Anabella or Candy Cane Inn?

[yipee]

Hi all!

We have been to DL twice now, and once have stayed at the BWPPI and once at the Carousel. Both times were okay, but we would like something that doesn't feel so busy/hectic/herded...

Last time we were there, we looked around at other hotels, and the Candy Cane gets such great reviews, but from what we saw, the rooms looked really small and dark, and some room locations looked really jammed into corners... However, so many people seem to like it there... maybe we just looked too quickly? What is it that draws you all back to it?

We also had a chance to swim in the pool at the Anabella (the Carousel's sister hotel) and the grounds and location were sooooo nice. But again, the reviews on trip advisor are either really good, or really bad. It's hard to know which it is!

We know the walk is longer for both of these hotels, but the calmer "chi" around both areas just felt nice.

We would love to stay at at Disney property, but we just can't justify the price difference! (at least $1000 more!)

Any advice? (or even other suggestions?)

Thanks!

 

[we3disneygo]

we stayed at the Candy Cane Inn in June and really liked it, the beds were so comfy and the towels and sheets were really nice and soft. we heard no noise of any kind in our room.hope this helps!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

The Candy Cane does not feel hectic at all. The free continental breakfast in the morning is very convenient. They run a free shuttle to and from the park all day, so you don't have to walk it all the time. The beds are comfy and the rooms have shutters so you can let in as much light as you want.

Basically, it's a nice quiet place to sleep at night and have breakfast in the morning before the park. We don't spend any other time in our room except to sleep as we are in the park from opening until after dark.

They may be more expensive than other hotels along Harbor, but I've never been disappointed. I recommend them whole heartedly.

 

[ter-moo]

I've never stayed at the Anabella, though it does look very nice. The downside for me has always been the location and the lack of free breakfast.

It's in a spot that's a bit FAR for walking to the parks, albeit do-able.

The advantage to CCI is the location and the nice breakfast. You can easily walk, and then there's the shuttle if you're too tired. The rooms are small, but they're so nicely decorated that it's never bothered me. One time I stayed there with four grown women in one room and we did fine.

I agree that both of these are good alternatives to the noisy/smushed properties on Harbor, if you want a little peace.

 

[jakoky]

hi there, we stayed at the candy cane inn last may for 10 nights and lOVED it...we found the rooms really nice, the beds were very comfy, duvet covers, nice wooden shutters, very homey....it was so relaxing around the pool area and the continental breakfast was an added bonus....we are headed back to DL in sept for 10 nights again but unfortunately are not staying at the CCI, we will be at the HOJO as the package we booked we could not get the CCI.....I dont think you can go wrong with the CCI...have fun
sharon
me, dh, dd-16-, ds-almost 14-, dd-11 1/2-
WDW-Dec 04-first disney experience for my DH, DD, DS, DD and first time at WDW for us all
DL-MAY 06-first time at DL for DH and kids , and my 9th(but the first 8 were all by the time i was about 13) so it was all new to me
COUNTDOWN IS ON....WE ARE GOING BACK TO DL SEPT 15-25!!!!!

 

[stampinshauna]

I haven't stayed at the Candy Cane, but I have heard great things about it.

I have stayed at the Annabella and I really didn't care for it. Sure they had nice grounds, but the staff left a lot to be desired. They did not give us the room types as promised (supposed to have 2 queen beds, but had one queen and then a roll-a-way) and they were not very nice. They seemed to cater more to the business travelers and they were not very nice to families (we talked to others about this and they agreed).

 

[kiwitravel]

I would certainly go CCI over Annabella, it is closer but not by all that much. Annabella should be cheaper though but certainly has mixed reviews. If a bit more of an "away from it all" type stay is what you are after then CCI is probably your Hotel, its about half a mile down Harbour away from the restaurants and DL entry. It has really nice grounds though the rooms and pool are on the small size. Make sure you require as a condition of your booking that you have a "quiet" room as the ones that back on to harbour are really noisey, also stay away from the corner rooms, they can be really dark and face into a wall.

 

[NotSoLittleMermaid]

I've stayed at both places and I'd pick CCI over Anabella for the following reasons:

CCI--free breakfast, closer, wireless internet access free (altho only available in lobby, pool and breakfast area at time I stayed there, 2 yrs ago). Our room was at the very front of the building, looked out onto Harbor Blvd. The entry to the room was at the end of a hall, but the room was very nice and spacious, bright and don't remember noise being a problem. Also, we were not in the "upgraded" category (can't remember what it's called), just a regular room. We walked every day, but sometimes took their free shuttle back in the evening.

Anabella--no breakfast, wireless internet cost $10/DAY and was intermittant quality, farther walk and---biggest factor to me is that AC (air conditioning) will only come on when your room key is inserted into a special slot in the room so if you want it to stay on all day so that room is cool when you come back, you need to leave one key in the slot all day. We made it work, but that was weird to me. The property is quaint and pretty and our room was nice, but I wouldn't stay there again. Not sure if they have a free shuttle--we are AP holders and have free parking so we drove every day.