Guest contributor:  Stephanie Knorr

If leaving your pet at home while you vacation at Walt Disney World would put a damper on your family fun, Disney has a solution that will make you and your pet happy. The Best Friends Pet Care Center was opened in 2010 and has over 50,000 square feet to delight and pamper your pet. It is centrally located on Bonnet Creek Parkway, across from Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort. Whether you have a dog, cat, iguana, or bird Disney’s Best Friend Pet Care Center will have your pet singing Zippity Doo Dah.

Day Care

If you are a day guest at the parks, or if you are staying in a campsite at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, you may choose the Day Care option to ensure your pet is pampered and played with while you are enjoying your day of Disney magic. Best Friends Pet Care Center opens for day care one hour before the parks open and closes one hour after the parks close.  Your pet will enjoy lots of fun activities such as playgroups, one-on-one play time, bottled water, and special snacks. You can also schedule salon services to give your pet some extra pampering.

Overnight Care

If you are staying on Disney property overnight your pets can only stay with you if you are staying in your RV or tent at Disney’s Ft. Wilderness Resort. If you are staying anywhere else on property you will want to book accommodations for your pet at Best Friends Pet Care Center. There are several different options to choose from:

Dogs:

Indoor/Outdoor Suite- 32-48 square feet suite with one potty walk.

Indoor Suite- 36 square feet with two potty walks.

Vacation Villa- 72 square feet with one potty walk. Package also includes a flat screen television, play group and a turn down biscuit.

VIP Luxury Suite- 226 square feet with two potty walks. Package also includes a flat screen television, two play groups, a webcam, and a bedtime story. After a three day stay package comes with a bath.

Cats:

2 Level Condo

4 Level Condo

Pocket Pets:

These pets include birds, rodents and reptiles. Guest must provide their own enclosure and rates are based on the size of the enclosure.

ALA Carte Services

There are lots of ala carte extras that you can add in order to make your pet’s stay extra special such as:

-        Premium Beds

-        Holiday Meals

-        Bottled Water

-        Cuddle Time

-        Walks and Exploring

-        Bedtime Story

-        Activity Toys

-        Ice Cream Break

-        Cookies and Milk

Grooming

You can pamper your pet with salon treatments including pedicures, skin treatments, haircuts, baths and flea treatments. Service prices vary and advanced reservations for specific treatments are highly encouraged.

Requirements

Vaccines are a must! All pets visiting Best Friends Pet Care must have written proof from a veterinarian that they are up-to-date on all of their vaccines. Vets can fax your pet’s info in to (203) 840-5266 prior to your arrival or you can bring your documentation with you at check-in. If you have any questions about vaccines or need general information you can call (877) 4 WDW-PETS.

Knowing that your pets are safe and pampered will let you relish your time at Disney with no worries. Your animal family members will be close by enjoying their Disney vacation right along with you. So pack your Mickey ears and your Pluto leash and head to the Happiest Place on Earth with your whole family! Visit us at EverythingMickey.com to get tips for getting the most out of your time at Walt Disney World.

About the author:  Stephanie Knorr is a former Walt Disney World cast member and a Walt Disney World annual pass holder. She has turned her passion for Disney into a website designed to help others get the most out of their Disney vacation. EverythingMickey.com provides info and tips about Disney Parks, movies and merchandise. It features news, information and photos to entertain and educate everyone from the Disney lover to the Disney newbie.