service dogs in animal kingdom lodge?

[bryden]

My roommate and I, both in w/c, are taking our service dogs with us to WDW for the first time next year. We want to stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge because it seems to have the biggest room we can afford. Has anyone taken service dogs to the AKL? Is it safe with the wild animals? Are the rooms big enough for two w/c, 2 people and 2 Lab. retrievers to get around?. The people at Disney were not much help when I called them. I live in Canada, so I have to depend on others to guide me in this decision since I can;t exactly see for myself what's what. Any help would be appreciated!! thanks.

 

[dclfun]

I've stayed there with my SD, also a lab retriever. The rooms are large enough and they have the best laid-out accessible bathrooms on property. One thing though...due to the themeing there is NO GRASS anywhere on that property, so your dogs will have to relieve themselves in something other than the familiar. Took awhile for my dog to get used to because alot of it is small "brush" type vegetation that is fairly tall. The animals that are on the savannah have an electric wire fence so they cannot get too close to the balconies or viewing areas so no worries there. Just beware of the Florida heat and the transportation issues. It may be difficult to get two chairs/two dogs on one bus. Most take a maximum of two guests so if there's someone else waiting too, you might have to split up or wait for the next bus...or if the driver feels there's no space for both dogs to ride safely then you might have to split up. WDW is very stimulating and while my SD is now very used to it, her first visits resulted in frequent returns to the room to rest. Being "on the go" in the heat, esp. for long hours is really rough on dogs. ----Kathy ( and Skye)

 

[SueM in MN]

One thing though...due to the themeing there is NO GRASS anywhere on that property, so your dogs will have to relieve themselves in something other than the familiar. Took awhile for my dog to get used to because alot of it is small "brush" type vegetation that is fairly tall.

I can just picture the dog looking around and then looking at you with a look on his face like "you expect me to do WHAT?"

 

[videogal1]

When staying at AKL I took Cash across the road into the large parking lot and let him "fertilize" the plants in the parking lot dividers. Not much low-growing stuff around, lots of bark mulch...You can also wait, if your dogs object to dry scrub brush areas, until you take the bus to the parks. Across the parking lots from the bus areas are huge grassy areas that border the main roads. Cash had a great time there...

 

[dclfun]

Yup...we loved our stays there too but the "relief area" certainly isn't convenient. AKL is probably my favorite resort for total immersion themeing and I also appreciate all the rooms being inside the building in case of rain. Lynda....loved the photos! Gee, the boys look like twins! ---Kathy

 

[arminnie]

I can just picture the dog looking around and then looking at you with a look on his face like "you expect me to do WHAT?"

I took my dog (not service) to New York city once. I lived about an hour away, and my brother had a condo there.

It was SO hard to get my dog to "go". There was no grass, and he had been so well trained not to go on the sidewalk. I finally found a tiny bit of dirt under a tree and that sufficed.