DL area hotels

[overwhelmed]

My hubby and I recently stayed at the Candy Cane for the first time, we found it lovely and well appointed. Breakfast was better than most.

I took many photos of our room for a friend, and posted them online here:
http://www.dumptv.com/disneychat/candycane/

We liked it, and will stay there again.

 

[thespiderman]

overwhelmed, thanks for the link to your photos! It was so nice of you to share. Your pics are great! I love your attention to detail--wow. Here I was all set to ask you if there are towels at the pool and then I saw that you had even taken a picture of those! (Now why can't they make hotel brochures like this? )

A couple of quick questions: Can you see any fireworks from the CCI property? Are there any good eating places within walking distance of Candy Cane Inn? Is it quite a hike to Downtown Disney?

TIA

 

[overwhelmed]

>>>Can you see any fireworks from the CCI property?

I have read that people could see fireworks from the CC. maybe from the north facing 2nd floor rooms, (south side of hotel) but DL's fireworks don't shoot as high as they used to... for the best fireworks view, (and a pool bar) I recommend the Coast Anaheim.
From the front of the candy cane, you can see CaliforniaScreamin' (DCA's big coaster) peeking over the building.


>>>Are there any good eating places within walking distance of Candy Cane Inn?

We generally eat on property. Whitewater & Storytellers are my favorites ...maybe someone else can answer this, I've eaten Hansa House, but I think it may be closed now. In general, I would day nothing special in walking distance. McDonalds, Dennys, Mimi's, some Mom's place that I only hear bad things about...


>>>Is it quite a hike to Downtown Disney?

No, its not too bad. But you don't have to walk the whole way, take the CC shuttle to the DLR transportation area, and walk the rest of the way. The Candy cane is so close, that if you have to wait for the shuttle, you can get there faster walking.
We did take a cab once, because we wanted to get to the disneyland hotel quickly, cost us about $5 including tip, but waiting for the cab was not as quick as I like, we probably could have walked it in the same amount of time, but sometimes I like to save my energy

Feel free to ask anything else I love talking about disneyland!

 

[sarasmom97]

Like the last poster said, thanks overwhelmed for the great pictures. My dd and I will be staying at the Candy Cane in November. Do you think I would feel safe walking around there at night? We will probably use the shuttle, but I was just wondering if the area seemed safe. We've stayed at the DLH before and while the walking distance from Disneyland seems about the same, I felt very secure walking through DTD back to the hotel.

 

[danacath]

Thanks for answering my questions, overwhelmed. (I didn't notice until after I had posted last time that I was logged in under DH's name, "thespiderman" instead of "danacath". whoops Ya better watch out--that's what turning 40 will do to ya. lol)

I can't believe that DH and I leave in less than 10 days! If I have any last-minute questions, I'll keep you in mind. (Also, if you end up having any last-minute WDW questions, I'll be happy to return the favor. )

--danacath ("thespiderman's better half )

 

[overwhelmed]

good morning everyone

>>>>Do you think I would feel safe walking around there at night?

I have never felt uncomfortable or unsafe walking on Harbor or Katella around Disneyland. The Candy Cane is VERY close.

The walk from the disney trans. center to the candy cane is short, about 1/2 block and very well lit, and nicely landscaped, and you do not have to cross the street at all. The walk is still technically disney property, it's just the sidewalk, on harbor blvd, along the parkinglot on the east side of the parks. As soon as you step off disney's part of the sidewalk, you are at the Candy cane.

I have seen people waiting for buses over the last 5 years, but I have never been bothered or spoken to by anyone. There isn't a public bus stop during the walk inbetween disneyland and the candy cane.

Take standard precautions as you would in any tourist area. Lock your car always, and carry your valuables out of sight.

We have never felt scared, even in the wee hours of the morning. I never walk alone at night, however. I always have my husband with me. If I needed to get someplace alone at night, I would take a cab. There are bad neighborhoods in and around Anaheim, but if you stay in the "resort" area, you should be fine.

Hope you both post trip reports afterward!!!

