Candy Cane Inn or Howard Johnson

[OnePrincessMom]

I am planning first visit to DL in August 2013. Would love to stay at DL hotel, but it is twice the cost of good neighbor hotels. If you had to choose between Candy Cane Inn and HoJo, which would you choose and why? It is myself and daughter who will be 9.

Thanks

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

I would say you can't go wrong with either. We stay at Hojo much more often than Candy Cane, but that decision has been based mostly on price and familiarity.

Compare these amenities and then compare the prices and decide what you want for your money:

Distance from park - about the same
Parking - free in both locations. I, personally, have never had difficulty securing parking at either place even when touring elsewhere during the day and returning in the evening.
Environment - both choices have very well kept grounds. CCI is a two story motel with exterior corridors and no elevators. I have found some of the rooms noisy but not unbearable. Hojo is a hotel with interior corridors. There is 1 seven story building, 1 four story building and 4 two story buildings. The taller buildings have elevators; the two-story buildings do not. Noise levels vary; I have found the rooms in building 2 (the four story building) to be quietest. We are also fine on the highway side of building 1 (the seven story building) now that they have added some soundproofing.
Cleanliness - about the same in my experience
Shuttle - Free from CCI, none or ART from Hojo (really not necessary from either location in my opinion since you can easily walk unless you have walking issues, but a nice perk at the CCI if your timing is right)
Breakfast - Decent continental breakfast that pleases my kids immensely at CCI; no provided breakfast at Hojo (we drive so bring our own breakfast foods)
Pool - Very small pool at CCI but well kept and you can almost forget you're in the parking lot; Large pool at Hojo that my kids will actually ask to swim in, plus, in a separate area, a water play area with slides and water canons.

 

[jory29]

Personally, my choice would be Hojo's, and I say this because we have enjoyed around 6 week long stays there over the years, and each time has never been a disappointment. Mimi's is right across the street, McDonalds is halfway between the Parks and the hotel. The beds at Hojo's are so great, as are the pillows. In-room safes are a nice feature. The Keurig machines in each room also include 'to go' cups so you can drink your coffee along the way. It is literally only an 8 minute walk to the Parks. We would come back once a day mid day for a break, and it was easily doable. The store on premises has everything you could need. Food, souvenirs, health needs, laundry needs, personal care needs, etc. Join them on facebook and I think you can get 10% off in the market there, excluding alcohol. The cleanliness of the rooms and pool area can't be beat. Finally, interior corridors would make me feel more safe. I would suggest building 1, it's the tallest building that has the Market in it. Have fun!!

 

[tinkcollector]

I have stayed at both. longtimedisneylurker has done a fine job with the pro's and cons. My choice however would lean toward CCI. I enjoy the continetal breakfast, the rooms are decorated nicely, beds are comfy, furniture overall looks better and the AP discount on the room. They also give you a coupon when you check out good toward an additional 10% off your room rates for your next stay. And yes they let you combine the coupon and AP discount.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

I have stayed at both. longtimedisneylurker has done a fine job with the pro's and cons. My choice however would lean toward CCI. I enjoy the continetal breakfast, the rooms are decorated nicely, beds are comfy, furniture overall looks better and the AP discount on the room. They also give you a coupon when you check out good toward an additional 10% off your room rates for your next stay. And yes they let you combine the coupon and AP discount.

The AP discount at CCI was $10 per night last I checked and the bounce-back coupon is also $10 off per night (at least the one I got earlier this year still was). I too appreciate that they let you combine those two discounts. If you don't have an AP, you can get $10 off per night with AAA, but you cannot combine all three discounts for one stay, just AAA/return coupon or AP/return coupon.

Hojo offers various discounts as well, ranging mostly from 10% to 30% off depending on your dates and whether you have AAA, Entertainment Card, or Disneyland AP.

 

[kevdo]

Agree with other poster that they are pretty comparable, but I'd choose CCI for the breakfast and their shuttle + no street crossing walking route.

 

[OnePrincessMom]

Agree with other poster that they are pretty comparable, but I'd choose CCI for the breakfast and their shuttle + no street crossing walking route.

So from the Candy Cane Inn we wouldn't have to cross any main streets, and HoJo is on the opposite side of the main road? Am I following that correctly? Thanks!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

So from the Candy Cane Inn we wouldn't have to cross any main streets, and HoJo is on the opposite side of the main road? Am I following that correctly? Thanks!

Yes. They are about the same distance away from the esplanade but in opposite directions down Harbor. Hojo you have to cross Harbor to get to. CCI is on the same side of Harbor as the parks.

 

[Malcon10t]

So from the Candy Cane Inn we wouldn't have to cross any main streets, and HoJo is on the opposite side of the main road? Am I following that correctly? Thanks!

Yes. When we do it, we cross at Manchester and walk up the Disneyland side of Harbor.

