People love to travel with their pets. In fact, according to the 2024 Annual Vacation Confidence Index from Allianz Partners USA, over 40 percent of US travelers ages 34-54 will bring their pets on vacation. 24 percent of travelers over 55 years old will bring Fido along, too. If your travel plans include a trip to Walt Disney World, you’re in luck because the sprawling vacation kingdom has a host of pet-friendly hotels and amenities that will ensure you and your furry friends have a great trip.
Keep reading to learn what types of pets are allowed at Walt Disney World, where you can stay, what pets get at check-in, and other boarding options.
Types of pets allowed at Walt Disney World
Currently, the only pets allowed at Walt Disney World hotels are dogs. Each room can accommodate a maximum of two dogs. They must be well-behaved, properly vaccinated, and be leashed in public areas.
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There is another boarding option at Walt Disney World: Best Friends Pet Hotel. The pet day care and overnight boarding center is located near Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside. This is a great option if your preferred Disney hotel doesn’t allow pets or you’re traveling with a pet that’s not a dog.
What Disney World hotels are pet-friendly?
Four Walt Disney World hotels are pet-friendly: Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, and The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness – A Disney Vacation Club Resort. There is a pet fee for stays at these resorts. The charges are $75 per night at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, while the other three properties are $50 per night.
Additionally, you can also bring dogs if you are staying at the Campgrounds at Disney’s Fort Wilderness. To ensure you get a campsite in one of the pet-friendly loops, you can make the request when booking. There is a $5 per night pet fee for campsites.
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No matter where you’re staying, you will need to carry your dog’s up-to-date vaccination records.
What amenities are available for dogs at the pet-friendly hotels?
Every dog checking in at a Disney hotel will get an adorable Pluto-themed welcome kit. The kit includes an ID tag for your dog, a foot mat and bowls, doggie bags and a holder, a map of the walking paths at your resort, a list of pet policies, and a door hanger. Dog parents should bring their own supplies just in case the resort doesn’t have a welcome kit.
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All pet-friendly resorts have a doggie relief area and plenty of space for pets to enjoy a walk. Other on-site amenities will depend on where you stay.
What is Best Friends Pet Hotel?
If you want to bring your pet to Walt Disney World, but don’t want to book one of the dog-friendly hotels or are bringing something other than a dog, there is another option: Best Friends Pet Hotel. The boarding facility is open for day camps and overnight stays for pets. The massive space has 17,000 square feet of air-conditioned indoor space, 10,000 square feet of covered outdoor runs, and a 25,000 square-foot dog park. There’s room for up to 300 dogs, cats, and other small pets at Best Friends Pet Hotel.
The boarding facility is open one hour before the first Walt Disney World park opens for the day, and closes one hour after the last Walt Disney World park closes for the day. If you’re booking your best pal for an overnight stay, check-out is at noon. This is very convenient since check-out at Disney hotels is at 11 a.m. Reservations are highly suggested.
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The rates for boarding vary based on what type of pet you have, if you want an indoor or indoor/outdoor room, and any add-ons. For dogs, the base rate for an indoor accommodation with two potty walks starts at $62 a day or $71 for an overnight. An indoor/outdoor accommodation starts at $67 a day and $77.50 for an overnight. Cat boarding starts at $38 a day or $39.50 for an overnight with a two-level kitty condo. Pocket pet stays start at $19.50 for small pets.
Our pick for the best pet-friendly Disney hotel
While all the pet-friendly Disney hotels are nice, I think the best option is Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, which offers campsites and cabins. The campgrounds are massive, with plenty of room for pets and their humans to enjoy a walk and some play time outside. Speaking of playtime, the campgrounds feature a large dog park, called Waggin’ Trails Dog Park. Dogs can run around with other dogs without a leash in designated areas for small and large dogs.
3 tips for bringing your dog to Disney World
- Book early: Even though there are four pet-friendly hotels at Walt Disney World, only a select number of rooms at each resort are pet-friendly. The best way to ensure you get one of the pet-friendly rooms is to book your vacation as early as possible.
- Bring all of your pet’s necessities with you: Just like you bring all of your essentials on vacation, you should do the same for your pet. Things like bowls, bed, and favorite toys should be packed in a suitcase for your dog’s vacation. You’ll also want to bring your dog’s preferred food with you, especially if it’s something very specific, so you’re not wasting valuable trip time searching the nearby pet and grocery stores for dog food.
- Dog booties are essential: The pavement around Walt Disney World’s resorts gets extremely hot, especially in the warmer months. Even if your dog doesn’t wear booties on their paws at home, it’s a good idea to bring some with you to Walt Disney World. On nice 80-degree days, the concrete can heat up to 105 degrees, and at 90 degrees outside, asphalt can reach 150 degrees, which is too hot for dog paws.
