Best Friends Pet Care at Disney World: Complete Guide

Best Friends Pet Care is the only kennel facility operating on Disney World property, offering day boarding and overnight stays for dogs, cats, and select pocket pets while you explore the parks. Located near Magic Kingdom’s Transportation and Ticket Center, this climate-controlled facility provides a practical solution for guests who can’t leave their pets at home.

Location and Access#

Best Friends Pet Care sits adjacent to the Magic Kingdom parking lot at 2510 Bonnet Creek Parkway. You cannot walk here from the parks—you’ll need your own vehicle or resort transportation.

From Disney resort hotels, take your car or request an Uber/Lyft. Disney buses don’t service the kennel. If you’re staying off-property, use GPS coordinates or the physical address. The facility is about a 5-minute drive from Magic Kingdom’s parking toll plaza.

Parking is free directly at the kennel, separate from theme park parking fees.

Services and Accommodations#

The facility offers two primary services: day boarding and overnight boarding.

Day boarding works when you’re visiting the parks for the day but staying off-property or have your pet in the car. Drop off your pet in the morning, enjoy the parks, and pick them up by closing time (typically 9-10pm depending on season).

Overnight boarding accommodates multi-day visits. Your pet stays in individual climate-controlled suites with bedding. Dogs receive multiple outdoor play sessions daily in fenced yards. Cats stay in separate areas away from dogs.

All boarding includes:

• Climate-controlled indoor suites (not outdoor kennels)
• Multiple daily play sessions for dogs
• Basic bedding (though you can bring your own)
• Feeding per your schedule
• Medication administration at no extra charge

The facility does NOT offer grooming, training, or veterinary services. For medical emergencies, they work with local emergency veterinary clinics.

Pricing Structure#

As of 2024, expect these rates:

• Day boarding: $25 per pet per day
• Overnight boarding: $42 per pet per night for dogs; $32 per night for cats
• Additional dog in same suite: $32 per night (dogs from same family only)
• VIP suite upgrade: $77-$92 per night (larger suites with webcam access)

Prices don’t vary by season. You pay per calendar date, not per 24-hour period. Dropping off Tuesday morning and picking up Thursday afternoon equals three nights.

Payment is due at check-out. They accept credit cards but not Disney Gift Cards.

What to Bring#

Required items:

• Current vaccination records (rabies, DHPP for dogs, FVRCP for cats)
• Your pet’s food (they don’t provide food)
• Medications in original containers with dosing instructions
• Emergency contact information
• Proof of flea/tick prevention

Recommended items:

• Your pet’s bed or blanket (marked with your name)
• Favorite toys (nothing valuable—items occasionally get lost)
• Detailed feeding schedule
• Special instructions for anxious pets

Don’t bring: Rawhide, bully sticks, or food-dispensing toys. These create conflict in kennel environments. Glass bowls aren’t allowed either.

Vaccination Requirements#

Dogs need:

• Rabies (current within 1 year)
• DHPP/Distemper combo (current within 1 year)
• Bordetella (within 6 months)

Cats need:

• Rabies (current within 1 year)
• FVRCP (current within 1 year)

Flea and tick prevention must be current within 30 days. They’ll verify this at check-in.

Bring physical copies or email confirmations from your vet. They won’t accept “my vet has the records” without documentation. If your records are expired, they’ll turn you away.

Booking Process#

Reservations open 90 days before your arrival date. Book early—holiday weeks (Christmas, Thanksgiving, spring break) fill up months ahead.

To reserve:

1. Call 877-4-WDW-PETS (877-493-9738)
2. Provide your Disney reservation number (if staying on-property)
3. Give pet details: breed, weight, age, special needs
4. List vaccination dates
5. Select standard or VIP suites

You’ll receive email confirmation within 24 hours. No deposit required, but cancellations within 24 hours of check-in incur a one-night charge.

Walk-ins are accepted only when space permits. Don’t risk it during busy periods.

Check-In and Check-Out#

Check-in runs 8am-9pm daily. Arrive with time to complete paperwork (15-20 minutes). Staff will:

• Verify vaccinations
• Review feeding schedules
• Note any behavioral concerns
• Show you the play areas (optional tour)

Check-out hours are 7am-9pm daily (until 10pm during peak seasons). Late pick-ups after closing require advance arrangement and incur additional fees.

