Club 33
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DL_Club33.jpg
Club 33 is an exclusive club located in the heart of the New Orleans Square section of Disneyland. Officially maintained as a "secret" feature of the theme park, the enterance of the club is located next to the Blue Bayou Restaurant at "33 Royal Street" with the entrance recognizable by an ornate address plate with the number 33 engraved on it. Club 33 members enjoy access to the club's exclusive restaurant that serves -- along with meals -- beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages. It is the only location within Disneyland to offer alcoholic beverages. Club 33 members are also privileged with access to the park 365 days a year.
Club 33 offers individual and corporate memberships. Rumors are that the waiting list can be upwards of three years, and reports on the initiation and yearly fees range from US$2,000 to $10,000. A variety of membership levels are offered, which may account for the range in reported membership fees.
Guests enter the ornate lobby and have the option of going to the dining level via an antique glass elevator. Once at the dining level, guests can view a collection of antique furniture collected by Lillian Disney as well as furnishings used as props in Disney films. There is a fully functional glass telephone booth just off the elevator which was used in The Happiest Millionaire and an ornate walnut table with white marble top which was used in Mary Poppins. A video capture from the film on display atop the table shows actors Karen Dotrice, Matthew Garber and David Tomlinson standing immediately to its left.
A harpsichord which was rumored to have been an antique was in fact custom-built for Lillian Disney specifically for use in Club 33. The underside of the lid features a Renaissance-style painting that was actually done by Disney artists.
Walt Disney also wanted to make use of Audio-Animatronic technology within Club 33. Microphones in lighting fixtures would pick up the sounds of normal conversation while an operator would respond via the characters. Though the system was never fully implemented, it was at least partially installed and remains so to this day. An Audio-Animatronic condor is perched in one corner of the club's "Trophy Room." The microphones remain in the room's lighting fixtures and are clearly visible at the bottom of each.
Club 33 is also located in Tokyo Disneyland, but officially it is a secret and details are virtually unknown.
See also
External links
- http://www.disneylandclub33.com - an informative fan site