We used the DAK Kennel for our dog last Christmas. He is a Chi-zu and stayed a week. At DAK the owner has to feed and walk twice a day. We took our own food and they provided stainless bowls. We booked late and due to the holidays the full service kennels were booked solid. We were lucky to get DAK.
The kennel is very clean. It did not smell and all the employees were really nice. They let us pick his unit. He didnt like up hi at all. He was shaking so she recommended we move him low and he liked that much better. He also had a corner unit behind the entry door so I think he felt pretty safe there.
There is a gated area to walk your pet and you are supposed to clean up behind them. Some people did not. At night that area is pretty dark, safe, but careful where you step. It did appear that the employees cleaned this area at least daily.
There are a few spots up close to park at DAK for Kennel users. We would go early in the morning before park opening so that we could walk Mojo around the DAK entrance area. Then later in the evening. Once or twice we called security to let us in to get Mojo. They were always nice and expedient.
We stayed at SSR and AKV and we drove our van from Texas with our dog.
He seemed to enjoy it and I think he liked that we were there with him twice a day. It was not as much hassle as I first thought it would be, and I liked being at AKV early in the morning with the music and Christmas decorations.
Before we left WDW, we visited the Fort Wilderness full service kennel and it seemed larger and louder than DAK. We signed him up for our return Christmas trip before we left last year and good thing we did, because the prices increased back in June. We will pay last years rate because we were already booked. I did not want to risk being shut out again, the kennels are very popular.
This summer we used a local kennel that was recommended by a friend. Mojo hated it!! He stayed 2 weeks and really acted out. It was nothing like DAK or the nice place he stayed at Hilton Head Island once we left WDW. They claimed he was aggressive and biting so much so, that they could not give him his exit groom. They also tried to sell me 1k worth of intense training classes.
I took him to Petsmart right down the street to be groomed and the young girl that works there had no problem with him and we wanted him shaved within an inch of his life! 3 months later he is starting to calm back down. He came home and started marking
So I fully endorse the kennels at WDW, cheaper than Petsmart, which is about the only other place I will leave him, because Petsmart is very similar to how Disney Kennels (best friends) are. We will drive again this Christmas and Mojo will go with us. He will be at the FW Kennel 2 weeks this year, but we will still visit and walk frequently.
