Trial Run for Dogs in Resort Rooms

[LVSWL]

I hope that we as lovers of WDW can continue to voice our concerns about this issue and not attack each other. I would hate to see this thread get locked. We all have a right to be concerned/upset about this change if we feel that it would affect us and this thread is where we can voice our concerns and also share any info that we receive about the situation to help others understand how Disney is responding.

 

[mom2rtk]

Nice customer service. I'm sure his/her supervisor would be happy to know that CM is belittling a customer who just paid the mouse MORE money to switch their reservation!

Aw, come on. That was just funny.

 

[Tink-osophy]

I literally just had a CM make fun of me for switching resorts because of this trial dog run. I had booked POR, but figured it was worth it for my family to switch to AKL for about $300 more and avoid the dog issue. The CM laughed and said, "Let me get this straight, you don't want to stay at POR because of a possible dog issue, but you want to go to a resort with all of the animals? RAHAHAHA."

I like to think I'd have 'innocently' taken him/her at their word and asked ...Why? Have they changed AKL policy, too, and now the zebras sleep in guestrooms and the guests walk the giraffes and pick up (or neglect to pick up) after them?! That would make it the same! ...I'd probably have been too taken aback, though, and only thought of it afterwards!

I think some tact is required, even if the CM is already fed up of dealing with the new dog policy and/or doesn't understand the problems people encounter with dogs.

I hope you have a lovely time at AKL.

Pretty sure the zebras ain't sleeping IN the guests room or wandering around the resort.

You beat me to it!

 

[LVSWL]

I literally just had a CM make fun of me for switching resorts because of this trial dog run. I had booked POR, but figured it was worth it for my family to switch to AKL for about $300 more and avoid the dog issue. The CM laughed and said, "Let me get this straight, you don't want to stay at POR because of a possible dog issue, but you want to go to a resort with all of the animals? RAHAHAHA."

Wow! Clearly that CM doesn't understand what the issue is. I don't remember any giraffes and zebras wandering the common areas or sleeping in the rooms.

 

[Dis703]

Okay, I got my call after sending an email last night. I won't go through the whole thing but my main complaint is what I've said here before. I don't stay at hotels with dogs for both allergy and phobia reasons and they just left me with one onsite option in our budget and it's under heavy construction and has a limited number of rooms for 5 as it is.

Things I was told that may be helpful. If you don't want a room that had a dog in it at POR they are only in standard rooms and garden view rooms. They will not be in preferred rooms or Royal Rooms. If you want to be nowhere near dogs you should be able to accomplish this with a preferred room. It seemed unclear if Royal was all that much removed from them. She said that River view rooms won't allow dogs but will be mixed within those rooms that do allow them.

At AoA she said only the Cars Suites and Mermaid rooms will allow dogs.

She also told me what the bookings were at Yacht Club and I can't remember exactly which ones but Standard and Garden were allowed I can't remember if there was another. But she did say that that they will NOT be allowed in Club Level rooms.

Of course some of this goes against what others have heard. She said that while it was announced on Friday that they didn't have a list of specifics until Sunday so the CMs should have the accurate info now.

She also said what some people here indicated that she wouldn't expect that many people to bring dogs or to be bringing larger dogs. Just her opinion I think not Disney's necessarily. To which I said that may be the case but I wasn't willing to book for the spring and hope for the best.

She also gave me her contact info if I have further questions and said to contact her if I have difficulty obtaining the room I want for our upcoming trip.

I'm at least really happy they are trying to address the situation. I hope she's right about at least the preferred room. Although I would not normally spend the money on preferred, if it's truly apart from the dog sections, it's at least an option.

I gave them my opinion and I hope others do as well and I'll be following along to see what actually happens in practice.

 

[Dis703]

So just it's only rabies according to Florida state law. I suppose Disney or another business (like a groomer or kennel) could ask for more.

Rabies is typically the only vaccine required by law because it's the only pet disease that really effects humans and it's 100% fatal. Kennels, vets, groomers, etc. often ask for things like distemper and bortadella strictly to protect the other dogs in their facility.

 

[LVSWL]

Okay, I got my call after sending an email last night. I won't go through the whole thing but my main complaint is what I've said here before. I don't stay at hotels with dogs for both allergy and phobia reasons and they just left me with one onsite option in our budget and it's under heavy construction and has a limited number of rooms for 5 as it is.

