Trial Run for Dogs in Resort Rooms

figment3258 said:

Thank you I have tired and I emailed and they called me and said that I can pay to upgrade but after seeing people having success I did email George last night expressing my displeasure and concerns for our family so we shall see thanks again!

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I wish you good luck and a little pixie dust.

ArwenMarie said:

It is though.

Again, for the current trips, I think they should do everything to help people who have booked trips and are uncomfortable. Absolutely.

But for the future...there are 4 Dog-Friendly resorts and 20+ Dog-Free. Plenty to choose from. It's very straightforward

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You have to have chosen to ignore my posts! I’ve said how this affects families of five ad nauseum. I’m sick of myself. & yes it’s a small group, but so are the people who want to bring dogs to WDW.

Dis703 said:

So I have a question I haven't seen brought up. Being that there is no size limit, do dogs count towards occupancy? I mean a 90lb lab is going to take up way more space when evacuating a hotel than my 40lb 6 year old. So can people potentially have 5 people plus 2 dogs in a room at POR?

I know I always see occupancy mentioned regarding fire codes and how many people can safely evacuate x number of rooms in the event of a fire or emergency. If that's accurate I would imagine 2 large 4 legged animals would essentially take up as much space as 4 younger children.

Just a random thought I was curious about.

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and if there is a fire and the owners are not at the room is Disney responsible for opening that hotel door with the do not disturb and trying to evacuate those dogs?

robinb said:

Some of the suggestions on this thread have really jumped the shark.

My favorites are:

* Punish Disney by having everyone ask for a deep cleaning even if it's not necessary. That'll teach 'em!
* Follow dog owners around with your phone and document every single possible transgression. Flag down every available CM and show them the photos and videos. Go to the front desk and demand that the manager view your photos and videos. That'll teach 'em!
* Lastly (and this one is my favorite), while at the front desk DEMAND that you be compensated for the time you spent doing your junior sleuthing because you are obviously doing their job for them. That'll teach 'em! Oh, and we get a free lunch in the process!

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No one wrote what you listed. Those are your re-writes with major changes and exaggerations.

And I guess you don't understand what "jumped the shark" means: portraying in fiction something so over the top that no one could even pretend to believe it would ever really happen. Some of the things people have suggested to address this while on-site (not the fake re-writes you made) will happen, so there has been no shark jumping. Nice try though.

Jennasis said:

I don't believe so either...which is why I don't think there should be a charge for requesting one at pet friendly resorts. We won't be staying at any of these four resorts. We own DVC...but I tell's ya, if they try to expand it to DVC, we riot.

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Yes we do..... I’ll make the protest signs....

Shellyb84 said:

We have a travel trailer and have taken one of our doggies with us to FW. They have a huge dog park that she really enjoyed and she enjoyed walking around the loops with us and getting lots of attention...

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...But despite the good, thoughtful dog-owners there are others who aren't and that means too much of a risk for some people to stay at the campsites. Now, bringing the cabins into the equation rules FW out altogether! And there is no similar alternative to the cabins at FW.

I know Disney say it's "just" certain loops at the moment, but they haven't kept to that policy in the campsite area. Also, dogs rely on their owners to respect the rules and it only takes a couple of owners not to for dogs to be in any loop and in communal areas, like the quiet pool (they, apparently, have already been encountered at the main FW pool).

Dis703 said:

Several people here and on other forums have posted about dogs running loose, in areas they aren't supposed to be, poop not being cleaned up, and even a recent dog bite at FW.

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skyp4WDW said:

...This is exactly the scenario I have witnessed at Ft Wilderness. They have effectively squeezed out the people who don't want to/cannot vacation with dogs.

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...There's a longer post about existing problems with dogs at the campsites, but I can't find it right now.

TheFloatingBear said:

The Touring Plans blog had a pretty comprehensive article about it, and it talked about some of the policies. It said, "Your dog will be expected to be quiet in the room–if your dog begins barking, you are required to address the issue within 30 minutes". But of course, that's not hotel management so not sure how it would work in practice. I hear you on the smoking example...

