Trial Run for Dogs in Resort Rooms

[markman04]

One question I have is a prior reservation needed for a pet friendly room? Nothing in the announcement about that. So people just start showing up with their dogs. How will that work if there are only 2 buildings designated? What if those buildings are full?

You need to let them know that you are bringing your dog at the time of booking. I called and verified.

 

[Gorechick]

One question I have is a prior reservation needed for a pet friendly room? Nothing in the announcement about that. So people just start showing up with their dogs. How will that work if there are only 2 buildings designated? What if those buildings are full?

Exactly the problem. I'm sure they will start branching out from the designated rooms to accommodate these guests.

 

[Spacepest]

Expand the existing kennel, build a new kennel or even better: build an exclusive resort just for pets and their owners. But don't force them on the rest of us! The vast majority of other Disney guests I have spoken to agree that this is an awful idea. Please search social media and online forums where your customers have expressed their concerns regarding this matter.

Wow, this is actually a good idea. Rather than put pets in the existing resorts, make a new resort with deluxe kennels for pets and their owners. I like this idea, and it would probably make more sense than forcing pets into the existing resorts, and would solve many of the problems guests are having with this new policy. Imagine the theming Disney could do! (Pluto Resort, anyone!?). And make the resort have rates for different guest budgets at different price points, with different levels of in room amenities--this place should have rooms that are equivalent in cost to Value, Moderate, and Deluxe so all types of guests could make this an option!

 

[fla4fun]

But they will! I agree wholeheartedly with your views, but I wonder why we all continue giving WDW thousands upon thousands of our dollars when they treat us like this. And everyone will continue giving them their money despite this policy just as they have after a child was killed by an alligator in water with no barriers & no signs to warn parents of this possibility. If we don't speak with our dollars, WDW will never hear us.

Except they put up the barriers and signs afterward - which is why people think it's safe to come back (hmmm . . .small dogs will make tasty gator snacks, something else that wasn't considered and would be devastating as well). It remains to be seen whether they enforce the rules appropriately and clean the rooms thoroughly. Past experience says this won't happen, but if it did, then the pet friendly hotels wouldn't be so bad. But if they don't enforce vaccination records, that could be a liability on them if they allow a guest to stay without them. If they don't enforce behavior, they will be paying out guest comps like crazy (I don't imagine a FP will be adequate compensation if a dog barks all day or all night). If they don't enforce cleaning, people may get seriously ill if they have allergy issues (and sometimes you don't know you have them until exposed to the allergen) or get covered in flea bites. I am happy that my next three stays are not at any of these four resorts (although I did come close to booking POR) so I have time to see whether Disney does do what is necessary to make both sides happy. I would hope that it wouldn't come down to not going to WDW at all at some point, but it could.

 

[Dis703]

This is my concern. We have our upcoming trip booked, and have had it for over a year. All rooms are booked at this time. There isnt anything at any other resort that we can afford anyway since they are all booke as well. With the rooms already booked to capacity, how can they possibly guarantee that there will be enough people bringing animals to fill the “animal” rooms and not have to stick a nonanimal person in one. My daughter is severely allergic and I’m worried. I called to request a hypoallergenic room yesterday, and she told me they don’t need to take those requests because there are only certain rooms set aside for animals, and people without don’t have to worry about being put in one where there was a dog. Honestly though it dosnt make sense to me unless its a very minimal number of rooms.

And other people are being told that there are no dog free rooms. I guess only time will tell what is really going to happen, but I'm sure there are those who don't want to take a chance.

 

[HopperFan]

But they will! I agree wholeheartedly with your views, but I wonder why we all continue giving WDW thousands upon thousands of our dollars when they treat us like this. And everyone will continue giving them their money despite this policy just as they have after a child was killed by an alligator in water with no barriers & no signs to warn parents of this possibility. If we don't speak with our dollars, WDW will never hear us.

You can't compare these two type of incidents.

 

[DisneyFive]

One question I have is a prior reservation needed for a pet friendly room? Nothing in the announcement about that. So people just start showing up with their dogs. How will that work if there are only 2 buildings designated? What if those buildings are full?

Good question.

...and one thing I haven't seen answered is if guests need to make it known to WDW that they are showing up with a dog when they book their stay? This way, Disney would know ahead of time and place these guests in the designated buildings. Has this been answered? I assume that there is a limited number of rooms for this policy and that they will not offer this to guests once those rooms are full (similar to how they only have a certain number of rooms set aside for promotions like Free Dining etc...)

Dan

 

[LSUmiss]

Meh, people complain constantly about smokers on the DIS. Not only about rule-breakers, but the fact that smoking is allowed at all. Smokers are shamed regularily. Neither smoking nor dogs are a vacation necessity.

