Candy Cane Inn Review
Candy Cane Inn is a popular Disneyland Good Neighbor hotel, located on Harbor Boulevard. It’s a 10 minute walk to the Esplanade, and about a 10 minute walk to the Anaheim Convention Center. This Candy Cane Inn review looks at its quality and value as compared to other Disneyland off-site hotels, features photos of Candy Cane Inn’s rooms, and should give you an idea of whether it’s a good option for your visit to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.
Much like Alpine Inn, which we also have reviewed, Candy Cane Inn is a popular pick for Disneyland regulars. Candy Cane Inn boasts itself as a boutique hotel, and this is a borderline boutique hotel. Probably more like a mix between a budget hotel and a boutique hotel. Candy Cane Inn offers above-average (for the area) accommodations at reasonable prices, and does so in a reasonably nice setting with family-run charm. On the plus side, it has a nice location, often reasonable prices, is safe, and generally is a quality place to stay when visiting Disneyland Resort on a budget.
Candy Cane Inn has a ton of fans and is one of the most popular Disneyland-area hotel for frequent visitors. It’s even the #3 hotel in Anaheim on TripAdvisor. It’s also a Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotel. The Good Neighbor status is really meaningless, as I think it’s all about paying a fee and not being inspected and “certified” by Disneyland. The TripAdvisor rank is more impressive, but even then most users lack perspective since they haven’t stayed in many (or any other) hotels near Disneyland.
If you want to know how Candy Cane Inn stacks up to the competition in my opinion (which is based on the perspective of someone who has stayed in 30+ hotels near Disneyland), check out our Disneyland Hotels Reviews & Rankings post. You can also read our overall comparison of the benefits of staying off-site versus on-site in our Where to Stay at Disneyland post.
Want to learn more about Candy Cane Inn and see some room photos? Let’s take a look…
On the plus side, the rooms are clean and very well kept at Candy Cane Inn. Of the walking distance to Disneyland hotels, these rooms are some of the nicest in which we’ve stayed from the perspective of cleanliness and just looking nice. With that said, the rooms are mildly dated, with floral bedspreads among other things. On the plus side, Candy Cane Inn recently upgraded to keyless RFID entry and flatscreen televisions.
Again, it’s all very clean, but it’s not exactly what I’d consider the epitome of a boutique hotel. Actually, it reminds me a bit of a guest bedroom at my grandma’s house. Super clean and tidy, but looking like it hasn’t been updated in a few decades.
The bathrooms are fine, with the typical split between the sink and the shower, which we like. Again, they are clean and well-maintained, which is more than we can say for many hotels in the area near Disneyland.
In terms of pricing, it seems like Candy Cane Inn charges a bit of a premium as compared to comparable area hotels. We regularly check it as a possible option, and rates are often $150+ per night, sometimes nearing $200! In doing some random weekday searches for off-season dates right now, I can’t find it for less than $133/night.
In an area where several hotels are $100/night, paying a $30-50 premium for Candy Cane Inn is probably a bit much. Its added quality does not amount to a $30-50/night premium. $10/night, perhaps, but even then you have to factor in the added distance to Candy Cane Inn from the Disneyland Esplanade versus closer (cheaper) options like Del Sol Inn and Desert Inn. Every hotel in Anaheim has high taxes and other fees added, so expect to pay about 25% more than the listed price no matter where you stay.
Despite this, Candy Cane Inn has a loyal following, much of which can be attributed to its family-run service and charming grounds. To its credit, Candy Cane Inn does have some nice flowers and a fountain up front, and this does give it a cute and intimate look, but we do not view it as enough of a draw to really make a difference when booking. More like one of those things you pass by and say, “oh, it’s nice that they dressed up the motel a bit with these flowers,” but not something you’d really give a second thought. Maybe that’s just us, though. To each his or her own.
Candy Cane Inn is one “sort of” exception to our general rule that none of the Disneyland off-site hotels are places where we’d want to hang out when not in the parks. The grounds here are okay, and we could see possibly sitting on the park bench or by the pool. It definitely would not be our first or even 101st choice for things to do in Southern California, but it’s not a totally unreasonable idea if you wanted a “chill” day at the hotel. With that said, Candy Cane Inn is a motel, not a resort.
Like the other Good Neighbor Disneyland hotels, it’s best used as a place for sleeping and showering. Again, there’s nothing wrong with that. If I read no reviews, didn’t look at any photos, and booked solely based on the “boutique” claims on their website, I’d be a bit irritated. Then again, it’d be partially my own fault for not looking at reviews or photos, from which it’s clear that this is not a boutique hotel! 😉
Additional amenities are offered, including free parking and a shuttle service to Disneyland, both of which might be very appealing to some guests. Not every Disneyland Good Neighbor offers either of these services. In fact, most do not offer the shuttle, but instead require guests to take the inefficient ART transport. We prefer walking (it’s typically faster) when visiting Disneyland, so these perks don’t matter to us. Candy Cane Inn also has a pool, free WiFi, fitness center, and guest laundry.
