Registered emotional support dog allowed?

[Cais]

I'm going to go with Robo here and say Yes.

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[Gracie09]

Calling and confirming will get you as many different answers as people you talk to.

. Yup especially since the phone cm are not park operations cm and may have never been inside a Disney park never mind know the rules to operating them

 

[bumbershoot]

So, according to all those, the answer would be Service Dogs are allowed. Emotional Support dogs would not be.

According to the law.

But that's not the question. The question is about Disney policy.

Going with robo here. No matter what the philosophical "what should be" answer might be.

 

[AmyB2006]

I would go with the information Sue posted. She is the mod for the DISabilities forum and knows her stuff. Especially since she has posted the ADA information and the Florida state information about the law.

I would call Disney and go with what they say. No disrespect to Sue or Robo, they both know their stuff, but clearly there are differing experiences and opinions, and there is no flat answer on the internet.

 

[larryz]

...

 

[AmyB2006]

Calling and confirming will get you as many different answers as people you talk to.

And this is why I would get the name of the person you talked to and document the time and day. I mean Disney employs these people to answer phones, they have to back up the answers that are given sometimes. If I were that person, and I called, and was told I was able to bring my dog and then they said no once I was there, that would be a big problem.

 

[MichelleVW]

The week before Christmas we saw a lady walking a little dog wearing a dress at Epcot. We didn't ask how she got it in the park and but since we're dog people we just stopped and pet her. Didn't look like a service dog at all.

 

[aaarcher86]

I imagine Disney would allow them. I wish they didn't. I'm still waiting for an 'emotional support' dog in a leotard and crown to take a snap at some kid walking by.

And this is why I would get the name of the person you talked to and document the time and day. I mean Disney employs these people to answer phones, they have to back up the answers that are given sometimes. If I were that person, and I called, and was told I was able to bring my dog and then they said no once I was there, that would be a big problem.

That'd help you report them, but they wouldn't change their answer for it. So you'd still have the problem unfortunately. Like when guests get told they can use 2 base tickets to park hop.

 

[AmyB2006]

That'd help you report them, but they wouldn't change their answer for it. So you'd still have the problem unfortunately. Like when guests get told they can use 2 base tickets to park hop.

I'm just saying we should not be accepting that "Oh that's a call center employee not a real CM" as an excuse. If we demand that Disney back up the answers that we get from the people they employ to answer phones, things could change. But it'll never happen. :/

 

[livndisney]

Per Disney executive offices-Emotional support animals are not allowed. Per Disney policy only Service animals are allowed.

 

[livndisney]

I imagine Disney would allow them. I wish they didn't. I'm still waiting for an 'emotional support' dog in a leotard and crown to take a snap at some kid walking by.

It has already happened-minus the leotard.

 

[Sleepy425]

When I worked there in 2004 we were told that people could pretty much bring any animal in, claim it was for emotional support, and we had to let it be.
Mind you I was a custodian and did not work front gates, but our training was all done together so every learned the same thing.

 

[asta]

I would hope that WDW would not allow them. I have a daughter with an extreme fear of dogs who would not be able to be anywhere near a dog. She was attacked by someone's "pet" dog and I think her fear is justified. The dog that attacked her was a pet and a breed that should have been gentle. Dogs are still animals and unless they have been through extensive training, I don't think others should be forced to be exposed to them. If WDW allows these dogs I hope their lawyers are prepared for law suits if anyone is bitten.

 

[aaarcher86]

It has already happened-minus the leotard.

Nice. I'm not above football punting dogs that try to bite me/my kids!

 

[Magpie]

I would hope that WDW would not allow them. I have a daughter with an extreme fear of dogs who would not be able to be anywhere near a dog. She was attacked by someone's "pet" dog and I think her fear is justified. The dog that attacked her was a pet and a breed that should have been gentle. Dogs are still animals and unless they have been through extensive training, I don't think others should be forced to be exposed to them. If WDW allows these dogs I hope their lawyers are prepared for law suits if anyone is bitten.

Regardless of the status of emotional support dogs, your daughter will still have to cope with service dogs (as in, seeing eye dogs and hearing ear dogs and dogs that can sense impending seizures) *and* she'll also have to cope with security dogs both in the airport and in the parks.

Disney has K9 Security. I've seen them myself, being walked through the parks.

Your daughter's fear is rational considering her experience, but also severely limiting and potentially dangerous for her. I'd encourage you both to look into ways to become more comfortable and confident around dogs. Some who is familiar with dogs can often predict when they are about to get aggressive, and head off any possible attack.

I've been approached aggressively by dogs. Breed, and whether or not it's a pet, is irrelevant. Any dog can be aggressive or fearful (and the ones who are scared of you are potentially even more dangerous than the ones who just want to bully you). A strong, confident, "HEY!" combined with a step forward and squared shoulders, will get you a LOT further with a dog than fearful cringing or high pitched cries for help.

If you want your daughter to be safe when she's out in public, especially as she gets older and goes out without you to protect her, you need to help her overcome her fear of dogs.

 

[JanaDee]

Regardless of the status of emotional support dogs, your daughter will still have to cope with service dogs (as in, seeing eye dogs and hearing ear dogs and dogs that can sense impending seizures) *and* she'll also have to cope with security dogs both in the airport and in the parks.

