Trial Run for Dogs in Resort Rooms

[LSUmiss]

You are assuming that "attack" means "bite."

But it doesn't, it should include those dogs that just have to jump all over people. Generally with that happens, the owner makes sure to tell you just how "friendly" their dog is being. Um, jumping all over me, isn't being friendly. Just like a human shouldn't be jumping all over me, nor should a dog. And owners that believe that their dog is just being friendly is exactly the type of owner that you described in your post.

So, yes. I will be on alert for dogs at a resort. I've been bit and scratched by a dog, ending up in the ER for treatment.

And yes, I will get enough information, including pictures/video/room location, if the owner does not have the dog under control. Because I will not allow another owner to be so oblivious that they ruin my vacation or life.

I guess I don’t understand why dog owners are assumed to have no control over their pets. I’m sure some don’t, but, to me, this argument is no different than worrying about any guest that might engage in a whole host of unwanted/against policy behavior. How is this any different? If I brought my dog, I wouldn’t let it near other dogs or ppl. I would only bring it to WDW our of necessity. Everyone I know personally who is happy with this change also only plans to bring the dog if they have to. It’s a hassle to go through all that to bring them, but for some of us, it’s the best alternative. I know that’s not everyone, but there are a lot of ppl who will only bring them for that reason.

 

[mikejs78]

So if you complain enough. You will get a phone call trying to pacify and reassure just the usual PR rubbish. BUT nothing is going to change. They will not email a response as this will leave a paper trail as a previous poster on this thread explained.

I got the initial "try to pacify" call, and then I kept at it, and a day later, I got a call back and an offere to move my resort, even though the website listed no availability (with a slight upgrade from Garden View to Water View, because that's all that was available)... So persistance can pay off at least in personal situations.

I expressed that I still thought the policy was a mistake, but thanked her for making things right at least for my family...

 

[amylevan]

I love (most) dogs. I would have a dog myself if they weren't so much work.

I just don't really understand why people who have non-service animals want to bring their dog to a WDW resort. Do people really spend much that much time in their hotel room when they are not sleeping? Just the logistics of having to come back to your room to walk a dog sounds terrible. Board your dog, please.

Not to mention how many irresponsible pet owners there are.

FWIW, our dogs have been to WDW (in our camper, in a pet loop at FW). Our normal day consisted of being at a park for rope drop, back at the camper for most of the afternoon and then back to a park for dinner and evening entertainment. Essentially leaving them alone for about 5 or so hours at a time.

This is typical park time for us even when we aren't in our camper with our dogs. We are not all day in the park people. So there are people who would have no problem coming back to walk their dogs.

So instead of saying board your dog because coming back to your room sounds horrible. I suggest saying "consider how you tour WDW and whether bringing a dog fits in your style. Board your dog if its not conducive."

 

[andrewilley]

But how does "only garden and standard really help"? Based on your floor plans the only buildings safe from this are the Preferred, otherwise the rest of the resort if fair game.

Garden and Standard rooms are both available in building 24, which is where they are trying to assign all of the guests with dogs. However there are no Preferred Location, River View or Royal Rooms within that building, so if any guests who have those category bookings bring dogs with them there is a problem in that they can't be assigned to 24.

Andre

 

[Mary74]

We travel with our newfie all the time. We mostly do road trips in our small RV and do a combination of hotels and campgrounds. Our dog always does great in hotel rooms. If I know I am going to leave her for 6 hours or so I just take her for a run in the morning and she sleeps the day away.

Also our dog has never messed up a hotel room but my 4 kids have gotten all manner of disgusting all over hotel rooms. When you stay at a hotel that is just part of it. Other people have been in the room, they might have done something gross, you have to just hope it was cleaned up. Most hotels are pet friendly too so unless Disney is the only place you travel, you most likely have stayed in pet friendly hotels.

 

[mikejs78]

FWIW, our dogs have been to WDW (in our camper, in a pet loop at FW). Our normal day consisted of being at a park for rope drop, back at the camper for most of the afternoon and then back to a park for dinner and evening entertainment. Essentially leaving them alone for about 5 or so hours at a time.

This is typical park time for us even when we aren't in our camper with our dogs. We are not all day in the park people. So there are people who would have no problem coming back to walk their dogs.

So instead of saying board your dog because coming back to your room sounds horrible. I suggest saying "consider how you tour WDW and whether bringing a dog fits in your style. Board your dog if its not conducive."

The difference is though (I suspect, and apologize if this is an invalid assumption), that your dog is familiar with your camper, it's not a strange place. This isn't true for a hotel room.

 

[LSUmiss]

Thank you for being self aware enough to realize not everyone loves your pets like you do.

Great point! I am absolutely aware that NO ONE loves my pets like I do which is why I don’t want to “just board them” with strangers. I know that I am the one they prefer to be with & I am the one who takes care of them best. I know there are ppl who do this, but I would never expect anyone to endure bad behavior from my pet. If I brought them, I would follow all rules & not subject anyone to them. I know there are many pet owners that are like me. I disagree about the way WDW rolled this out & empathize for those that don’t like it. However, it’s natural that we are all concerned with our own self interests so I’m glad WDW has given us dog owners this choice.

 

[Dis703]

So if you complain enough. You will get a phone call trying to pacify and reassure just the usual PR rubbish. BUT nothing is going to change. They will not email a response as this will leave a paper trail as a previous poster on this thread explained.

Every time they call me they tell me that they may be recording the calls. Maybe we should record them on our end as well, lol.

 

[robinb]

Yes, it does.

But as a dog attack victim, it is a way of life.