A free continental breakfast is also available in the morning, and this is one of the better breakfasts at hotel near Disneyland. Of the ones we’ve tried, it trails Park Vue Inn (our pick for the best off-site hotel near Disneyland), but is better than most. That’s not a high bar, but it should count for something.
Overall, while nice for what it is and located within walking distance of the Disneyland Esplanade, Candy Cane Inn is a charming little hotel that seems slightly overpriced most of the time. It’s more expensive than other similarly-situated hotels, without the level of accommodations to really justify the added price. It’s generally priced above the budget motels, but offers quality lower than the nearby major-label hotels. Chances are, if you’re looking at the Good Neighbor hotels in the first place, you’re doing so because price is a concern, and Candy Cane Inn is sort of an outlier in that regard. With that said, if you can find Candy Cane Inn for less than $125/night, and you like the idea of a slightly upgraded hotel, it is probably worth booking. Otherwise, it’s not a bad option, but we really can’t recommend Candy Cane Inn too enthusiastically due to cost. It’s nice, but it’s not that nice.
We also have tons of other posts to help you plan a visit to Disneyland, including our Tips for Saving Money on Disneyland Tickets, a look at Disneyland Area Hotel Reviews & Rankings, our Unique Packing List for Disney Trips, an index of our Disneyland Resort Restaurant Reviews, and a number of other things in our comprehensive Disneyland Trip Planning Guide!
Your Thoughts…
Have you stayed at Candy Cane Inn? Are you a fan of it? Do you prefer staying off-site or on-site at Disneyland? Please share your thoughts or questions in the comments section below!
Tom, thanks for the info!
Candy Cane is currently under renovation. Any info about the renovation?
Not a fan! No hot water at sink…used tub to wash our hands and faces. Tub took a considerable amount of time to drain, toilet ran all night. Shuttle idled in front of our room till late. Black granules in the “clean” bed. Plantation shutters allow light to enter room all night long. Won’t stay here again
Cant fault your assessment CCI: cute, comfortable, dated, a little pricier than you might expect. All that said it is still the location we check first when we’re planning a trip and the one I recommend most often. Location, free shuttle, great customer service, free parking, and a very decent breakfast are what keep us coming back. When our son was younger CCI’s free shuttle and being able to get to and from the hotel on the Disneyland Express were major considerations (we often don’t get a car while visiting Disneyland). Now that’s our son is older it’s close enough to walk and close enough to walk to nicer restaurants on Katella Blv. while having easy access to takeout places on Harbor. A bigger pool would be nice, up-dated rooms would be welcome, but for a decent place to sleep after a day in the parks CCI is a hard place to beat.
I come to Disneyland several times a year from the Bay Area, and stay for a few days. i’ve tried many other motel/hotels on Harbor and Katella, and have finally alighted on CCI as the best for me. I don’t have anything new to add that hasn’t already been covered. To me it just seems like the classiest, prettiest, and most convenient place on Harbor. The physical grounds are probably the most important point for me. The place is just beautiful. Compare it with the Del Sol, HoJo or Park Vue Inn, which are barren and depressing-looking. I imagine that the extra cost of CCI is due to the care they take with the landscaping. Have you noticed that they even mimic some of the Disneyland landscaping–lots of bougainvillea and birds of paradise? Obviously the place I stay in Anaheim is not just a sleep-and-shower place–its a little bit of an extension of the landscaped beauty of Disneyland hidden amidst Anaheim’s asphalt jungle.
By the way you write very intelligently about DL and other parks and I enjoy your reviews and comments.
Hello Tom, my family and I have been staying at the CandyCane Inn for well over 20 years. We go to Disneyland resort every year and we have tried other good neighbor hotels but I’ve always been disappointed. Without a doubt the continental breakfast, free shuttle and proximity to the park entrance are huge pluses. However, I do prefer the low-key, charming grounds–sometimes you need to get away from all that is Disney for a few moments of peace and quiet. We like to take a break from the park and relax by the pool and sit in the spa before bed. It’s just very convenient…and does have a homey feel. The staff is always been top notch. I have my reservations for June and I’m looking forward to it.
