Trial Run for Dogs in Resort Rooms

[LSUmiss]

No, it wouldn't. It makes perfect sense that they converted one resort per level plus the cabins at FW.

If you were a Deluxe "snob" you wouldn't be happy having to stay at POR or AoA in order to have your dog with you. Conversely, if you were budget minded you wouldn't be happy having to pay more for POR the Yacht Club. POR is a middle ground but Deluxe fans don't like the outside corridors and Value fans see no reason to pay for beautiful grounds and a pool slide so both of those groups are unhappy. The FW cabins are expensive and inconvenient. I don't see where anyone would be happy there unless they love the FW community and love to commune with nature (before anyone gets offended, they are on my bucket list).

It really does make more sense to convert 4 resorts rather than try to figure out exactly what level of resort is best for dog owners.

Hey, hey on the deluxe “snob”. Funny thing is we became that b/c of how loud things were (in our experiences) at the moderate & value levels & that was way before pets were allowed btw! And, I think POR transportation is HORRIBLE....but that is for a different thread!

 

[StageTek]

Then don't stand that close to a leashed dog! It's really not that hard.

You have a lot of faith in dog owners. Many of us do not.

At a resort one can stand quite a ways away from a leashed dog that gets away from their owner and runs to greet a person they see. The dog is just being friendly. Most of the time the person doesn't know that. All of us dog owners KNOW that many, many people do not control their dogs well.

 

[LSUmiss]

After listening to the Podcast and reading a lot of comments on the forums, I have heard the argument repeatedly that many other hotels are pet-friendly, and have no issues. However, those hotels don't have nearly community and forums that Disney has for folks to express their opinion. Did anyone ever consider that the majority of travelers do not like pet friendly hotels, and just have not had the platform to express that opinion? I just personally avoid those hotels, but have never complained, written the hotel management or even taken to social media to express my distaste for "pet-friendly" hotels. I figure, I don't own those hotels and no one would listen to just one customer. But, seeing the negative response this new policy has had, I realize, I'm actually in the majority. I can't tell you how many times I've heard from bloggers, podcasters and travel agencies, they are shocked at the backlash. Well, maybe we have been the silent majority in the past when it comes to what other hotels do, but Disney is a special place to all of us, and I think we are raising our voices a little more loudly because we don't want to see it go to the dogs!

But I would assume they have been profitable to continue just from a business standpoint. Most likely it’s b/c most ppl didn’t even realize they were staying in a pet friendly hotel.

 

[tee11]

Their best bet, frankly, would be to announce a suspension of the policy and go back to the drawing board to retool it, with more care and input from guests, rather than adjusting on the fly....

I couldn’t agree more! Why wouldn’t they poll their guests? There are a lot of good and workable ideas around, that they should look into - like a new dedicated pet friendly resort with an integrated pet daycare and a pet spa.

Otherwise, the least they could do is to set the date one year out, and start this at ONE hotel. One that doesn’t share facilities with another. One that has not just finished interior renovations. One that the majority and management believes would be a good “test” candidate.

 

[LVSWL]

Disney expelling paying guests.

Good one.

Exactly, same as with that other thing only ok in certain areas. When we have complained Disney told us we could move. Really? We weren't breaking the rules.

 

[LSUmiss]

This is the difference between a (legit) service dog and a pet.

Many dog owners are so accustom to their pets behavior they drop their guard. THEY know their dog (even a little ones) means no harm and will cause no harm but they don't always fully appreciate those people who don't know their dog or have issues with dogs. A service dog is well trained to do their job, a pet is not.

I would be all for this if I had faith in pet owners.

I’m not doubting your experiences, but there is always the other side. I frequent pet friendly places a lot like petsmart, the vet etc & I have rarely had a pet owner just let their dog run up to me uncontrolled. In fact, there have been times that I wanted to interact with a particularly cute puppy, but it would have been weird for me to approach the owner so I didn’t. Maybe certain areas of the country/world see this more, but it has just not been in an issue in my area so I guess that’s why I have more faith that pet owners will be responsible.

 

[hunyb207]

The reality is Disney is going to test out dog friendly resorts for the next year. They may even decide to keep it permanently. I totally understand being upset for maybe a couple of hours (not including those with severe allergies or fear of dogs) but at some point it's best to adapt to the change or just not go at all. 4 out of 20+ hotels is hardly "going to the dogs". I just feel like if such trivial things would "ruin" my vacation then it would be time to reevaluate my priorities. Again, you can choose to be right or you can choose to be happy. If you aren't going to be happy seeing dogs at a dog friendly resort then stay somewhere else. I seriously don't understand *willingly* putting yourself in a situation where you are expecting to be upset or mad.

 

[tee11]

Then don't stand that close to a leashed dog! It's really not that hard.

