Trial Run for Dogs in Resort Rooms

[DWillowBay]

This is so distressing to me. I absolutely love dogs, but am truly deathly allergic to them (and many furry critters). There have been at least 2 times that I have not been made aware that a dog has been in a room prior to my stay and I ended up in Respiratory Distress both times, which required a series of breathing treatments and a week of recuperation. Believe me, I don't dis-count the benefits of service animals, but this is honestly an issue I cannot compromise on. I hope Disney re-thinks this and comes up with either one whole designated pet resort (Ft. Wilderness makes perfect sense...but POR or AoA do not) or keeps animals restricted to particular buildings within resorts. Even just riding a bus, depending the distance, with an animal has the potential to impact others with allergies badly. Frankly, I also think about the more practical concerns like....I wouldn't want to be that Mousekeeper who walks into piles of poop on the floor or chewed furniture...why would Disney not care about potential room damage?? I understand there would be a fee imposed, but they still have perpetual re-conditioning of any damage. I also feel for the poor dog who would be in the room all day while Bob & Betty are out having a great time in the parks. This is a mine field of issues!

 

[DWillowBay]

"We will also designate certain floors or sections of a hotel as dog-friendly, while the majority of areas will remain canine-free to accommodate Guests with allergies or other concerns."

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...ect-walt-disney-world-hotels-starting-oct-15/

This statement alone tells me that Disney does not understand how allergies work. I wish that merely 'keeping dogs away' would be enough. It is not.

 

[Sarahraegraham]

I have to believe that this is currently happening as it is.

And this new policy will only make it worse and easier to hide them.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

Most hotels that allow dogs have separate rooms that they allow dogs in, like they used to have smoking or non smoking rooms. It would be unlikely you’d get a room that just had a dog in it.

We were at the Borgata in Atlantic City last week. We always book a non-smoking room. When we walked into the room the smell from the air fresheners the housekeeper used hit you in the face. The room reeked of smoke. There was a burn mark on the toilet seat and some ashes in the corner behind the toilet.

So much for people obeying rules.

I called down to the front desk to let them know the situation (didn’t want to be blamed for the damage to the toilet seat or be blamed for smoking in the room) and to change rooms.

So much for housekeeping letting the front desk know that the previous guest was smoking in a non-smoking room.

Some people think that they are above the rules and have no problem breaking them. I’m sure that with dogs allowed someone somewhere will sneak Fido into a non-doggy room.

We stayed at a hotel that allowed animals one time and I made sure it was the last time. The room we were given smelled like crap even though it was supposed to be a no dogs allowed floor. (We had to change rooms there too.). There was pee and some poop outside in areas where dogs were not suppose to pee and poop.

While I like cute sweet dogs, how are you going to stop some idiot from bringing an aggressive dog with them?

 

[ScarletMLIS]

deleted


The doom and gloom here is incredible. The sky is not falling. You have options.

 

[abooch]

And this new policy will only make it worse and easier to hide them.

Agreed. People would want to avoid the $50-$75 a night just like some avoid the extra charge for more people in the room.

 

[agavegirl1]

This statement alone tells me that Disney does not understand how allergies work. I wish that merely 'keeping dogs away' would be enough. It is not.

Agreed. I have broken out in a rash sitting on an upholstered chair that had been occupied by a dog at one point, had my eyes start to swell shut when my coat was hung up next to a coat with pet hair on it and had a severe reaction walking into an apartment that supposedly never had a pet in it.

 

[piccolopat]

I just looked at the dog relief map for YC. Now if I want to enjoy a little piece and quiet in the quiet pool and hot tub, I will do so in full view of dogs relieving themselves. Hopefully Disney will screen the area from view, though that may not be possible for people staying in the higher rooms with balconies overlooking this area. Disney must also make sure it is cleaned all the time so the smell doesn't drift over to where other guests are trying to enjoy the facilities.

 

[Lisann]

I started this thread to hear others opinions and I'm glad that so many have responded. There are certainly many considerations if allowing animals in a resort.

The YC quiet pool is a favorite area of mine. Now, it is right next to a pet relief area. Guests WILL smell (and see) no. 1and no. 2. And the flies...and hot Florida sun...it's just gross.

Many people don't follow the rules and I suspect there will be many who won't follow the dog rules either. Heck, Disney didn't even enforce the stay-out-of-the-lake rule. I know, I have plenty of video of kids swimming in the water.

I will now have to consider moving my stay from POR , which I love, to another resort. Not happy that I have to be inconvenienced like this for a pet (it should be the other way around). And I might not get as good of a discount percentage if I change resorts, that comes into play in all of this, too, which is another inconvenience that I don't believe has been mentioned.

All-in-all, I still think it's a bad idea. I just simply do not want to be in a room where a dog has slept on the sofa or eliminated in the room.

 

[Hisgirl]

Like many of you, I am not in favor of this. We have 3 dogs, but why would I want to leave them in a hotel room alone all day while I tour? I can just hear the bored barking!

So many folks, IMO, have an inflated opinion of how well-trained their pups are. This is just a bad idea. I can see so many people now trying to pass their dog off as a service dog to bring them to the parks. Hot asphalt, potential bites, accidents, ugh. So not in favor of this.

 

[Kay123456]

Yes, I'd guess different price points. I wonder where the pet rooms at AofA will be located? The LM rooms or the Suites? Maybe both?

Honestly, the LM rooms are so small I can’t imagine more than 3 people in there, let alone adding a dog or 2 on top of it. Its cramped enough as it is!!! Can you imagine being crammed in one of those timy rooms with animals??