Doesn’t make it right. Lots of stuff on vacation aren’t necesseties. Actually, vacation itself isn’t. I don’t smoke & probably won’t ever bring dogs, but it isn’t against policy, so voice your concerns to WDW, don’t go, or get over it.

 

[markman04]

Good question.

...and one thing I haven't seen answered is if guests need to make it known to WDW that they are showing up with a dog when they book their stay? This way, Disney would know ahead of time and place these guests in the designated buildings. Has this been answered? I assume that there is a limited number of rooms for this policy and that they will not offer this to guests once those rooms are full (similar to how they only have a certain number of rooms set aside for promotions like Free Dining etc...)

Dan

Yes and Yes. You need to let them know you are bringing your pet - as there are only a few designated rooms that allow dogs. I spoke to a CM earlier about this.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Why can't they? There is a new precedence. Is there a law?

What new precedence are you referring to that would override ADA that requires service animals to be allowed in places that other animals can be restricted?

 

[DebbieB]

Yes and Yes. You need to let them know you are bringing your pet - as there are only a few designated rooms that allow dogs. I spoke to a CM earlier about this.

They should have made that clear in the announcement. It will be interesting to see what happens when people just start bringing their dogs.

 

[Dis703]

This. They mentioned nothing about having to tell them in advance that you’d be bringing a dog with you. That’s what will happen. People will show up and add them at check in.

And they'll try and sneak them in and avoid the cost just like they sneak in extra people without adding them to the reservation, which means even if there are assigned dog rooms they'll end up in other rooms as well.

 

[Dis703]

This thread is really sad to read through. So much hate and negativity. This is why I say I love animals more than some humans most days.

Volunteer in a pet shelter. You might just change your mind.

Actually, I created and ran a pet rescue for 8 years. I've been inside many shelters and have fostered hundreds of cats and dogs. I'm still entirely against this idea.

 

[KarenP64]

You can't compare these two type of incidents.

If my child is killed by a pit bull, Doberman, rotweiller or poodle, I would say it is just the same as having my child killed by an alligator. My child was killed. How is it different?

 

[Disneylover99]

If other hotels including the Lowes hotels in Universal can do it and make it work then why not Disney.

Let's give it a chance before everyone starts complaining. That's all I'm trying to say.

Other hotels like Lowes in Universal or the Drury hotels seem to have rules about leaving pets alone in the room. For the most part, it's not allowed. At Disney, you can leave your pet alone in the room for up to 7 hours.

Huge difference in policy.

 

[ScarletMLIS]

I read the first two pages of this thread, and I want to add that many, many hotels are pet friendly. The block off certain rooms, and even wings, and only make those dog friendly. Kimpton and Loews hotels are completely pet friendly (the Universal Loews, too).

I'm not really understanding the outrage. If you're allergic why not choose one of the other resorts? Same if you're worried about noise. Dogs might bark, but babies might also cry and keep you awake.

I think it's about time this started, and Disney is behind the times here.

 

[ArwenMarie]

WHY should I have to protect my sleep, read or relaxation from noise pollution?

I was just trying to be helpful.

 

[markman04]

I read the first two pages of this thread, and I want to add that many, many hotels are pet friendly. The block off certain rooms, and even wings, and only make those dog friendly. Kimpton and Loews hotels are completely pet friendly (the Universal Loews, too).

I'm not really understanding the outrage. If you're allergic why not choose one of the other resorts? Same if you're worried about noise. Dogs might bark, but babies might also cry and keep you awake.

I think it's about time this started, and Disney is behind the times here.

Well said

 

[agavegirl1]

Other hotels like Lowes in Universal or the Drury hotels seem to have rules about leaving pets alone in the room. For the most part, it's not allowed. At Disney, you can leave your pet alone in the room for up to 7 hours.

Huge difference in policy.

Who is setting the timer? Not even enforceable so it won't be enforced. I have stayed at all the Universal deluxe resorts. I let them know of my allergy and have never seen or heard a dog at the resort. Those rooms are in a separate section adjacent to dog walk areas and pets cannot be left unattended. I have never had an allergic reaction either.

ETA: If WDW can accomplish this, I would have no concerns. Unfortunately, I have little faith in their ability to do so.

 

[Tink-osophy]

I read the first two pages of this thread...

...I'm not really understanding the outrage...

If you read more, you might?

A bit like a smoker has no idea of the smell and general impact until they become a non-smoker and see things from another perspective, people who haven't encountered phobias, allergies etc. don't necessarily appreciate the details and problems of this issue.