Trained service animals are welcomed inside the Walt Disney World theme parks, Downtown Disney, and resorts. Disney guests will need to use other accommodations for their dog, cats and other pets. Currently, Walt Disney World has five kennels available to guests and some Fort Wilderness campsites are designated for pets (for an extra $5/day fee).
Beginning Sept. 1, Walt Disney World guests who travel with their dogs, cats and other small pets will be able to board them at Best Friends Pet Care Resort. This new pet facility provides air-conditioned kennels, VIP suites, kitty condos, and plenty of outdoor space for walks and play.
The Walt Disney World kennels will be phased out once the new Best Friends Pet Care Resort opens.
Click here for more information on Best Friends Pet Care Resort.
Best Friends Pet Care Resort to replace Disney kennels in 2010
Best Friends Pet Care Resort will be a full-service, luxury pet “resort” for guest’s dogs, cats and small "pocket pets." The resort will be located along Bonnett Creek Parkway inside Walt Disney World. The facilities will offer boarding, day care, grooming, and activities such as nature walks and playgroups. As suggested by the luxury label, pet pampering services include a range of amenities, from ice cream treats to bedtime stories. Like the theme-park and Fort Wilderness kennels it will replace, the pet resort will be operated by Best Friends Pet Care, Inc. and be open to both WDW resort and theme-park guests.
Best Friends Pet Care Resort 2010 reservations and prices
Advance reservations are strongly recommended for the resort. Both Disney resort and off-site guests are welcome to board their pets at the site, and the resort also offers daycare only options for guests who stay off-property. Best Friends is open from one hour before the parks open to one hour after, although there will be someone on staff 24 hours per day in case of emergencies.
Rates for Best Friends Pet Care Resort are more expensive than the prices for the Disney theme-park kennels being phased out. What follows are the current, 2010 Pet Care Resort prices. DVC, Annual Passholders and Silver Passholders may be eligible for discounts. Contact Best Friends Pet Care for details.
Dog boarding prices
Prices are per dog, per day. All boarding includes potty walks, with various other services included with the more expensive boarding options. There are discounts available for multiple dogs.*
- $37 per day, indoor suites, off-site guests; $34, Disney resort guests
- $40 per day, indoor-oudoor 2-room suites, off-site guests; $36, Disney resort guests
- $59 per day, Vacation Villas* off-site guests; $53, Disney resort guests
- $76 per day, VIP Luxury Suites off-site guests; $69, Disney resort guests
A la carte items for dogs, like bottled water, playtimes and bedtime stories, cost between $4 and $8. Premium beds cost $5 per day. Playgroups costing $15 for 30 minutes.
*2nd and 3rd pets sharing Standard suite will receive 30% off.
**2nd and 3rd pets sharing Villa or Luxury suite will receive 50% off.
Cat boarding prices
Prices are per cat, per day.
- $23 per day,two-level condo, off-site guests; $21, Disney resort guests
- $32 per day, four-level condo, off-site guests; $30, Disney resort guests
A la carte items for cats, those optional amenities like treats and playtime, cost between $3 (treats, toys), $5 (kitty beds, per day) and $8 (playtime).
Daycare prices
Daycare for pets staying 6 hours or less, per pet:
- $15 for cats, two-level condo; $21, four-level condo
- $16 for dogs, indoor; $18, indoor-outdoor; $30, Vacation Villas; $46, Super Suites
Daycare for pets staying more than 6 hours, per pet:
- $18 for cats, two-level condo; $26, four-level condo
- $27 for dogs, indoor; $30, indoor-outdoor; $53, Vacation Villas; $69, Super Suites
Pocket Pets boarding
Prices for “Pocket Pets” are based on size – from small to extra-large.
- Small: $12 per day, offsite resort guests ($10 for Disney Resort guests)
- Medium: $16 per day, offsite resort guests ($14)
- Large: $20per day, offsite resort guests ($28)
- Extra-Large: $23 per day, offsite resort guests ($21)
Pets must be current on their vaccinations. Dogs must have current records for rabies, DHPP and Bordetella, whiles cats must be current on rabies and FVRCP.