 

[Kay123456]

I thought your comment was overdramatized. That’s what the ‘Lol’ was about.

Listen - If I’m severely allergic to chicken, i’m not going to Chik Fil A.

Like many others have already stated, those of us who have had our vacations booked for over a year do not have the opportunity to switch resorts with such short notice. And yes, some people can have very bad allergic reactions to animals to warrant a trip to the hospital. Its quite worrisome for these people actually.

 

[Disneylover99]

Honestly, the LM rooms are so small I can’t imagine more than 3 people in there, let alone adding a dog or 2 on top of it. Its cramped enough as it is!!! Can you imagine being crammed in one of those timy rooms with animals??

According to the map, it looks like the pet friendly rooms will be in some of the Nemo, Lion King and Little Mermaid rooms. I would not want to stay in those LM rooms in building 7 facing the relief area. I'm going to assume those rooms will all be designated dog rooms. That's a lot of rooms if that's the case!

 

[ArwenMarie]

Yes, I use them all the time. These little babies got me through a very crowded and noisy MK last trip. I'm super sensitive to noise and sometimes I become overwhelmed by it.

They're awesome. I tried a lot of brands and those were the only ones I could stand. We lived in a very noisy apartment last year in between houses and they were the only way I slept!

 

[Kay123456]

According to the map, it looks like the pet friendly rooms will be in some of the Nemo, Lion King and Little Mermaid rooms. I would not want to stay in those LM rooms in building 7 facing the relief area. I'm going to assume those rooms will all be designated dog rooms. That's a lot of rooms if that's the case!

It seems they are all facing the lake as well which I am super surpised about. I thought they wpuld be on the side of the parking lots. So people will have to walk their dogs through all of the walkways to get to their rooms. I guarantee not every dog is going to be able to hold it while they walk all that way. I bet we’ll be seeing messes everywhere honestly.

 

[Scrapdolly]

Could I just ask people to stop saying 'stop moaning ... You have a choice '
Some of us dont actually
I booked my November 2017 vacation at POR in April 2016. No room at other moderates and I think short notice is unacceptable.
I love dogs, but would never have booked a pet friendly resort. My choice. DIsney have changed the goalposts.
And yes ... Most dog owners are responsible and yes children can make just as much noise etc but the bottom line is making a resort pet friendly when it has t been is a BIG change

 

[Disneylover99]

It seems they are all facing the lake as well which I am super surpised about. I thought they wpuld be on the side of the parking lots. So people will have to walk their dogs through all of the walkways to get to their rooms. I guarantee not every dog is going to be able to hold it while they walk all that way. I bet we’ll be seeing messes everywhere honestly.

I agree. Buildings 8 or 9 facing the parking lot would have been better locations for this.

 

[lbv7]

Without questioning whether the law is correct or not, pit bulls are banned in 937 cities and 10 states in the US.
In addition there were (reported) 741 attacks by pit bulls in the US and Canada in 2016 resulting in disfigurement and sometimes death.
Does WDW really want this kind of breed on their property, even if they are always leashed?
Just asking.

 

[Sue M]

I started this thread to hear others opinions and I'm glad that so many have responded. There are certainly many considerations if allowing animals in a resort.

The YC quiet pool is a favorite area of mine. Now, it is right next to a pet relief area. Guests WILL smell (and see) no. 1and no. 2. And the flies...and hot Florida sun...it's just gross.

Many people don't follow the rules and I suspect there will be many who won't follow the dog rules either. Heck, Disney didn't even enforce the stay-out-of-the-lake rule. I know, I have plenty of video of kids swimming in the water.

I will now have to consider moving my stay from POR , which I love, to another resort. Not happy that I have to be inconvenienced like this for a pet (it should be the other way around). And I might not get as good of a discount percentage if I change resorts, that comes into play in all of this, too, which is another inconvenience that I don't believe has been mentioned.

All-in-all, I still think it's a bad idea. I just simply do not want to be in a room where a dog has slept on the sofa or eliminated in the room.

I can see your point, but I’d go ahead with POR and see how it plays out. I doubt there will be all that many dogs at the resorts. I’m optimistic about people following the rules and picking up after dogs. And Disney will most likely make it easy to do so by having doggy bag dispenser by pet areas and a trash disposal.

Some people don’t follow rules, true. My last stay at POR a couple had their chairs out on the walkway and smoked all the time. I had to pass the room to get anywhere. After a couple of days of this, I went to front desk to complain. Most smokers follow rules but a few think they are above them and walk around where they please smoking. Breathing in other peoples smoke is gross, IMO. And messes up my sinuses. I wish Disney would ban smoking in all areas. So I get why people with pet allergies are concerned.
Probably same with pet owners, most will follow rules, but there’s always a few. I think it will be harder for pet owners to break the rules. Not so easy to conceal a dog as a cigarette.

So I wouldn’t be quick to jump ship until I see how it all plays out.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Without questioning whether the law is correct or not, pit bulls are banned in 937 cities and 10 states in the US.
In addition there were (reported) 741 attacks by pit bulls in the US and Canada in 2016 resulting in disfigurement and sometimes death.
Does WDW really want this kind of breed on their property, even if they are always leashed?
Just asking.

Hmm..well before pit bulls it was german sheperds and before that it was another breed. Anyways btw BSL is on the decline with cities all over choosing to recinde the ordinances they passed. It would likely be unwise for Disney to impose breed restrictions especially when the image they are trying to portray is pet-friendly..not pet-friendly except for this breed oh and that breed too and perhaps maybe that one too.