So, what do I do with my dogs while I'm at the parks?
I recently enjoyed time at Walt Disney World with my Dad... and my dogs. I thought I'd share our daily routine that ensured I enjoyed the parks, and my dogs were taken care of.
Typical Park Days
My dogs are a great reason to take mid-day breaks from the parks! The day would start very early, about two hours before the park I wanted to visit opened.
After I got ready to start the day, I'd take my dogs for a walk. For some reason, they refuse to walk with my Dad when we're at Walt Disney World. Why? You're guess is probably better than mine. It doesn't bother me because I enjoy my time with my dogs, even if it means mild exercise for a lazy person.
The length of the walk depended on my senior dog, Shadow, and his arthritis. If Shadow's arthritis is acting up, we'd walk a short portion of the loop we're staying in. On the worst days, we likely wouldn't go further than several feet from the RV.
If Shadow's feeling good, rain or shine, we'd walk the full loop. It's a good opportunity for me to see how other's setup and decorate their RV sites. It's not uncommon to see large inflatables related to the nearest holiday. Even in early September, people have Halloween-themed decorations on their sites.
On the best of days, the dogs and I would walk out of our loop and wander a portion of the Fort for some time. Fort Wilderness Campground is no small resort, so there's no way we could see it all on foot.
On our most recent trip, our loop (loop 300) was right by the dog park. My dogs would have fun in a large, safe area off-leash and meet other dogs.
When we’d return to the RV, I'd make sure the dogs had food, water, and background noise from the TV before my Dad and I would head out to a park. Having the TV on helps drown out noises outdoors, especially the fireworks that go off every night. Shadow also likes watching TV, so having it on isn't wasted.
For example, we were heading to Magic Kingdom that opened at 9:00 A.M., we'd leave around 8:30 A.M. The time depended on when the dogs and I returned from our walk.
After lunch, usually around 1:30 P.M., my Dad and I would leave the park. It may take a half hour to an hour before we returned to the RV depending on Disney transportation. This would mean the dogs would be home alone for about six hours.
As soon as I opened the RV door, I'd grab the dogs’ leashes and take them for a walk. After our walk, we'd return to the RV where I'd give them a treat and some play time.
Sometimes my dogs and I would cuddle while watching TV or taking a nap. Sometimes I'd take Rascal for a longer walk while Shadow relaxed with my Dad.
I'd give Shadow his daily Galliprant medication. If my dogs are willing, because they're lazy for dogs, we'd go for another short walk. Otherwise, my Dad and I would head off to another park around 5:00 P.M.
When we'd return to the RV no later than 11:00 P.M., I'd once again grab the dogs’ leashes and take them for their last walk of the day. At night, I'd also grab a flashlight. It gets very dark in the loops at the Fort. There's no telling where a wild animal like an armadillo, turkey, or snake is hiding in the dark.
A Dedicated Day on the Fort
When we go to Walt Disney World, we'd always stay at the Fort Wilderness Campground resort for more days than we'd have park tickets. This would mean there'd be days when we wouldn't head to the park, or at least not to use a regular park ticket. We may have a special event ticket or plans to hang out at Disney Springs for a few hours.
However, I always dedicated at least one full day spent at the Fort and with the dogs. This usually meant bike rides around the Fort with Rascal and lots of relaxation time outdoors with both dogs.
The best part about traveling in an RV with my dogs is the ability to let out the awning and setup an outdoor patio of sorts. Shadow would lay on the dog cot while Rascal and I would swing in the hammock.
My Thoughts
It's the comforts of home away from home that make RV travel with dogs worthwhile and convenient. Even if we stayed at a dog-friendly Disney resort, the following daily routines helped my dogs and I have a great trip:
Frequent walks (a.k.a. potty breaks)
Treats
Play time
Background noise
Dogs are left alone for no longer than six hours max
Consistent medication time for senior dog
Dedicated day at the resort just for the dogs
I guess you could say I get concerned about my dogs’ happiness. Would that make me a helicopter dog owner?
At some point during the trip, I'd get the dogs souvenirs. I usually get them a plush toy (my dogs don't tear apart stuffed animals). On our most recent trip, I also bought them a new collar and harness.
What's Next?
While I could keep going on and on about my recent trip to Walt Disney World, I plan to share my DIY craft cabinet creation with you within the next week. Be sure to check back to see how I made it and how much it cost me.
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Thanks, and have a great day!
Simply Jelly Jam