First off, Cleo, I am so sorry that you puppy died. Honestly, I love my dog so much, I don't know how I would have recovered from that.
To the Original Poster, fortunately I've used the kennels about 30 days per year for the last 3 years and have had a GREAT experience every single time.
Our dog is NOT a kennel dog. Our dog doesn't like cages and the entire reason he goes with us is because he has to be with us. Now, we do stay in places where we can take our dog back to the hotel with us at night so he can get away from the kennel and sleep with us.
Honestly, I feel sorry for the dogs there that are staying overnight. You must first realize, whether anyone wants to be honest with themselves and admit it or not, the WDW kennel system is really set up for day stays and not long term vacation care.
Unlike other kennels that you pay for at home, where they generally walk the dogs, spend time with them, play with them and make sure they are comfortable, the WDW kennels are really yours. The employees are there just to monitor things.
Your dog only gets attention that YOU pay it and only goes out when YOU take him/her out.
The employees are great however. The first time our dog stayed there (at the TTC), we were very nervous about him as it was his first time EVER in a cage. He's a spoiled baby too, which only made it worse. I called them from the park throughout the night and they kept saying he was "fine".
When i got back that night to pick him up, I went to the desk to show my papers to pick him up and sure enough, he's walking around and playing with the employees back behind the counter. He was so happy. So much so, when I showed up, he just wanted to keep playing.
I asked what's going on (in a laughing way) and they said he was a little nervous and upset, so they took him out for a little walk around the building and then brought him back in and played with him. He was happy after that.
From that day onward he's never minded going to the kennels at WDW. We make sure he is comfortable though. We take his bed, and put it in the kennel, we take his own food, and we leave his bone and treats. Now, he won't eat much or eat treats in the cage but I think it comforts him.
To assist in comforting them, though this sounds nasty, take a sweaty shirt that you have, dont wash it, and keep it in the cage with him/her when they are alone. It gives a dog comfort to smell you.
However, please please please note (I love dogs), if you plan on leaving them overnight, visit more than 2 times per day. If you don't plan on visiting first thing in the morning, about 3-4 times during the day and then another before bed, please don't take him/her.
I think about my dog the whole time while he's there and I sacrifice to have him there. I try not to be selfish and I make sure he gets plenty attention, which for me, means leaving the park occassionally, and make sure he's comfortable.
If you can't do that, I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY suggest you leaving him at home at a kennel.
Money shouldn't be an object for keeping him at the WDW kennels. If that is the case, your dog will suffer. If you want to take your dog to the WDW kennels, do it because you want to be able to spend more time with him/her.
I know you are probably a great parent but I just love my dog and like Cleo would hate to see one suffer.
The WDW kennels (yet I say again), are really built for day stays, and if you plan on keeping them overnight, make sure you go OVERBOARD in paying them attention. Don't expect them to do what they did with our dog, as that was the first time, and I don't see it happening too often (though it's not exactly rare at the TTC kennel).
If you have ANY other WDW kennel questions, just ask.
PS: If you plan on keeping them overnight, the best kennel is over at the Wilderness Lodge (you can keep them there even if you dont stay there).
