Club 33



Club 33 is a private club located in the heart of the New Orleans Square section of Disneyland. Officially maintained as a "secret" feature of the theme park, the entrance 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 to five years the initiation fee as high as US$10,000. The membership levels offered for individuals are Gold and Silver, with the main differentation being the number of days in advance a member can make reservations to use the Club.

There are various origins that have been claimed for the name "Club 33". One says that Club 33 was named for Disneyland's thirty-three sponsors at the time, one of which was Chevron. Another is that Walt Disney chose the name simply because he liked the way that "33" looked. And one explanation, arguably the most common, is that "33" when turned on its side bears similarity to two letter "M"s, as would stand for "Mickey Mouse". In actuality, it was simply the address assigned to the door by chance, namely the aforementioned "33 Royal Street."

When Walt Disney was working with the promoters of the 1960 World's Fair, he noted that there was a special area for "wining and dining" the corporate sponsors of the Fair. This gave him the idea that culminated in Club 33, originally designed for the use of Disneyland's corporate sponsors and other industry VIPs. When the design of New Orleans Square was planned, this special area for corporate sponsors and VIPs was included in it. After Disney's death prior to the opening of New Orleans Square, Club 33 was opened up to individual members.

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 antique furniture pieces 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 newly-installed bar prepares drinks to order for members and their guests.

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. It can be played by anyone who sits down at it.

Walt Disney also wanted to make use of Audio-Animatronic technology within Club 33. Microphones in overhead 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. The animal trophies which Disney inherited and for which the room was named have been removed by Disney family members. Photos of the room with the trophies still installed can be seen on the walls now. This room is presently known as the "Disney Room."

A second Club 33 is located in Tokyo Disneyland. Rather than being located in New Orleans Square, it is located on Center Street off Main Street. Members of Disneyland's Club 33 do not have reciprocal privileges in the Tokyo club.