Dog boarding during cruise

[WishIwerethere]

Can anyone recommend any dog boarding kennel in Orlando or in the Port Canaveral area which allows more than two potty breaks per day and does not put small dogs in cages? I need to board my dog during a 7-day Disney cruise and would be grateful for any recommendations.

I know about Best Friends at WDW, but they are extremely pricey, seem to limit potty breaks, and are not even answering their phones this morning. Plus, I read a number of negative reviews (some positive reviews as well) about that place. It may be a great place, but I don't feel comfortable with that one at this point so I am looking for other alternatives. Thanks for any help!

 

[lsenquiz]

I would google Pet Hotel in Orlando/kissimmee area and see what comes up. We live in Atlanta area and have started leaving our dogs at a pet hotel. They love it. They get 5-6 hours of playtime throughout the day. The playtime is in a group so your dog would have to get along well with others. They do match your dog to other like size and personality dogs when they create the individual play groups. Pet hotels can be pricey(we pay $30 a day per dog) but to us it is worth it to know our dog is not in a cage the whole time we are gone.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

When we went on our May cruise BFPC at WDW was booked-up for the suites. I won't put our little fur-baby in a box, not even at WDW. BFPC did recommend 2 other kennels in the Kissimmee area that also had the suite-type accommodations. The one we were going to go with was V.I.Pet. The only reason it didn't work out was that we got held up in traffic on the way down and they don't do after-hours check-ins. We were on the road calling around in a mad scramble to find somewhere we could put our girl. We ended up boarding her at the Pet Paradise in Gainesville. Great experience. We'd board there again if we couldn't make it to V.I.Pet. I doubt I'd spend the big bucks for BFPC again when I can board elsewhere with more walks and better options for our dog at half the cost. Ya know?

 

[iloverags2]

Sad to say, you are probably better off not boarding her at Best Friends. We have always boarded our furbaby there, and typically with no issues. That was until the last two visits there (both this year...March and again in May). She came home with fleas and ticks both times. So not happy, and we are still battling the ticks right now. Have made four visits to the vet, with another one coming up next Monday. Per BF, she came in with them. So not true, but they just do not want to take accountability for it. I get that it happens in kennels - what can they do if another furbaby brings them in? I'm just thinking their location (which is fairly new) backing up to a very wooded area has something to do with it. And the fact they pinned it on us was the last straw. (She's 15, and this is the first time she has ever had ticks. )

 

[bcanderson78]

I live in the Orlando area and exclusively use A Pet's Palace for day care, grooming and boarding needs. Their boarding setup is every dog is in a hard-walled cubicle about 4' tall with open air above that. You choose how much playtime the dogs can get during the day and they are usually so tired, they just sleep through the night until playtime the next day.

I have one dog and I think I pay like $27 a night for boarding. They are open 7 days from 7am - 6pm, so you'd be able to drop off and pick up around your cruise times without a problem. The way I get to port, they are on my way between Disney and PC, so I just drop her off on my way for the cruise!

They have a website with all of the details and I would definitely recommend them to anyone. It's family-run, so all the dogs are really taken care of.

I've only tried one other dog boarding place in Orlando (Airport Pets) and I would NOT recommend them at all. They're open 24 hours but it's not worth putting your dog in there as mine came home extremely sick from her stay there.

We've stuck with A Pet's Palace ever since! Enjoy your cruise!!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Awwww, Cindy, I hate to hear that about your fur-baby. Has that been since our cruise in May??? Poor thing. If Riley had a tick on her I think I'd just roll over and die. We spotted fleas on her for the first time ever after a walk outside a few months back and we totally flipped out. First time in her life she's ever had a flea on her body. Not to worry, they died after they bit her because she's on Comfortis but just the idea of it freaked us out. We bathed her twice, picked them all off, disinfected the house to to bottom, had Terminix out...the whole 9 yards. Crazy. I think we may have scared the fleas away. LOL!


bcanderson78, I'll note the place you mentioned. Sounds right up our alley. Thanks!

 

[bcanderson78]

You're welcome Sweetpee! If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

 

[WishIwerethere]

I live in the Orlando area and exclusively use A Pet's Palace for day care, grooming and boarding needs. Their boarding setup is every dog is in a hard-walled cubicle about 4' tall with open air above that. You choose how much playtime the dogs can get during the day and they are usually so tired, they just sleep through the night until playtime the next day.

I have one dog and I think I pay like $27 a night for boarding. They are open 7 days from 7am - 6pm, so you'd be able to drop off and pick up around your cruise times without a problem. The way I get to port, they are on my way between Disney and PC, so I just drop her off on my way for the cruise!

They have a website with all of the details and I would definitely recommend them to anyone. It's family-run, so all the dogs are really taken care of.

I've only tried one other dog boarding place in Orlando (Airport Pets) and I would NOT recommend them at all. They're open 24 hours but it's not worth putting your dog in there as mine came home extremely sick from her stay there.

We've stuck with A Pet's Palace ever since! Enjoy your cruise!!

i definitely will check out A Pet's Palace. Thanks so much for the info.

 

[WishIwerethere]

Sad to say, you are probably better off not boarding her at Best Friends. We have always boarded our furbaby there, and typically with no issues. That was until the last two visits there (both this year...March and again in May). She came home with fleas and ticks both times. So not happy, and we are still battling the ticks right now. Have made four visits to the vet, with another one coming up next Monday. Per BF, she came in with them. So not true, but they just do not want to take accountability for it. I get that it happens in kennels - what can they do if another furbaby brings them in? I'm just thinking their location (which is fairly new) backing up to a very wooded area has something to do with it. And the fact they pinned it on us was the last straw. (She's 15, and this is the first time she has ever had ticks. )

Well, I guess my instincts were right. I had the same experience at another kennel, and you cannot believe what I went through to get rid of the fleas on him and in my carpet. I thought it was just my dog's allergies acting up, but it was fleas -- disgusting fleas in large numbers. The vet's office where he was kenneled said he came in with them, but I know he did not. He had never had a flea before that visit. I appreciate hearing of your experience because I never, ever want to go through that again or subject my puppy (well, he's 4) to that either. Thank you for sharing!