Things I was told that may be helpful. If you don't want a room that had a dog in it at POR they are only in standard rooms and garden view rooms. They will not be in preferred rooms or Royal Rooms. If you want to be nowhere near dogs you should be able to accomplish this with a preferred room. It seemed unclear if Royal was all that much removed from them. She said that River view rooms won't allow dogs but will be mixed within those rooms that do allow them.

At AoA she said only the Cars Suites and Mermaid rooms will allow dogs.

She also told me what the bookings were at Yacht Club and I can't remember exactly which ones but Standard and Garden were allowed I can't remember if there was another. But she did say that that they will NOT be allowed in Club Level rooms.

Of course some of this goes against what others have heard. She said that while it was announced on Friday that they didn't have a list of specifics until Sunday so the CMs should have the accurate info now.

She also said what some people here indicated that she wouldn't expect that many people to bring dogs or to be bringing larger dogs. Just her opinion I think not Disney's necessarily. To which I said that may be the case but I wasn't willing to book for the spring and hope for the best.

She also gave me her contact info if I have further questions and said to contact her if I have difficulty obtaining the room I want for our upcoming trip.

I'm at least really happy they are trying to address the situation. I hope she's right about at least the preferred room. Although I would not normally spend the money on preferred, if it's truly apart from the dog sections, it's at least an option.

I gave them my opinion and I hope others do as well and I'll be following along to see what actually happens in practice.

Okay, I got my call after sending an email last night. I won't go through the whole thing but my main complaint is what I've said here before. I don't stay at hotels with dogs for both allergy and phobia reasons and they just left me with one onsite option in our budget and it's under heavy construction and has a limited number of rooms for 5 as it is.

Things I was told that may be helpful. If you don't want a room that had a dog in it at POR they are only in standard rooms and garden view rooms. They will not be in preferred rooms or Royal Rooms. If you want to be nowhere near dogs you should be able to accomplish this with a preferred room. It seemed unclear if Royal was all that much removed from them. She said that River view rooms won't allow dogs but will be mixed within those rooms that do allow them.

At AoA she said only the Cars Suites and Mermaid rooms will allow dogs.

She also told me what the bookings were at Yacht Club and I can't remember exactly which ones but Standard and Garden were allowed I can't remember if there was another. But she did say that that they will NOT be allowed in Club Level rooms.

Of course some of this goes against what others have heard. She said that while it was announced on Friday that they didn't have a list of specifics until Sunday so the CMs should have the accurate info now.

She also said what some people here indicated that she wouldn't expect that many people to bring dogs or to be bringing larger dogs. Just her opinion I think not Disney's necessarily. To which I said that may be the case but I wasn't willing to book for the spring and hope for the best.

She also gave me her contact info if I have further questions and said to contact her if I have difficulty obtaining the room I want for our upcoming trip.

I'm at least really happy they are trying to address the situation. I hope she's right about at least the preferred room. Although I would not normally spend the money on preferred, if it's truly apart from the dog sections, it's at least an option.

I gave them my opinion and I hope others do as well and I'll be following along to see what actually happens in practice.

Still kinda stinks that you have to PAY more to be assured a dog free room. Sorry.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I only kept my comment that you are referring to...you told me you were trying to be helpful when I asked about your reply, and I took you at your word since tone is very hard to judge on line. So I will try to explain again where I was coming from, since you are mentioning it again in response to someone addressing the "jump the shark" remark. This comment makes me doubt my belief that you were sincerely trying to be helpful to my situation.

I apologize if you took offense to my statement. It was not intended to be inflammatory or spiteful, but you have mentioned it multiple times. I understand why people want to vacation with their pets even if I would choose differently regarding a WDW vacation. I also understand this is now the stated policy at POR where I am staying in few months. I am in a situation where Disney has changed the goalposts. I don't really have any recourse, and I feel powerless. I really can't cancel on my girl - she's been fundraising and planning for so long. Responses from Disney have not been helpful to my group so far.

When I made that statement, I was genuinely trying to assess if I wanted to cancel my booked trip, or trouble shoot and make the best of things. I chose the latter. That remark was an attempt at venting steam when I felt powerless, and at some humor that apparently didn't go over well with you. Again I do apologize if my actual words offended, but I do think regarding this issue, we just have a different point of view. That's okay - I don't need to convince you of my point of view. My understanding is that you wouldn't consider stepping in dog poop a significant new concern, given all the other gross stuff on the ground (I'm paraphrasing). I disagree, so I'm trying to think about it and how I'd best deal with it.

