So frustrated....leaving next week and plans are changing

[Mcky36]

Can someone reassure me?

We had booked 6/16-6/19 (Wed.-Sat.) at the PPH. We have never stayed on property so we were sooooo excited. Unfortunately DH can't get Wed. off of work,so we need to switch our reservation to 6/17-6/20 (Thurs-Sun.) BUT, it will cost an extra $256 to add that Sat. night to our stay at PPH.

So, I went ahead and made the reservation at Candy Cane Inn, which gives me a savings of $280 for our entire stay over the original ressie at PPH!! I'm just bummed because we were REALLY looking forward to staying on property this time around, and the kids (6 and 4) were sooo looking forward to the pool and slide. And honestly, I was really looking forward to just "experiencing" staying in the resort for once!

Can anyone reassure me that we will love the Candy Cane Inn? Is the walk comparable to the walk from PPH? Are the rooms clean? Any tips or tidbits that might be helpful?

Thank you

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I'm sure you'll enjoy the CCI ~ would you consider staying @ PPH for your 1st two nights and then switching to CCI for your last night? We've done this before ~ we'll start offsite or onsite and then switch we make sure to have our last or first night *making sure our checkout day is a MM ~ so we can use it *we've been AP holders so during those trips we had no MM unless we stayed on site **but I assume you'll have a PH so you should have a MM with that. Last year we started at the GCH but after one night there we moved somewhere much cheaper ~ the Anaheim Plaza Hotel ~ this July we're starting at the DLH and after 2 nights there we're moving someplace else.

 

[amamax2]

We stayed at the Candy Cane Inn for one night (our first time staying there) on May 23 and then moved to the PPH for two additional nights because it was our 25th Wedding Anniversary and my DH really wanted "something nice, not cheap."

Now, to be completely honest, there is nothing like staying on site.

After acknowledging that, however, on our next trip in Sept, we are heading back to the Candy Cane Inn! We really liked it. Even my DH was suitable impressed.

We had the deluxe room because have two tween/teen boys and, based on reviews here, wanted a bit more space.

The room was very clean, very pretty, and plenty of space. They have plantation shutters on the windows, which just added that little extra oomph. We were on the top floor and it was very quiet. My boys and DH went swimming in the evening and had a great time; we all enjoyed the hot tub (very hot!!). While the pool is smaller than the PPH - and my younger DS loved the slide there - it was crowded and really not as enjoyable as the pool at CCI that we had practically to ourselves. The pool area is very pretty, too, with lots of foliage around, so feels quite private.

The free breakfast was good, too, lots of choices and if you bring the tray from your room, you can just load up and eat in the room while some are getting ready, although the eating area is nice and lots of people were eating out by the pool, too.

Staff were very friendly and attentive; we were even left a card and bag of huge cookies by the manager for our anniversary. By the check-in desk they have a big jar of small candy canes which my DS liberally helped himself to, lol.

The walk felt about the same to us from both places. We do love the walk through DTD to the parks, but from CCI was fun, too. There is a definite excitement emanating from all the people walking along Harbor to the parks, you can see Tower of Terror as you are walking along, and then all the theming that starts practically at the hotel along that side of the road just gets you all pumped up.

FYI: we have stayed many times at the DLH, once at the GCH, and now twice at PPH. Our usual off-site hotel was Embassy Suites. All of these places have gotten so expensive, we decided we needed to find someplace cheaper. We hope to try HOJOs in Nov, but have definitely found a new home at CCI.

HTH!

