Candy Cane Inn Review 2025
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**This stay was hosted as part of an Instagram campaign, but this hotel review blog post was not a part of the brand project. My opinions are my own and honest and reflect the thoughts of a Disney mom critiquing the hotel from a family-friendly POV.**
Are you looking for an honest Candy Cane Inn review from a family who has actually stayed there?
As a Disney vacation goes, you want to be sure your hotel keeps you comfortable and offers the conveniences needed to make your Disney days go smoothly.
The distance from the Candy Cane Inn to Disneyland is just 0.5 miles, making it one of the top choices when looking for a hotel outside the theme parks.
This review shares our family’s real experience at the Candy Cane Inn, from the perspective of parents planning their Disney vacation. By sharing details about our stay and specific facts about the hotel, I’ll give you everything you need to decide if the Candy Cane Inn is for you.
| Book Your Disneyland Vacation with Discounted Tickets & Hotels through our Affiliates at Get Away Today. Use code “FTF10” to receive $10 off your next vacation package. |
Location
Candy Cane Inn Address: 1747 South Harbor Boulevard, Anaheim, CA 92802
Distance to Disneyland: 0.5 miles
The Candy Care Inn is about a 10-15 minute walk to Disneyland Resort. To reach the parks, simply walk north on Harbor Boulevard and cross at the pedestrian crossing (or you can take their complimentary shuttle, but more on that later).
The route is completely flat with well-maintained sidewalks, making it manageable even with tired kids after a long park day.
The Candy Cane Inn is an adorable hotel located right behind Cars Land in California Adventure. You can hear the sound of the Cars from Radiator Springs Racers.
Don’t worry, the cars attraction is not that loud. My mom’s a light sleeper and it didn’t bother her at all. I noticed the sound and enjoyed listening to the cars race as I drifted off to sleep – like a Disneyland lullaby.
There are other Disneyland Good Neighbor hotels closer to the theme park, but this hotel option is a solid choice.
Rooms
The Candy Cane Inn offers several room types to accommodate different family sizes and budgets.
The Standard Guest Room is 264 square feet and has 2 queen beds.
Deluxe Guest Rooms are a little bigger at 308 square feet. You can get adjoining Deluxe rooms if you want space similar (or even better!) than a 2-room suite.
Premium Guest Rooms at the Candy Cane Inn are 350 square feet with additional seating. Adjoining Premium Rooms are available for larger families or groups.
The last Room Type is their Accessible Rooms which come with a wider doorway ( 32 inches). The handheld showers have plenty of grab bars and the Candy Cane Inn has hearing-accessible kits. This room also includes a raised toilet seat and accessible vanities.
The accessible room also offers 2 queen beds or 1 king bed. All of the other rooms have 2 queen beds and rollaway beds are available for an extra fee.
Check-in is at 3:00 pm and Check-out is at 11:00 am, but times can change depending on occupancy.
All rooms include:
- Deluxe complimentary Breakfast
- Mini- Fridge
- TV
- Tea & coffee maker
- Hair Dryers
- Irons & Ironing Boards
- In- Room Safe
- Wi-Fi
- Non-smoking
Room Experience
I was impressed with the space and comfort of our room at the Candy Cane Inn. It was clean and had everything we needed.
The bathroom features good water pressure and bright lighting (which I love!).
Even with all our Disney gear spread out including the double stroller, the room never felt cramped.
Motel style, the rooms all open outdoors into a wrap-around balcony or street level.
I loved the plantation-style shutters. It was easy to peek through the shutters to watch the Disneyland fireworks through the window while my family was sleeping.
We all slept very well and would definitely book this hotel again!
Hotel Amenities
My review of the Candy Cane Inn: the hotel offers the best amenities I’ve seen at a Good Neighbor Hotel!
They offer a free continental breakfast, free parking, and a free shuttle service! Plus the hotel has a store, pool, and a small gym- AND a view of the Disneyland fireworks.
Pool Area
The pool area has a pool (obviously), a jacuzzi, and a kiddie pool.
Even though the pool was heated, it was still a bit chilly for me in February, but it didn’t bother my girls. They had fun jumping into Dad’s arms!
They went back and forth between the main pool and the kiddie pool which was warmer because of the shallow water.
I loved the turtle decals on the bottom of the kiddie pool!
My favorite part was the jacuzzi, of course! Nice and hot with strong jets and is located under a gazebo-style cover.
We took a mid-day theme park break to have a picnic lunch by the pool and go swimming.
Complimentary Breakfast
One of the best perks at Candy Cane Inn is the included continental breakfast, served from 6:30 AM to 9:30 AM daily.
It was the best continental breakfast I have ever had.
Candy Care Inn Free Breakfast:
- Fresh pastries, muffins, danishes
- Donuts
- Bagels, white, wheat Bread
- Fruit
- Yogurt
- Granola
- Cereal
- Hot Oatmeal
- Coffee and juice
- Hot Chocolate
- Waffle Bar
- Cheese
- Hardboiled Eggs
We could eat quickly at 6:30 am before heading to rope drop and didn’t have to spend park prices on breakfast.
My favorite was the wattle bar where you could make your own waffle and add toppings. I took some fresh strawberries from the fruit section, and then added whipped cream.
One of our stays was in February and the donuts were themed for Valentine’s Day.
It was a chilly morning, but the fire pits made the outdoor pool terrace seating comfortable.
