Every Dog Has Its Day [At Disney]
Happy New Year! We hope that you, your family, and friends are off to a wonderful start to 2026.
During this holiday break, our family felt the need to get away and scratch that familiar Disney itch. After deciding on an impromptu trip to Walt Disney World, we were quickly met with an unfortunate reality; flights were outrageously expensive this time of year. After much kicking and screaming on my part, we ultimately settled on a 14-hour road trip instead.
In the past, we’ve been lucky enough to have family members watch our 8-year-old dog, Jersey, while we traveled. This time, that wasn’t an option—so we started researching what alternatives were available. For many families, boarding your pup might be a perfectly reasonable solution. While the parks no longer offer Disney-run pet-sitting services, Disney does partner with Best Friends Pet Care, which provides daycare, overnight boarding, training and grooming services. For those staying specifically at Port Orleans-Riverside, Best Friends Pet Care is conveniently located directly across the street from the resort entrance.
However, our dog is a bit neurotic and came preprogrammed with a constant state of mild anxiety and general nuttery. Kennels have never gone well for her, and the emotional toll simply isn’t worth it. Fortunately, we discovered that several Walt Disney World resort hotels allow dogs to stay right on property.
“Here at Walt Disney World Resort, we know that dogs aren’t simply pets—they’re members of your family. And since family is at the heart of everything we do, for a limited time, your furry friends are welcome to join you at select Disney Resort hotels. Let the tail wagging commence!”
Now, let’s be honest, there are one hundred and one (pun absolutely intended) reasons we love Disney. But until now, “bringing your dog” was never on my radar. I always assumed the only dogs allowed on property were service animals. It turns out, it wasn’t until October of 2017 that Disney launched a pilot program allowing guests to bring up to two dogs per room (with nightly fees) at select resorts: Art of Animation, Port Orleans-Riverside, Yacht Club, and the Fort Wilderness Cabins.
Sure, 2017 was a while ago—and as a self-crowned Disney nut, maybe I should have known—but the relief this brought our family cannot be overstated. Boarding our dog felt far from ideal, and suddenly, we had another option.
So, Jessica put on her travel-agent cap, did what she does best, and booked us a five-night stay in a preferred room within one of Port Orleans–Riverside’s four dog-friendly buildings.
Admittedly, since joining the Disney Vacation Club a few years ago, I’ve become increasingly spoiled when it comes to accommodations. That said, Port Orleans–Riverside is a genuinely beautiful property. Between the peaceful walking paths, tree-lined scenery, charming waterways, and buildings styled like stately white-column mansions and quaint backwoods cottages, it’s easy to see why this resort is a favorite.
Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside
From the stately white-column mansions of Magnolia Bend to Alligator Bayou’s quaint backwoods cottages, delight in a picturesque setting that evokes the romance of rural Louisiana.
- Courtesy of https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/port-orleans-resort-riverside/
- Photo credit, booking.com
Mousekeeping
Before diving further into our experience, if you’re considering bringing your dog along, there are a few important pet policies to keep in mind. First and foremost, only two dogs are permitted per guest room.
Nightly Pet Fees
Art of Animation, Port Orleans–Riverside, and Fort Wilderness Cabins charge $50 per night for up to two dogs. Disney’s Yacht Club Resort charges a higher rate of $75 per night. For us, considering both local boarding rates and Best Friends Pet Care pricing, the $50 nightly fee felt more than reasonable.
Pet Vaccination Record
Pets must be up to date on all required vaccinations, including flea and tick prevention. This requirement also applies if you plan on using Best Friends Pet Care during your stay.
General Information
Upon check-in, Disney provides the adorable Pluto’s Welcome Kit. Each Pluto-themed drawstring bag includes a bone-shaped dog tag, waste bag roll, a leash-attached waste bag dispenser, one plastic food bowl, and a small bone-shaped mat.
Dogs may not be left unattended for more than seven hours at a time.
Pets must be well-behaved both in rooms and across the resort. Disney reserves the right to request removal of a pet if issues arise, at which point alternative boarding would be the owner’s responsibility. During our stay, we encountered dogs of all sizes—tiny and yappy to large teddy bears. Occasionally, from our room, we could faintly hear another dog bark, but at no point did anything feel disruptive or problematic.
All dogs must be leashed outside the room. Designated pet relief areas are available throughout the resort and include trash bins and waste bags.
Dogs are allowed throughout the grounds but not in pool areas, food and beverage locations, fitness facilities, or merchandise shops.
While a dog is in the room, guests must hang a special “room occupied” tag on the door to alert housekeeping.
For additional details, each hotel has a specific Pet Policy PDF available on its website. The Port Orleans–Riverside policy can be found here.
Pluto’s Welcome Kit
Upon check-in, Disney provides the adorable Pluto’s Welcome Kit. Each Pluto-themed drawstring bag includes a bone-shaped dog tag, waste bag roll, a leash-attached waste bag dispenser, one plastic food bowl, and a small bone-shaped mat.
-Photo credit, eBay seller swinginbone88
She Loved It
First and foremost, our pup is far from perfect—no matter how much we love her. I can’t say with certainty whether she barked while we were away. I do know that at one point, a Happy New Year banner we’d hung on the window blew off in the wind and smacked the door. She was not amused, and I could hear her expressing her displeasure as we walked up from the parking lot.
That said, overall, the experience was overwhelmingly positive.
We kept her busy with new toys, spoiled her with plenty of treats, and took long walks around the property to help burn off energy. Unsurprisingly, she seemed to love the incredibly comfortable Disney resort beds just as much as we do. And yes—we caught her more than once watching the not-so-classic “Classic Cartoons” channel while the TV played in the background. Naturally, we left it on for her when we went out.
It’s important to note that caring for her was made much easier because we had our car. That flexibility allowed us to return to the resort for walks and check-ins throughout the day. As Annual Passholders, we often stopped back at the room between park hopping. While we initially worried this might feel inconvenient, it quickly became clear that it was completely worth it — for us and for our dog.
At the end of the day, our dog is family. She deserves to go on adventures just like the rest of us. Creating meaningful memories for our kids is incredibly important to Jessica and me, and having our dog along only added to the magic. From the long car rides to jumping from bed to bed, we shared countless hysterical moments with our furry friend that will stay with us forever.
For more information about bringing your dog to Walt Disney World, be sure to visit the official Walt Disney World Resorts website or contact Disney’s customer service team.