This is our go to hotel. We are from Red Deer, Alberta, Canada and have stayed at lots of other Good Neighbor hotels as well as The Disneyland Hotel on several occasions but not real recent. We like to visit once or twice a year and love the Candy Cane Inn. For us the location is superb also with the convenience of ABC Market and the 7-11 right next door. Sub-Way across the road and iHop also near by. We spend all of our waking hours at the parks and come “home” to the CC Inn pretty tired so really appreciate the places nearby to grab a quick snack or cold drinks! Breakfast there can be crowded at times but it doesn’t take long to toast a bagel and grab a banana or a bowl of cereal. The front desk staff are THE BEST and so friendly and knowledgeable. We love to use the shuttle and it only takes minutes to get to Disneyland – it is a good foot saver! We get an AMA discount of $10 per night plus a loyalty discount of $10 per night if we return within a year. When we have been annual pass holders we get the annual pass discount of $10 per night. We have stayed there for Christmas and on Christmas Eve came back to our room to find a gift for each one of us, a nice Candy Cane Inn mug with candies, chocolates and dated ornament for a Christmas tree inside each one, very nice touch! An airline ruined a suitcase of mine and James at the front desk fixed it up for me so I could get back home with it. The only time we have stayed somewhere else in recent years was when staying at the Disneyland Hotel or when we got a special deal through an airline for flights and hotel.
Can’t say enough good things about this place – and it was born the same year as I was 🙂
I came from Calgary Alberta Canada, to go to Disneyland for 4 nights just recently.
I was unable to spend to spend all 4 nights at Candy Cane due to a Marathon in the Anaheim area.
But my overall experience was nothing less than excellent.
What really stands out in my mind, was how the staff was so extremely friendly. They go out of their way to treat everybody like Royalty. I like that, at a Hotel.
And the price was reasonable too.
I like the fact that there are gift shops close by, to purchase souvenirs before going home. And very close to a IHOP Restaurant.
And I certainly felt safe in the Disneyland area.
The only complaint I did have was there was no water pressure coming out of the sink. But that was my own fault that I didn’t say anyting. I just kept getting a cup of cold water at the main lobby any time I needed it. Or bottled water.
I have certainly have reccommended this Hotel establishment to all my friends at work and family.
I may go back to Anaheim for my birthday early next year, and would not hesitate to stay at Candy Cane Inn again.
I would rate this hotel, 4.5 out of 5.
Thank you very much Candy Cane, for the pleasant and memorable experience.
Warmest Regards.
Michael Stephens
My 20-something daughter and I recently spent a week in the Disneyland area and just for research purposes decided to stay at a different good neighbor hotel every night we were there. We got a pretty good deal on the Candy Cane Inn, although it wasn’t as cheap as say the Anaheim Desert Inn. At the end of the week, I asked my daughter which of all the hotels was her favorite and she said without hesitation the Candy Cane Inn. While I agree with some of your criticisms — I also felt like I was sleeping in my grandmother’s guestroom — I do think that the charm of the place is worth a little extra money. The grounds are just gorgeous. My daughter noticed that instead of pavement, the streets are made of cobblestone, and even the stripes in between the parking spaces are made out of different colored cobblestones. The Continental breakfast is outstanding, with baked goods from a bakery and name-brand yogurts and whole fruits, along with cold cereal and oatmeal and even milk on tap. And the outside dining area around the pool is so pleasant in the early morning hours. While the pool is admittedly small, there is a hot tub! The parking was free and the shuttle service to Disneyland was free, and it was very reliable and the service was fantastic. I will say that a negative that I experienced that you didn’t mention was that the noise from the courtyard travels through the door and windows very easily. We could hear everybody walking by us in the morning and starting up their cars but we were ready to get up ourselves anyway so it didn’t really matter. I have so many positive feelings about my one night at the Candy Cane Inn. I will definitely be back.
We recently booked the Candycane Inn for a trip we are taking Mid September. After taxes and fees it was just under $1000 for seven night stay (not bad). Thanks for your great reviews!!!
The grounds, pool, and breakfast are so much better than cheaper hotels especially the Del Sol that you mentioned. Easily worth $30-$50 more per night.
Candy Cane is our non-disneyland resort go to, and I think a lot of the fans are SoCal residents like us. Passholders and return customers always get a discount that helps to lower the cost. Another thing is that some other walking distance motels make guests move their cars at check out time even if they’re planning to go back to the parks, and Candy Cane does not. Customer service there is also always top notch.
I am a fan of the Candy Cane Inn as my offsite hotel choice. Among the other things mentioned, they also had a hot tub you could go in late at night, which isn’t always possible at other hotels. That said, the pool/hot tub are far enough away from the rooms so you do not hear the noise.
Found your website looking for info on TDR and really enjoying it!