PS Just say the pp and I was thinking the same thing - why don't you stay two nights at one and then switch? It really wasn't a hassle to do - I packed one bag for the one night and then a second bag for the rest of the trip. The hotels are minutes apart and we were able to leave our bags with the front desk at CCI, so we were checked in and to the parks in just a few minutes.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

I think you will be fine at the Candy Cane. We stayed there a few times when my kids were around those ages, and they loved it. For some reason, at ages 4 and 6, they thought the continental breakfast and dedicated shuttle were fantastic. They were more excited about these features than DH and I . Candy Cane is basically a really well-kept motel with smallish but clean rooms, a decent continental breakfast, and their own shuttle even though the walking distance is probably comparable to walking from PPH, just from a different direction. Think of the money you're saving and set it aside for a future trip at the PPH for when your kids are even a little older and will be able to enjoy the pool and slide even more. I, personally, would not want to deal with a hotel switch for such a short stay, but obviously some people find this less of a hassle. I always found with younger kids that we schlepped more stuff along with us than we realized and didn't want to be bothered with packing it up an extra time.

 

[Mcky36]

I'm sure you'll enjoy the CCI ~ would you consider staying @ PPH for your 1st two nights and then switching to CCI for your last night? We've done this before ~ we'll start offsite or onsite and then switch we make sure to have our last or first night *making sure our checkout day is a MM ~ so we can use it *we've been AP holders so during those trips we had no MM unless we stayed on site **but I assume you'll have a PH so you should have a MM with that. Last year we started at the GCH but after one night there we moved somewhere much cheaper ~ the Anaheim Plaza Hotel ~ this July we're starting at the DLH and after 2 nights there we're moving someplace else.

Thank you for the info! We we usually bring way too much *stuff* to change rooms, so I generally try to avoid that.

 

[Mcky36]

We stayed at the Candy Cane Inn for one night (our first time staying there) on May 23 and then moved to the PPH for two additional nights because it was our 25th Wedding Anniversary and my DH really wanted "something nice, not cheap."

Now, to be completely honest, there is nothing like staying on site.

After acknowledging that, however, on our next trip in Sept, we are heading back to the Candy Cane Inn! We really liked it. Even my DH was suitable impressed.

We had the deluxe room because have two tween/teen boys and, based on reviews here, wanted a bit more space.

The room was very clean, very pretty, and plenty of space. They have plantation shutters on the windows, which just added that little extra oomph. We were on the top floor and it was very quiet. My boys and DH went swimming in the evening and had a great time; we all enjoyed the hot tub (very hot!!). While the pool is smaller than the PPH - and my younger DS loved the slide there - it was crowded and really not as enjoyable as the pool at CCI that we had practically to ourselves. The pool area is very pretty, too, with lots of foliage around, so feels quite private.

The free breakfast was good, too, lots of choices and if you bring the tray from your room, you can just load up and eat in the room while some are getting ready, although the eating area is nice and lots of people were eating out by the pool, too.

Staff were very friendly and attentive; we were even left a card and bag of huge cookies by the manager for our anniversary. By the check-in desk they have a big jar of small candy canes which my DS liberally helped himself to, lol.

The walk felt about the same to us from both places. We do love the walk through DTD to the parks, but from CCI was fun, too. There is a definite excitement emanating from all the people walking along Harbor to the parks, you can see Tower of Terror as you are walking along, and then all the theming that starts practically at the hotel along that side of the road just gets you all pumped up.

FYI: we have stayed many times at the DLH, once at the GCH, and now twice at PPH. Our usual off-site hotel was Embassy Suites. All of these places have gotten so expensive, we decided we needed to find someplace cheaper. We hope to try HOJOs in Nov, but have definitely found a new home at CCI.

HTH!

PS Just say the pp and I was thinking the same thing - why don't you stay two nights at one and then switch? It really wasn't a hassle to do - I packed one bag for the one night and then a second bag for the rest of the trip. The hotels are minutes apart and we were able to leave our bags with the front desk at CCI, so we were checked in and to the parks in just a few minutes.

Thank you for all the info! I really appreciate your resopnse...this makes me more excited about CCI!

 

[Mcky36]

$ saving money is what I keep reminding myself! Thank you for the response

 

[skiingfast]

As far as a walking comparison of PPH and CCI, CCI has a slight edge on distance. From PPH you walk through DTD which is nice but other than that you are walking from both on sidewalks next to roads lined by palm trees.