You will need to cross Disney Way walking up Harbor from CCI if you walk. There is a stop light for the Toy Story lot buses. :::vent:::Sadly, many people do not view this as a legitimate stop light and cross even though it is red. I feel for the buses who are having to wait for the steady stream of jay walkers.:::/vent:::

 

[katejc]

I would go for the CCI, too. We really like it and have stayed at both. Not having to cross Harbor makes CCI feel a little closer and the shuttle and breakfast are definitely pluses.

 

[larina]

...Hojo offers various discounts as well, ranging mostly from 10% to 30% off depending on your dates and whether you have AAA, Entertainment Card, or Disneyland AP.

FYI, HoJo's has discontinued their Entertainment Card/Book discount. They have switched to an e-mail method. Go to their site and sign up to get the offer sent to your e-mail.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

FYI, HoJo's has discontinued their Entertainment Card/Book discount. They have switched to an e-mail method. Go to their site and sign up to get the offer sent to your e-mail.

Yes, they have discontinued the really excellent entertainment discounts that they used to give, but they have not completely stopped giving discounts to entertainment card holders. You get 10% off most times of the year with 20% off some special dates.

http://www.boards.hojoanaheim.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14

Other discounts they offer include AAA 10%, AP 20%, AP 30% for special dates, e-mail only discounts that can be up to 50% off.

 

[larina]

Thank you for clarifying that ltdl, I had no idea. I always get an EC, so that is good to know, although I'll probably choose to go when I can get a better rate through their e-mail system..

 

[MillauFr]

The Hojo was nice but I much prefer the Candy Cane. The place is spotless. Staff is excellent and the breakfast is a big time saver in the morning. When I stayed at Hojo we were in the tall building facing I-5. Very noisy.

 

[Katems]

I was torn between these same two hotels for our first trip last week. We went with CCI and I was very pleased with it. I saw Ho Jos when the Disneyland Express dropped some other LAX people off there, and it didn't look very impressive to me. Not than any of them look impressive, but I guess it didn't look BETTER than any of the others.

I loved CCI and the breakfast and free shuttle. I LOVED that it was on the same side as Disney and you didn't have to cross a major street. I LOVED that Cars Land was DIRECTLY behind us and you could actually hear the tires screeching from the RSR ride. You could also see the back of the huge scenery of the ride. That was kinda cool. If only you could hop the fence!!

There are flowers everywhere and lots of greenery. The pool is entirely surrounded by ivy and flowers and you don't realize it's in the middle of the parking lot. There is also a hot tub and kiddie pool. Breakfast includes cold cereal, milk, varieties of muffins, donuts, and yogurt, bagels, toast, coffee, cocoa, and apple and orange juice.

Right next door to CCI (again, no street crossing, very safe) is an ABC Mart and a 7-Eleven. We stocked up on a case of water bottles from 7-Eleven that we then put in our fridge. CCI has a fridge, coffee maker, hair dryer, and safe. It has three drawers within the tv armoire, as well as two or three open shelves. You'll find the ice bucket, food tray, and safe in the armoire. In the sink area you'll find several large open shelves above the fridge, as well as lots of cupboards underneath the sink. It had two luggage racks and a small closet with an ironing board and iron. People were very nice. The only thing that drove me nuts was the very silky, slippery bedspread that constantly slipped to the floor. I love the shutters on the windows, very cute! You can open the slats or open them for real. You can see Tower of Terror from here, too.

The walk was easy, the shuttle was timely, the entrance was way prettier than any other hotel up and down Harbor. It's family owned but they said the family is all in Fresno now so I don't know who actually operates it on the premises.

 

[jcarwash]

Another Hojo discount is the DISBoards.com promotion code: LNDB

I'd also advise keeping an eye on the Hojo rates. During my research this year, I reserved under one rate and then it dropped later on. So if you reserve now, periodically check back and see if you need to cancel and rebook under a lower rate.

By comparison, Candy Cane Inn seemed to keep the same rates the entire time leading up to my trip. They do offer a AAA discount using the code DIS.

You didn't ask but I'll plug Best Western Park Place Inn...the location directly across from the Disneyland gate is great. Breakfast is included, parking has an additional charge. I would stay there again because of the location.

 

[mouseymommy]

Another Hojo discount is the DISBoards.com promotion code: LNDB

I'd also advise keeping an eye on the Hojo rates. During my research this year, I reserved under one rate and then it dropped later on. So if you reserve now, periodically check back and see if you need to cancel and rebook under a lower rate.

By comparison, Candy Cane Inn seemed to keep the same rates the entire time leading up to my trip. They do offer a AAA discount using the code DIS.

You didn't ask but I'll plug Best Western Park Place Inn...the location directly across from the Disneyland gate is great. Breakfast is included, parking has an additional charge. I would stay there again because of the location.

I second the BWPPI. We love staying there for our DL trips.