Complete Guide To Bringing Dogs and Other Pets To Disney World

By Hannah Risser
Posted on March 23, 2023

Have you always dreamed of traveling to Disney World, but worry about leaving your furry family members at home?

©Best Friends Pet Care

Well you can have the best of both worlds! There are ways to travel to Disney and enjoy your vacation while bringing along your family pets, and we’re giving you all the details you need to know to pull it off without a single hitch.

Service Animals vs. Companion Animals

There are different rules for companion animals (or normal pets) versus qualified service animals. All Orlando hotels, theme parks and attractions comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act when it comes to service animals, so you can trust them to follow these guidelines. However, Disney World considers pets as well as emotional support dogs to be companion animals, so they are welcome in some but not all locations. Certain Disney resorts are dog-friendly, but all four Walt Disney World theme parks only allow service dogs inside the front gate.

Dog-Friendly Disney Resorts

If you are looking forward to staying at a Disney resort but want to bring your pet along with you, there are actually several you can choose from! In 2017, Disney World updated its long-standing pet policy to permit dogs at four of its on-site resorts. The policy only covers dogs — cats, reptiles and other pets will still need to stay home or at a boarding facility.

Dogs are welcome at the following Disney World hotels:

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

To protect guests with allergies, only a select number of rooms or cabins are available for those wishing to stay with their dogs, so if you do want to bring them along you should book your stay as early as possible. There is a limit of two dogs per room, and there are additional fees associated with booking a pet-friendly room. All of these resorts will charge a $50 cleaning fee per night, except for the Yacht Club, which charges $75 per night. You and your pooch can look forward to receiving a Pluto’s Welcome Kit upon arrival! The kit contents vary, but typically include dog poop baggies, a place mat, and two dog bowls. How sweet!

Dog Rules

There are some additional rules you will need to familiarize yourself with before arrival:

There are no breed restrictions
You will need to provide proof of your pet’s vaccinations upon check-in
Dogs may not roam the grounds and must remain on a leash at all times. There are designated rest areas at each of the four resorts specifically for your dog, and each of the dog-friendly rooms are close to pet walking and rest areas
Dogs are not permitted in Food & Beverage locations, shops, pool areas, fitness centers, ponds, or fountains
Dogs are allowed in all Minnie Vans on property as well as internal buses at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground and Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — Riverside
You’ll receive a special door hanger that must be placed on the handle outside your door alerting Cast Members that a dog is present. Housekeeping is only available when dogs are not present, so you’ll need to schedule a cleaning time during which you can accompany your dog outside of the room
Dogs should not be left unattended for more than seven hours. During your time in the parks, your dog can spend the day at the on-site Best Friends Pet Care for exercise, pampering, grooming and more
Dogs should not be overly vocal or aggressive. To ensure the safety and enjoyment of all guests and Cast Members, you should consider boarding your dog if it is known to bark or howl a lot, or is aggressive to other dogs or people

Packing For Your Pet

As you’re packing up your Mickey ears and walking shoes don’t forget all of the necessities for your pooch, too! These are some basics you’ll want to ensure you bring:

Sturdy leash and collar/harness
Current and valid ID tags
A favorite item/bedding/toy
Food, food dish & water dish
Doggie “waste” bags to clean up after your pet
Any vitamins/supplements/medication they may require

Bringing familiar items from home can help make your pup feel comfortable in this new environment.

Best Friends Pet Hotel Boarding

If you would prefer to board your dog nearby or are bringing a pet that isn’t a dog (they’ll even watch your reptiles!), you can use Best Friends Pet Hotel, an on-site boarding option. This is located across from Port Orleans Resort — Riverside, and prices range from $56-$302 per night depending on the dates selected. As mentioned earlier, you can also use Best Friends for daytime boarding when you will be away from your resort room for 7 hours or longer.

This spot is almost like Disney World for your pets! It has 17,000 square feet of air-conditioned indoor space, 10,000 square feet of covered outdoor runs and play areas, plus a 25,000 square-foot dog park. Amenities include luxury suites, ice-cream breaks, grooming, and cuddle time with trained pet care providers. Transportation is available for $25 at Fort Wilderness and Yacht Club, with pick-up and drop-off times varying depending on location.

©Best Friends Pet Care

Whether you choose to cuddle with them every night or board at Best Friends, you can enjoy your Disney trip and rest easy knowing your beloved pet isn’t far away (and might even be having as fun a time as you!). Bringing your family pet to Disney World is possible, and hopefully this guide provided helpful information for your next trip!