Hi. I just want to share a little more from the allergy/anxiety side and of the fence. My son has autism and fears dogs ever since one knocked him down when he was two. Dog people tell me that with the right exposure, he'll get used to dogs. Ummm,, not so much. As for me, I sincerely like the idea of dogs. If I see you walking your dog, I am likely to smile and say how cute it is from a safe distance. I bear dogs no ill will. I loved the idea of the dog parade at the GF during the hurricane because it meant people and their pets were safe and having fun. But, if I'd been there, I wouldn't have been so pleased with the dogs. I just can't breathe and be around them at the same time. Even Portuguese water dogs cause me some asthma, though not the full out rash, asthma, eyes so swollen the blood vessels burst combo a more furry dog can cause. I always have Benadryl and an EpiPen around and mostly, I avoid dogs, but I realize that sometimes I will encounter them. When I do, I expect employees of wherever I am to respect my health and work with me to avoid dog proximity .
A few years ago, I was on a flight with a dog. The dog owner was supposed to place the crated dog under the window seat in front of her. For whatever weird reason, she decided that placing him under my seat, which was an aisle,would be more comfortable for the dog. I told the flight attendant that I couldn't tolerate having a dog under my seat. The dog owner's companion piped up, "She paid $200 to bring that dog!" The flight attendant said, "Yeah, she paid $200 to bring that dog!" My husband said, "She didn't pay $200 so that the plane can make an emergency landing in Baltimore when my wife can't breathe!" My point is that just because dogs are allowed and someone has paid extra doesn't mean those of us with allergies should just suck it up and have to suffer. Dog owners are paying extra for the room cleaning, not for pet impunity So much of WDW is walking and I can't walk if I can't breathe.
I am disappointed to have to cross YC and POR off of my potential resorts list. These two are the ones we would have been most likely to visit; we aren't a big enough family for AoA and the FW cabins aren't to my taste. But I get it: the pro-dog contingent has what they want. I'm fine with that as they respect my health and boundaries. PS we were eventually moved to the front of that plane.