 

[Madhattr]

Do you all use a topical application for fleas/ticks such as Frontline?

 

[WishIwerethere]

I live in the Orlando area and exclusively use A Pet's Palace for day care, grooming and boarding needs. Their boarding setup is every dog is in a hard-walled cubicle about 4' tall with open air above that. You choose how much playtime the dogs can get during the day and they are usually so tired, they just sleep through the night until playtime the next day.

I have one dog and I think I pay like $27 a night for boarding. They are open 7 days from 7am - 6pm, so you'd be able to drop off and pick up around your cruise times without a problem. The way I get to port, they are on my way between Disney and PC, so I just drop her off on my way for the cruise!

They have a website with all of the details and I would definitely recommend them to anyone. It's family-run, so all the dogs are really taken care of.

I've only tried one other dog boarding place in Orlando (Airport Pets) and I would NOT recommend them at all. They're open 24 hours but it's not worth putting your dog in there as mine came home extremely sick from her stay there.

We've stuck with A Pet's Palace ever since! Enjoy your cruise!!

Wow, I just made a reservation after checking out their website and talking to the owner. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the way they do things there. It is the first kennel I personally have encountered which takes the dog for potty breaks in accordance with the home schedule relayed by the owner. Can't thank you enough for the recommendation!

Now I just need to find a pet friendly hotel for the night before . . . . thanks again to everyone for your input.

 

[GoofTroop]

We took our shih-tzu to Bass Pet Motel in Kissimee. He seemed very happy and clean when we came back 10 days later to pick him up.

They do have a website: basspetmotel.com

 

[bcanderson78]

Wow, I just made a reservation after checking out their website and talking to the owner. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the way they do things there. It is the first kennel I personally have encountered which takes the dog for potty breaks in accordance with the home schedule relayed by the owner. Can't thank you enough for the recommendation!

Now I just need to find a pet friendly hotel for the night before . . . . thanks again to everyone for your input.

You're welcome! I'm glad you liked them too. My dog will probably see yours when she's at dayplay there.

 

[WishIwerethere]

You're welcome! I'm glad you liked them too. My dog will probably see yours when she's at dayplay there.

Mine is the 11-pound male chihuahua with "big dog packaged in little dog body" syndrome. You'll definitely hear him whether or not you actually see him. LOL

 

[MinnieGg4]

Wow, I just made a reservation after checking out their website and talking to the owner. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the way they do things there. It is the first kennel I personally have encountered which takes the dog for potty breaks in accordance with the home schedule relayed by the owner. Can't thank you enough for the recommendation!

Now I just need to find a pet friendly hotel for the night before . . . . thanks again to everyone for your input.

Where are you staying the night before? There are few chain the are pet friendly.

 

[MinnieGg4]

Wow, I just made a reservation after checking out their website and talking to the owner. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the way they do things there. It is the first kennel I personally have encountered which takes the dog for potty breaks in accordance with the home schedule relayed by the owner. Can't thank you enough for the recommendation!

Now I just need to find a pet friendly hotel for the night before . . . . thanks again to everyone for your input.

Where are you staying the night before? There are few chain the are pet friendly.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Do you all use a topical application for fleas/ticks such as Frontline?

No, we've always done the monthly flea/tick pill, Comfortis. The one time Riley had a few fleas they died after they bit her.

Wow, I just made a reservation after checking out their website and talking to the owner. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the way they do things there. It is the first kennel I personally have encountered which takes the dog for potty breaks in accordance with the home schedule relayed by the owner. Can't thank you enough for the recommendation!

Now I just need to find a pet friendly hotel for the night before . . . . thanks again to everyone for your input.

Sounds wonderful! I love that they try to follow the at-home schedule....but somehow I think I'll have a huge upcharge when I inform them they need to be Riley's beck-n-call humans and personal cuddlers.

 

[Tami0220]

For our Panama cruise I was lucky enough to have a friend stay at my house during the afternoons/nights to watch my girls. We usually motorhome to WDW so I was thinking of flying him out to stay in the mh while we cruised. Good to know I now have some options.

 

[iloverags2]

Do you all use a topical application for fleas/ticks such as Frontline?

We actually used to use a prescription pill. Our vet had us switch to Advantix. Since she has never been an outdoor dog (goes out to do her business then wants back in right away), it has never been a problem before. And I just realized I misspoke earlier. She came home with ticks after this last time there only. Fleas happened after the last two visits. We were able to combat them...then wham! Again! Ugh.

 

[WishIwerethere]

Where are you staying the night before? There are few chain the are pet friendly.

I have not made a reservation yet. I wanted to stay in Lake Buena Vista, but the Residence Inn there charges from $75 to $100 per night just for the pet and then the room is another $100. Some of the LaQuintas seem to charge a $75 fee for a pet. Even Comfort Inn was going to charge $25, although I am willing to pay that. I found a couple hotels which don't charge for the pet or charge a minimal amount, but their reviews leave me concerned. I don't need any place fancy, but it has to be clean and well kept.

If you have any recommendations, I would love to hear them. I usually use hotwire and other such sites, but I cannot do that this time because it has to be pet friendly and I haven't found a way to specify that on those sites. Thanks for any help!