DL in June: BWPPI or Candy Cane Inn?

[VandVsmama]

The time has finally arrived where I can start making definitive plans for our family's June 2015 trip to DL. WOOT! Last time we went was 2 years ago, so we are really looking forward to this trip. We'll be celebrating my & DH's 20th wedding anniversary plus birthdays for our kids (both born in June, anniversary in early July).

last time, we went for 3 days and I didn't feel like I got enough time to savor everything. So this time we are going for 5 days. My general plan is this:

Sun 6/7 - drive to Anaheim, check into hotel
Mon 6/8 - DLR
Tues 6/9 - hit Magic Morning extra early at 7am (get to gates by 6:30 am)
Wed-Fri - more DLR! Probably take whole afternoon & evening off on Wed
Sat 6/13 - check out of hotel & hit the road to drive home

I would LOVE to stay at the DL Hotel, but it's not likely in our budget. I do NOT want to be battling things out in the DLR parking lots early in the a.m., so a hotel within very easy walking distance is a must.

I've settled on 2 options based on lots of reading - Candy Cane Inn or BWPPI. Some plusses of Candy Cane Inn from what I can tell are:

• hotel has its own dedicated shuttle, which will help when our feet are tired
• free breakfast
• better pool area than BWPPI, from what I can tell from the pictures
• has a very good reputation for good customer service
• $10 off/night coupon for your next stay
• we are AAA members, so we can get 10% off (same discount as AP holders)

Some plusses & minuses of BWPPI from what I've read:

• free breakfast, but you might have to duke it out with the other hotel guests for a table to eat your breakfast
• just about THE CLOSEST to the park entrances. HUGE PLUS since our strategy is to take a break in the afternoon and avoid the bulk of the crowds
• pool area isn't much to look at. My kids live in the water in the summer, so a lousy pool or a small pool is a detractor here. From what I've seen of the online pics of their pool, it's kind of sad.

In terms of room rates between these 2 hotels, my options are:

• $125.10/night for 2 double beds @ BWPPI
• $152.10/night for 2 queen bed minisuite @ BWPPI
• $152.10/night for 2 queen bed room (not mini-suite) @ BWPPI
• $148.00/night for 2 queen bed standard room @ Candy Cane Inn

Including the $10/day cost of parking at BWPPI, staying at the Candy Cane Inn is only about $90 more for larger beds. I'm curious to hear from folks who have stayed at both places. What did you like or not like about each of them? I am leaning toward the Candy Cane Inn at the moment. I want to snag the good room rate, so am hoping to make a reservation by Christmas.

 

[MillauFr]

We always stay at the Candy Cane Inn and always have a excellent time. I could afford the Grand Californian but I see no reason to pay extra when the Candy Cane Inn is so great.

 

[wdwfan22]

In all honesty, I haven't stayed at either, but I would pick the BWPPI based on location. Yes, the Candy Cane Inn has a shuttle, but by the time you walk to where the shuttle picks you up, you are about a 2 minute (MAX) walk to the BWPPI. and you don't have to wait for the shuttle, which can be a 30 min wait if you just missed one.

But you really have to look at what is important to you. We really aren't fans of continental breakfasts anywhere. We like to eat our bars or cereal we bring with us in the room, since we don't like to take the time to eat breakfast. We find then eating an early lunch in the parks works good for us. Plus, even though my daughter loves swimming, we don't find we make a lot of time for swimming, since we like to be in the parks, or napping.

I looked at both of those, then decided on the Tropicana, since it is about as close of a walk as the BWPPI and it was cheaper than both of the properties you are looking at. Even if I save $20 dollars on a property, that's another CS meal at the park. But that's just me, because I am on a pretty tight budget, so we can stay longer. Also, Tropicana has a 10% discount for stays of 5 nts or longer, which made a difference for me.

I'm sure you will be happy with either. Have a magical time!

 

[Butterfly123]

We usually stay at BWPPI, and really like it, but we aren't pool people. The pool there is small and basically is right along the parking lot. We have never had to fight people for breakfast, but we are early morning people, I'm sure it gets busier later in the morning. We love the location!

We haven't stayed at Candy Cane yet, but I hear such great things I'd like to try it sometime. The room size is the reason we haven't. We are a family of five, and the mini suites work well for us.

 

[HydroGuy]

Including the $10/day cost of parking at BWPPI, staying at the Candy Cane Inn is only about $90 more for larger beds. I'm curious to hear from folks who have stayed at both places. What did you like or not like about each of them? I am leaning toward the Candy Cane Inn at the moment. I want to snag the good room rate, so am hoping to make a reservation by Christmas.

I have stayed at both multiple times. I like the feeling of CCI better. I agree with all your assessment. The breakfasts are good at CCI and the pool while still small is better at CCI. The rooms are comparable. The shuttles do save your feet, but the walk to BWPPI is is only slightly farther than the walk to the CCI shuttle.

Reading everything that is important to you I would suggest CCI with the reason being the better pool area. But BWPPI is also a fine option and if you choose that you will love, love, love the short walk.

 

[belle'ssister]

We've never stayed at BWPPI but have stayed numerous times at Candy Cane Inn. In fact unless we stay on property CCi is our motel of choice.

I love the shuttle (exclusive and runs every 30 minutes) but hubby and grand kids have done the walk to the park. Breakfast is good, plenty of tables by the pool and some inside as well. While the rooms aren't the biggest they have comfy beds and are immaculate and cute too. Great customer service. They will also arrange transportation from airport too.

