Hi Jenny, and welcome back to planDisney! A few years ago, I stayed at the
Fort Wilderness cabins with my friend’s dogs, and it was so much fun having them with us. There’s nothing more magical than being at Disney World together with your pups!
It sounds like you may be boarding your dogs at
Best Friends Pet Care, which is right on Disney World property. First, let’s talk about transportation. Best Friends offers a Pick Up & Drop Off Service from select Disney Resort hotels, which can be added to your reservation for an additional fee. Currently, the shuttle picks up from
Art of Animation between 8:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. and drops off between 9:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., but be sure to double-check the schedule and logistics closer to your trip. If you’re planning to rope drop or stay in the parks late to enjoy the nighttime spectaculars, you may need to find a different mode of transportation for your pups. Ride share services, like Uber and Lyft, have pet-friendly rides but generally only allow one pet at a time. You can check their websites for more details on the specific rules. Another option would be to rent a car so you can drive to and from Best Friends with the most flexibility. It’s about a 10-minute drive from Art of Animation.
Next, let’s chat about the other question you submitted on food and medication. Dry and wet food is included in your dogs’ stay at Best Friends for no additional fee (currently, they use Wellness brand food), but you’re also welcome to bring your own food for them to use. I like to do this when I board my pup to keep things as close as possible to her normal routine while she’s away from home (and to minimize the chance for an upset stomach!).
Medication works a little differently, and there are some specific restrictions I wanted to make sure you knew about. While medication can be administered by a team member for an additional fee, they aren’t allowed to give injectable medication. If your diabetic pup needs an injectable during their stay, you’ll need to stop by Best Friends to administer the medication yourself. I’d recommend giving Best Friends a call to talk through your options for your dogs’ medication.
One last thing I wanted to mention before I go. If you’re interested in a unique souvenir to commemorate your pups’ visit to Disney World, the silhouette artists in Magic Kingdom can make pet portraits! Just snap a profile picture of your pups, and they’ll cut a silhouette from the photo on your phone. It’s amazing to watch as they create the art right before your eyes! You can typically find their kiosks off of Main Street, U.S.A., near
Uptown Jewelers, and in Liberty Square, outside
Ye Old Christmas Shoppe.
I’m wishing you and your canine ‘ohana a magical visit to Disney World next year! And if you have any other questions, you’re always welcome at planDisney.
JoAnna