Trial Run for Dogs in Resort Rooms

[Madame]

This thread has jumped to so many conclusions. Now we are speculating about dogs attacking people because they used to be wild animals and wondering who to sue for whatever.

Let's wait and see how it plays out before everyone jumps overboard.

But this is what responsible people do before they enact policy or make decisions for themselves or their families.

You’re asking questions and then implying our concerns are ridiculous simply because nothing’s happened so far. By that logic they should remove the metal detectors from the parks.

What are the potential risks in this situation? Am I comfortable with these risks? If so, then great. If not & the situation cannot be resolved to my satisfaction, then I’ll express my displeasure with my wallet. If I wanted dogs as part of my vacation I’d go to a different destination or use the kennel services, or book a camp site!

 

[DisneyFive]

I do see a problem with this trial period. Here’s one…

Because this is such a new policy, and limited in scope(resorts), the amount of Disney guests making use of it will be fairly low versus if it were to be widely known and fully implemented. This will give the false impression that very few guests are negatively impacted, because fewer guests are using it. A false impression of the real impact.

So I see both sides of the trial period debate.... On one side there is speculation and possible overreaction of this policy. On the other side is a false sense of the negative impact of full implementation. (The trial period would not truly indicate how negative this could be on guests)

If Disney implements this fully, I suspect it will be very difficult to reverse course.

Dan

 

[WDW1979]

.

 

[Designed4dis]

It's really unfair that we should even have concerns 2 weeks before we leave for WDW, after working for 4 years to save for our trip.

We are dreading this trip now. But I guess that doesn't matter if a few people can take photos of their dogs in the resorts for the Instagram likes.

 

[Gryhndmom]

Am I going to have to sue this person to get them to pay up? WDW has many international visitors who cannot simply drop everything to attend to a court case. Or even Americans who live on the other side of the country.

Those *should* be working dogs. I should not be interacting with them, nor them with me.

My kid is allergic to cats, but none of my kids like dogs & cross to the other side of the street to get away.

I am allergic to cats but not a life threatening event so I take lots of pills before a flight and visiting a friends house who does have a cat. I totally understand life threatening allergies since I have an anaphylactic reaction to shellfish and carry an epipen just in case I eat something containing shellfish (if I don't know what is in a food being served I always ask).

Many airlines (united comes to mind) have posted for those with peanut allergies that they cannot insure a peanut free zone as passengers could have nuts in their carryon and they can't clean each plane every time it lands (paraphrasing) DH flies for SW and I know they have pulled nuts from the plane but I can guarantee DH has nuts in his flight bag and they have not been pulled from his carry on.

My point is I am sure many dog owners have "traces" of their dogs on them whether it be a stray hair or pet dander myself included and while Disney mousekeeping cleaned the room we just left they just might have missed a stray hair etc. so people with allergies could already be coming into contact with allergy producing particles.

 

[mexi]

But this is what responsible people do before they enact policy or make decisions for themselves or their families.

You’re asking questions and then implying our concerns are ridiculous simply because nothing’s happened so far. By that logic they should remove the metal detectors from the parks.

What are the potential risks in this situation? Am I comfortable with these risks? If so, then great. If not & the situation cannot be resolved to my satisfaction, then I’ll express my displeasure with my wallet. If I wanted dogs as part of my vacation I’d go to a different destination or use the kennel services, or book a camp site!

I never said ridiculous.

Now we are comparing metal detectors to keep us safe from attacks which is a very real thing, to having dogs in a hotel.

I'll be using the ignore button now.

 

[WDW1979]

Because this is such a new policy, and limited in scope(resorts), the amount of Disney guests making use of it will be fairly low versus if it were to be widely known and fully implemented. This will give the false impression that very few guests are negatively impacted, because fewer guests are using it. A false impression of the real impact.

Dan

I was just thinking the same thing. People with dogs have to first become aware of the policy, then plan and book a trip possibly months in the future. So for a good portion of the trial period participation will likely be low, giving a false impression of how it may affect things when participation is higher later on.

 

[Gorechick]

It's really unfair that we should even have concerns 2 weeks before we leave for WDW, after working for 4 years to save for our trip.

We are dreading this trip now. But I guess that doesn't matter if a few people can take photos of their dogs in the resorts for the Instagram likes.

I don't think there will be a sudden inundation of pets over the next few weeks, so hopefully your stay will be enjoyable and not negatively impacted. However, do report any impact directly to resort front desk during your stay and let us know how your trip was.

