Vacation planning and budgeting can be stressful, and then come the worries about what to do with your beloved pets while you’re gone. I remember there were times when I was worried throughout the vacation about our dog at home. Does he eat well? Did he miss us? Does he wonder if we’ll ever come back? It affected the whole trip because I couldn’t calm my nerves about our dog at home.
For pet owners planning a Disney World vacation, and with some extra funds to boot, these kinds of worries can be completely forgotten thanks to the out-of-this-world pet Disney Park resorts where pets get the VIP Disney treatment. While you’re riding Space Mountain and eating a turkey leg, you can rest easy knowing your pets are in the best of hands.
Disney’s luxury pet resort on property — Best Friends Pet Care — makes sure pets have a blast and are well taken care of.
Disney World fan and annual pass holder, Noelle (aka @snugglyyducklingg) shared a sneak peek tour of the resort’s onsite kennel, called the Best Friends Pet Hotel.
Her dog stayed in their tiny hotel room, complete with multiple beds, toys, food and water bowls, and even a small TV playing movies (Noelle’s dog was watching a movie in 2004 Garfield. How appropriate!). The room also includes a personal green space for them to run around and do their business at their leisure.
According to the official Best Friends Pet Hotel page on Disney’s website, their primary mission is to offer “peace of mind to Walt Disney World Resort Guests traveling with pets.” Pet owners can rest easy knowing their furry family members are in good hands considering the staff is made up of highly trained pet care providers, all of whom are animal lovers , first and foremost, according to the site.
Best Friends Pet Hotel also includes 17,000 square feet of air-conditioned indoor space, 10,000 square feet of covered outdoor run and play area, and a 25,000 square-foot dog park where dogs can run wild. wet for a good night’s sleep in the world’s happiest kennel.
Another big plus: you can stop by and visit your dog at any time during your Disney stay.
Noelle wrote in a comment to followers, “… we visit him all the time! You can take them outside and play too ☺️”
Packages for Disney pet hotels vary, from a simple overnight stay to a complete splurge, which includes a Club Suite. A stay in a Club Suite includes a personal pet concierge, a welcome Freely bone broth pop, 2 potty walks, 2 hours of playtime, and a flat-screen TV.
The suite is also equipped with a webcam so pet owners can check in with the dog whenever they want as well as a private outdoor patio, premium bedding and bowls, bedtime story, daily/nightly updates with photos, a bath, and a Best Friends Tote with seasonal gifts at the end of the visit.
Something like this for a pet looks amazing, but surely, you are like me wondering: How much will it cost? Will I still be able to afford college for my children?
The Best Friends Pet Hotel page does not explicitly list pricing for their pet boarding offers. However, when asked in her comment section how much she spent on pet hotels for her Golden, Noelle replied, “A lot 😅”
According to AllEars.net, VIP Luxury Suites run about $109 per day per pet. The level below VIP, the Vacation Villa, is about $93 a day. The last two levels (inner space boarding and inner/outer space boarding) cost $47 a day and $52 a day, respectively.
The indoor-only room includes two potty walks, and the Indoor/Outdoor option offers just one.
Disney pet hotels will also board smaller animals such as birds and reptiles (although they must come with their enclosures).
If this kind of situation seems like a distant dream given the price, some Disney World Resort hotels have designated dog-friendly accommodations, including Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney Port Orleans Resort – Riverside Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, and The Cabins at Fort Wilderness Resort.
