Residence Inn or Candy Cane Inn?

[Disneymooner07]

We’re going in a few weeks and I’m trying to decide between Candy Cane Inn and the Residence Inn by the Convention Center. Help!

I’ll have my 3 kids and my mother with me, so we’d like two rooms for sleeping - at CCI, I am holding two deluxe rooms that I’ve requested be connecting. At RI, I’m holding a 2BR kids bunk suite that looks pretty awesome. My concerns with RI are that it’s considerably more expensive and a bit farther of a walk. I’d love to love CCI, but I’m worried because the reviews seem a little mixed?? My mother likes nice accommodations so if we stay at CCI, I want to make sure it’s nice and she can get a good night of sleep (otherwise she’s grumpy!). I love that CCI is a bit closer and avoids the stoplight. Is it a safe bet?

(No need to suggest other hotels, I’ve stayed at many of them both on and off property and they’re either booked for our dates or don’t have the right sleeping arrangements for this trip )

 

[roxy72]

Personally, I would go with the Residence Inn by the Convention Center, especially if your mother likes nicer accomodations. That said, I haven't been to either hotel recently. The Candy Cane Inn is perfectly fine, and I appreciated the free breakfast, free parking, free shuttle, the location, the pool, etc. However it's not really updated and in my opinion, doesn't have a lot of space.

We have a reservation for a 1-bedroom suite at the Residence Inn during our upcoming April trip. This is only across the street from CCI from the maps, but it appears nicer and newer, and we like having more space to spread out including a separate living room and a full kitchen. It will meet our space needs and look pretty, too!

I think you can't go wrong with either hotel but this is my 2 cents.

 

[Cookiemonster156]

Hands down the Residence Inn, Its in much better conditions than the CCI.

In other words, Roxy is spot on with her post.

 

[DizMe]

I have to agree with roxy and cookie. CCI is just a motel. Cute exteriors, but dated and...it's a small, old-school motel. I stayed in a deluxe room last fall. It was dark, loud, and in some ways unusual (the exterior wall of the laundry room was right in front of our window, blocking what little light and view there might have been; the fridge was on the vanity counter; we were on the ground floor so you are a few feet back from the cars in the parking lot; the fireworks echoed through the complex so weirdly that I ran out of the room thinking something awful had happened). Nice amenities and the price is good, so I think that's why it's popular, but I am NOT one of the "it's just a place to sleep" people.

 

[mel2014]

We stayed at the Candy Cane Inn this last weekend for the first time. For the price we paid ($125/night for a standard room) we were satisfied and will be staying again in May, but there are definitely some negatives that are pertinent to your dilemma:
The bed linen was motel quality sheets and blankets, not fluffy and cozy (I found the mattress comfy though, unlike the hard Desert Inn or Kings Inn beds).
The exterior corridors were occasionally noisy with people coming back late from the parks or leaving in early mornings.
The plantation shutters, while aesthetically pleasing, let in light even when closed. I would much prefer blackout curtains.

We did take advantage of the shuttle far more often than I thought we would, at least 4-5 times over three days (with midday breaks). It was also very clean and well-maintained and the breakfast was perfectly satisfactory for us. The staff were also very friendly. From passing by rooms during cleaning, it seemed liked the second floor has hard floors and the first floor is carpet.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

For a newer hotel, I'd take the RI. For CCI, if you can upgrade to the Premium Rooms, do so. That makes a difference. We always get two connecting Premium Rooms (larger rooms, at the back of then property -- so quieter, laminate floors, breakfast delivered to the room, amenities basket, bathrobes, small fridge and microwave, DVD player, etc.). CCI is a much closer walk -- about 8-10 minutes -- and the private shuttle runs on time. The customer service is great. But if your mom likes "hotels," then RI might be more her style.

 

[kristensideaoffun]

It’s been years since I’ve stayed at CCI, but from what I have heard, it’s hasn’t been updated in a long time. It was an outdated motel when I stayed there. But it was clean, the staff was friendly, and the price point was pretty appealing to my husband and I back then.

Personally, I would stay at the Residence Inn. RI, the Springhill Suites next door, and the Courtyard across from the park are my preferred hotels now. They are more expensive that CCI, but I personally think they are worth it. We like our pool time, space to spread out, interior hallways, and newer accommodations. The extra time it takes to walk from CCI to RI is maybe and extra 3-4 minutes of walking.

Also, RI has a full hot breakfast and the rooms have full kitchens. You can give them a grocery list and their staff will order groceries and stock your fridge. Or you can have groceries delivered yourself through PrimeNow, Instacart, or directly from a local grocery store. Maybe you can save some money by preparing some meals in your room if you stay at RI...

 

[Disneymooner07]

Sounds like RI is the nicer place. Is it a decently longer walk? I’ve only walked to that Walgreens once and it felt faaaar, but maybe it was because I was tired at the end of a long night? Is CCI much closer or only marginally closer?

 

[Disneymooner07]

I think I was posting

It’s been years since I’ve stayed at CCI, but from what I have heard, it’s hasn’t been updated in a long time. It was an outdated motel when I stayed there. But it was clean, the staff was friendly, and the price point was pretty appealing to my husband and I back then.

Personally, I would stay at the Residence Inn. RI, the Springhill Suites next door, and the Courtyard across from the park are my preferred hotels now. They are more expensive that CCI, but I personally think they are worth it. We like our pool time, space to spread out, interior hallways, and newer accommodations. The extra time it takes to walk from CCI to RI is maybe and extra 3-4 minutes of walking.

Also, RI has a full hot breakfast and the rooms have full kitchens. You can give them a grocery list and their staff will order groceries and stock your fridge. Or you can have groceries delivered yourself through PrimeNow, Instacart, or directly from a local grocery store. Maybe you can save some money by preparing some meals in your room if you stay at RI...

I think I was writing my question about the walk at the same time you were posting! So sounds like the walk isn’t that much longer. We stayed at the Courtyard (Theme Park) last summer and liked it too. Is the walk similar?

 

[kristensideaoffun]

The walk to RI is about 5 minutes longer than to the Courtyard, but I think it is easier in the sense that you only cross one major intersection and three hotel/business entrances to get to RI. Plus the sidewalk is set back from the street for the majority of the walk. To get to the Courtyard, you have to cross one major intersection and then cross over 7-8 hotel/business entrances. It’s a “busier” walk, if that makes sense.