Plan check-out timing carefully. If you’re catching a late flight, confirm the facility will be open when you need to collect your pet.

Daily Routine for Pets#

Dogs receive 4-5 supervised outdoor play sessions lasting 20-30 minutes each. Play groups are organized by size and temperament. Aggressive dogs or those who don’t play well with others get individual outdoor time.

Cats stay indoors in separate buildings. They receive daily enrichment but don’t go outside.

Feeding happens per your schedule. If your dog eats at 7am and 6pm at home, staff will match that timing.

Overnight, pets sleep in individual suites with bedding. Dogs cannot share suites with pets from other families (even if they’re friendly).

VIP Suites vs. Standard Suites#

VIP suites cost roughly double but include:

• 50% more floor space
• Webcam access (check on your pet via smartphone)
• Flat-screen TV playing DogTV or nature programming
• Premium bedding
• Personalized playtime sessions

Standard suites are perfectly adequate for most pets. VIP makes sense if your dog has severe separation anxiety and you want real-time check-in capability, or if you have a very large breed needing extra space.

Webcams work about 80% of the time. Don’t expect 24/7 crystal-clear streaming. But during business hours, you can typically get visual confirmation your pet is fine.

Alternatives to Consider#

Best Friends Pet Care is expensive compared to regular boarding kennels. Off-property alternatives near Disney World:

Pet Paradise Orlando (multiple locations): Full-service boarding and daycare, often $10-15 less per night. About 15-20 minutes from Disney property.

Rover.com pet sitters: In-home pet sitting in the Orlando area. Prices vary, but often cheaper than kennels. Your pet stays in a home environment.

Bring a non-park-going friend/family member: If someone in your travel party isn’t interested in theme parks, they could pet-sit at your vacation rental.

The Best Friends advantage is proximity. You’re not adding 30-40 minutes of driving to drop off/pick up your pet. For short visits (1-2 nights), the convenience often justifies the premium price.

Tips for Anxious Pets#

If your dog or cat hasn’t been boarded before, Best Friends Pet Care can be stressful:

Do a trial run: Board your pet overnight at a local kennel before your Disney trip. This identifies potential issues in familiar territory.

Bring comfort items: Your pet’s bed or a worn t-shirt with your scent helps anxious animals settle.

Visit during quieter times: February, September, and early November have fewer boarded pets, meaning quieter environments.

Communicate special needs: Tell staff if your pet has noise sensitivity, separation anxiety, or needs extra reassurance. They’ll adjust the care plan.

Consider alternatives for extremely anxious pets: If your dog shuts down at the vet’s office, a week at a Disney kennel might be traumatic. Pet sitters or leaving them with family might be better.

Weather and Outdoor Time#

Central Florida weather impacts outdoor play sessions. During summer (June-September), morning and evening play sessions happen during cooler hours. Midday play is limited to 10-15 minutes.

During thunderstorms (common in summer afternoons), outdoor time gets postponed until weather clears. Dogs don’t go outside during active lightning.

Winter months (December-February) occasionally dip into the 40s°F at night. Best Friends provides extra bedding, but if your dog is small or short-haired, bring a sweater.

Special Considerations#

Puppies under 4 months: Not accepted due to incomplete vaccination schedules.

Senior pets: Accepted with no age limit, but inform staff of mobility issues or special needs.

Medication: Administered at no extra charge. Bring medications in original packaging with clear instructions.

Prescription diets: You must provide all food. They don’t stock prescription formulas.

Exotic pets: Pocket pets (rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters) are accepted with advance notice. Reptiles and birds are not accepted.

Final Thoughts#

Best Friends Pet Care solves a real problem: what to do with your pet during a Disney World vacation. The facility is professional, clean, and conveniently located. Yes, it’s expensive compared to off-property kennels, but the time savings and peace of mind often justify the cost.

Book early (especially for holidays), bring complete vaccination records, and pack enough food for the entire stay. If your pet handles boarding well at home, they’ll likely do fine here. If your pet has never been boarded, seriously consider alternatives.

The facility’s biggest weakness is availability during peak times. Their biggest strength is location and medication administration (many kennels charge extra for meds).