By Peter Covino

Entertainment Editor

You are enjoying a luxury weekend at Walt Disney World, so why shouldn’t your favorite pet?

Cats, gerbils, goldfish and most decidedly, the family dog, can live it up at Best Friends Pet Care, the new luxury, full-service resort for pets.

While other pets get pampered at the  facility, located across the street from the Port Orleans resort, it is definitely a dog’s life at Best Friends.

Dogs can make use of the private dog park, which includes a “splash and play” water feature, walking trail and 3,300-square-foot play area, and that is just the dog park.

Inside is where the real luxury begins.

Dogs, if their owner’s budgets will allow it, can lead the ultimate dog’s life in a VIP (Very Important Pet Suite) that features 226-square-feet of space for your favorite pooch. Each suite features a 144-square foot  tiled bedroom with glass doors, raised platform bed and flat panel television. Each suite also comes with its own private, covered play yard. The VIP suite comes with two walks, two play group sessions and ice cream treat and a bedtime story each day. A go-home bath is also included with a three-night stay.

Daily boarding rate for pets with resort guests is $69. The non-resort rate is $76.

The VIP rooms have already proven to be a hit. Best Friends officials said the suites (there are four of them) are already booked up most weekends for the next several weeks.

If the suite is a bit out of your dog’s budget, the vacation villa features a 72-square foot bedroom with a raised platform bed and flat panel TV and a 28-square foot  private outdor patio. Amenities includes two walks, a playgroup session, an ice cream treat and a turn-down service each day. The daily boarding rate is $53 for resort guests, $59 for non-guests.

Both the vacation villas and VIP suites are also available for a daycare rate.

Other accommodations for dogs include   indoor-outdoor two-room suites, featuring an indoor bedroom with pet cot and an outdoor patio. The suite includes one walk per day. Rates are $36 for resort guests, $40 for non-guests.

And the all indoor suites with a pet cot and two walks per day. The standard rate is $37, $34 for resort guests.

A la carte offerings include cuddletime ($8); bedtime story ($6); ice cream break ($4); bottled water ($5 per day); premium bed ($5 per day).

While cats have less options than dogs at Best Friends, they do get to have peace and quite away from the dogs. The separate area can accommodate up to 30 felines. There are two level and four level glass windowed condo. Rates start at $21 for resort guests.

A la carte offerings include tuna on a Ritz ($3); cookies and milk (3 each); deluxe kitty bed ($3 per day).

Pocket pet care also is available. Hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits and most any pet can spend the day and night at the pet resort. Pet parents must provide their own housing/ cage and all supplies. Fees range from $12 to $23 per day. Exotics, venomous pets and primates will not be accepted for boarding.

There is more information at wdw.bestfriendspetcare.com or call WDW-PETS.

The new resort replaces all of the other boarding facilities at Walt Disney World.