 

[KarenP64]

I can’t afford to upgrade my hotel from POR and am not being offered the option to move, due to my Christmas dates.

So I guess I will be staying at POR and for the first time I’m feeling not so excited.

Whilst there:

I will ensure that I report any noise from dogs.

I will report and photograph any dog fouling around property that I happen to see.

If I happen across anyone with a dog outside of the allocated zones and anyone not using a leash, I will report them.

Anything I believe is impacting my vacation negatively will be reported.

I intend to bring a lint roller to my room to check for dog hair. If I find any I will refuse to stay in it loudly at reception.

If I go and don’t see or hear any dogs and therefore have a wonderful time, then I will happily be proven ‘worried for no reason’.

But on vacation that you've saved a long time for (possibly), you should only be concentrating on having a wonderful time with your family, not having to police the grounds (as the CMs should but more than likely won't). Are you sure you can't cancel & go to an off-site hotel as others have suggested? It makes me so angry for Disney to get all your money, having put you in such a situation, and having all those horrible issues to face on what should be a perfect vacation for you & your family!

 

[Scrapdolly]

I am not worried about dog attacks or dog pooh everywhere, I am concerned I wouldnt have chosen a dog friendly resort as I prefer not to share rooms dogs have been in. Sadly that level of choice has been removed as Disney have given no warning about this. I am travelling very soon, can't change and feel let down by Disney. NO I won't die if I stay in a room a dog has been in but wherever I Travel I make a conscious and personal decision to stay only at pet free hotels. That choice has been removed. My husband is adamant that for those of us with no notice it is a breach of contract. Yes ... Good luck with that!
I am guessing with this trip so imminent there is a fighting chance there might not have been a dog in my room. Sadly I have also booked POR for 2018 too. Stupid me to trust Disney that far in advance. THat one I Hope I can cancel.
I feel very sorry for the people who have real phobias or terrible allergies. I think they have been treated shoddily.

I am surprised there are no restrictions on breed and size ... Two huge dogs in a relatively small room ... On the beds no doubt ... Wonderful. And yes ... Lots of pet owners are responsible and their dogs are clean, flea free, well behaved... Lots are not.

 

[Kay123456]

Honestly I just find this whole situation very confusing, almost shocking. Disney usually sets out notice on huge changes very far in advance. They gave everyone 2 days in this instance. It appears that none of the cast members or staff really know what’s going on with the rules themselves. I wonder how far in advance mousekeeping and the grounds keepers were notified. I just feel that this was a last minute decision with no real plan or forethought in place which is very undisneylike in general. Like others have said I dont know why this couldnt have been rolled out after the last of the booking days, or during a time when there is still plenty of openings so people can switch resorts. For this trip I will call frequently and see if something opens up at another resort and otherwise just bring lots of meds and keep our fingers crossed that a dog hasnt been on the beds we will be sleeping in.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I never said ridiculous.

Now we are comparing metal detectors to keep us safe from attacks which is a very real thing, to having dogs in a hotel.

I'll be using the ignore button now.

Severe dog allergies and phobias are also real.

 

[FeralCatRogue]

I voted no yesterday but waited til now to respond since I didn't want my response to be a knee jerk reaction. I know from my own pets that bringing them to a completely new area with tons of extra stimulation would not be enjoyable for them and even with the best intentions people may bring animals that are fully the sweetest things in the world in their home enviorntment, but in that new environment thres no way to know how they will change. I also think that two days warning was not appropriate by Disney in this situation. People have been discussing why this is a year long trial, I work in research based psychology and a year is considered for most "tests" in research to be the minimum amount so that makes sense to me. I just hope that they do not have any issues from this and that they remember that there are people wtih severe allergies and phobias, and that to me stating the dog can stay for 7 hours unattended seems that the dog will probably get quite bored in a new environemtn wtih nothing to do and act on its instincts and find its own fun.

 

[Tink-osophy]

For me, this is Disney putting Guests who want to take their dogs above Guests who can't be around those dogs; a bit like prioritising smokers over non-smokers.

...Because Guests with dogs can have an unaffected Disney vacation without their dogs (plus, it is their choice to have a dog); whereas Guests who have to avoid dogs (allergies and phobias aren't choices) can't have an unaffected time with dogs around.

