Westgate Resorts Frequently Asked Questions
Dog Friendly Policy:
Most Westgate Resort locations allow dogs unless otherwise stated, and only dogs are permitted. Guests may have up to two dogs per room, with a combined maximum weight of 60 pounds. Each dog must not exceed 36 inches in height or length. Restrictions on size, breed, number of dogs, and permitted areas apply only to pets, not to service animals. Dogs must be supervised or crated at all times while inside the room. Housekeeping will not service a room if a dog is left unattended or is not properly crated. When outside the room, dogs must remain leashed and under the handler’s control. A non‑refundable $150 cleaning fee is charged at check‑in for dogs reported to the Front Desk. An additional $100 penalty applies for any unreported dog found in the room. Damage or excessive soiling beyond normal cleaning will result in additional charges. Designated dog relief areas may be provided; if not, guests must take dogs outside public areas for relief. Dogs may not relieve themselves in guest public areas, and handlers must pick up and properly dispose of all waste. Dogs are not permitted in public areas such as restaurants, spas, pools, showrooms, convention spaces, casinos, or retail areas. Certain breeds known for aggressive behavior are not allowed, including but not limited to: Great Dane, Sharpei, Pit Bull, Rottweiler, German Shepherd, Husky, Alaskan Malamute, Doberman Pinscher, Chow Chow, and Presa Canario. Management may restrict additional breeds at its discretion. Any dog showing aggression, regardless of breed, must be removed from the property. Excessive barking may also require the guest to secure off‑property accommodations for the dog. Failure to comply with this policy may result in immediate removal of the pet, cancellation of the reservation, forfeiture of the security deposit, and application of all penalties under Westgate Resorts Terms & Conditions.
Service Animal Policy:
Service animals are permitted with pre authorization from resort management. Emotional support animals are not considered service animals under ADA Titles I and II and are not permitted. Under ADA Titles II and III, dogs and certain miniature horses (24–34 inches tall and 70–100 pounds) may qualify as service animals. A service animal is individually trained to perform specific work or tasks for a person with a disability. Examples include guiding individuals who are visually impaired, alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, pulling a wheelchair, alerting, or protecting a person during a seizure, reminding someone to take medication, or calming a person with PTSD during an anxiety episode. Service animals are working animals, not pets. Their tasks must be directly related to the handler’s disability. Animals whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify. Service animals must be permitted in all areas open to the public, such as dining rooms and common spaces. They may be excluded only from areas where their presence would compromise safety or sanitation, such as food preparation areas. Under the ADA, service animals must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered, unless these devices interfere with their work or the handler’s disability prevents their use. In such cases, the handler must maintain control through voice, signal, or other effective means. When the service provided is not obvious, staff may ask only two questions 1) Is the dog or miniature horse a service animal required because of a disability? 2) What work or task has it been trained to perform? Staff may not: ask about the person’s disability, require medical documentation, request special identification or training papers, or ask for a demonstration of the animal’s tasks. If the service is obvious, staff should not inquire at all. A handler may be asked to remove the service animal only if: the animal is out of control and the handler does not take effective action, the animal’s behavior poses a direct threat to health or safety, or the animal is not housebroken. If removal is necessary, the guest must still be Offered access to goods and services without the animal. The mandatory cleaning fee is waived for service animals. However, any damage caused by the guest, or the service animal will be charged according to standard hotel procedures. Staff are not responsible for feeding, supervising, or caring for a service animal.
