Service Dog Admission

[SueM in MN]

Thank you to everyone for your information. My service dog does have a vest along with patches. He is extremely well behaved so I don't think there will be any confusion there, I'm just nervous about any confrontation at the entrance but I guess it will be pretty easy. I guess I just really wanted to know if I had to go to guest services or if I could just go straight to the normal turn styles like the general public.

You don't need to Guest Relations.

When you enter the park, there will be a kiosk or area with park maps right near the entrance. Look for the park maps marked as being for Guests with Disabilities. They look very much like the 'regular' park maps, but have additional information, such as the access route to follow for people with disabilities for each attraction. There is also information for guests with service dogs, such as the general area for dog rest stops and which attractions service dogs are not allowed on.
If you don't see any of those special park maps, you can get one in Guest Relations (ask and they will give you one for each park, not just the park you are in).

 

[kaytieeldr]

I distinctly remember one story, however, in which a woman with a small, yappy Yorkie got access into the parks by telling the CMs there that her dog had seperation anxiety and she couldn't leave him alone...

You're kidding (yes, I know you're not)! A service human for a dog? But, how can that be? The dog didn't have valid park admission, how could his SH enter the park with him without that?

 

[cm8]

You're kidding (yes, I know you're not)! A service human for a dog? But, how can that be? The dog didn't have valid park admission, how could his SH enter the park with him without that?

 

[servicedogfriend]

I talked to a woman today who works at EPCOT and she told me that all he would need to enter the park is his service dog vest, which he has. I am very pleased to find that this will not be difficult and will be rather enjoyable.

 

[Stag]

Disney is RENOWNED for being great to peope with all kinds of disabilities and they're known for being one of THE most accessible places there is! It's always good to know you won't have problems when you go someplace and I'm sending you pixie dust for your trip. Have fun!

 

[janellmd]

Does anyone have any suggestions for taking a service dog to Disney for the first time? I have been self training Tally as a diabetic alert dog and she's been doing great with the alerting and public access stuff around here but she's still young and there are so many things she'll encounter at Disney for the first time. I'm worried that she'll play the dork and bark at Mickey Mouse or be terified just beng near the rides . . .

 

[Stag]

First tip: Don't worry! Your dog will pick up on it if you're anxious about her behavior.

Second of all, Florida has full access rights for service dogs in training. I know for a fact that there is a SD school down there that takes their puppies on a "field trip" to Disney, so I'm sure if your pup plays the dork and barks at Mickey, it won't be the first time it's happened.


The tips I can give you are basic type things:

Invest in a collapsible water bowl. It can tuck into a pocket or bag and you won't even notice it's there (my dog has a bag on her vest and carries her own.) You can fill this up at water fountains or bathroom sinks and they're SUPER cheap to buy online. We got ours for only FOUR dollars-- sure, it's orange, and I didn't want orange, but hey!

I also suggest looking into either some warm-weather boots, sandals (yes, they make them) or this stuff called Mushers Secret, which is a wax you rub on the feet and it protects them from salt and heat. We are probably going to get sandals for her-- make SURE whatever you get has no insulation because if it does, your dog can overheat very easily. We like the sandals you can find online-- this depends on how big your dog is-- because they offer protection from the hot blacktop but they do not trap heat in the boot.

If you can swing it, opportunities to rest are really important. Even if it's just an air conditioned stop at a restaurant midday, it will give your dog some time to recharge. Even better is a midday nap, but that's not always possible, so my plan is to take it slow, do lots of shows and restaurant seating, and give my pup time to relax in line and things.

On the topic of keeping cool, at the very least I suggest a cooling bandana or something like that. There are cooling vests/jackets that I am looking into for my girl because I don't want an overheated dog-- this happens very easily. You can get them online and at pet stores, and they will help keep your dog cool. Depending on the kind of dog you have, you might even look into getting their hair cut short-- poodles, maltese, yorkies, etc. all these dogs don't have a problem with short cuts. If you have a double coated breed-- lab, border collie, german shepherd, etc. DO NOT do this! Shaving a breed like this will actually make them hotter because their hair is insulation from the heat.

There are energy dog treats you can get also-- again online or, if you're particularly into cooking, you can even make them yourself. http://hubpages.com/hub/High-Energy-Biscuits <---- Here are some recipes. I plan on making some just to pop her one every once in a while, if I notice she's starting to get laggy, and you might even want to pack a midday snack for your dog, depending on how often she eats at home. On that note, treats are important to bring along beacuse it's a high distraction environment, with lots of new things, and being able to reward your dog for focusing on you will go a long way.

Be prepared to have to "child swap" if there's a ride you and the rest of your family would like to go on, but the dog can't. Disney is notorious for being very accessible so many rides are ones the dog may go on.

