FW kennel during the day. We had our 10 lb rat terrier down there most days and loved it. We were able to spend 5-6 hours at a time without worrying about him. He is used to being in a crate during the day at home, so it was fine. It is just a crate service, so you will have to "walk" your dog at least once per day. We usually did it twice per day if it was a full day. It will only cost you $10 per day.

One day we went to AK in the morning and EPCOT in the afternoon/evening, so we drove him over to the EPCOT kennel at 8:30 am ... went to AK until 2:00 ... back to EPCOT for a "walk" ... rode attractions, then back to kennel at 7:00 ... returned to park for evening meal and fireworks. It worked out great!!!

Please respond with any other questions you might have about a dog at the fort, because we were just there ... this was our first time with a dog and it worked out great for us.

 

[CottontailCurl]

We were just there (arrive home yesterday) for a two-week stay. Each day was 90 degrees and we don't have A/C. We wanted a shaded spot and I must say that 1600 does not have all that much shade. Over the years they have been removing trees and underbrush so it looks pretty bare.

Maybe the year of the hurricanes? Last time we walked around that loop it was October and we were checking out Halloween decorations, there was lots of tree cover.

 

[bradisgoofy]

Didn't I read here somewhere that to bring in a pet you had to have a hard side camper? I could be wrong, though.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

We always stay in the 1600 loop and have found it to be shady enough for us. Our last visit was October 06. Any of the pet loops are wooded and shady for the most part.

We have camped with Mickey the Wonder Beagle for the last 10 years at FW and use the kennels during the day. Actually, pretty much all of FW is shaded to some extent. We choose to use the kennels because of the occassionaly power failures which would cut off the AC. I always give the kennel staff my cell phone number in case of any emergency.

By the way, if you are camping during hurricane season and you are kenneling your dog at FW, he will be relocated to one of the other kennels on property if a hurricane hits. The large trees around the kennel at FW make it dangerous. If there is insufficient space, a nearby veterinarian will kennel the overflow. Dogs already registered at the kennel will have priority in the event of a hurricane. We were there just prior to Wilma a couple of years ago, and I quizzed the staff about what they do in these situations.

As far as the kennel, no reservations are accepted, so you will have to check in after you register. Since you are in a pop up, you MUST kennel your dog while you are gone - no pets can be left unattended in pop ups or tents. Be sure to bring an up to date shot record - they will not accept your dog at the kennel without it. The staff is top notch there and my dog looks forward to going every day. You will be required to walk your dog a couple of times a day, and they will keep track. I saw one pooch get evicted a couple of years ago because the owners were not walking him during the day. The kennel does close at night, but just tell the staff if you will be late. If you arrive to pick up your dog for the night after closing, just check over at the Outpost reception desk and someone will walk you over to get your dog. Be sure you have the pink slip they give you at check in at the kennels to prove ownership.

 

[John VN]

I think the 900 loop is really nice. Out of all the regular full hook-up pet loops this is the one we like.

 

[olbear]

Thanks for all your responses. We have taken our little 4# Chihuahua to WDW before, and he likes the kennels. We figured we'd leave him there when we were out.

Thanks again,
Winnie

 

[Rhonda]

Didn't I read here somewhere that to bring in a pet you had to have a hard side camper? I could be wrong, though.

You have to have a hard-sided camper to leave your dog in it during the day. If you have a tent or a pop-up, the dog can be with you at night, but must be kenneled during the day.

 

[pamom65]

We were at FW in mid-April. Although I know there is a rule against dogs left in pop-ups unattended, it apparently is not enforced. We had a pop-up next to us in the 300 loop and their two small dogs barked constantly whenever someone walked by. It made it rather annoying to come back to the site and have a quiet lunch and relax before going back to the parks. If it wasn't for the fact that my husband had become friendly with them, I would have reported it. BTW, I really liked the 300 loop. We were on site 328, which was nice, but it does have a large tree that makes putting out the awning a bit difficult though. This site has the large grassy dog walk area and canal behind it, and was very shady.

 

[VAN]

Just a note about picking up your dog after the kennel closes ... the staff STRESSED that after hours pick-up should be emergency only!

If you plan to be out later than 9:00 pm you may want to use one of the park kennels as those are open 1 hr after closing of the park where they are located (e.g. Epcot closes at 9:00, so the Epcot kennel closes at 10:00).

The staff at the kennel said that they "always" have room for the smaller dogs, but not so with the larger dogs. One day (during the weekend), my DH heard them talking to the Epcot kennel because they had people who needed to kennel their large dog and were full.

Re dogs left in RV's ... the only dogs I heard barking at the campsites during my recent two weeks there were those that WERE in the big motor homes!! Go figure!