 

[Minnie Loves Mickey]

My experience with CCI shuttles is they run On Time! So we just watched the time when leaving the park and never had to wait for the shuttle.

 

[VandVsmama]

My thought on the CCI shuttle is that we'd walk to the park entrances in the early a.m. for park opening and use the shuttle back. Then use shuttle again to return to the parks when we're returning from our afternoon break. We'll just time our departure to meet the shuttle back to the hotel at either 15 or 45 min after the hour.

Definitely don't want to stay at a place that would require us to use the ART shuttle, so places that are farther away are totally out. When we went to DL 2 yr ago, we stayed w/in walking distance and it was really nice to not have to rely on a car at all for 3 days. I totally forgot about what was going on in the rest of the world. We didn't even watch the news or read the news online during our stay.

I gotta say - my DH at first thought I was a bit nutty for wanting to go to DL for our big anniversary celebration. Even my sister said, "Why don't you go somewhere else?" I know that you guys here just "get it" because, well, there is just something magical about Disneyland. It is the best theme park ever for countless reasons. It makes me feel like a kid again when I am there. And experiencing it all over again with my family is just great. DL has a unique way of infusing everything with a sense of imagination, wonder, excitement, and joy.

My original plans involved staying at GCH the whole time or at PPH or DLH, but our budget doesn't allow for that. I'd rather get to spend time in DL for 5 days rather than stay at one of those places.

 

[TheDoleWhipper]

I think that Candy Cane Inn would be more enjoyable. CCI is still really close to the parks and is easily walkable. Although BWPPI might be the closest good neighbor hotel you can get to the front gates, overall, Candy Cane Inn has better amenities, pool, and rooms. As long as you do not come in with the expectations of a DLR hotel, CCI will suit all of your needs!

 

[flyingdumbo127]

I just stayed last week at Candy Cane (have stayed there before) and had a great experience. The staff was so friendly. I had never used Wifi before, someone helped me get my laptop working. I had forgotten to bring my camera's battery charger and they tried to find me one to use, truly so very kind. I so use the shuttle as I need to try and minimize walking and never had any trouble with it. It goes to Disneyland on the hour and half past each hour. It picks up from DL to return to CCI 15 and 45 past the hour. The drivers, especially one older gentleman, were very friendly. I also like that it is so close to ABC Mart and the 711, both fun places to browse and ABC has lots of Disney postcards and souvenirs. I have never stayed at BWPPI so am not able to share on that. I hope whichever hotel you choose, your trip is wonderful.

 

[MillauFr]

I think that Candy Cane Inn would be more enjoyable. CCI is still really close to the parks and is easily walkable. Although BWPPI might be the closest good neighbor hotel you can get to the front gates, overall, Candy Cane Inn has better amenities, pool, and rooms. As long as you do not come in with the expectations of a DLR hotel, CCI will suit all of your needs!

Is DLR hotel really any better than the Candy Cane? If you are looking for "magic" and "pixie dust" I would say go with the Candy Cane.

 

[VandVsmama]

Is DLR hotel really any better than the Candy Cane? If you are looking for "magic" and "pixie dust" I would say go with the Candy Cane.

Well, I have never stayed at the Candy Cane Inn, so I don't know yet. But I do know that our stay at the DLH was pretty great. It was very magical for our family. Staying at a non-DLR hotel will mean that we might be able to dine at the Blue Bayou twice instead of once. And maybe we can spring for Fantasmic dessert package or something like that.

 

[HydroGuy]

Is DLR hotel really any better than the Candy Cane? If you are looking for "magic" and "pixie dust" I would say go with the Candy Cane.

Better? Yes, much.

More expensive? Yes, much.

 

[Kristina4109]

The BWPPI is our off-property hotel of choice. The location cannot be beat, it's clean, with friendly check-in service, and it's surprisingly quiet. I love the rooms. The free breakfast is no Goofy's Kitchen, but they serve plenty of fruits, eggs, sausage patties, hot and cold cereal, and coffee.

However, we use our hotel as a sleep-and-shower location only. We don't use the pool. (And yes, the pool at the BWPPI is dinky and boring.) So if you are looking for more of a resort feel, go for the CCI,

 

[Plutos Mommy]

The Candy Cane Inn is our go to place. We were there in October and it was very obvious that they have been doing some renovations to the rooms including new door locks (bye-bye swiss cheese room keys), for us the beds are super comfy and we like the option of the shuttle.

I love that they offer free parking, it irks me no matter where I am to have to pay for parking on top of the room taxes when my car is only going to sit there.

 

[LalaCoop]

We just got back from the BWPPI, and it was perfect. Basic breakfast, but substantial enough, our room was good sized, two double beds separated from a small dining table with 2 chairs by a half wall, there was also a desk and rolling chair. The rooms were quiet and clean. The vanity area was huge, the shower/bath and toilet area were adequate. The mini microwave was powerful, and the mini fridge was a great size. The location was what sealed the deal for us. After roaming the parks it was a glorious sight to see the hotel entrance right across the cross walk. Some nights (and even during afternoon breaks) the thought if having to walk any further was unpleasant. The pool is very basic, but the hot tub was perfect to relax in. Also, the fireworks were so easy to see from the street, DH took DD, 3, out each night they had them. They sat at the bus stop, shared a snack, and oooh'd and aaahhh'd in jammies.
We will be returning to stay here in 2 1/2 years for DSs 3rd birthday trip.