You have a lot of faith in dog owners. Many of us do not.

At a resort one can stand quite a ways away from a leashed dog that gets away from their owner and runs to greet a person they see. The dog is just being friendly. Most of the time the person doesn't know that. All of us dog owners KNOW that many, many people do not control their dogs well.

And I would add, that when just 20 dogs (a tiny fraction of the number of guests staying at a resort) are say, leashed in front of a food court or restaurant entrance, how on earth can I pass them with my toddlers/kids (as an example) without coming very close to them?!

 

[robinb]

You have a lot of faith in dog owners. Many of us do not.

At a resort one can stand quite a ways away from a leashed dog that gets away from their owner and runs to greet a person they see. The dog is just being friendly. Most of the time the person doesn't know that. All of us dog owners KNOW that many, many people do not control their dogs well.

You're swing at fences bring up remote and unlikely possibilities. COULD a dog get loose? I guess. The chances something might happen like that are very slim. And even slimmer that someone with a debilitating dog phobia is RIGHT THERE for the dog to jump on and "attack".

 

[Eveningsong]

Well well, over 20 trips to WDW over the years and 8 on property. I really like POFQ and now would only go back if they could assure me of no dogs in the vicinity. I don't like dogs, I don't like dog owners who think that everyone likes dogs and are keen to have them sniffing, yelping and barking. They should allocate rooms that are named as pet rooms and not place people like me anywhere near them. I have a severe allergy to cats and a mild one to dogs and as a result of being bitten on the face by a Pekenese when I was two years old I keep well away from any dog.

Very well put.

 

[ArwenMarie]

That's great! I love the pictures, very helpful if they're too little to read! I don't know if you caught this part - I was really insistent on it because we had a dog with such a sweet and patient temperament. He was a 35lb collie-type mutt, who spent his time in the endless task of trying to herd us all in the same room. We were not always obedient. But because he was so patient, I wanted to make sure my kids knew not all dogs were like that - both for my kids' safety and the dog's comfort. Thanks for posting this! But again, I feel like kids are so excited, over-tired, etc., in WDW that there can definitely be the possibility of issues.

Oh no, I caught it! What you said just reminded me of that infographic.

He sounds so cute. My dad had a miniature collie mix of some sort. He was the same, always nudging people lol

I had the same issue. My kids were so used to our mushball that I was worried about them with other dogs. Like they didn't have enough caution in them.

 

[robinb]

And I would add, that when just 20 dogs (a tiny fraction of the number of guests staying at a resort) are say, leashed in front of a food court or restaurant entrance, how on earth can I pass them with my toddlers/kids (as an example) without coming very close to them?!

Yet more exaggeration. Twenty dogs clogging up the entrance to the food court? It's a resort, not a dog show. You and your kids will be FINE.

 

[LSUmiss]

And I would add, that when just 20 dogs (a tiny fraction of the number of guests staying at a resort) are say, leashed in front of a food court or restaurant entrance, how on earth can I pass them with my toddlers/kids (as an example) without coming very close to them?!

I’m sorry, but why are we expecting a barricade of leashed dogs in front of restaurants & stores? I know I am one opinion, but I am very protective of my dogs. That would be the only reason I would even bring them. I don’t want them in contact with strange ppl or other dogs anymore than ppl want to be. If I didn’t care, I would just board them or leave them with strangers. Again, I don’t know where ppl live that they have experienced these things. I’m almost 40 & have never seen a barricade of dogs preventing me from entering an establishment. I don’t know any dog owner who engages in the behaviors that many of you have described.

 

[tee11]

And I would add, that when just 20 dogs (a tiny fraction of the number of guests staying at a resort) are say, leashed in front of a food court or restaurant entrance, how on earth can I pass them with my toddlers/kids (as an example) without coming very close to them?!

Yet more exaggeration. Twenty dogs clogging up the entrance to the food court? It's a resort, not a dog show. You and your kids will be FINE.

Do you think 20 dogs in a DOG FRIENDLY RESORT out of 3000 guests at said Resort is a large number?!

The “20” is ridiculously low, don’t you think? I should have written 100 to make it a tad more realistic? I’m not trying to make fun of these numbers here either.

By the way, my kids love dogs. LOVE! But that doesn’t mean, I want my two year old passing a Doberman I don’t know, to reach a restaurant, pathway, etc.

 

[LSUmiss]

That goes for the barking paranoia.
1: have to be in 1 of 4 resorts
2: have to have dogs in your area
3: have to have dog left alone or in distress
4: have to have irresponsible owner
5: have to be able to hear it from your room for it to disturb you

Much more likely something else will disturb you...loud neighbors but dogs, housekeeping, wdw transportation, grass cutting, activity in the parking lot, etc

 

[Eveningsong]

Seriously! How would the Resort even attempt to get in touch with the dog owner? Texting? Send another text, if no response after x amount of time?
Which dog owner is going to leave a special event they paid for like a dessert party, or a character meal?
To track back for an hour+ - at least! - to the Resort, only to find Fluffy peacefully asleep by then (or not)?
Rinse and repeat the next day?
Seems totally unrealistic!

