Review Summary
We give Best Friends Pet Hotel Disney World a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.
If you’re planning a Disney World vacation but aren’t sure where your pets should stay while you’re away, you might consider a boarding facility close to the happiest place on Earth. The Best Friends Pet Hotel Disney World Disney is a conveniently located boarding facility near several Disney World resorts and hotels.
Best Friends Pet Hotel is America’s first and longest-running play-and-stay pet resort chain, with over 40 locations in 18 states, such as Illinois, Georgia, Connecticut, Colorado, and Texas. Their facilities offer a comprehensive range of pet care services to keep your pup happy, socialized, well-groomed, and occupied while you enjoy your Disney World vacation.
Their Disney location offers a few unique amenities such as pick-up service, extended hours, and an awesome a la carte menu that includes things such as cuddle time, playground, bottled water, and bedtime stories. However, these comforts do translate to a higher price than traditional, frill-less boarding facilities. Read on to learn more about the pros and cons and what to expect when boarding your pups at the Best Friends Pet Hotel Disney World.
Best Friends Pet Hotel Disney World – A Quick Look
- Fun a la carte options to add to your pup’s stay
- Dedicated and caring staff members
- Can look after pets with complex conditions and medication needs
- Can accommodate almost all pet species
- Offers pick-up/drop-off services
- Conveniently located
- Extended hours
- Larger accommodations are very expensive
- Some issues with customer service and poor communication
Specifications
- 17,000 square feet of indoor space
- 25,000 square feet of outdoor dog park
- 10,000 square feet of outdoor runs and play spaces
Care Options for (Almost) All the Family Pets
Whether you’re a dog-only family or a multi-species home, Best Friends Pet Hotel Disney World has options for boarding all your pets. Their dog boarding facilities are by far the most luxurious and accommodating, but that doesn’t mean your cats or pocket pets won’t be well cared for. You would need to provide a habitat (e.g., tanks, bird cages, etc.) for smaller animals, though, which may or may not be possible depending on how you’re traveling to Florida.
The facility cannot accommodate primates, venomous pets, exotic species, or native wildlife.
Transportation Provided
Disney World may be the happiest place on Earth, but these vacations can be very busy and stressful. Best Friends Pet Hotel Disney World Disney understands the pressure families can face on their holidays, so they offer optional transportation options from certain hotels and resorts. You can secure transportation for just $25 round trip from the following locations:
- Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground
- Disney’s Yacht Club
- Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside
- Disney’s Art of Animation
However, please note that transportation times are limited. Pick-up and drop-off times are confined to half-hour windows, so this may or may not be an option for all pet owners, depending on how flexible their schedules are. For example, dogs at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside would be picked up between 7 AM and 7:30 AM and dropped off between 8:00 PM and 8:30 PM.
Convenient Hours
The hotel opens an hour before the parks open and stays open an hour after they close. This is perfect for families who want to be at the park as soon as it opens and stay until the last possible minute.
Optional Extras
Your pet’s stay at Best Friends Pet Hotel Disney World Disney can be as simple or frivolous as necessary.
For example, you can opt for Indoor Boarding only, which will include bedding, food and water bowls, and two potty walks. If your dog needs a little more outside time, the Indoor/Outdoor boarding option consists of the above as well as a private outdoor patio. If money is no object and you want the best possible vacation for your pup, the Club Suite is worth considering. It includes amenities such as a personal concierge, two playtimes, a flat-screen TV, premium bedding, bedtime stories, baths, daily photo updates, and more.
You can also add on a la carte items, such as shampooing, styles, flea treatments, pedicures, cuddle time, playground, and more.
Communication Lacking at Times
The Best Friends Pet Hotel Disney World Disney’s booking system is through a call center, which sometimes leads to miscommunication. Poor communication can mean messages from the pet parent to all staff members are not conveyed accurately.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Best Friends Pet Hotel Disney World Disney cost?
The price to board your pup at this facility will vary greatly depending on how many luxuries you’d like to afford your pet.
The lowest-priced package will provide a 4×8 indoor accommodation for $60 overnight or $53 per day. The next step up provides a 4×4 indoor space and a 4×8 outdoor patio for $65 overnight or $56 per day. You can add on group play for $26 or private activity for $12.
From there, pricing goes up exponentially. The club suite, with all the amenities mentioned in our “Optional Extras” section, will cost $306, but your dog will get a 16’ x 18’ indoor bedroom and a 4’ by 18’ outdoor patio. Group play and private activities are included in the pricing for the club suite (as well as the slightly less amenity-rich “villa” and “luxury” suites).
Can my dogs stay in the same suite together?
Best Friends Pet Hotel Disney World Disney can make accommodations to ensure your pets are boarded in the same suite, provided the space allows for such. They can typically accommodate up to three dogs per suite if they all weigh under 30 pounds.
Are there age restrictions?
The minimum boarding age for puppies is four months. They will require their first and second round of adult shots at 12 and 16 weeks. There is no maximum age.
Can I board my dog with a medical problem?
Best Friends Pet Care Disney may be able to accommodate certain medical conditions. This can include things such as diabetes, open wounds, restricted activities, pregnant or nursing pets, and those taking multiple medications or injectable meds.
Please note that this is not a company-wide policy. As per this medication and medical conditions list, no other Best Friends Pet Care facility accepts dogs with such conditions.
What the Users Say
We know how tough it can be to pick the right boarding facility for your pets. It’s even harder if you’re from out of state and can’t go to the Best Friends Pet Hotel Disney World to vet it beforehand. That’s why we’ve researched what people who have used their services had to say by reading online reviews and scouring forum discussions about the facility.
Many people enjoyed the add-on options and clean, well-equipped facilities. They appreciate the options their dogs have for interacting with other pups and find that the rooms are spacious. Dogs and their owners liked the extensive outdoor dog park space for its infinite opportunities for play. The ability of the staff to accommodate dogs with complex health conditions or medication requirements was much appreciated. Owners raved about getting email and photo updates daily and loved that they could check in on their pets via webcam.
However, not everyone had a great experience with the facility. Some didn’t find there to be enough opportunities for potty breaks during the day without having to pay extra for them. Others complained about the high price not matching the quality of service. Of course, the higher cost is something that should be expected, given the location and affiliation with Disney.
In Conclusion
Choosing where to leave your beloved pets while you’re on vacation is a challenge, but Best Friends Pet Hotel Disney World Disney is an above-average option with plenty of incredible amenities to offer dogs and their owners. Previous customers raved about the clean and high-quality facilities and the level of care and attention their pets received from the staff. However, this service does come at a slightly higher price, so that’s something to keep in mind as you budget for your Disney vacation.
That said, the peace of mind that comes from leaving your pet in a great, well-equipped facility with people who genuinely love and care for animals is unparalleled. In our opinion, the Best Friends Pet Hotel Disney World Disney is a worthwhile option to consider so long as you have space in your budget for their services.
Featured Image Credit: LightField Studios, Shutterstock
