8/21 Parking Lot & Kennel Update

[Tri-circle-D]

Well?

It's September 1st.

Is the new kennel open?

TCD

Yes

Wow.

I don't believe it. They had so much left to complete just ten days ago.

Now, the next question is: When does the FW kennel close?

TCD

 

[Magicbus]

And the auxiliary entrance with the new gate is open too. Buses have resumed entering and exiting through there. I'm happy about that.

 

[clkelley]

And the auxiliary entrance with the new gate is open too. Buses have resumed entering and exiting through there. I'm happy about that.

So can you tell if there are any signs that indicate if returning guests with key cards can go in that way??

 

[2goofycampers]

http://land.allears.net/blogs/michaelbachand/2010/09/best_friends_pet_care_opens_at_1.html

 

[Disneylitch]

There was a sign posted at FW Kennel that it was closing Sept. 2.

 

[Magicbus]

So can you tell if there are any signs that indicate if returning guests with key cards can go in that way??

I wasn't assigned a run to the Fort today, so I haven't seen it yet. We were told to start using the old entrance today, if we had to go there.

 

[des1954]

I was hoping you got by Best Friends to see if it in deed, opened today. From the blog Denise linked to, it looks like it's up and running with all the frills. I wonder how long it will be before all the other kennels are closed?

Thanks for the update - and thanks for the message about the otters at DTD! I forgot to thank you....sorry.

 

[Magicbus]

I was hoping you got by Best Friends to see if it in deed, opened today. From the blog Denise linked to, it looks like it's up and running with all the frills. I wonder how long it will be before all the other kennels are closed?

Thanks for the update - and thanks for the message about the otters at DTD! I forgot to thank you....sorry.

I drove by yesterday and it looked ready then, but it did in fact open today. I think the old kennels shut down tomorrow.
You're welcome.

 

[we3peas]

It was profiled on the 10pm news in Orlando yesterday. Officially open now.
Dogs=$78 day
Cats=$34

 

[4mickey2]

come on... really it costs that much to board an animal for a day?

 

[des1954]

http://land.allears.net/blogs/michaelbachand/2010/09/best_friends_pet_care_opens_at_1.html

come on... really it costs that much to board an animal for a day?

Read this link and weep, Cheryl.

 

[stacktester]

Holy cow. I'm glad I don't have a dog. I don't quite get why Disney charges the things they do. I always thought if you give people an incentive they would spend money in other areas not normally spent. I feel sorry for the fiends who are gonna have to shell this kinda dough out.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Now admittedly I did not read the link, and in fact don't think allears is the final authority on anything anyway, but the info I have gotten directly from Best Friends since Mickey has reservations there in a couple weeks is more like 38 bucks for a standard kennel overnight onsite guest. They quoted me around 76 bucks for overnight in a luxury suite. The day care rate should be lower, although I don't know exactly what it is yet, and they have assured me I will only pay what I would have at the old kennel since I made my reservations early. I will be calling them over the next week or so to verify this.

 

[2goofycampers]

From Best friends....rates

http://wdw.bestfriendspetcare.com/rates#dog_boarding

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Holy cow. I'm glad I don't have a dog. I don't quite get why Disney charges the things they do. I always thought if you give people an incentive they would spend money in other areas not normally spent. I feel sorry for the fiends who are gonna have to shell this kinda dough out.

These aren't Disney's fees, Donnie. They have subcontracted the kennels out to Best Friends. When Disney ran the kennels, it was one of the best deals on property. When Mickey first started staying there, it was 7 bucks for daycare for an onsite guest. That was about 12 years ago. It had gone as high as 12 bucks before best friends took over, and they jumped it up to about 18 bucks a day. I knew the new kennel would bring higher prices, but you know, the kennel guests have no one to blame but themselves. Prior to Best Friends takeover, Disney sent out a survey to the kennel users asking if they would be willing to pay more for luxury kennels, cuddle time, pet water parks, etc, and the morons said they would. Now they got what they wanted, and guess what, I bet the ones who said they would pay for this level of service aren't boarding their dogs there because it costs too much, leaving those of us who told Disney this was ridiculous to pay the higher fees.

 

[stacktester]

I have never had a dog to kennel but it just seemed like a good idea to have a kennel at the parks so you could leave fido in good hands. Sorry to hear yet another thing is ruined.

I'm starting to wonder if it's time to start finding another place to start visiting? Sure am sick of all the good stuff going away.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

I have never had a dog to kennel but it just seemed like a good idea to have a kennel at the parks so you could leave fido in good hands. Sorry to hear yet another thing is ruined.

I'm starting to wonder if it's time to start finding another place to start visiting? Sure am sick of all the good stuff going away.

I'm starting to feel the same way, Donnie. I may be wrong, and God knows I have been wrong plenty of times, but I think Best Friends may have made a serious goof from a business perspective. In a way, I hope it's a total flop for them, but I'm afraid if they fail, Disney won't go back to the way it was. They will have turned the kennels into merchandise shops, since there aren't enough places on property to buy Disney plush merchandise. The new location isn't totally inconvenient for Fort guests, but it sure is a pain for guests staying at other resorts or just visiting the parks for the day, and the higher pricing is going to drive off more than a few former clients.

 

[Disneylitch]

I really think they are going to fall flat on their face. The people that are really going to suffer and the guests that usually board their pets prior to visiting a park. They are not going to expect to pay approx. $37 per day. I just hope this doesn't make people feel it is safe to leave their pet in their car while they are having fun. I'm glad our dogs stay in the MH. That rate is even more than I would pay at home. It's been quoted that people want the Disney experience for their pets. I don't think so. Maybe they will reopen the onsite kennels, doubtful, but who knows. I think Universal still offers a kennel to drop off pets prior to going into park.

 

[loveDmouse]

I just read the blog on the new "kennel" and it looks really neat. There are plenty of people out there who wouldn't think twice about spending that kind of money on their four legged furry kids.

I can't really comment on the location or using it because our camping dog doesn't come to Disney with us. (her grandparents take care of her) Too far away. Even if she did she would just stay in our motorhome. I just think the facilities and services that they offer are really neat.

 

[BradyBz12]

If we needed just the basic boarding for our guys it would cost us $102 PER DAY. And there's no way DH would allow his kids to spend the day without extra play time and a TV.

That means that for the 20 days we're going to be there, that would be almost 6 months worth of payments on the new TT.

And staying in the TT they get their own TV, fan, treats, a bucket full of toys, TONS of walks and playtime every day... and the only driving we have to do it shuttling them to the dog park on the golf cart.

Definitely going to be interesting to see how this all goes and if they start offering better on-site guest discounts of specials before long.

And I still wouldn't want to be the CMs that have to deal with the people showing up at the parks with their dogs once the other kennels are closed and breaking the news. I know they've been promoting the new place - especially locally - but I'm sure there will still be plenty of people that don't know about the change.