Luxury Pet Resort Now Accepting Reservations

[Figment!]

Luxury Pet Resort to Open at Walt Disney World Resort
New vacation destination for pets is now accepting reservations

Walt Disney World Resort Press Release
June 24, 2010



LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Pet lovers visiting Walt Disney World Resort can now plan to board the family pet in fun, luxurious new accommodations. Reservations are being accepted for pet boarding stays beginning Aug. 27, 2010, for the new Best Friends Pet Care Resort.

The one-of-a-kind resort comprises more than 50,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, including 17,000 square feet of air-conditioned indoor space, 10,000 square feet of covered outdoor runs and play areas, and an expansive private dog park exclusively for the use of pet resort clients and their dogs.

The facility will accommodate up to 270 dogs and 30 cats for both daytime and overnight boarding. A wide selection of suite choices for dogs includes air-conditioned indoor rooms,
48-square-foot indoor-outdoor suites, and four expansive VIP (very important pet) suites with television, raised bedding and private outdoor yards.

Feline guests will spend their visit in the separate “Kitty City” pavilion – away from the dogs – in two- and four-room condos. All suites and condos are designed to provide comfort and privacy and will be cleaned daily with hospital-grade disinfectants.

“Best Friends has long been the industry leader for boarding, and this will be our crown jewel. We’ve taken the ‘best of breed’ in every category to create the perfect environment for pets,”said Dennis Dolan, president and CEO of Best Friends Pet Care. “Our goal is to ensure that pets staying with us have a fun, action-packed vacation – just like their families vacationing at Walt Disney World.”

The resort’s exclusive dog park features a fenced walking trail bordering the natural wetlands around the park. Inside the trail, guests can choose from a variety of different play areas, including a 3,300-square-foot area covered in artificial turf, a 4,500-square-foot area with shade trees and a 1,300-square-foot “canines only” water park. There are several large areas for owners to sit, relax and watch their dogs play. The entire park is secured from outsiders and is illuminated for use after dark.

Other features of the resort include: a grooming salon, which will provide go-home-fresh baths and haircuts for pets; two 1,100-square-foot “camp rooms” for play group and doggy day camp, each opening onto an outdoor play-yard; and a special facility for the boarding of “pocket pets,” such as hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits and ferrets.

Pet parents can choose from a wide range of a la carte activities for pet guests from one-on-one playtimes and social playgroup with other doggy guests, to cuddle time and bedtime stories with staff. Additional amenities and upgrades include Ice Cream Treats, Bottled Water and Premium/Orthopedic Bedding. Feline guests can also enjoy private playtimes, activity toys in their suites and treats such as Cookies and Milk or Tuna on a Ritz.

The pet resort is located across from Disney’s Port Orleans Resort at 2510 Bonnet Creek Parkway in Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830. Pricing and other details are available at wdw.bestfriendspetcare.com or by calling 877/4-WDW-PETS.

About Best Friend Pet Care

Best Friends Pet Care Inc. (bestfriendspetcare.com) is a long-time leader in the U.S. pet hospitality industry, providing high-quality boarding for dogs and cats as well as day care, grooming, training and related services. Founded in 1991, the Company redefined pet boarding in 1996 with the opening of its first full-service pet resort in Norwalk, Conn. Since that time, Best Friends has expanded to more than 40 pet care centers in 18 states, always innovating and providing new offerings based upon the needs of pets and feedback from clients. The company currently operates the five boarding kennels at Walt Disney World Resort, which will be phased out with the opening of the new pet resort.

[EeyoresBestFriend]

OMG! It's by Port Orleans ?!?!

I better not be able to hear barking dogs all day/night or my days at POFQ are over!!

[Terk24]

Reading this...I kept saying seriously?

[big blue and hairy]

OMG! It's by Port Orleans ?!?!

I better not be able to hear barking dogs all day/night or my days at POFQ are over!!

It's not that close. It's in the vicinity. Also, I've dealt with Best Friends through the old DIsney kennels. They are very nice and obviously love animals. This is definitely a place I would feel good about leaving my dog.

[Tyson The Lab]

I honestly don't know who would use this?? If you head down to FL by plane, why would you bring rover?? if you drive down, same question?? truth be known...I kind of LIKE the vacation from my dog too. of course I miss him the whole time i'm away but it's nice to not have to walk him for a week, or get up early with him...etc etc.