I am trying to be empathetic to both sides as I gather information for an upcoming trip in a trial resort. I feel frustrated and kind of powerless and that Disney has put me in an untenable position. I generally have found these boards very helpful when I'm researching a trip and I'm glad I saw this policy change since nobody else seems to be notifying us, but I cannot control if someone responds to my concerns with empathy or thinks I'm over reacting. I can only note it and try to express myself more clearly.

No I was being sincere. But it doesn't mean that your choice of words shouldn't noted when we are talking about people's written reactions which is what we were talking about. You used pixie dust and soiled shoes while mentioned being at the front desk awaiting something.

I was when I responded to you attempting to ease your concerns. But based on your comments honestly I'm not sure you were looking for actual advice because when I gave it to you more of what came out what other things not actually related to what I was commenting on...I'm not sure if you were instead looking for someone to lead the charge with you. I really don't mean any sort of offense here but it seemed like to me you made your comment about packing extra shoes and pixie dust and soiled shoes and front desk more of trying to make a point.

It's not that isn't not a significant new concerns it's that if you said "I always pack extra shoes just in case I step in something gross while at the parks now I have to think more about that with dog poop" and didn't follow up with pixie dust and soiled shoes part I probably wouldn't have even said anything because I get that added layer of stress can make quite a difference.

Instead you came at it like you've never thought before about what you could possibly step in on any given day at the parks and so I came at it from a "if you didn't before you probably don't have to now". Some of the comments here I'm thinking are people just not actually considering what exposures they may have had before. It makes sense to have the mentality. It's not like I thought really hard about a deer peeing in my backyard until I saw it happen. It may very well be that people are seeing something common to their everyday lives suddenly crop up with a new policy (which again the notice truly does bite). Doesn't make your concern any less valid but my point was your concern as well as other people's concerns existed long before the policy was announced.

And believe it or not I can understand how frustrating it must be. But I'm also not on one side or the other in this new policy here on this thread so my approach may not be the same as someone who is only on the one side that is the majority in this thread.

ETA: I should mention I wasn't offended at all so no worries on that And please don't take offense to my comments either as I really am not intending them to be that way.

 

[Dis703]

Well to be fair, the call center CM probably doesn't know that.

Thank you for the laugh. It was much needed.

 

[Matty B13]

The really funny thing is that dogs will probably never be able to stay at Jambo or Kidiani Animal Kingdom Lodges, because they could get loose and attack the animals.............

 

[agavegirl1]

I am booked for a preferred room, four days AFTER the one year trial. I will keep it and wait as reports come in from those staying at POR during this trial run on whether they stick to garden and standard view rooms only. For allergy reasons, I'll request River or Pool view and VIP cleaning. I don't want to do another six months of research to find the second best resort for my purposes. DH's opinion of FQ is on the theme and decor. As for POR, he only liked AB, hence a preferred room.

 

[keaster]

Aw, come on. That was just funny.

Usually it's not good customer service practice to make fun of customer concerns, no matter how funny or ridiculous you think they are being. Just book their more expensive reservation and be done with it.

 

[mexi]

Oh dear!!!! Parvo is a whole other can of worms (excuse my pun!)! This should scare all dog owners!! Just imagine someone bringing their new puppy who has parvo! SCARY STUFF!!!

Do you really think dog owners don't know about deseases and the shot that are required? Please give pet owners some credit here.

 

[robinb]

Yes I know that. & again I said it AFFECTS families of 5 not that it left them without options. We are supposed to be understanding of those who WANT to bring their dogs, what of the empathy for families of 5.

I don’t know if you’ve ever traveled with 5, but ASM suites are expensive, although less so than AoA. The cheap deluxes (WL, AK) for families of 4 are the most expensive for 5 - they bump up in category & are crazy money.

So that now leaves 1 mod which has been reduced to add a DVC, or deluxe. & with limited choices comes even more limited discount selection.

You know how many families stay Pop or A S Sports b/c that is literally what they can afford? POR (1/2 mods) is the Pop of families of 5. & yes, sigh, WDW is a privelege & yes, sigh, they can all stay offsite. But being totally dismissive is not helpful. Many of us have said Dis needs to choose 1-2 dog resorts, but for crying out loud did it have to be almost every single cheaper option for this group?!?!

I’m not trying to be argumentative here, but can’t you see that statements like « Well there are 20 other resorts » are just as inflammatory as « If you bring your dog to WDW you could possibly land someone in the ER. » Not helpful.

