Walt Disney World Resort opens luxury pet hotel for animal-loving travelers

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Travelers with pets have a new option when visiting the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The park’s new Best Friends Pet Care facility bills itself as a ‘luxury pet resort,’ with amenities including a 25,000-square-foot dog park, a water park for dogs, orthopedic beds, TVs and bedtime stories.

The facility opened Sept. 1, and reservations have been filling up fast -- VIP pet suites are already sold out for every weekend over the next few months. It can accomodate up to 270 dogs and 30 cats.

The ‘hotel’ accepts dogs, cats and ‘pocket pets’ -- but it does stipulate that venemous snakes aren’t allowed. (That one seems like kind of a no-brainer.) It also offers grooming and dog training services.

Pets can check in for day care while their families are visiting the resort or stay overnight. Day care services run from $16 to $46 for up to six hours; overnight boarding for dogs starts at $37 per night (a 225-square-foot VIP Luxury Suite will set you back $79 per night); overnight boarding for cats starts at $23 per night; and overnight boarding for small animals starts at $12 per night. Disney resort guests receive a discount on day care and boarding services.

Reservations can be made by phone at (877) 4-WDW-PETS. Pet owners should be prepared to bring or fax their animal’s vaccination records.

Learn more about Walt Disney World’s pet hotel at The Times’ Daily Travel & Deal Blog.

-- Lindsay Barnett

Video: Disney Parks