Walt Disney World Resort Dog Friendly Resorts

Walt Disney World Resort plans to continue their Dog Friendly policy at four of their resorts giving guests the opportunity to bring their canine companions with them for an additional charge. The Dog Friendly resorts include Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground and Disney's Yacht Club Resort.

Designated dog-friendly rooms are available to accommodate Guests traveling with up to two dogs per room. Guests traveling with their dogs must register them with the front desk at the resort and 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.

While the majority of areas will remain canine-free, certain floors or sections of each of these four hotels have been designated as dog-friendly. Guests who prefer rooms in canine-free areas may make a request at the front desk. Please note that the campsites and cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground will remain pet-friendly. The other 22 resort options at Walt Disney World do not have similar dog-friendly policies.

Book your your Disney vacation with me, Lauren Gonding - A Disney Vacation Planner! By booking your Disney vacation with someone that truly loves and knows Disney (I got married there and thus planned a trip for 90+ people at the same time!). Plus you will get my Disney vacation planning services for FREE plus a FREE Disney Gift Card! There are a few ways you can book with me (or to request a quote or to have questions answered), you can:

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As a Disney Vacation Planner, I'll help you plan a magical vacation! You'll get personalized help and advice from someone that knows you, your wants and your travel plans!  Just a few of the few things I'll do for FREE!

• Help to find you the perfect Walt Disney World Resort; 
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Dogs Welcome at Select Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

I'm excited to share that as of this Sunday, October 15, 2017, for the first time ever, Walt Disney World® Resort will be welcoming Guests – and their dogs – to four of its resort properties!

Four Walt Disney World resort hotels have been designated dog friendly. Each property’s per night / per room pet-cleaning rate is:

• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort $50/night
• Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort $50/night
• Disney’s Yacht Club Resort $75/night
• Cabins at Disney’s Ft. Wilderness Resort $50/night

A maximum of two dogs per guestroom can be accommodated. Each Guest room will have easy access to outdoor pet walkways for exercise and green spaces with pet relief areas. 

Dog lovers will find plenty of Disney amenities and special touches for their four-legged friends.

• At check-in, Pluto’s Welcome Kit includes mat, bowls, a pet ID tag, courtesy plastic disposable bags, puppy pads and dog walking maps. Also included: a Pluto “Do Not Disturb” door hanger indicating to hotel staff that a pet is in the room.
• Disney enjoys a partnership with Best Friends Pet Care, an on-property full-service facility that can provide assistance with pet daycare and other pet services (fees apply).
• Pet merchandise is coming soon to participating resorts.

While dogs will be allowed to stay in Guest rooms, they will be expected to be well behaved, leashed in public resort areas and properly vaccinated.

This dog-friendly option will be available to Guests with reservations October 15, 2017 through Oct. 15, 2018.

Current restrictions and policies about the new dog-friendly trial program (subject to change):

• Only dogs will be allowed in Guest rooms, and there is a limit of two dogs per Guest room. 
• Guests are responsible for the proper care, behavior and waste maintenance of their dogs throughout the Resort. 
• Dogs must be well-behaved and are not allowed on furniture in public areas. 
• Dogs should be supervised at all times while staying on Resort property and should not be left unattended in your Guest room for more than 7 hours. 
• Dogs should remain silent if left unattended in your Guest room. If noise is heard, you will be called to address the noise within 30 minutes. 
• Please display the provided “Do Not Disturb” door hanger outside your room to alert Cast Members that dogs are present. 
• Housekeeping service in Guest rooms with dogs is only available when Guests are present. Please dial the Housekeeping button on your in-room telephone to schedule a cleaning time at your convenience. 
• Please leash or restrain your dogs at all times while in public spaces on Resort property. 
• Only licensed service animals are allowed in Food & Beverage locations, the Club Lounge, Pool Areas, Fitness Centers and other public Guest areas. 
• Guests with dogs are allowed to use some Resort transportation services, including Disney’s Magical Express® and Minnie Van™. In order to use Resort transportation, dogs must remain in pet carriers for the duration of transit. All other Resort transportation and public transportation, including Walt Disney World® Monorails and Friendship Boats, are available to Guests with licensed service animals only. 
• Dogs are not permitted in Theme Parks and Disney Springs®. Only licensed service animals are allowed in these Guest areas. 
• Up-to-date vaccination records must be available upon request. 

To book your Walt Disney World Resort vacation, email me - lauren@magicaltravel.com. Or use this fast and easy form to request a free quote!

I'm a Disney Vacation Planner with hundreds of satisfied clients and I want to help you plan a magical vacation for your family at no extra charge! You won't pay one penny more to book with me but you'll get personalized help, tips, advice and much more (which you're not going to get if you booked on your own).  

Just a few of the few things I'll do for you for FREE: help to find you the perfect Walt Disney World Resort; I'll make your Advance Dining Reservations and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Reservations; make your FastPass+ selections; and send you tips and tricks!  

Disney's Port Orleans Riverside - Photo Tour

Welcome to this photo tour of one of my favorite Walt Disney World Moderate Resorts – Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside!  This is a wonderful resort that is a big step up in amenities when compared to a Value Resort - but not a big step up in price!  For travelers that want more than pool and arcade for resort entertainment and more than a food court to eat from while on vacation – Disney’s Moderate Resorts are the answer!

