WDWoptmist
Well-Known Member
Would just like to hear people's experience boarding their dog at Disney. How is it compared to just boarding your dog anywhere else? Price? Ect...
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Boarding a dog at Disney
- Thread starter WDWoptmist
- Start date
smk
Well-Known Member
Never boarded our dog there but I do know they ask you to come and walk and visit your dog once a day, so factor that into your plans if you choose to go that way. For most people it would not be a problem, after all the dog is family right? However, if your plans for the day will be cut short or hurried because of the need to walk the dog and take time with him/her, then reconsider and board your pet at home. I personally would love to take our dog and stay in the campgrounds but he would be lost without us, with him in a strange place. He would also bark up a storm and he is a BIG boy, all black, so his bark is quite scary to some. So, we arrange to have him at home and have a family member (our grown kids) keep him company while we are gone. We are fortunate in that matter, not an option for most people, I know.
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luv
Well-Known Member
I left my cat there once. The staff was really very nice...mostly young girls who seem to really like the animals. 
I think they charge more than many places. If you can board the dog at home, that might be a better idea. I know I did not enjoy traveling with my cat. Maybe dogs are better on trips.
I think they charge more than many places. If you can board the dog at home, that might be a better idea. I know I did not enjoy traveling with my cat. Maybe dogs are better on trips.
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HouCuseChickie
Well-Known Member
I know they're more expensive than the local boarding facility we typically use. I think it's nearly $40 a day @ Best Friends at WDW for basic boarding for resort guests (a tad more for non-resort guests)...which is close to double what I pay locally. While we've considered it since it would work out to the same $ after factoring fewer boarding days (i.e. the travel days getting to and from WDW), the whole coming by to visit on a daily basis would stress our dog more than help her. Plus- she's familiar with our local place- meaning little to no time for her to acclimate. Still, I've seen some decent reviews on the place and it might be a good option if you plan to travel with your pet.
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Chernaboggles
Well-Known Member
I just looked into this for daytime-only boarding (we're staying off site in a place that allows dogs). My regular, local kennel is about $30 bucks for a play-and-stay arrangement, where the dog is kenneled at night but has a lot of playtime with other dogs during the day. I found similar pricing in non-Disney kennels in the Orlando area.
Unsurprisingly, Disney rates are higher. Here's what they quoted me when I spoke to them a couple weeks ago:
Unsurprisingly, Disney rates are higher. Here's what they quoted me when I spoke to them a couple weeks ago:
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sweetpee_1993
Well-Known Member
We boarded our toy schnauzer at BF in Novenber 2010 (I think it was). We were not required to visit her daily but we had the option. Yes, it was very upsetting for her and for me. She didn't eat much during her 10-night stay and visibly lost considerable weight. DH started going without the rest of us because he could get her to eat. Nobody else could. Riley is a social eater at home. We got one of the mini suite things that has the tv in it so she would hear voices because at home our dog is rarely ever alone. Compared to other boarding facilities and what they offer as included options, BF is very expensive for overnight boarding.
We've since boarded Riley three times (?) at the Pet Paradise in Gainesville. It works because its on the way. The price for an indoor w/outdoor space is good.
Most recently we tried VIPet in Kissimmee. I think we've found our girl's vacation home whenever we sail out of Florida (Port Canaveral or Ft.Lauderdale) from now on. The facility is not in the tourist areas but its nice. The staff are all wonderful. Normally Riley has a few really weird days after any time boarding but not this time. She left as happy as the day she went. We got her a mini hot dog suite which included 3 leash walks per day. We paid for extra group play which she lived. Even with her 8 nights plus add-ons PLUS a full grooming it cost less than half what Best Friends charges.
I'd love to hear more discussion about boarding pets in the Central Florida area. What places have others used? What did you think? How did your pet do?
Its tough for me with this boarding stuff. I'm very particular. I'm almost always near my dog and very particular about her care.
We've since boarded Riley three times (?) at the Pet Paradise in Gainesville. It works because its on the way. The price for an indoor w/outdoor space is good.
