Hiya, Courtney, and welcome to planDisney!
As a proud Dog Mom myself, I'm always
paw-sitively delighted to assist Guests who will be visiting The Most Magical Place on Earth with their four-legged family members, so let's get right to your question!
As one of
Walt Disney World Resort's 4 dog-friendly hotels, Disney's Art of Animal Resort is the
practically perfect place to stay with your pup, but I did want to make sure you were aware that as a
service animal, your four-legged family member is welcome throughout Walt Disney World Resort, not just the areas specified as pet-friendly. Having traveled to Walt Disney World with my own pups, I am familiar with the traditional pet policies for Guests but was unsure of how these policies applied to service dogs, so I reached out to a friendly Cast Member for assistance. She informed me that in order to avoid the
'pet service' fee and standard pet policies, you should arrive with papers that certify your dog is documented and trained to perform a specific task for an individual with a disability. She also clarified that while
service dogs are welcome throughout Walt Disney World Resort (with the exception of certain attractions), they are expected to remain leashed or harnessed at all times and should not bark, growl, jump, or lunge at others. If you have questions about the required documentation, I suggest
reaching out to a Cast Member by phone.
If your dog doesn't have documentation as a service dog, Hakuna Matata, Courtney! She's still welcome to stay at Disney's Art of Animation Resort as a registered pet and will be able to explore the pet-friendly areas of the Resort hotel with you. Regardless of her status as a service animal or pet, if you plan to allow her to stay in the room while you explore The Most Magical Place on Earth you'll need to hang the provided signage on your door to indicate that a dog is present. This will inform Cast Members that they should not enter the room and will need to schedule a time with you to return. Please keep in mind that
per Walt Disney World Resort policy, dogs should not be left unattended for more than 7 hours.
I hope this information was helpful, Courtney, and that your upcoming vacation is filled with magical memories and wagging tails. If you have any additional questions, feel free to stop back by.
I'm always happy to help!
Thinking Happy Thoughts,
Lizzie