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Also makes me wonder about when they call the owners to "address the issue within 30 minutes" . It will take the owner at least 30 minutes to return from the park. Will they stay just long enough to do their FoP fastpass? or have their meal that they booked 180 days out? or return early from one of the parties? Hmm...

Madame said:

Yes we do..... I’ll make the protest signs....

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Agree, that will be when we reconsider our membership.

LVSWL said:

and if there is a fire and the owners are not at the room is Disney responsible for opening that hotel door with the do not disturb and trying to evacuate those dogs?

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Yikes! I hadn't thought of that - scary for the dogs! When I stayed at the YC with my sisters last April, we got back to the resort just as the fire alarm went off and we couldn't get to the room - we weren't allowed in. We were bummed because if we had been back only a bit earlier, we would have been changed for the pool and could have gone swimming since people were still hanging out there. We had to be out of the room outside in the heat for a long time! Forgot about that - it was a pain!

To be honest expected to wake up and see this thread locked ........

BaronLaw said:

Let's think this over. Let's say a few dog enthusiasts gather on the beach by the Yacht and Beach Club to play with their dogs. What exactly will a cast member be instructed to do ?

My suspicion is that, aside from a verbal request to get off the beach, not much, especially if there are multiple guests at issue.

This leads to some potentially troublesome results. This type of infraction slowly becomes accepted and a common occurrence. Slowly but surely, the bounds of accepted dog owner behavior are expanded. Dogs on the beach leads to dogs by the pools, etc

Alternatively, Disney rule enforcement becomes something of a self-help system-- guests find themselves requesting offenders to cease the offending behavior or compel cast members, reluctantly, to enforce the rules.

This is just an example that comes to mind. I'm not sure what can be done to prevent this. This feels like a slow motion train wreck that cannot be stopped.

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This is exactly what will happen especially since you RARELY ever see a CM by the beaches, the waterside walkways, the bridges, the walk & bridge between AoA and POP, the walkways and river walk between POR and FQ. FW is already dog friendly and there will be no area there without them. They will slowly inch their way everywhere on their walks and play time .......... and Disney won't say anything to them just like they walk past folks smoking in non DSA areas (even in parks), walk past selfie sticks and prohibited items. They don't want confrontation and they won't do anything about anything.

tnolan said:

But did whoever made the decision consider that during the hurricane, pet owners could not go anywhere, they had to stay indoors with their dogs, therefore not leaving them unattended for long stretches? This is quite a different situation than those same owners spending all day out at the parks while the dogs spend all day closed up in the hotel rooms under normal conditions. Just a thought. I also thought it might be worth sending this thought to the people in charge mentioned at various spots in this thread, so I did.

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IF this is their reasoning then they are beyond bad at their job. More likely it's their excuse because I don't think something this big would roll out that fast. They've been planning this and using Irma as their support. It's just like when they brought out the DAS very quickly, they had been planning it a long time and blamed this on the magazine article of families hiring a handicapped tour guide. Disney is good at taking a contemporary event and using it to back something they already decided.

I'll go a crazy step, that maybe isn't crazy. They can't hire enough housekeepers even with bonuses. It's an ongoing problem. They could keep the gift card for giving up housekeeping deal but how about we just let dogs come and make them pay while they virtually give up housekeeping since they have to be there to get it. Win Win.

DJFan88 said:

For now. That could change for anyone's vacation at any resort now at any time. If this is as some say a Pilot program, it means it is intended for other properties as well?
This would be a great time for some other resort companies to up their shuttles, etc., They could probably get a lot of normally Disney customers. Esp. as there are other good parks, non-Disney as well.

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Agree BUT Disney controls who comes into property with shuttles and how often they can come. Disney won't let them expand. But for the money you save, the better amenities you can get ...... just drive and pay for the parking.

mom2rtk said:

I don't believe for a minute they are automatically deep cleaning anything.

If you want an allergy free room stay anywhere but these 4 resorts.

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Absolutely. The don't have the manpower to clean rooms, even with signing bonuses, now. It's one thing to have a couple deep cleans each day, it's another to have to do each dog room checkout.

I just stayed at POP, brand new renovated rooms. I spilled a water bottle on floor (day one), grabbed a hand towel to wipe it all up, turned over the towel and YUK it was dark grey. The rooms get new linens and spit shine, that's about it.