 

[Molokai Gram]

Aloha,
We last visited Disneyland in 2002 and we did have an uncomfortable moment. We took the airport bus back to the airport and because our flight was early in the morning, we were at the Harbor Blvd. bus stop very early in the morning. A group of teen age boys walked past us, stopped and talked and then back-tracked back and forth twice. We had 3 small kids and we three adults were getting very very nervous. Luckily the bus came and the teens walked away very quickly.
We have been to DL a number of times and this was the first time we had this type of experience. We were right outside the Disneyland gate, but across the street. Grad night was just winding down. Not sure if these guys had been participants.

 

[eeyore25]

We really enjoyed the Tropicana. My DH and I go to Disneyland every year and this is the hotel that we stay in. We have stayed at the Paradise Pier and liked that. But the Tropicana is in a great location, I think. You are within walking distance of the DL and most of the restaurants. The price is not too bad either. We have never paid about $78.00 a night for a room.

 

[videogal1]

Originally posted by mbkteach
Thanks to these boards, we just stayed at the Candy Cane Inn. While we did use the shuttle some of the time, it was a very easy walk to and from the parks. The breakfast was a savings. Rooms were nothing special...but clean and comfortable! The gardens are lovely, and the staff VERY helpful. The 7-Eleven at the corner was covenient.

Well, for all those reasons, I, too, would love to stay at the CCInn after the DCL westward repositioning cruise but it looks like all my planning is out the window...My TA just e-mailed the following:

"Well it's a good thing I called the Candy Cane Inn because they no longer allow any type of animals, not even service animals. So we can not even get a room there at all. I will have to inform Disney reservations of this so they can update their system. So they recommended the Sheraton Anaheim hotel, and they do allow service animals. "

Aside from the fact that this is absolutely contrary to the ADA, it is very UN-Disney. Anyone know the Mouse's phone number?

 

[iceskatejen]

The Candy Cane Inn is not a Disney owned or operated hotel, though I agree that it is against the ADA and I don't know that it is legal for them to do that.

 

[Bete]

We stayed for 5 nights and for the money we got value. We paid $65/night through Orbitz for a standard room with two queen beds and a large bathroom. Multiple people could be in the bathroom at the same time. This resort had been going through renovations for over a year and during construcion it was quite noisy from what I hear and not recommended at the time. We lucked out because they were doing very little in that department while we were there. They were finishing up a small restaurant when we visited and we hardly noticed the difference.

Keep in mind, the resort now has an old and a new section. For the money deals, I doubt if you will get one of the new rooms. They have four choices of rooms which will accomodate most peoples' needs. Of course, price will vary depending on what choice you make. I'm not sure if they will be remodeling the old section, now, because everything else is done. I would double check, just in case, more constructuion is planned. That would change my mind about the place.

The rooms have a larger refrigerator than most places. You can actually use the freezer. A microwave is available, too. There's a grocery chain not too far away; so, you can stock up. We have free parking at the parks; so, we drove each day, The walk is not so bad based on other resorts being farther away and those guests are walking to the parks. It's not the closest place but it's not the farthest, either. Parking can be tough at times especially towards later evening. We always had a parking spot but you may have to go underground to get a place. The pool was on the smaller size for the size of the resort. There were plenty of guests using it at all times of the day. There's a Quiznos in the same building and now they will have a restaurant open there since the remodeling. There is a free continental breakfast served in the early morning. It's not gourmet but there were enough guests using it and it sure saves time in the morning; so, you can get to the parks.

I've been pricing May 2005 at this resort and there seems to be plenty of dates available at $70 a night for weekdays. I'm not sure how long the rates will stay this low at this resort. This resort is rated a 3-star by most indexes and you will find others in the same category priced a lot higher. Also, I'm noticing a price swing due to the celebration next year at many area resorts compared to 2004. Beware of paying too much for an inferior place just because they have a captive audience.