4D rides and shows are something you want to also be careful about! I know of someone whose dog was startled by a sudden puff of air from under the seats... right where a service dog would lay, and he couldn't relax until they left the theater. Poor guy. Speaking of shows, watch out for the noise levels in some of them! I'm paranoid about my dog's ears, though, and will be investing in a pair of Mutt Muffs.

There was one more thing I wanted to say but I cannot remember what it was... I'm sure I'll report back and edit this post when I actually do!

 

[servicedogfriend]

 

[Nonsuch]

Does anyone have any suggestions for taking a service dog to Disney for the first time? I have been self training Tally as a diabetic alert dog and she's been doing great with the alerting and public access stuff around here but she's still young and there are so many things she'll encounter at Disney for the first time. I'm worried that she'll play the dork and bark at Mickey Mouse or be terified just beng near the rides . . .

I saw 3 service dogs at Disneyland last week. My wife thought they were "in training" since she noticed some of the commands the handlers were using. We speculated the trainers wanted the dogs to experience the crowds during a Main Street parade

 

[SueM in MN]

My hint would be to take your dog out as much and in as many different environments as possible before your trip.
The more experience she has with being out, the less trouble she'll have with new things.

 

[hillyblack]

Have a wonderful time.. what kind of psd do you have, I'm a psd handler in MA , and I always love to hear other peoples stories..
hilly4paws & Lilly

 

[dclfun]

Does anyone have any suggestions for taking a service dog to Disney for the first time? I have been self training Tally as a diabetic alert dog and she's been doing great with the alerting and public access stuff around here but she's still young and there are so many things she'll encounter at Disney for the first time. I'm worried that she'll play the dork and bark at Mickey Mouse or be terified just beng near the rides . . .

I wouldn't worry about dorky behavior. The only reason you would be asked to remove your SD from the park is if he/she is disruptive, and that usually means posing a danger to other guests by growling or snapping. SD's don't exhibit this kind of behavior, although I have encountered several dogs in purchased vests at WDW who have lunged at my SD and tried to attack and as such, I doubt they were SD's. I remember when Skye had her first visit to a Disney park which was at Epcot. They were having the character encounter over by the entrance to World Showcase. I put her in a sit and had her watch from a distance. Once I knew she was okay with it, I approached one of the handlers, explained that it was her first time seeing a costumed character and he had several of them come over to interact. She didn't know what to make of Pluto as she recognized him as a dog. What was funny was that she didn't realize Goofy was also a dog. For Pluto she got into a play-bow and he responded back. Of course then I told Skye to "sit" and Pluto "sat", so it was quite funny and relieved any stress I had that she would bark or misbehave. We all act silly at Disney sometimes and I don't expect perfection from anyone, even my SD or anyone else's. I just expect her to help me when asked, to maintain a heel and to pay attention to me in case I need to give her a command. So far, 5 years later, so good.---Kathy and Skye

 

[SueM in MN]

I wouldn't worry about dorky behavior. The only reason you would be asked to remove your SD from the park is if he/she is disruptive, and that usually means posing a danger to other guests by growling or snapping. SD's don't exhibit this kind of behavior, although I have encountered several dogs in purchased vests at WDW who have lunged at my SD and tried to attack and as such, I doubt they were SD's. I remember when Skye had her first visit to a Disney park which was at Epcot. They were having the character encounter over by the entrance to World Showcase. I put her in a sit and had her watch from a distance. Once I knew she was okay with it, I approached one of the handlers, explained that it was her first time seeing a costumed character and he had several of them come over to interact. She didn't know what to make of Pluto as she recognized him as a dog. What was funny was that she didn't realize Goofy was also a dog. For Pluto she got into a play-bow and he responded back. Of course then I told Skye to "sit" and Pluto "sat", so it was quite funny and relieved any stress I had that she would bark or misbehave. We all act silly at Disney sometimes and I don't expect perfection from anyone, even my SD or anyone else's. I just expect her to help me when asked, to maintain a heel and to pay attention to me in case I need to give her a command. So far, 5 years later, so good.---Kathy and Skye

That is too funny.

I agree with your dog though; most of us humans don't know what to make of Pluto being a dog that acts like a dog and Goofy also being a dog, but acting like a human

 

[OneLittleSpark]

Hello Everyone,
I have a psychiatric service dog and I am planning on bringing him to Walt Disney World. He is a fully trained and behaved service dog. I would like to know a few things before I go though. Do I have to bring any papers or identification to the entrance? Will cast members even question my dog at the entrance if he is wearing his vest? Will I have to enter from a special place or will I go to the front entrance like everyone else? Are the cast members friendly towards service dog teams? Will they be familiar with what a psychiatric service dog is? I would greatly appreciate any help anyone has about my questions. Thanks!

You shouldn't have any trouble doing Disney with a SD, they're great about all disabilities! As Sue said, it would be good for you to pick up one of the maps for Guests with disabilities, to help with your first trip. You might also want to check out the WDW page on disabilities which has a section on touring the parks with a SD.