I am sincerely sorry that you feel you can no longer stay at your favorite resort because of possible dogs. CBR is now available to you with the renovations when it previously had a limit of 4. All Star Music is available to you and *cheaper* that AoA. I am confused why you mention of Pop or AS Sports as neither one of them is listed as dog-friendly and neither of them sleep 5. In any case, WDW is expensive any way you slice it or dice it. I sympathize that you feel that you are now limited on here you can stay and I understand the frustration, but you do have options that are just as affordable as the ones that are now dog-friendly.

 

[mexi]

Nice customer service. I'm sure his/her supervisor would be happy to know that CM is belittling a customer who just paid the mouse MORE money to switch their reservation!

The cast member was just st stating the obvious. It is pretty funny if you think about it.

 

[Tink-osophy]

Right now, the only moderate resort that is free of both major construction (CBR, CSR) and this new dog policy (POR, FW cabins) is POFQ - by far the smallest moderate resort (and it doesn't accommodate groups of 5 anyway).

 

[TheFloatingBear]

Okay, I got my call after sending an email last night. I won't go through the whole thing but my main complaint is what I've said here before. I don't stay at hotels with dogs for both allergy and phobia reasons and they just left me with one onsite option in our budget and it's under heavy construction and has a limited number of rooms for 5 as it is.

Things I was told that may be helpful. If you don't want a room that had a dog in it at POR they are only in standard rooms and garden view rooms. They will not be in preferred rooms or Royal Rooms. If you want to be nowhere near dogs you should be able to accomplish this with a preferred room. It seemed unclear if Royal was all that much removed from them. She said that River view rooms won't allow dogs but will be mixed within those rooms that do allow them.

At AoA she said only the Cars Suites and Mermaid rooms will allow dogs.

She also told me what the bookings were at Yacht Club and I can't remember exactly which ones but Standard and Garden were allowed I can't remember if there was another. But she did say that that they will NOT be allowed in Club Level rooms.

Of course some of this goes against what others have heard. She said that while it was announced on Friday that they didn't have a list of specifics until Sunday so the CMs should have the accurate info now.

She also said what some people here indicated that she wouldn't expect that many people to bring dogs or to be bringing larger dogs. Just her opinion I think not Disney's necessarily. To which I said that may be the case but I wasn't willing to book for the spring and hope for the best.

She also gave me her contact info if I have further questions and said to contact her if I have difficulty obtaining the room I want for our upcoming trip.

I'm at least really happy they are trying to address the situation. I hope she's right about at least the preferred room. Although I would not normally spend the money on preferred, if it's truly apart from the dog sections, it's at least an option.

I gave them my opinion and I hope others do as well and I'll be following along to see what actually happens in practice.

Thanks for updating about your call! I don't have any experience with a group reservation, or at POR, so not sure how the different room categories are organized. I'm guessing I wouldn't be able to request a preferred room, separate from what everyone else gets. Another mom friend and I tried to work out rooming together, but we were told no because she has 2 kids and we'd be 5, and we can only have rooms for 4. Thanks again!

 

[Madame]

I am sincerely sorry that you feel you can no longer stay at your favorite resort because of possible dogs. CBR is now available to you with the renovations when it previously had a limit of 4. All Star Music is available to you and *cheaper* that AoA. I am confused why you mention of Pop or AS Sports as neither one of them is listed as dog-friendly and neither of them sleep 5. In any case, WDW is expensive any way you slice it or dice it. I sympathize that you feel that you are now limited on here you can stay and I understand the frustration, but you do have options that are just as affordable as the ones that are now dog-friendly.

Are you taking the mic here? Pop & AS Sports was used as a comparison. POR is NOT my favourite resort. We prefer CBR & we now own DVC. I am advocating for others, an ally.

Your tone seems dismissive to me & I doubt your sincerity in wanting to engage in a meaningful & productive dialogue. It would be a waste of my time to respond to you further.

 

[Dis703]

Do you really think dog owners don't know about deseases and the shot that are required? Please give pet owners some credit here.

Honestly, most human parents don't know the childhood diseases and what they are vaccinating for and I always find it mind blowing. And in my years of working with adoptions I'd say no, most owners I interacted with gave them the shots the doctor recommended and had no clue what any of it was about. Not all, but most.

 

[KarenP64]

Do you really think dog owners don't know about deseases and the shot that are required? Please give pet owners some credit here.

If only all pet owners WERE responsible.