I will say if you can afford the Grand Californian I would go for it. There will not be any perimeter, non-Disney resorts that will compare. In comparing Walt Disney World resorts, I would classify GC as a true, Deluxe Disney resort. The other Disneyland resorts don't measure up to that standard, per me.

I've stayed at many Delexe resorts in WDW but I can't justify the price difference, here. You can get concierge at certain times of the year at WDW resorts for the price of standard rooms at GC. I'm a person enjoying the parks or dining experiences; so, the GC doesn't appeal to me for the money. I'm not there enough to enjoy it. The biggest appeal to me of this resort is that it's the easiest one to go back and forth from the parks and Downtown Disneyland. If you think you need many rest times then it may be worth considering for that reason. Consider an AP pass for at least one in your party; so, you get an AP discount for a Disney resort.

I found Disneyland and California Adventure very easy parks to walk in comparison to WDW parks; so, rest periods were not as necessary. These parks are much more concentrated in space.

 

[weluvdizknee]

We've stayed in most of the Harbor Blvd motels.

Our first choice would also be the Candy Cane Inn. We try to get reservations there first if it's just four of us. It's clean and the pool is wonderful. The price is worth the room.

The Castle Inn is also very nice, but no breakfast. They have nice suites if you're traveling with more than 4 people. Really nice set up with separate area rooms for kids in the suites. The pool is OK, in the middle of the parking lot, and a long wet walk back to any room you have there.

Best Western Anaheim is nice and clean. Don't know if they have suites. Great for small family. Another small pool.

We've also stayed at the Desert Inn and Suites. It's nice and right across the street from the main Disneyland entrance. The pool is indoors, very small, very humid. They rooms are old, but clean, and the suites are set up nice for privacey. The suites are all on the top floor, which is OK except for the creepy, slow elevators you have to use. Also, they have a parking issue you may want to consider before booking a reservation.

The parking is horrible. They do not have enough parking spaces for each room. There is a dark basement garage under the motel where they have tight parking spaces, and when that's full (and it fills up fast), you are directed to park as close as possible up and down the garage ramp.

They only give one parking permit per room, so if you're planning to get a large suite for 8-10 people, and planning to arrive in separate cars, you will only get a parking permit for one vehicle. Any car without the permit gets towed, and they will tow!

Returning late after visiting the parks, you will meet up with a parking attendant that will sqeeze you in where ever he can find room, sometimes two cars wide up against the hotel wall and fence. And trying to get your car out the next morning is a Disney Adventure in itself!

 

[daniluvsdisney]

I'd like more info. on the hojo... anyone have photos? How are the beds? Is it pretty comfortable? Are the suites any nicer or just larger? Thanks for any input... we are booked for a late January stay...

 

[pjlla]

bumping for any more input!............P

 

[WheresGoofy]

Has anyone stayed at or have comments about the following places:
Residence Inn on Clementine
La Quinta Inn and Suites next to RI
Holiday Inn & Suites

I am trying to finalize reservations for a trip in February.

Thanks in advance.

 

[HaleyB]

I'd like more info. on the hojo... anyone have photos? How are the beds? Is it pretty comfortable? Are the suites any nicer or just larger? Thanks for any input... we are booked for a late January stay...

We are just back from HoJo's and I thought I would post this even though I am sure it is too late to help the OP of the question... The beds were very firm (too firm for me) and old enough that I could feel a few springs.

We also had one of the "loud" rooms and it was very loud. We asked to be moved and they had the nerve to tell me I would have to pay more! (they did move me for free after I talked to the manager).

Can any one else comment on beds at the various DL area hotel/motels?

 

[BCholly]

bump...

I am planning a trip in Sept....and I wonder if any of the very experienced DIS members have anything else to add. Or any new updates on the hotels mentioned above?
For instance I understand the HOJO has a new water park...have their rooms been updated too?

Thanks for the help.

 

[05MM08MM]

another bump here, wondering the same as above poster, looking at D23 Expo trip possibly.

TIA

 

[Mikscrap]

Another vote for the Candy Cane Inn. We stay there everytime we visit Disneyland. It's an easy walk for the kids and clean rooms.