Radiator Springs in the distance
The kiddie pool , with Radiator Springs in the background . PHOTO BY TIMOTHY MOORE
Part of the breakfast spread . PHOTO BY TIMOTHY MOORE
A trolley can drop you off and pick you up at Disneyland . PHOTO BY DANNY SHUSTER
The hotel isn ’ t only conveniently located near the parks , though . It is also mere steps from CVS , Walgreens , and 7-Eleven , so you can pick up any essentials you might have left at home . Living like a college student during my last stay , I visited the 7-Eleven more than once to pick up some Combos and a six pack of Bud Light to enjoy by the pool . Across the street , you ’ ll also find plenty of late-night dining options , including spots for pizza , chicken , and some of the best authentic Mexican food I ’ ve ever had . Not much farther down the road is a 24-hour IHOP , in case you get a 3 a . m . hankering for pancakes . ( You ’ re not alone .)
CANDY CANE CONVENIENCE
I stayed at Candy Cane Inn , a Disney Good Neighbor Hotel , for the first time earlier this year . I didn ’ t have pre-1988 nostalgic feelings for what was once here , but I do have a deep-seated love of Christmas , so I was sad to miss out on the in-your-face candy canes of yesteryear .
I found Candy Cane Inn to be close enough to the parks that I could get there faster on foot .
The disappointment didn ’ t linger long . Candy Cane Inn is equal parts luxury and convenience , offering a relaxing stay when not in the parks , but also only a stone ’ s throw from both park gates , meaning I could be inside DCA and queuing for Mission : BREAKOUT ! a mere 15 minutes after closing the door to my room .
Candy Cane Inn offers a shuttle to and from Disneyland Resort , with a drop-off and pick-up outside security ; it runs every hour ( you ’ ll hear the trill of the trolley bell before it departs the parking lot throughout the day ). I only took it once on my way back to the hotel in search of a midday nap . Otherwise , I found Candy Cane Inn to be close enough to the parks that I could get there faster on foot .
Another major convenience at Candy Cane Inn is the complimentary breakfast . I started each day at 6:30 a . m . with a piping hot cup of coffee , a plate of fruit , a jalapeno cheddar bagel , and way too many doughnuts for a 32-year-old trying to eat healthy . The spread each day was vast , with cakes and muffins , breakfast sandwiches and yogurt , pastries and doughnuts , and outdoor waffle makers ( sorry , no Mickey shapes ). As someone who always rope drops at Disneyland and knocks out several rides before thinking about food in the parks , it was nice to be able to make it to the line at security with a full belly an hour before the parks opened each day .
Candy Cane Inn caters to Disney fans with POG juice available alongside morning staples such as apple juice and orange juice . And while it was nice to sample some POG ( that ’ s pineapple , orange , and guava , a mainstay at Aulani and Walt Disney World ), I much preferred the fruit-infused water available all day in the lobby . That ’ s also where I found coffee throughout the day ; a single coffee at breakfast is not enough energy to get through a Disney day . ( I ’ m throwing back my third cup of Candy Cane Inn coffee as I write this .)
The resort offers an assortment of other conveniences . For instance , the pet-friendly motel has a designated potty spot , complete with fake fire hydrant , as well as a collection of third-party ECVs available to rent in the parking lot .