We have stayed at this hotel twice. We get a room even when we’re staying with friends in Orange County so there’s a place to take a quick dip in a pool or a nap mid-day. It always feels like a great value, the rooms and the grounds are charming and immaculate. It’s not the Grand Californian, where we usually stay, but it’s also not $350 a night.
We stayed at Candy Cane in 2007 and loved it. We paid less than $100 a night back then so we felt it was a value for what we got. You review is spot on. I have enjoyed your reviews and would probably try one of your most recommended places next time. I wonder if the CCI prices have gone up due to the popularity on trip adviser and other sites. Thanks again for these reviews!
For <$100/night, it is DEFINITELY worth it. If it can be had for that price now, I'd highly recommend it. The tough thing about these reviews is that they're dependent on price (for good reason, as that's why most people choose off-site over Disneyland Hotel or the Grand Californian), which does vary. With that said, I'm guessing the prices have spiked since 2007, due to both popularity and an overall rise in Disneyland Resort attendance. I've noticed prices everywhere creeped up a bit when Cars Land opened.
We just got back from DL 2 weeks ago & stayed at the Tropicana. It is about as short of a walk as you can get. It isn’t anything special but it was clean, updated, & comfortable. The fridge & microwave in the room were very nice as we made a grocery stop. They do charge for parking but we didn’t have a car so that didn’t matter to us. We got a great rate thru the hotels website under their special deals. Before taxes, I think it was $89/ night. I would recommend it to others who plan to spend the majority of their time in the parks.
$89/night for the Tropicana? Nice! That’s been on our list for a while, but we haven’t seen it at that attractive of a price point yet. Thanks for the feedback! 🙂
While I agree that the CCI isn’t a boutique hotel, it’s definitely one of my favorites. I love sitting by the pool in the morning having breakfast and enjoying the music. I think it’s a bit of an understatement to say they put out some flowers. The grounds are manicured to perfection and are beautiful. I find the CCI to be very charming and am actually a little disappointed that they’re sold out for our next visit and I have to stay someplace different.
With price, I have never paid more than $129 a night since you get a $10 a night discount for being an Annual Pass holder and an additional $10 for being a repeat guest. I definitely prefer the Candy Cane over the Park Place or the Fairfield Inn. I would say that my Disneyland #1 pick is tied between Hilton and the Candy Cane. (Not counting Disneyland Hotel that is!)
Fair point about the flowers. I guess they didn’t really make an impact on me, as I didn’t really notice anything special about them while we were there. It wasn’t until we got back that I noticed a lot of flowers in my photos, and mention of it on the Candy Cane Inn website.
Thanks for sharing your rankings. I like Fairfield Inn, although that’s another one that often has higher prices, I’ve noticed.
The one big issue I have with Fairfield Inn is that they don’t offer free breakfast. I’m not saying that every hotel needs to offer this, but considering that free breakfast is a Fairfield brand standard it drives me crazy. I mentioned this to them and their reply was that they “don’t have space to offer a free breakfast.” How is this when they have a space where they SELL breakfast???
Hi Tom,
I really enjoy reading all your posts. They have been immensely helpful, as I am a Disney newbie. I have never been to DL but am planning to run the Tinkerbell Half May 2015 (never too early to begin planning, esp. with registration in August ’14!!). I have really been leaning towards the Tropicana (price point is average for a GN hotel and they list a short walk). Any thoughts on Tropicana or the *best* hotel for convenience? I want a decent stay, but will likely travel alone and probably only for the race weekend, so I’m not concerned about spending too much $ and don’t plan on doing more than sleeping/showering at the hotel.
Any tips on transportation for staying off-site?
Thanks!! 🙂 Again, the blog is great-you and Sarah are my go-to site for WDW (and hopefully DL in the near future too!!)
My top pick is Desert Inn as of now. Right across the street.
As for transportation: https://www.disneytouristblog.com/disneyland-transportation/
And we just booked Desert Inn based on your recommendations for our December trip. Don’t let us down! 😉
Ha, no pressure there or anything! 😉
I am planning a trip for early January and just looked into booking a room for both CCI and Desert – CCI was about 140 a night and Desert 135.
We have enjoyed our stays at Candy Cane. We just were there in March and they now have key less cards for room entry and flat screen televisions. The no extra charge for parking and internet is also nice. We found the location to be close enough but not too close, that there was never a crowd of people to fight through. The shuttle is a nice feature and we found it nice especially going back to the room. We found the Candy Cane to be similar to our stays at Port Orleans Riverside at Walt Disney World. Thanks for all your reviews and wonderful photos.
Thanks for the info on the update! Maybe it’s time for us to make a return visit to inspect. Did you notice any other updates?