I can just imagine the cost of this...oouch people must really love their pets....(or not care about money)

[McLiberal8]

Sounds great!
Does anyone know their 'bully breed' policy?
I have a pit mix and would love for him to be able to stay there - some doggie hotels have discriminatory breed restrictions..

[1DisneyNut]

I honestly don't know who would use this?? If you head down to FL by plane, why would you bring rover?? if you drive down, same question?? truth be known...I kind of LIKE the vacation from my dog too. of course I miss him the whole time i'm away but it's nice to not have to walk him for a week, or get up early with him...etc etc.

I can just imagine the cost of this...oouch people must really love their pets....(or not care about money)

I was thinking the same thing. I just don't get it. We are staying at Port Orleans in four weeks and Guest Services better hope that I do not hear one bark while I'm on my vacation or I will come unglued.

[kakn7294]

I don't think it's close enough that you would hear anything. And although I believe in leaving my pets home, there are a lot of folks who do travel with theirs, especially snowbirds who bring their pets for the winter. These types of places are springing up all over and I would have put my dog in one if the price was reasonable enough. I paid a fortune for a kennel that was nothing more than a dog crate in a room full of other dog crates stacked on top of each other. I would have gladly paid a little more for her comfort.

[xo0ally]

Reading this...I kept saying seriously?

Same. It sounds kind of ridiculous.

[TheDuckRocks]

I just went over to their website and the rate they are charging for a cat for boarding is only $3.00 a day more than when we boarded ours in April at our local vet. And believe me he did not get a 2 room condo. I think I'll take the time when we are down in Nov. to go over and take a look as I'm curious as to just what a 2 room condo is. Two cages on top of each other? Or truely something nice?

[big blue and hairy]

The idea of boarding animals at WDW isn't new folks, they're just letting letting the pros do it now. Remember, there are a lot of people in driving distance of WDW who would find it easy to take the dog and not worry about them at all.

[plutosnana]

Awesome!

[Mickey 101]

Does this mean Disney is closing down their kennels?

[pixiesmimi]

If it wasn't such a long drive with the dog, might would rather do this than leave her in the Vet. I'm sure the conditions are much better.

[badkitty]

Does this mean Disney is closing down their kennels?

The release stated that the kennels would be phased out. I am rather disappointed in this because I like to visit my dog during the day and it is easy when he is just at the front of the park. Now it will be a journey to get there. Will they have bus service to the new facility?

I have seen where it is located and all you so worried with angry faces that you will hear dogs barking need not to worry. It is quite a distance away. The noise from the buses and your neighbor's TV would be louder.

[dnickels]

Just to keep things in perspective,

...48-square-foot indoor-outdoor suites...

is a whopping 6 ft x 8 ft. That's no different than the few kennels that I'm familiar with. Of course we're on Disney property now so they're called "suites."

Sounds suspiciously familiar to how a room that would be standard anywhere else becomes 'deluxe' when at Disney.

I suppose it's better than some kennels, but in the end it's just a kennel, dressed up with lots of flowery words.

[Disneyfirsttimer]

We have one of these on the NJ/NY border where I live and it is very very nice.

[ChipNDale79]

i love the idea of disney having a nice kennel on property, this works out good for us.

We have an 8 hour drive to WDW and when we board our dog here at home, we have to board him for our travel days. So by doing this, it saves us money in the long run by the amount of time he has to get boarded. Our other option is for him to stay at my parents house when we are out of town, they live 45 mins north of us, so to drop him off or pick him up adds another hour and half to our trip.

It's a convenience thing for us.

[nicjohn3]

OMG! It's by Port Orleans ?!?!

I better not be able to hear barking dogs all day/night or my days at POFQ are over!!

Seems like you stayed down there while they were building it. It was in construction at least in March. It is sooo far away from Riverside that FQ will be even be further. while on the buses from POR and POFQ you can see it, but no possible way you will hear anything. Like someone said --you will hear the neighbors/buses before the kennel.

[gerald72]

Is the doggie-water park going to have water slides? Will the poor chihuahuas not make the height restrictions?