Boarding our doggie

[OaksPAC]

Hi folks...............I remember reading somewhere that the kennel at WDW was accepting dogs for overnight stays..........does anyone have any info about this? We visit every year in July and usually board our dog here on Long Island but would love to be able to take him with us. We drive down so traveling is not a problem. I also remember reading that the kennel had "walkers" that were for hire during the day to take the dog out while you are in the parks. Any info you can provide would be appreciated. We will be down this summer around mid-July and are planning a week at AKL.

 

[baileybelle]

Try these links http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/common/guestServicesDetail?id=GuestServicesKennelsDetailPage
http://allearsnet.com/pl/mev/tip99.htm

 

[unbroken chain]

I looked into this a couple of weeks ago - the only kennel that used to walk the dogs for you was Epcot and now they don't do it anymore. You have to go to the kennel and walk the dog yourself. This means either you switch kennels every day (disruptive to pooch) or you have to travel from the park you are using that day over to the kennel at whatever other park you are using.

However, the lady I spoke with at the Epcot kennel did recommend a "full service" (non-Disney) kennel nearby that would walk the dog for us. I didn't save the name. If you call the Disney number, they could give you the Epcot kennel number, and you can get more information from the Epcot kennel.

 

[DisneyFans4]

Personally, I would leave your dog at home. If you board your pet at WDW and your doing the parks, etc. you will not be visiting the dog that often and it's better off at home where it is more comfortable. I have a dog and cat which I choose to board here at home since they are very familiar with the place and are very well taken care of.
I heard that the cages at the WDW are very small but I don't know how true that is, it's what I heard.

 

[Pop Daddy]

seems kind of sad to leave them in the cage most of the time

 

[cleo]

I have experience kenneling a puppy at WDW, and it turned out tragically. It wasn't the fault of Disney but the stress of being caged nearly 24 hours a day (excluding walks) was too much for our pup and she died shortly afterward.

Again, I stress this was not Disney's fault, but it does bear thinking about if you have options other than kenneling in a place that does not have dog runs. Those cages are brutal.

I hope you consider leaving your dog with a friend or kenneling him someplace that has dog runs and daily yard time. I know it sounds easy to return to the kennel for a walk, but once you're in the parks it suddenly becomes ten times harder. Be kind to both yourself and your dog and consider another option.

 

[Wendy1953]

The kennel at the TTC parking lot has overnight boarding, but it's limited in numbers. We're bringing our best friend down next month, staying offsite for the weekend,in LaQuinta hotel where he's able to stay with us, and then when on Disney property we will board him in the Kennel at the park of the day, but DD lives in a small apt. in Orlando and will keep him with her overnight!

 

[solferino]

As much as I love our dogs, there's no way I'd board them someplace I couldn't personally inspect first, especially a coupla thousand miles from home. It's one thing to board at a kennel with a good sized run and someone to walk them each day, and grooming if you want it. It's another to board them in cages barely big enough to move around much in. We're keeping our little guy with my sister because he'd have a serious nutty if we boarded him with the lab. She doesn't mind going to "camp" at the kennel the next town over from us.

There was another thread recently about travelling with pets

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=986068

 

[DisneyFans4]

Cleo-

Sorry to hear about your experience.
This is the main reason I don't take my pets with me. How often are you going to get to the kennel to walk or visit if your in the parks all day? I don't think my pets would survive it either and I think they would think we abandoned them or they are being punished.
Where I board my pets here at home they run free all day and are only put in their crates at night to sleep which is what my dog does here at home so she's not stressed. She's with other dogs her size to play with all day which I'm sure she loves and I call every other day to see how they are doing. My place also has someone that sleeps their overnight so the pets are cared for 24/7 and the place is air conditioned.

 

[Deb & Bill]

My husband just dropped our dog off at Camp Cosby this morning. It's a boarding facility at our vet's office. He said our dog just headed on back to the area where she is boarded and all the staff were greeting her by name. He took a bucket of her treats along for her. He said she was very happy to go. I think this is so much better for her than dragging her along on a vacation that she wouldn't have any fun. At Camp Cosby, she'll have individual play time with the staff every day and they may even let her wander around a bit.