One of the important sections in this tells you which rides SDs are not permitted on, and which ones to be cautious of. For the rides that your SD can't go on, you will be able to do a rider swap. This allows one person to ride while another stays at the loading bay with the dog (also done for people with small children); you then switch over and the other person rides. This allows you to all go in line together, and take your SD through the line with you, without putting your SD in a potentially dangerous situation. Just tell the CM at loading (and maybe at the ride entrance if appropriate) that you want to do this, and they'll arrange things for you.

As Boo said, there are some attractions that SDs are allowed in, but which some get scared by. I suggest you ask the CM at the entrance for any 3D shows whether there are effects under the seat (HISTA is the one that springs instantly to mind) which might disturb your SD. If so, ask to sit in an aisle seat, so your dog can sit beside you, rather than under the seat. For shows with loud noises, such as Indiana Jones, you might want to try to sit a bit of a way back, and take some Mutt Muffs as Boo suggests.

You might want to see whether you would be able to use the wheelchair viewing areas for parades. To do this, you would need a Guest Assistance Card (wheelchair users don't need this, as the chair is 'proof' enough in itself, but you may need a GAC for invisible disabilities such as yours), which can be aquired from Guest Services at any of the parks (see the FAQ for full details). These roped off areas would provide a little more protection for you guys, so he's less likely to be stepped on. It could also give you a little more space, if you have anxiety issues in crowds. You'll probably want to arrive at these spaces reasonably early, as they can fill up quickly. My favourite in MK is the one in Liberty Square - nice and cool, and there's a low wall across the back of part of the section, which you can sit on if you get there early enough.

Does anyone have any suggestions for taking a service dog to Disney for the first time? I have been self training Tally as a diabetic alert dog and she's been doing great with the alerting and public access stuff around here but she's still young and there are so many things she'll encounter at Disney for the first time. I'm worried that she'll play the dork and bark at Mickey Mouse or be terified just beng near the rides . . .

If she's a SDIT, you'll probably want to go with a big pocket full of treats, so you can do plenty of positive reinforcement for good behaviour. As others have said, take things gently and expect to go at a more relaxed pace. She will need to drink a lot more than normal, and she may need to eat more too, as you'll be doing a lot of walking. There are plenty of nice, air conditioned areas where you guys can go to chill out a bit. The Kodak centre on Main Street Town Square has a little cinema at the back that shows old Disney cartoons. It's very quiet back there, and would be a great place to take a short break if the parks get too overwhelming.

Good luck to all of you, and do let us know how you got on when you get back!

 

[Nicole&Becker]

Hello Everyone,
I have a psychiatric service dog and I am planning on bringing him to Walt Disney World. He is a fully trained and behaved service dog. I would like to know a few things before I go though. Do I have to bring any papers or identification to the entrance? Will cast members even question my dog at the entrance if he is wearing his vest? Will I have to enter from a special place or will I go to the front entrance like everyone else? Are the cast members friendly towards service dog teams? Will they be familiar with what a psychiatric service dog is? I would greatly appreciate any help anyone has about my questions. Thanks!

I have not read the other responses yet, but wanted to point out that Psychiatric Service Dogs are NOT therapy dogs. Therapy dogs are pets who cheer people up in hospitals and nursing homes. Psychiatric Service Dogs are those that are trained to help a handler with a psychiatric disability just the same as any other disability.

As for the person asking the questions here is what you need to know:

Never show ID for your SD to gain entry into any kind of public place as this actually makes it harder for other service dog teams after you. ID, papers, and the like are not required by law. All you need to do is just have your dog behave well and it is helpful to wear a vest but not required. They cannot deny you entry for any reason unless your dog is aggressive and causing a disturbance by barking or growling. It sounds like your dog does none of those things so you should be perfectly fine.

You should enter in through the normal areas, but use the wheel chair entrance because the dog cannot go through a turnstile.

You are under NO obligation to disclose your disability to anyone at all, so do not identify your dog by anything other than a service dog. That is all they need to know. It is only going to make life harder on you if you disclose your disability to others freely.

Disney is great about service dogs and you should be just fine. There are many rides your dog can ride with you. There are special potty areas for service dogs as well. You will need to ask cast members where these are. It is also a good idea to take a mid-day break so your dog can rest. Be sure to allow your dogs to have plenty of water while in the parks.

If you have any other questions, feel free to email me. I too have a PSD, and will be going to WDW after Thanksgiving this year. If you will be there around the same time, I would love to meet up.

you can email me at LifeWithAServiceDog@gmail.com

Hugs!!

PS, what kind of dog do you have? Mine is a chocolate lab who is coming home from his training program in June.

 

[KyMinnie]

I don't have service dog so can't offer many suggestions on that. But I do have a white dog and my suggestion make sure to put some suncreen on the dog's ears and around their noise/face if they have light colored fur...they can get a nasty burn especially in the florida sun.