Pets at Disney?

[mlj'smom]

We have a new member of our family ~ a golden retriever! We usually try to go to Disney every year, but our next trip will be a dilemma over what to do with Thomas. My kids would miss him terribly. I see that the Universal hotels allow pets, a nice option. But we've always stayed at Disney. (We drive, never fly, so as long as he is well trained in car behavior by our next trip, that part wouldn't be a problem.) What do most people do with their pets? Has anyone ever brought them along? I know Disney has kennels, but are they just for the day when you go to the parks? I'd love to hear what some of you have done in the past. This is a new experience for us. Thanks!
~Michele

 

[Deb & Bill]

Only service dogs or other service animals are permitted in the Disney resorts. They have to be lodged in a kennel overnight. It could be a very miserable vacation for your pet if they are used to being out and playing. Could you get a petsitter or board it at some nice place? We board our dog (she's nearly 12) at our vet's where we pay for delux boarding which includes a daily romp outside by herself with one of the vet's employees.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

We stay at FW and take our dog all the time, but he spends the night in the camper with us, and he is used to being alone during the day. I know the kennel at FW allows overnight stays for pets, but I am not sure about the other kennels on WDW. They really aren't convenient to the hotels, since they are at the park entrances. You are expected to walk your own dog, and a young dog they will expect you to walk more frequently. In reading your post, it looks like your main concern is the separation anxiety your children will suffer. I don't think this will be a major factor since they will be at WDW. But how miserable will your dog be stuck in a strange kennel all day and all night, waiting for you to come and visit him?

 

[campingcorgi]

My dog loves his WDW vacations, too! He gets lots of long walks and gets to ride along-side the bike. He even gets to sneak a ride on the golf cart after it is dark. FW in an rv is the way to go!

 

[mlj'smom]

Thanks. These are the kinds of things I was wanting to know ~ mainly other experiences. No, we don't want him stuck in some strange kennel all day. At Universal, apparently they can stay in your hotel room, and there are special areas for walking and exercising pets. That would make sense. Or an RV at Ft. Wilderness. That's an option I'd never thought of.....renting an RV. It's something we've thought about doing in the future, anyway, so it might be fun to try it out! And, yes, of course, there is always Grandma's house. Kids love Grandma's, the dog loves Grandma's, so he would be well cared for there. It's just that he's really become "part of the family," so yes, there would be separation anxiety. Anyplace that's pet-friendly appeals to us now.

 

[xplor]

Originally posted by mlj'smom
Thanks. These are the kinds of things I was wanting to know ~ mainly other experiences. No, we don't want him stuck in some strange kennel all day. At Universal, apparently they can stay in your hotel room, and there are special areas for walking and exercising pets. That would make sense. Or an RV at Ft. Wilderness. That's an option I'd never thought of.....renting an RV. It's something we've thought about doing in the future, anyway, so it might be fun to try it out! And, yes, of course, there is always Grandma's house. Kids love Grandma's, the dog loves Grandma's, so he would be well cared for there. It's just that he's really become "part of the family," so yes, there would be separation anxiety. Anyplace that's pet-friendly appeals to us now.

I have a golden retriever that suffers from SEVERE seperation anxiety. He is better now when alone in the house, but try to put him in his crate and he darn near goes insane! He has eaten his way out of plastic crates, and manuevered his way out of a metal one. He starts drooling immediately and is completely soaked with it by the time we get home. Ugh! Anyway- he is definitely a very large part of our family- but for us, boarding here locally is the only way to go. I have a great place- this french woman who just oohhs and ahhhs over all the animals. They are all babies that get spoiled while there!!! When my previous dog stayed there (she was 12 at the time with serious skin problems) they bathed her in oatmeal shampoo every day and didn't charge me a cent for it! And she was there for 9 days. We pay a little more for it- but it was well worth it. I trust her completely! For us, it is better to drop him off once and pick him up once. He would probably completely lose it if we had to go walk him and then leave him again. When you are just about ready to leave, you will know what is best for your dog. Even though he will be housebroken, will he possibly still have accidents? Will he bark alot? Will he get carsick?
Either way- have fun! And goldens are the best!!!!