Do you have something like this where you live? It might make it easier on your pet.

 

[OaksPAC]

ok..............thanks everybody! I guess we will board our guy where he has been for the last 9 years because they have dog runs and a staff that loves him. He never protests when we take him there but when we heard that Disney had overnight boarding we thought we might be able to bring him with us. It's just that we miss him so much while we're away but in the end we'll do whats best for him! Thanks again for all your stories and advice!

 

[spiceycat]

Spicey, my cat, stays at WDW kennels and loves them.

Now he is a cat - but the cat cages are much, much smaller than the dog cages.

some of the dog cages are BIG.

Spicey start going when he was 3 months old, now he is 19 years old (will be 20 this May).

He actually eats better for me there than at home.

Anyway - I put him first - then the parks. I own at DVC (so I can go often) and this last year I have an AP (so again I can go often). I only go to the parks every other day - so that day I don't visit the parks - he gets really long, long walks. This is not possible for most people. they go to wdw to do the parks period. Not visit with their pet!!!!

I walk him at least 3 times each day. These are short walks on the hold he only wants to go outside for 10 minutes. Big exception is the night walk - he loves that one - it could be as long as 2 hours (if allowed). now if I want to see the fireworks - sorry he goes back in at 1/2 hours. But I make it up to him the next day....

there is a very strange lady at Epcot. She tries to get people to use other kennels. I have had alot of trouble with her. She use to bring the managers dog in the CAT room. I had told her repeately not to do this. Spicey is okay with small dogs - but he is terrified of BIG dogs....

this woman did not believe me - so I transfer Spicey to FW. I have not been back to Epcot since this time for long stays. I have looked in a couple of times. but until this woman is no longer there - he won't stay at Epcot overnight. I finally found the manger and complainted to her. She assured me her dog would never be in the cat room again....

Now I have left Spicey there for a couple of hours (staying at off site timeshare that does accept pets). and she was still trying to get people to stay at an offsite kennel.....

WDW needs to reassign her so she can't continue to do damage to their kennel program - my opinion yours may very greatly!!!!

Anyway that is probably who you talked to over the phone....take her instructions with a grain of salt. She is out to make people feel gulity for taking their pets to WDW....She has problems.....

Spicey loves FW - he also loved Epcot! - the people at the kennel know him and me (mostly - sometimes there is a new face).

When we are returning from a walk - he likes to walk into the kennel and right up to his cage. He would jump in - but I don't like to jump (he is 19) so I put him in it....If he was unhappy would he do this. Well this cat won't believe me - he makes it very, very plain when something is not to his liking....

He does NOT want to left at home with his brother and sister. (I get a friend, or pet sitter to visit with them). I tried that once. Talk about a MAD cat when I got back....

every animal is different - some love to travel - others hate it.

you can't judge your experience by others.

 

[krissyh]

I think the best way to go is (if you have someone who can to do it) is to have someone stay at your house. You know the house is looked after and you baby is in their own environment. Even with someone besides you there it is a lot less stressful.
I know of people who take dogs to the same kennel every time a couple of times a year and if it is a good kennel and the dog started young - they see it as a trip or just something they do.
Cats are a lot harder - if I only go for a weekend, I often just have my brother stop once a day and check. Obviously you can't do that with dogs but I just think they are happier at home.

 

[DisneyFans4]

OaksPac-

Your making the right decision, believe me!
We miss our babies very much when we're gone but boy do I come home with goodies for them. Don't forget to visit the new pet shop in Downtown Disney called Disney Tails ( I think that was the name). They have so much in there for our beloved pets and I brought home so much for mine.
If your dog is already comfortable where it is going now then don't wreck a sure thing. I call every other day when we're gone and I find out my pets are having a great time and socializing and are being well cared for.