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Touring Disney World's new 'luxury pet resort'

by Leigh Caldwell (RSS feed) on Sep 7th 2010 at 2:30PM

Tongues (and tails) were definitely wagging as Walt Disney World Resort opened the doors to its newest addition: Best Friends Pet Care.

Billed as a "luxury pet resort," this pet kennel facility is definitely more luxurious than any I've ever seen. I have used a couple of the five existing pet kennels at Walt Disney World, and I would describe them as clean and utilitarian, but certainly lacking in Disney magic.

The new digs for dogs range from a standard suite that is all indoors to a VIP (Very Important Pet) suite that has a 16x9 tiled bedroom, raised platform bed, flatscreen TV and a private, covered outdoor play area.

You can treat your dogs to add-ons such as a playgroup ($15), an ice cream break ($4) or a bedtime story ($6).

Although this pet resort is run by Best Friends and not by Disney, there are Disney touches everywhere. Pluto's paw print graces the front lobby. Lady and the Tramp was being shown on the TVs in the dog suites during my visit, and I'm told that the bedtime stories read to dogs feature 101 Dalmations in heavy rotation.

A 25,000-square foot dog park includes grassy areas and water sprays for puppy play, as well as benches where owners can come to sit and visit with their pets.

Gallery: Best Friends Pet Care: Walt Disney World's new pet resort

Cats can stay in their own 2-level condos in "Kitty City," where they all have their own so-called "private relief area."

You can treat your feline to cookies and milk ($3) or tuna on a Ritz cracker ($3).

And unless your small pet is venomous, exotic or a primate, ferrets, rabbits, hamsters and the like can even hang out in the pocket pets room during your Disney trip.

Best Friends Pet Care is offering daycare rates for pets, as well as overnight accommodations. That's because even nearby residents often choose to use the Disney kennels during a long day at Walt Disney World, rather than leave their pets at home for 12 to 16 hours.

The new pet resort opened Sept. 1 at Walt Disney World, and the five existing kennels at the resort were closed over Labor Day weekend.

But all this new luxury does come with a price. Overnight rates for cats start at $23 and doggie lodging starts at $37. A VIP suite will run you $76 per night. For comparison's sake, a night in a standard room at one of Disney's value resorts (for humans) will run you $82 during slower weeks this fall.

Disney says the VIP suites are already booked up on weekends through the end of the year, so I guess that price is not a deter

There are small discounts on the pet lodging for guests staying at Disney resorts.

Best Friends Pet Care is on Bonnet Creek Parkway, directly across from Disney's Port Orleans-Riverside Resort.

Filed under: North America, United States, Theme Parks

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

PM Sep 8th 2010 7:57AM

I get that people love their pets and want to treat them well and it is our responsibility as humans to take care of animals... but this level of pandering just makes me sick. DOGS ARE NOT PEOPLE!!!! What would they know or even care about a TV? They eat their own poo for goodness sake! What about the person living down the street struggling to make ends meet? What about the homeless kids who can't afford an education? What about (and yes I will go there because I have seen it first hand) the starving kids in third world countries? Shouldn't we be taking care of our fellow human beings first?

benny Sep 9th 2010 5:30PM

My dogs are my kids and I choose to treat them like family. That doesn't stop me from supporting worthy causes -- including supporting several children in Malawi -- or working at our local food bank and homeless shelter. So, PM, don't judge me because I want to treat my animals well.

After all, wasn't it Gandhi who said "you can judge a nation by the way they treat their animals."

Michelle Sep 14th 2010 4:55PM

So I guess you believe in euthanasia too? My animals add value to my home and I would rather pay to put my dog in a nice facility where she is cared for than somewhere she would just be stuck in a cage. If you had a pet, you would understand that kenneling them can be extremely traumatic for the animal and the more caring the facility, the easier it is on the animal. I use my local best friends and my dog gets more care and love than at the other no name facility that is the same price. If people have the money to care for their animals in this manner, you have no right to judge them for it.