This is my favorite Moderate resort for two reasons: 

1. The resort and the grounds are absolutely gorgeous.
2. The Cast Members are always very friendly.

When you check-in, Disney's Port Orleans lobby is very open and airy. Very beautiful and tastefully decorated (and with hidden Mickey's to boot)! There is also a kid's area in the lobby where they can watch Disney cartoons on kid's sized furniture while parents check-in.

High ceilings in the lobby. Near the ceiling you'll notice the ports of call that you'll find along the Mississippi river.

There are two sections to this resort: Alligator Bayou and Magnolia bend. The later featuring mansion style buildings. 

Don't these grounds just scream romance? Well for one couple it did - we saw someone propose to their girlfriend in one of these gazebos. These archways also provide plenty of lighting at night making the walkways feel very safe and secure.

Most of the rooms at Disney's Port Orleans Riverside feature two queen beds with a hidden child sized bed. Some rooms have a king bed.  However, the Royal themed Guest rooms have only two queen beds (no hidden kid's sized bed).

Did you know Moderate rooms feature queen beds!

Moderate rooms are also bigger than Value resort rooms!

The rooms also feature two chairs and a table. The perfect place to have a snack in the room or to lay all your theme park treasures on.

Cute table and chairs to fit the theming of Riverside.

Upon the dresser also sits a great reason to stay at a Moderate (especially if you are a coffee drinker). The Moderate rooms come with a coffee maker! In the dresser is where you'll find a mini-fridge. There is no microwave in the rooms.

The bathrooms also have a standout feature compared to the bathrooms you'll find at Disney's Value resorts: two sinks! This extra sink can save some families from a morning fight over someone taking too long to get ready.

Two sinks allow for two people to get ready at the same time.

Another way the bathroom area of Moderate resorts' rooms sets themselves apart from those you'll find at a Value resort: a privacy curtain.

Privacy curtain shields the light from sleeping eyes - or allows for privacy.

Back to the main areas of this resort.  As you pass through the lobby you'll find the resort's restaurants and lounges. The resort has Boatwright's Dining Hall, and Riverside Mill, the Quick-Service location for the resort. There are also a few lounges including River Roost Lounge in the lobby are of the resort and Muddy Rivers poolside bar. River Roost Lounge is where you'll find one of Disney Fans' favorite entertainers: 'Ye Haw' Bob.

The main mode of transportation at Disney's Port Orleans Riverside is Disney buses. But Ferry Boats will take you to Disney Springs! This boat ride is very pretty and relaxing and is a highly recommended way to get to and from Disney Springs.

The Ferry Boat coming into port to take guests to Disney Springs.

Some of the extra amenities you'll find at this Disney Moderate resort include an awesome pool. There is a large main pool that has water spray features throughout.  There is also a curvy, windy water slide that is open (i.e. not completely enclosed for those that may be claustrophobic) but it is hidden in the trees added and extra element of fun. There is also a hot tub. Good news if you're visiting in the cooler winter months - the pool is heated!  There is also a rather large baby pool for the young guppies.  If you're looking for something a little more peaceful when it comes to pools, there are a few quiet pools throughout the resort but these do not have any lifeguards on duty.

There is also a jogging trail path throughout the resort that is one mile and you can opt to take an extended path that runs for an extra .7 miles.

Also on Ol' Man Island, where the pool is, there is also a playground for children. This is a perfect place for dads to take kids to play while mom gets ready - or vise versa.



Another neat amenity at Disney's Port Orleans includes bike and surrey bike rentals.  Guests can also sign their children up for the Pirate Adventure where the kids (no adults allowed) will use a treasure map to go treasure hunting. Guests can also take a horse drawn carriage ride throughout the resort grounds. The Fishin' Hole is where, you guessed it, guests can go fishing!



The resort also holds a nightly Movie Under the Star on a grassy lawn. Also at night, the resort hosts a campfire complete with a marshmallow roast and stories.



Sit back and relax on one of the hammocks throughout the resort grounds and listen to the jazz music that plays throughout the resort.


The resort also has a very large gift shop, Fulton's General Store. Here you'll find lots of Disney gear and gifts, prepackaged snacks, and some toiletry items you may have forgotten at home. You won't find any food that requires cooking/preparing since this is not a Disney Vacation Club Resort.

Fulton's General Store - the resort's large gift shop.

And that does it for our photo tour of Disney's Port Orleans Riverside.  I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

I asked clients who had stayed there if they would return to Port Orleans or pick a different resort and this is what they said:

"I'd love to stay there again. I actually have withdrawals from the trip. But the hotel is so cool. I loved every minute of the hotel/resort."

"I'm so glad that we picked the moderate Riverside over the value resort we were debating on. The extra amenities made the resort really stand out and make our vacation extra magical." 

"I've stayed at many Disney resorts and Disney's Port Orleans Riverside will be my number one choice from now on. For just a few dollars more a night my family has lots of options to do at the resort for our days off from the park." 

A Mickey towel animal!

To book your Walt Disney World vacation stay at Disney's Port Orleans Riverside, email me at lauren@magicaltravel.com. As a Disney Vacation Planner, my FREE services will help you find a Disney World resort and room that fits your family's needs and wants! I'll help you plan Advance Dining Reservation and FastPass+ reservations (essential to making the most out of your vacation) more! Plus all of my Walt Disney World clients that book a Package with me gets a FREE Disney Gift Card to use on souvenirs or extra snacks while on vacation! Email me today to start planning your vacation today!