I'm also concerned at the possibility that more people may be tempted to lie about their dogs being service/ESA dogs to get them into the parks rather than leave them in rooms. This may be speculation (though there's nothing wrong with that!), but we know people already do this and I'd rather the odds weren't increased.

I'm especially sad they've extended it to the cabins at FW. A few people now have posted that the cabins are far enough apart, but they're actually pretty close together and, anyway, it leaves no area of FW dog-free and no similar accommodation and environment anywhere else at Disney.

 

[Madame]

I am allergic to cats but not a life threatening event so I take lots of pills before a flight and visiting a friends house who does have a cat. I totally understand life threatening allergies since I have an anaphylactic reaction to shellfish and carry an epipen just in case I eat something containing shellfish (if I don't know what is in a food being served I always ask).

Many airlines (united comes to mind) have posted for those with peanut allergies that they cannot insure a peanut free zone as passengers could have nuts in their carryon and they can't clean each plane every time it lands (paraphrasing) DH flies for SW and I know they have pulled nuts from the plane but I can guarantee DH has nuts in his flight bag and they have not been pulled from his carry on.

My point is I am sure many dog owners have "traces" of their dogs on them whether it be a stray hair or pet dander myself included and while Disney mousekeeping cleaned the room we just left they just might have missed a stray hair etc. so people with allergies could already be coming into contact with allergy producing particles.

Sure, but imagine this was cats now. You ply yourself to go visit your friend right?

You’ve laid out $5-7000 for you & your family to go to WDW let’s imagine. It’s holiday time, so resorts are full. You have 5 in your family so resort choice is limited to begin with.

You arrive at your resort. You’ve been put in a cat room. Not a house, a small room where many cats have been. You ask to be moved. No csn do! No more rooms for 5 - it’s the holidays after all!

You take your meds which make you feel off. If you’re unlucky like my kiddo you get a full blown asthma attack the first night. & you can’t stop it so now you wind up in emerg in a foreign country that has the most expensive health care in the world. So somebody could bring their cat to Disney.

You know it’s going to happen to somebody. Odds are good that sooner or later it’s going to happen. Why is their vacation less important than yours?

 

[Gryhndmom]

I voted no yesterday but waited til now to respond since I didn't want my response to be a knee jerk reaction. I know from my own pets that bringing them to a completely new area with tons of extra stimulation would not be enjoyable for them and even with the best intentions people may bring animals that are fully the sweetest things in the world in their home enviorntment, but in that new environment thres no way to know how they will change. I also think that two days warning was not appropriate by Disney in this situation. People have been discussing why this is a year long trial, I work in research based psychology and a year is considered for most "tests" in research to be the minimum amount so that makes sense to me. I just hope that they do not have any issues from this and that they remember that there are people wtih severe allergies and phobias, and that to me stating the dog can stay for 7 hours unattended seems that the dog will probably get quite bored in a new environemtn wtih nothing to do and act on its instincts and find its own fun.

Agree with many of your points. We would not bring our fur kids to Disney since there is not a place, including a grand villa, that is as nice as their McMansion at home. Additionally since we fly I wouldn't want to expose them to being in a kennel in cargo. I could be wrong but I don't think the resorts will become overrun with dogs as it seems Disney will be limiting the number of rooms for guests with dogs.

Let's all take a deep breath and see how this tests go. If it does go badly (someone gets bitten) I have no qualms admitting I was wrong. If the tests reveals no problems will others admit they were wrong in assuming it would go badly?

 

[LINDATHEPOOH]

MONEY MONEY MONEY !

If that's true, then if the vast majority of people on this website are any indication of how negatively this policy will be received, it should be very short lived!

 

[Jafar30]

It's really unfair that we should even have concerns 2 weeks before we leave for WDW, after working for 4 years to save for our trip.

We are dreading this trip now. But I guess that doesn't matter if a few people can take photos of their dogs in the resorts for the Instagram likes.

Can I ask why you are dreading your trip?

 

[Madame]

I never said ridiculous.

Now we are comparing metal detectors to keep us safe from attacks which is a very real thing, to having dogs in a hotel.

I'll be using the ignore button now.

It was hyperbole....

 

[abooch]

I just received a call from Disney after an email regarding my concerns for an upcoming stay at AoA. I missed the call but they left a message offering to move me based on availability. I still have to call them back but am just wondering what they will offer. Whether or not I will have to pay if I want to “upgrade” or if they’ll refund the difference if I have to downgrade. Was really looking forward to stay at AoA for the first time.