Those types of dogs are highly trained and controlled.

Emotional support animals are not highly trained or controlled.

People who claim an emotional support animal usually do so because they can't bear to be away from little Fifi or Fido, or they mistakenly believe little Fifi or Fido don't want to be away from them for any period of time.

 

[AmyB2006]

Regardless of the status of emotional support dogs, your daughter will still have to cope with service dogs (as in, seeing eye dogs and hearing ear dogs and dogs that can sense impending seizures) *and* she'll also have to cope with security dogs both in the airport and in the parks.

Disney has K9 Security. I've seen them myself, being walked through the parks.

Your daughter's fear is rational considering her experience, but also severely limiting and potentially dangerous for her. I'd encourage you both to look into ways to become more comfortable and confident around dogs. Some who is familiar with dogs can often predict when they are about to get aggressive, and head off any possible attack.

I've been approached aggressively by dogs. Breed, and whether or not it's a pet, is irrelevant. Any dog can be aggressive or fearful (and the ones who are scared of you are potentially even more dangerous than the ones who just want to bully you). A strong, confident, "HEY!" combined with a step forward and squared shoulders, will get you a LOT further with a dog than fearful cringing or high pitched cries for help.

If you want your daughter to be safe when she's out in public, especially as she gets older and goes out without you to protect her, you need to help her overcome her fear of dogs.

Excellent response

 

[asta]

Regardless of the status of emotional support dogs, your daughter will still have to cope with service dogs (as in, seeing eye dogs and hearing ear dogs and dogs that can sense impending seizures) *and* she'll also have to cope with security dogs both in the airport and in the parks.

Disney has K9 Security. I've seen them myself, being walked through the parks.

Your daughter's fear is rational considering her experience, but also severely limiting and potentially dangerous for her. I'd encourage you both to look into ways to become more comfortable and confident around dogs. Some who is familiar with dogs can often predict when they are about to get aggressive, and head off any possible attack.

I've been approached aggressively by dogs. Breed, and whether or not it's a pet, is irrelevant. Any dog can be aggressive or fearful (and the ones who are scared of you are potentially even more dangerous than the ones who just want to bully you). A strong, confident, "HEY!" combined with a step forward and squared shoulders, will get you a LOT further with a dog than fearful cringing or high pitched cries for help.

If you want your daughter to be safe when she's out in public, especially as she gets older and goes out without you to protect her, you need to help her overcome her fear of dogs.

My experience is that service and security dogs have gone through extensive training and are always under full control by leash when out in crowds. I did not think that emotional assistance dogs had that type of training. As far as emotional assistance, I think many types of animals provide that type of support. Does Disney only allow dogs or will they allow other animals that provide that support. I have a cat who comes to comfort me at the slightest amount of stress. Would I be allowed to bring her into WDW?

I can only see problems with this. Around here dogs have had to be banned at street fairs and the local farmers market because of biting or other annoying behavior. I would think it could be a field day of lawsuits at WDW.

 

[Magpie]

Those types of dogs are highly trained and controlled.

Emotional support animals are not highly trained or controlled.

People who claim an emotional support animal usually do so because they can't bear to be away from little Fifi or Fido, or they mistakenly believe little Fifi or Fido don't want to be away from them for any period of time.

Most dogs your daughter comes across in life will not be highly trained or controlled. If her first reaction is panic, she is very likely to end up getting hurt.

Even very highly trained working dogs can act unpredictably, such as in this Indiana case where a police dog bit a child during a classroom demonstration: http://www.theindychannel.com/news/local-news/w-ind-police-dog-bites-boy-during-demonstration Other news outlets suggested that the child flinched or tried to jump back, and accidentally triggered an aggressive response in the dog. Which is exactly what fear can do, when you're interacting with a dog.

As for Emotional Support Dogs, you cannot know how much training any particular one has or haven't had, OR how legitimate their owner's need is. Try having some compassion and an open mind, before you decide it's all just because "they can't bear to be away from little Fifi".

This woman puts it well:

To have an ESA, you have to be diagnosed with a mental/emotional health related disability recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 4th Edition and you have to be under the care of a mental health professional. This is not something you can take advantage of if you simply have a fear of flying or if you just want to get around airline fees.

http://gigigriffis.com/the-skinny-on-emotional-support-animals/

 

[JanaDee]

Most dogs your daughter comes across in life will not be highly trained or controlled. If her first reaction is panic, she is very likely to end up getting hurt.

Even very highly trained working dogs can act unpredictably, such as in this Indiana case where a police dog bit a child during a classroom demonstration: http://www.theindychannel.com/news/local-news/w-ind-police-dog-bites-boy-during-demonstration Other news outlets suggested that the child flinched or tried to jump back, and accidentally triggered an aggressive response in the dog. Which exactly what fear can do, when you're interacting with a dog.

As for Emotional Support Dogs, you cannot know how much training any particular one has or haven't had, OR how legitimate their owner's need is. Try having some compassion and an open mind, before you decide it's all just because "they can't bear to be away from little Fifi".

This woman puts it well:

My daughter doesn't have a fear of dogs. Neither do I.

I am tired of irresponsible dog owners who think the world should revolve around them and their pets. Unless it is a highly trained and documented service animal, it does not belong at a theme park.