Guests can visit Walt Disney World Best Friend Pet Care for more information or call 877-4-WDW-PETS to make reservations. (Update: The extra digit in the number is not a typo, although guests may reach Best Friends by leaving off the "S" and calling 877-493-9378.)
Update (June 25, 2010): The new Best Friends Pet Care Resort is now accepting reservations for resort stays that begin Aug. 27, 2010 or later. The kennels will be phased out of operation after the resort opens. Click on the hyperlink for more information.
Update (Aug. 17, 2010): Best Friends Pet Care Resort has delayed its opening until Sept. 1, 2010. On Sept. 1, kennels at Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios will close to walk-up guests. On Sept. 2, the kennels at Magic Kingdom’s Ticket and Transportation Center, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground will close to walk-up guests.
Walt Disney World kennel locations (closing Sept. 1 and 2, 2010)
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom entrance (most animals*)
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios entrance (most animals*)
- Epcot Entrance Plaza (dogs, cats, small animals*)
- Magic Kingdom’s TTC (dogs, cats, small animals*)
- Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground entrance (dogs, cats, small animals*)
Kenneling services include two feedings – guests may provide their own food, but it is not required. At Magic Kingdom’s TTC, Epcot, and Fort Wilderness, two walks are included. Guests should plan on visiting at least twice a day to walk their dogs at Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
*Small animals include rabbits, ferrets, rodents, birds and non-venomous snakes (provided guests supply a carrying case). No native wildlife or exotic species are permitted. Prior to kenneling their animals, pet owners are required to show records of vaccination as per Florida law, and dogs and cats must be at least 8 weeks old.
Day and overnight kenneling is available. For more information on pet care and services for a particular location, reservations, and current rates, contact the Walt Disney World kennels at the following phone numbers:
- Disney's Animal Kingdom: 407-938-2100
- Disney's Hollywood Studios: 407-560-4282
- Epcot: 407-560-6229
- Magic Kingdom’s TTC: 407-824-6568
- Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground: 407-824-2735
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Comments
To clarify: Best Friends is accepting reservations NOW for boarding stays that begin August 27 or later. To make a reservation, call 877-4-WDW-PETS. Pricing and details are available at Best Friends WDW website.
Deb B, thank you for your comment with clarification and contact information. A newer article, which is linked to this one, focuses on the new Best Friends Pet Care Resort at Walt Disney World Resort.
We are so disappointed to report that the Best Friends pet Care in Lake Buena Vista, Florida was just awful. The staff does not communicate with each other and therefore, anyone who works at the front desk, does not care what is going on with your dog. We brought our puppy there and were so upset to see that she had not been taken out to potty, even though we were paying extra for her to be taken out more than once. many days, she wasn't even taken out once. Although she could have "pottied" in her room, she has just recently been trained and will only potty in the grass. We told several staff members about our concern that our puppy was holding her stools for more than 24 hours. Many staff members were rude and one front desk member bluntly told us that she only worked front desk and didn't know or care about what was going on with the dogs. Although this place looks cute, you have no idea what kind of treatment your animal is getting when you leave. Their report cards are written nicely, as well as the "times" that they took the dog out or had cuddle time. However, those reports were often lied about. On more than one occasion, it was written that our puppy was taken out by a staff member, or that a staff member had cuddle time and wrote "she was so cute and playful". However, it was impossible that they had taken her out or had cuddle time at the times in which they wrote, because we were there. They just wrote random times and comments to make it look like they were payin
Anonymous...I'm so sorry to hear you and your puppy. I'd only heard good things about it, and haven't had the opportunity to take my cats to the facility. I encourage you to contact Best Friends with your feedback; I don't know how or if they will respond, but those who own and manage the facility should know.
Their contact information is here: http://wdw.bestfriendspetcare.com/feedback-form I don't think the comment section here - which is from an earlier version of Examiner.com - will allow me to hyperlink the address. But copy and paste it into your browser.
Best of luck in receiving a response, and let me know what happens. ANd I hope your puppy is doing much better at home.
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