Even the most well intentioned dog owner cannot truly comply with this policy.

That's why dogs shouldn't be allowed to be left alone for up to 7 hours. All the other pet friendly hotels do not allow it, and neither should disney.

I husband loves dogs, not me I don't love dogs, and hecbelieves it is not fair to the dog because hotel rooms are not places dogs should be left alone ever.

 

[LSUmiss]

Do you think 20 dogs in a DOG FRIENDLY RESORT out of 3000 guests at said Resort is a large number?!

The “20” is ridiculously low, don’t you think? By the way, my kids love dogs. LOVE! But that doesn’t mean, I want my two year old passing a Doberman, I don’t know, to reach a restaurant, pathway, etc.

It’s not that 20 dogs are a lot. It’s that it’s extremely unlikely that all 20 will be in the same place all at once barricading your entrance.

 

[Sarahraegraham]

After listening to the Podcast and reading a lot of comments on the forums, I have heard the argument repeatedly that many other hotels are pet-friendly, and have no issues. However, those hotels don't have nearly community and forums that Disney has for folks to express their opinion. Did anyone ever consider that the majority of travelers do not like pet friendly hotels, and just have not had the platform to express that opinion? I just personally avoid those hotels, but have never complained, written the hotel management or even taken to social media to express my distaste for "pet-friendly" hotels. I figure, I don't own those hotels and no one would listen to just one customer. But, seeing the negative response this new policy has had, I realize, I'm actually in the majority. I can't tell you how many times I've heard from bloggers, podcasters and travel agencies, they are shocked at the backlash. Well, maybe we have been the silent majority in the past when it comes to what other hotels do, but Disney is a special place to all of us, and I think we are raising our voices a little more loudly because we don't want to see it go to the dogs!

Yes x1000!

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

That goes for the barking paranoia.
1: have to be in 1 of 4 resorts
2: have to have dogs in your area
3: have to have dog left alone or in distress
4: have to have irresponsible owner
5: have to be able to hear it from your room for it to disturb you

Much more likely something else will disturb you...loud neighbors but dogs, housekeeping, wdw transportation, grass cutting, activity in the parking lot, etc

1. Those four resorts have 4071 guest rooms (POR 2048 + AOA 984 + YC 630 + FW 409). Room occupancy varies between 2 and 6 guests. Let's use 3 guests per room as a conservative average. That's 12,213 guests staying at those resorts on any given night that it is at 100% occupancy.
2. There have been multiple reports that dog friendly rooms will NOT be limited to specific sections of these resorts but rather certain booking categories. As we all know, it is possible to have a garden view room beside a pool view room etc.
3. When the police plainly states that dogs are allowed to be left unaccompanied for up to 7 hours AND that dogs are not allowed in the parks, restaurants, pool areas, Disney Springs etc. it stands to reason that many dog owners will leave their dogs unaccompanied in guest rooms. Also, dogs do not have to be in distress to bark.
4. Even a dog owner with good intentions could choose to leave their dog in the guest room and in turn inconvenience another guest if they can't return within the specified 30 minutes to address the noise complaint.
5. This isn't necessarily true. There are rooms that front onto quiet pools or main pools and a dog barking could also be disruptive to guests enjoying those resort facilities. Disney resort rooms also don't have the best sound proofing. Are there other noises that can impact a guests stay? Of course. But when disturbed by noisy guests in other rooms a call or visit to the front desk will result in them being able to address the noise instantly because there will be a guest in the room to discuss the noise with (after all they are the ones making the noise). This is not the case with an unaccompanied dog.

 

[tee11]

I’m sorry, but why are we expecting a barricade of leashed dogs in front of restaurants & stores? I know I am one opinion, but I am very protective of my dogs. That would be the only reason I would even bring them. I don’t want them in contact with strange ppl or other dogs anymore than ppl want to be. If I didn’t care, I would just board them or leave them with strangers. Again, I don’t know where ppl live that they have experienced these things. I’m almost 40 & have never seen a barricade of dogs preventing me from entering an establishment. I don’t know any dog owner who engages in the behaviors that many of you have described.

I know, it sounds like a lot, but it really isn’t, given the size of the resorts and the number of guests, and everyone showing up with the same 1-2 hours for meals...

I understand, that as a responsible dog owner, you wouldn’t want your dog next to other unknown dogs, and away from you for extended periods of time, but not every dog owner has your same concerns I think.