Photo courtesy of http://www.wallpapers.cz

I must admit I have never used this service. My dogs are rarely, if ever, kenneled. I am fortunate to have family members that will care for my pets most times and the few times they have been kenneled I have used a facility close to home. However, there are many that either can’t or don’t want to leave their pets behind when they visit WDW.

The Best Friends Kennel at Walt Disney World offers a large variety of accommodations to help with the needs of any pet owner.  They offer day care if you are just visiting for the day, as well as overnight boarding for the length of your visit. You can visit your pets daily if you wish or pick them up at the end of your vacation. Pets are boarded in “suites” that provide all the comforts of home for your pet. The suites are cleaned, disinfected, and freshened daily.

Even if only visiting for the day, Best Friends Pet Care requires that all pets be up-to-date on their vaccines (Rabies, Distemper and Bordatella) and written proof is required from your veterinarian’s office.

Photo courtesy of http://www.bestfriendspetcare.com/waltdisneyworldresort/

Indoor-Outdoor 2-Room Suites: These suites include climate-controlled indoor bedroom with a pet cot, and an outdoor patio, which is protected from the elements. Dogs have unlimited access to the patios during the daytime for most of the year. During peak summer temperatures the patio doors are only opened four times a day to protect your pet from the extreme heat. Bedrooms are 4’ x 4’  and  3’ x 4’, and have a minimum of 3 feet of clearance. Patios are 3’ x 8’   and  4’ x  8’, with more than 9 feet of clearance. All indoor-outdoor suites include one potty walk by the staff per day. You may visit to take your pet out into the dog park or the walking trail at any time during normal operating hours.

All Indoor Suites: Climate-controlled suites that are approx. 32 sq. ft., and provide a pet cot for your dog. Dogs have unlimited access to their patio area, except during cleaning. Suite sizes are 4’ x 7’  and 4’ x  8’, with 3 feet of clearance. The larger suites are comfortable for all medium  sized breed dogs and some large sized  breed dogs. The indoor suites include two potty walks with a staff member each day. You may visit to take your pet out into the dog park or the walking trail at any time during normal operating hours.

Vacation Villas: There are 14 two-room villas that provide an 8 ft. x 9 ft. tiled bedroom, with a raised platform bed and doggy-eye-level flat panel TV.  Each villa also has a private outdoor 4 ft. x 7 ft. relief patio.  The Vacation Villa boarding experience includes 1 Potty Walk, 1 Playgroup Session and Turn-Down Service each day.

VIP Luxury Suites: For the ultimate in pampered pet boarding, Best Friends Pet Care offers 4 super luxury suites that are 226 sq. ft.  These suites provide a 16 ft. x 9 ft. bedroom, with paw print floors and tile walls, glass doors, a raised platform bed and flat panel television, programmed for your pet’s entertainment. Each suite also comes with a private covered outdoor play yard, where pets can have private playtime with you when you visit, or with their personal “pet concierge”.  This all-inclusive boarding experience includes a wide range of daily complimentary activities: 2 Potty Walks, 2 Playgroup sessions and Bed Time Story each day, all overseen by a personal “pet concierge”.  Pets staying in the VIP Luxury Suites will also enjoy a complimentary “Go Home Fresh” bath after a 3-day minimum stay.

Kitty City is designed to be a sanctuary for your feline friends. Kitty City is located in a separate wing of the building so it is protected from the sights, sounds and smells of dogs. There is accommodations for 24 cats and they offer a two-room or four-room cat condo, with windows to the outside world. Each condo has a private relief area and all are individually vented to outdoors.

Pocket Pets: Best Friends Pet Care will also take in your tiny family pets such as hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits and ferrets. You must provide housing/cage and all supplies (food, bowls, litter, etc.) for this type of pet. They will not accommodate any venomous pets or primates of any kind.

Rates: Considering it is WDW I thought the prices reasonable for one pet. However, if you have more than one dog or one cat it can be much more expensive than leaving your pets at home with a local kennel. The few times I have left mine in a boarding facility, my cost for 2 dogs was $26 per night ($13 each). Although more than double the cost, I still find it reasonable if you have one pet and there is no possible way you can leave it at home or you feel you want your pet close by so that you can visit daily. In my research I did find that you will receive a slight discount for a second pet staying in the same suite. You will have to call to discuss the discount with someone at the facility and some things that will be taken into consideration will be length of stay, size of pets and whether or not pets can share the same “suite.” Also, if you are planning on bringing your pet, make contact for your reservation as early as possible since believe it or not, the facility does fill up.

Indoor Dog Board-includes two potty walks:  Per night -$37 standard/$34 resort guest/$28 daycare

Indoor/Outdoor Dog Boarding-includes one potty walk: Per night – $43 standard/$39 resort guest/$32 daycare.

Vacation Villas-dogs only-includes one potty walk, play group, flat screen TV and turndown biscuit: Per night – $62 standard/$56 resort guest/$62 daycare

VIP Luxury Suites-dogs only-includes two potty walks, two play groups, flat screen TV, webcam, bedtime story and a bath after a 3 night stay: Per night – $79 standard/$72 resort guest/$79 daycare

A la Carte add-on Services for dogs (per day): Play $ Stay $22/Play group $15/Play time $8/Cuddle time $8/Walk & Explore $8/Bedtime Story $6/Ice Cream Break $4/Holiday Meal $5/Premium Bed $5

Two level Kitty Condo:

$25 standard/ $23 resort guest/ $22 daycare

Four level Kitty Condo:

$34 standard/ $32 resort guest/ $31 daycare

A la Carte add-on Services for cats (per day): Play time $8/Cookies & Milk $3/Tuna on Ritz $3/Activity Toy $3/Deluxe Kitty Bed $5

Pocket Pets (per day):

Small- $12 standard/ $10 resort guest; Medium – $16 standard/$14 resort guest; Large – $20 standard/$18 resort guest; X-Large – $23 standard/$21 resort guest

All of the listed daycare rates are for more than 6 hours. A discount will be applied if under 6 hours.

Best Friends Pet Care/Walt Disney World has a great website (Best Friends Pet Care) that will answer most of your questions about rates, what to include in your pets suitcase, medicine, etc. If you can’t find the information you want, there is a phone number provided to call and the staff are extremely helpful and knowledgeable.