Shuttle Service
The hotel’s complimentary shuttle service runs every 30 minutes to and from Disneyland. The first shuttle leaves at 7:00 AM, and the last return is 30 minutes after the park closing.
We used the shuttle several times during our stay – it was always on time and the drivers were friendly and helpful with strollers.
It’s an adorable old-fashioned trolley. Our girls felt very VIP riding in style to the theme park in their princess dresses.
We are major Rope Drope people, so I was nervous about taking a 7:00 am shuttle. Disneyland security opens at 7:00 am, so usually, if you’re not in line by 6:30 am, you’re behind schedule if you want to be first in line at the rope when Disneyland opens at 8:00 am.
But, we enjoyed our breakfast at 6:30 am, jumped on the 7:00 am trolley, and made it through Disneyland security off of Harbor Blvd quite easily.
We enjoyed multiple attractions with little to no lines.
I would say if it’s a very busy day (like a holiday weekend) or you have a popular ride you want to rope drop (like Rise of the Resistance or Peter Pan), then start walking to Disneyland security at 6:15 from the Candy Care Inn.
If you’re flexible with which “rope drop” rides you want to go on, then taking the free shuttle is perfect!
Parking Details
The Candy Cane Inn is one of the few Anaheim hotels by Disneyland to still offer free parking with your stay.
You get complimentary parking for 1 vehicle per reservation.
The parking spots are close to room access. We were able to park right under our room and take the stairs up.
As a Magic Key Holder who gets free parking at Disneyland’s parking lots, I really don’t like paying for hotel parking.
Even without having season passes, this is a huge saving since the hotel is so close to Disneyland and California Adventure!
Accessible Amenities
In addition to accessible rooms, the Candy Cane Inn has accessible parking, Disney shuttle accommodations, and a hoist in the swimming pool.
Service animals are welcome and hotel staff are ready and prepared to verbally explain information and directions to visual or hearing impaired guests.
Candy Cane Inn vs Disney Resort Hotels
So why would you book the Candy Cane Inn over a Disneyland Resort Hotel?
The number one reason is cost. Pixar Place and the Disneyland Hotel are an average of $500-$800 per night while the Grand Californian Hotel and Spa is anywhere from $700-$1,000 a night.
As a comparison, the cost of a room at the Candy Cane Inn Anaheim hotel is around $250-$450 per night depending on the season and day of the week. Rooms have been as low as $170 per night.
At the Candy Cane Inn, you receive free parking and a free continental breakfast.
The Disneyland Resort Hotels are the closest you can get to the parks and you don’t need to drive (The Grand Californian Hotel is the absolute closest you can get). That being said, even if you have free parking with your Magic Key season pass, you still have to pay per night for Disneyland Resort Hotel parking since it’s different than the general theme park lots.
Theming is a personal preference. If you want a quaint garden inn, the Candy Cane Inn is perfect. More of a Disney vibe would be on property at the Disneyland hotels.
The pools at the Disneyland hotels all have water slides, but the pool at the Candy Cane Inn is still fun, relaxing, and great for families.
I have a full Good Neighbor Hotel vs Disneyland Resort Hotel comparison chart in my review of the Grand Legacy at the Park, but here are the main things to consider with this specific neighborhood hotel:
- Budget
- Theming
- Free Continental Breakfast
- Free Parking
Discounts and Promotional Offers
Everyone is always looking for a good Disney vacation discount, and this Good Neighbor Hotel by Disneyland Resort has multiple ways to save.
You can look for vacation package specials and hotel savings through our partners at Get Away Today, or check out savings on platforms like Booking.com.
AAA/AARP, U.S. Military personnel, and Magic Key Holders are all offered a special discount. Book through the Candy Cane Inn directly for these discounts and be prepared to show your membership or identification.
Another way to save is to stay again! Guests at the Candy Cane Inn are often given a $10 off certificate for a future stay.
Candy Cane Inn Overall Review
Would I stay again at the Candy Cane Inn Hotel? Absolutely!
The rooms were clean and comfortable, the staff was helpful and friendly. You can easily walk to Disneyland or use the free shuttle service provided for guests by the hotel.
The shuttle is an adorable old-fashioned trolley theme that matches the quaint garden vibe of this hotel near Disneyland.
Fireworks can be seen from most rooms at the hotel and the hotel courtyard, and the free continental breakfast is delicious with tons of options!
I posted a video review of the Candy Cane Inn breakfast, and when my mom saw it, she immediately said she needed to go back and stay at the hotel again!
You’re close enough to the parks to get the Disney vibe, especially being able to see the back of the Cars Land and Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout attractions.
If any of this sounds like your type of accommodation, don’t hesitate to book the Candy Cane Inn for your Disneyland vacation. If you’re looking for a different style, then check out my full list of the best Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotels.
See you in the parks!
FAQ
Does Candy Cane Inn have character breakfasts?
No, the Candy Cane Inn offers a continental breakfast but no character dining. The closest character dining experiences are at the Disney Resort Hotels and Downtown Disney.
What time does the shuttle start running?
The first shuttle departs at 7:00 AM, perfect for rope drop at the parks. Shuttles run every 30 minutes throughout the day.
Is the pool heated?
Yes, the pool is heated year-round and maintains a comfortable temperature for swimming even during winter months.
Do rooms have refrigerators?
Yes, all rooms come equipped with a mini-fridge and microwave, perfect for storing snacks and drinks for your park days.