Dis703 said:

I can't recall if it was a rattler of maybe a water moccasin but there was a child bit by a venomous snake on Disney property a few years ago. But snakes in general are pretty prevalent. For people who aren't from the area and don't understand that I can imagine their shock should their pup come across one and end up bitten.

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Florida homeowner only 1.5 years and saw a 4 ft rattle right out on our sidewalk in addition to all the other snakes. I hear your point, there are snakes, lots of them, and poisonous ones on Disney property and no child or animals should enter, reach or get too close to bushes. Also be very careful on the grass and watch your dogs close - there are nasty fire ants. Yes, I've seen them on property.

Dis703 said:

Hmm, we have similar rules here, but I wonder how that works when it's on resort property like WDW.

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Private property, Disney owned government, deal with the local officials .... they will run the noise ordinance show. Good luck.

WDW1979 said:

Can anyone confirm that only Standard and Garden View rooms at Riverside will permit dogs? I'm still not okay with it either way, but I'd like to know all the details.

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Well these rooms are all over the resort ... so the only thing they seem to be restricting is River View.

Darbie said:

My reply from Disney ~

....... adhere to the pet policies they receive upon registration. These include reminders about proper care and behavior, as well as the need for the dog to remain on a leash at all times while in public spaces. Guests must be able to provide documentation that their dog’s vaccinations and inoculations are up to date, upon request.......

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So they actually think we are stupid enough to believe dog owners will stick to the designated dog areas and won't be walking their precious Fifi all over the resort walkways?

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Priceless Disney stating they are allowed in public areas and claiming there are designated dog areas. Vaccinations should be provided prior to being give a room key, but I suppose they could be faked anyway.

Ensusieasm said:

Yes, of course, but your dog can't be part of this enjoyment of things at the resort. No pools, no cafes, no public walkways. Just your room and the doggie relief area.

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Disney says dogs can be in the public walkways and common areas, even lobby .... just not pool, fitness center, food court, lounges ... They must be on a leash to be in the public areas.

TheFloatingBear said:

I'm locked into a group trip with my daughter's dance company at POR in a couple of months. Neither the TA nor the studio has notified people (nor Disney, of course) - I doubt anyone will look at the booking page at this point. I emailed the TA to suggest they let people know about the policy change - there's such an age range for the kids that I have no idea who's going. I had mentioned upthread that I ran into some families that are going on the trip at a road race to raise money for training service dogs, and almost everyone had no idea.

I really think it would be helpful if people were notified soon, since our balance is due in a couple of days and some may want to figure out their options or if they still want to participate. I asked the TA about securing non pet friendly rooms. I'm told the "best we can do" is request.

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Another concern I have for you is that groups will likely be the pawns at resorts as a buffer between dogs and general guests.

Julylady said:

As a dog allergy sufferer, I sent an email to George K yesterday. A customer service representative called me about 30 minutes later. She was very pleasant, but admitted to be reading from a script. She did confirm that this idea came about after the dogs in hotels during IRMA went so well. I asked if guests were expected to put up with barking dogs for up to 30 minutes without complaint and she said "Yes." I asked her if that was fair if we had returned to the hotel to nap. She did not respond. I ask her what families with dogs were supposed to do if they arrived at the hotel before their room was ready, or needed the dog to remain at the hotel after the 11am check out time. She said there would be a dog room with cages set up for exactly that scenario. (???). There were also questions she could not answer (no answers on her script). Why will they need to deep clean rooms dedicated to dogs when supposedly only dog families will stay in them and clearly, they are not allergic? Why the charge for YC was $75 and the charge for the other 3 resorts was $50. How did they justify charging more for YC? How were dogs supposed to get to the dog friendly rooms without walking through public areas? She did say that I should add a note that I needed a "no dog in room previously" to every reservation in the future.

I also discussed the fact that the reason I was so concerned was that Disney CMs have a horrible reputation for ignoring guests' bad behavior and looking the other way. I gave her specific examples from my last trip. She assured me that her boss was addressing that exact issue. She also alluded to the fact that the level of concern people have over this "trial" was really surprising to them. She said both dog owners and non dog owners seemed to happy with dogs in the resorts during IRMA.

