‘Ohana means family, and family means no one gets left behind. If you read our article on dog-friendly Disney resorts, you already know it’s possible to take your dog to Disney World. And when we learned it was also possible to rent a dog-friendly RV in Disney, it sounded so h*ckin’ magical, we had to find out more.
In the name of research, I *took one for the team* and took my dog Thriller to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground and Best Friends Walt Disney World to get the scoop on the most magical dog vacation on Earth. Someone had to do it, right?
Why Take Your Dog to Disney’s Fort Wilderness?
Although there are three other Disney resorts that allow dogs (Yacht Club, Art of Animation, and Port Orleans Riverside), Fort Wilderness offers some features not found elsewhere. Because it’s a campground, dogs that need a bit more space to stretch out can certainly get it! With ample walking space and a dog park, active dogs will adore this resort.
It also might be a better match for anxious pups that could struggle with hotel noises like doors closing or folks coming and going. And you can rent a golf cart, which is just pure joy for a dog (pretty much the surround sound version of sticking your head out the window).
Selecting and Booking a Dog-Friendly Campsite at Fort Wilderness
Book a campsite at Fort Wilderness through the Disney World website or your favorite Disney travel agent. Rates fluctuate based on season, holidays, and—well, let’s call it “Disney Magic.” The best way to get details about the types of sites and their locations is by calling Disney directly.
You will also need to consider what type of site will best fit your RV (more on that in a sec). We chose a preferred site and stayed in loop 300, which was right next to the dog park and near the beach (where you can see the fireworks!) and dining.
Renting an RV for Your Dog-Friendly Disney Vacation
There are a number of RV rental companies that deliver campers to Fort Wilderness, but we just may have found the dog-friendliest! We rented from Escape RV Rental, and Thriller and I couldn’t have been more *thrilled.* The company has several campers that allow dogs, and they can help you select the right size campsite for your rental. We selected the toy hauler for our traveling party, mostly because it came with a Tow Mater golf cart (!!!).
And the setup? It’s magic, too! They hook up everything so all that’s left to do is enjoy vacation. I texted the company our campsite number once I received it, and by the time we arrived, our campsite was completely ready.
They also deliver a grill and Fort Wilderness-approved fire pit. You can even order groceries via Instacart or Amazon in advance and they will have it ready in the camper for you! Oh, and they include a goodie bag tote loaded with items for your pup including tie-outs, bowls, and extra poop bags (and a few treats for human travelers, too!).
Staying at Best Friends Pet Resort on Park Days
Did you know there is a pet resort on Disney property? With Disney-level service and all the magic? If you’re planning to visit the theme parks, dogs can have a whole vacation of their own!
Best Friends Walt Disney World is a quick 5-min ride in the C-A-R away, and offers a variety of options including Doggy Day Camp, Stay & Play, Vacation Villas, and pawsh VIP Luxury Suites. Villas and suites even include round-the-clock Disney movies and Animal Planet on pup’s very own flat screen. You can even add on special experiences like cuddle time, a bedtime story, or an ice cream break.
P.S. There are PetChatz webcams so you can check in on your pal throughout the day. We know you’ll miss her, even when you’re at the happiest place on earth.
Thriller was absolutely overjoyed by the level of service she received in her Vacation Villa. She had so much fun that she even wanted to go for an extra day! The staff is so friendly and knowledgeable and were happy to follow her regular schedule.
They were also very understanding of and sensitive to my…I mean, Thriller’s separation anxiety and even doled out the enrichment activities she brought with her when she seemed like she could use a task. I think I speak us both when I say that her stay at Best Friends was an enchanting highlight of our trip!
Playing at Waggin’ Trails Dog Park
Fort Wilderness is the only Disney resort to offer a dog park, and OH BOY is it a good one! Waggin’ Trails offers 2 huge grassy fenced areas for pups big and smol. Like the rest of the campground, the park is surrounded by woodland wonderland (we even got to look at some cute deer while we played). The park is an incredible amenity, and if you plan to use it a lot, our location next door in loop 300 was a perfect—and walkable—fit.
Rules for Dogs at Fort Wilderness
Dogs cannot stay in tents or pop-up campers in the campground, and they shouldn’t ever be alone longer than 6 hours. They must be on a handheld leash that is 8 feet or shorter except when they’re in Waggin’ Trails Dog Park. In the event of any situation that interferes with other guests’ experience, you will need to help your dog discontinue any unmagical behavior, place your dog in an off-site kennel, or leave. There is also a $5 per night dog fee. And as always, you need to clean up after your pup.
Have you ever taken your dog to Fort Wilderness? Or is it still on her bucket list? Woof at us in the comments and tag us in all those vacation pics at #SidewalkDog.
Sidewalk Dog’s mission is to help dog parents spend more time with their puppers by discovering and sharing activities they can do and places they can go—together! Sniff out our award-winning newsletter and Instagram, then check us out on Facebook and Twitter.
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