Most recently we tried VIPet in Kissimmee. I think we've found our girl's vacation home whenever we sail out of Florida (Port Canaveral or Ft.Lauderdale) from now on. The facility is not in the tourist areas but its nice. The staff are all wonderful. Normally Riley has a few really weird days after any time boarding but not this time. She left as happy as the day she went. We got her a mini hot dog suite which included 3 leash walks per day. We paid for extra group play which she lived. Even with her 8 nights plus add-ons PLUS a full grooming it cost less than half what Best Friends charges.
I'd love to hear more discussion about boarding pets in the Central Florida area. What places have others used? What did you think? How did your pet do?
Its tough for me with this boarding stuff. I'm very particular. I'm almost always near my dog and very particular about her care.
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Chernaboggles
Well-Known Member
Thank you for including this in your post! I've been looking at VIPet as a possibility for occasional doggy day care while we're in the area, it's great to see a first hand review.
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sweetpee_1993
Well-Known Member
We've boarded at 4 different Pet Paradise resorts + several others and I'd say VIPet has been my favorite. Best Friends is very nice, don't get me wrong. I just feel visiting, the coming & going, doesn't allow Riley to get settled into the new surroundings & routine. She's in a perpetual state of anxiety, nerves going up & down. It's not good for her. VIPet was a nice balance of cost, nice facility, and compassionate care.
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Thank you very much for this post! We live in Tampa and are in Disney atleast 1 weekend a month and we are getting a Yellow Lab in a few weeks. Just curious what boarding is like around Disney if for whatever reason we cant get people to come over and let him out and feed him and stuff for a day or two. Will have to check out VIPet and maybe see some places around Tampa locally. Really just wanted to know if the Disney equivalent was better or worse than a "normal" place.
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Chernaboggles
Well-Known Member
Aww, congrats on your incoming dog! We have a yellow lab, too. Best dogs ever, if you can just survive 'til they turn 2.
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MrsCoker
New Member
We have boarded our year and a half old yellow lab at Best Friends four or five times. We love it! We are local and have made BF our "boarder of choice".
We typically choose the indoor kennel with two walks for $39.00 per day. Occasionally we will splurge and pay the $22.00 for a four hour play group session (thirty minute playgroups are $15.00, so it just makes sense to us to pay the few extra bucks for some good exercise and socialization for our active pup!).
Every time we have boarded our dog we have received an email from BF with a picture of her looking VERY happy! She has always been returned to us clean and healthy. In fact, one time while she was there she had a bit of a tummy ache and they called us to let us know and ask if it was okay for them to give her some meds to settle her stomach.
I would absolutely recommend BF to anyone!
We typically choose the indoor kennel with two walks for $39.00 per day. Occasionally we will splurge and pay the $22.00 for a four hour play group session (thirty minute playgroups are $15.00, so it just makes sense to us to pay the few extra bucks for some good exercise and socialization for our active pup!).
Every time we have boarded our dog we have received an email from BF with a picture of her looking VERY happy! She has always been returned to us clean and healthy. In fact, one time while she was there she had a bit of a tummy ache and they called us to let us know and ask if it was okay for them to give her some meds to settle her stomach.
I would absolutely recommend BF to anyone!
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That is great to hear we pick up our puppy Saturday and can't wait but we are also a couple of Disney geeks so glad that makes those quick spontaneous trips a little easier
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Chernaboggles
Well-Known Member
That is great to hear we pick up our puppy Saturday and can't wait but we are also a couple of Disney geeks so glad that makes those quick spontaneous trips a little easier
Congratulations on your puppy! Are puppy parties a thing where you are? A lot of the vets around here offer them as a way to socialize young puppies with lots of dogs and people, and it was a big help to us with our dog. It's also a great step towards happy boarding, since most kennels have playgroup type things. Might be worth looking into if you're getting a young pup and planning to make regular use of kennels or daycares for Disney trips. Plus, they're tons of fun.
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