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Bless her heart, she hates her job right now because they gave her a crappy script to work from. BUT seriously, they are going to take ownership of dogs in a room ............ so a kennel at baggage claim or what? Another liablity? This just gets better, one of those "you can't make this stuff up" or can you?

CdnCarrie said:

Oh and phoning local Animal Services instead of the front desk. Do you really think Animal Services is coming out to WDW to give tickets?

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No. Disney runs that show. Unless there is an actual contact incident where police get involved I don't think you'll see anything.

LVSWL said:

and if there is a fire and the owners are not at the room is Disney responsible for opening that hotel door with the do not disturb and trying to evacuate those dogs?

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Great question, I was thinking about that earlier. If any of our babies were still with us, I would be more at ease knowing they were at the kennel, which is huge, manned quite nicely and a separate area in our vets offices.

oceanscape said:

So someone in the thread posted dogs aren't allowed in "public areas" - ***???????? How do they get from the car to the guest room? Teleportation?

Absolutely FUMING at this new policy and on hold with Guest Services right now. We are at YC in 3 weeks' time and if dogs that are not service dogs are anywhere near me or my family I will be so angry.

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Haven't you heard about the new doggie gondola system going in? They will be transported overhead so those on the ground never even have to see them.

Sarahraegraham said:

This. I would and will if need be.

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I would also request compensation for the taxi rides you are now being forced to take to and from the airport due to pets being allowed on DME and any ER, doctor to the hotel, or other medical treatment needed.

Tink-osophy said:

...But despite the good, thoughtful dog-owners there are others who aren't and that means too much of a risk for some people to stay at the campsites. Now, bringing the cabins into the equation rules FW out altogether! And there is no similar alternative to the cabins at FW.

I know Disney say it's "just" certain loops at the moment, but they haven't kept to that policy in the campsite area. Also, dogs rely on their owners to respect the rules and it only takes a couple of owners not to for dogs to be in any loop and in communal areas, like the quiet pool (they, apparently, have already been encountered at the main FW pool).





...There's a longer post about existing problems with dogs at the campsites, but I can't find it right now.

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Yes that's true. We also saw plenty of dog poo where it shouldn't have been and dogs where they shouldn't be (at the beach is the place I remember seeing them).

And I hate that this rules out the Fort for some, it really is a unique resort.

I don't think this is a horrible idea if you have a well behaved dog and clean up after them. I have a lab who travels well, and we have stayed at pet friendly hotels in the past when we have had to take her with us. However, I would not want to deal with potty breaks while at Disney. To each their own.

oceanscape said:

Please can we get the complaints email address put on post #1 - the more of us who write in and complain the better; Disney needs to hear from people to realize what an absolutely CRAZY and AWFUL idea this is.

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Great Idea. Moderator; will you please place a "sticky" at the top?

mom2rtk said:

Haven't you heard about the new doggie gondola system going in? They will be transported overhead so those on the ground never even have to see them.

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OMG, that is too funny!!! Glad I didn't have coffee in my mouth.. doggie gondola system.. what a concept!!

Well, well, what do you know... my email to Corporate actually got a response! From an actual human being! Who has given me their phone number! And wants me to call them back...

I wasn't really prepared for them to answer me and want to chat about this so quickly! I figured I would get an ignored, canned response like everyone else.

Hmmmm... what to say, what to do... it's hard to make any definitive statements about our upcoming trip because we haven't booked anything, it's all dreaming at this stage.

But wow! I guess I used some very descriptive language to get their attention within 24 hours.

Madame said:

You have to have chosen to ignore my posts! I’ve said how this affects families of five ad nauseum. I’m sick of myself. & yes it’s a small group, but so are the people who want to bring dogs to WDW.

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Yes this is a change. Agreed. Yes, some people will be affected. The fact is there are still 20+ other resorts as well as a plethora of offsite options.

Shellyb84 said:

Yes that's true. We also saw plenty of dog poo where it shouldn't have been and dogs where they shouldn't be (at the beach is the place I remember seeing them).

And I hate that this rules out the Fort for some, it really is a unique resort.

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Thank you for your honest and sympathetic reply. I wish there were more like you (especially in the Disney boardroom ).