Are Dogs Allowed At Disney Springs?
Disney World is notoriously family-friendly, even for the furry members of a household.
That said, there are some limitations on where dogs can be on Disney property.
For the safety and comfort of all guests, only service dogs are allowed in Disney Springs. Guests traveling with non-service dogs will need to leave them in a pet-friendly hotel room or at the Best Friends Pet Hotel while visiting Disney Springs.
This article discusses Disney Springs’ rules for our canine friends and what to expect when bringing a dog to Disney World.
What Types of Dogs Are Allowed at Disney Springs?
The only dogs allowed in Disney Springs are certified service animals.
According to Disney World’s Animal Policies, a service animal refers to a dog trained to support or assist guests with disabilities.
Comfort or companion dogs (i.e., emotional support dogs) are not considered service animals per Disney’s rules.
While at Disney Springs, service dogs must remain on a leash or in a harness, and their owners must control them throughout their visit.
Service dogs are also prohibited from entering any water features on Disney property, including lakes and fountains, and are not permitted within 4 feet of the water on wet docks.
Where Can I Leave My Dog if They Aren’t a Service Animal?
Guests traveling with their non-service dog have two choices when leaving their furry friend behind.
When visiting Disney Springs, visitors can keep their well-behaved dogs in a pet-friendly hotel room or board their dogs at Disney’s Best Friends Pet Hotel.
Which Disney Resort Hotels Are Dog-Friendly?
There are currently four (4) dog-friendly Disney Resort hotels for guests to choose from:
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
- The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
These hotels offer rooms with access to designated outdoor walkways and pet relief areas.
There is a maximum of two (2) dogs per room, and all dogs must be vaccinated, well-behaved, and leashed in public settings.
Upon checking in, guests traveling with their dogs also receive Pluto’s Welcome Kit.
This kit includes plenty of pet necessities, including a map of outdoor relief areas, walking paths, and Fort Wilderness’s onsite dog park.
Hotel guests leaving their dog in their room must use the Pluto door hanger to let Disney staff know there’s a pet in the room – housekeeping will not enter the room if a dog is inside.
Dogs should never be left in a hotel room for more than seven (7) hours, so parkgoers will need to check in on their dogs during the day.
What Amenities Does the Best Friends Pet Hotel Offer?
The Best Friends Pet Hotel offers overnight and daytime boarding for dogs, starting an hour before the theme parks open and ending an hour after they close.
Some of the amenities at this doggie daycare include:
- 17,000 square feet (1579.3 square meters) of air-conditioned indoor space
- 10,000 square feet (929 square meters) of covered outdoor runs and play areas
- A 25,000-square-foot (2322.5-square-meter) dog park
- Indoor and outdoor boarding options
- Group play sessions.
Conclusion
To ensure the enjoyment of everyone at Disney World, only service dogs are allowed in Disney Springs.
Disney only considers animals that assist and support guests with disabilities as service dogs, and these pets must be leashed or harnessed at all times.
While visiting Disney Springs, guests must leave non-service dogs in dog-friendly hotel rooms or at the Best Friends Pet Hotel.