I'm sorry that you feel that way . I am also a dog attack victim. I was bitten by a German Shepard when I was a kid and had to endure rabies treatments. I was nervous around GSDs until I met my BIL's dog Cleo. What a sweetie she was!

 

[LYSE]

FWIW, our dogs have been to WDW (in our camper, in a pet loop at FW). Our normal day consisted of being at a park for rope drop, back at the camper for most of the afternoon and then back to a park for dinner and evening entertainment. Essentially leaving them alone for about 5 or so hours at a time.

This is typical park time for us even when we aren't in our camper with our dogs. We are not all day in the park people. So there are people who would have no problem coming back to walk their dogs.

So instead of saying board your dog because coming back to your room sounds horrible. I suggest saying "consider how you tour WDW and whether bringing a dog fits in your style. Board your dog if its not conducive."

Exactly, I love how a big sticking point for people against this is that absolutely everyone is out all day at the parks...well if that were the case then just when would anyone be around to hear these barking dogs?

OHH you mean not everyone is constantly out???

 

[andrewilley]

I would love to hear from someone staying at PO-R right now - have you seen many ( if any) dogs and what bldgs do they seem to be in ?

There haven't been any at all staying at POR yet. There are four one-night reservation with dogs booked during the next seven days (all from locals) so blink and you'll miss them. They will most likely be assigned to building 24 (unless any happen to be Preferred Location, River View or Royal Room category bookings)

Andre

 

[sgoodale]

I'm so disappointed about this policy. We had a trip planned for the Yacht Club club level, where we have never stayed before, in just a few weeks and had to switch because our 9 year old son has an extreme phobia of dogs. The only option available to us was a regular room at a different resort and we lost the club level (which we planned our dining around), swimming in the sand-bottomed pool and walking to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. It's already hard enough for our family to go places because of dogs, so we were really looking forward to a dog-free atmosphere.

 

[Tink0106]

I meant to add that to my post, thanks for pointing it out! Yes, a lateral move is perfectly OK. Just like when they started tearing up CBR with no notice and they moved people laterally.

Sometimes there are no lateral moves. I was at AOA and the only option was the Contemporary. I would have happily taken any other resort that was not dog friendly.

 

[Tink-osophy]

...Both have an equal right to their vacation. But as of now it's been mostly "this is my vacation..." without any concern to the other person. And to me that's interesting considering the person saying "this is my vacation" wants themselves to be considered but won't consider another person.

I agree the term "entitled" is provocative rather than constructive and, therefore, best avoided!

M C-M, Your last comment raises, I think, a key cause of the argument. Trying to explain the win/lose perspective of this new policy doesn't mean that people on the "win" side aren't being considered. The thing is the win/lose argument is centered on the point that that people getting to take their dogs to those resorts are being considered more! ...You can't really explain that without saying it! ...Previously, I could enjoy a walk around the cabins at FW or the grounds of POR as could the dog-owners even without their pets and now I can't, whereas dog-owners can now enjoy it more. That 's not allowing the equal rights to our vacations that we previously enjoyed. ...Hence, people are upset at the loss. And it adds insult to injury, when it's claimed we're considering the other side less by pointing this out.

 

[LSUmiss]

The difference is though (I suspect, and apologize if this is an invalid assumption), that your dog is familiar with your camper, it's not a strange place. This isn't true for a hotel room.

I can’t speak for anyone else, but I would never dump my dog in a room & go to a park as soon as I get there. Dogs adjust rather quickly especially if their owner is with them. I would build in time into my stay to stay with my dog the first night & maybe leave for an hour or so & come back. That way the dog would understand it’s ok, I’m coming back. My dog would be adjusted by the next day so that I could leave him longer. I would also bring his kennel b/c, to him, that is his home. He doesn’t care where I put the kennel. Like a pp said, most dogs sleep all day especially if they’re older.

 

[Tink-osophy]

Exactly, I love how a big sticking point for people against this is that absolutely everyone is out all day at the parks...well if that were the case then just when would anyone be around to hear these barking dogs?

OHH you mean not everyone is constantly out???

You're glossing over a lot there, though. (What? You haven't read 2,000 posts! )

 

[LYSE]

You're glossing over a lot there. (What? You haven't read 2,000 posts! )

Obviously in 129 pages there are a lot of points of view, I'm just sticking to the fact that some people really do not spend all day at the parks for a variety of reasons

 

[amylevan]

The difference is though (I suspect, and apologize if this is an invalid assumption), that your dog is familiar with your camper, it's not a strange place. This isn't true for a hotel room.

They are. But they are also familiar with their crates and their blankets that are in their crates - all of which would go with us. (Hypothetically. We only stay in hotels when timing restrictions require us to fly instead of drive. And we do not take our dogs on planes, so our dogs will never see a WDW resort other than FW.)

 

[WDW1979]

I'm so disappointed about this policy. We had a trip planned for the Yacht Club club level, where we have never stayed before, in just a few weeks and had to switch because our 9 year old son has an extreme phobia of dogs. The only option available to us was a regular room at a different resort and we lost the club level (which we planned our dining around), swimming in the sand-bottomed pool and walking to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. It's already hard enough for our family to go places because of dogs, so we were really looking forward to a dog-free atmosphere.

I am sorry what Disney, and people who support this new dog policy (I blame them too), have done to your family. I hope the new dog policy is terminated.

 

[robinb]

Sometimes there are no lateral moves. I was at AOA and the only option was the Contemporary. I would have happily taken any other resort that was not dog friendly.

My original comment was about people who were demanding upgrades. Not lateral moves or upgrades if no lateral move was available.