By Okay, this subject’s a bit irrelevant for the overwhelming majority of people reading this, as Club 33 has always been for the blue-bloods. During the 1960s, back when Walt Disney lived, he wanted a club where he could host his many celebrity friends and entrepreneurs.
Disneyland had become a destination spot for the Hollywood elite, and they desired a private spot outside the limelight. That place is Club 33, and it’s not cheap…but we’re getting ahead of ourselves.
The original Club 33 opened in 1967, roughly six months after Disney died. So, he never got to witness this idea come to life, just as is the case with Walt Disney World.
The Disneyland version of Club 33 resides in New Orleans Square and is hidden in plain sight. The company modeled the space after the executive lounges at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. One point that should shine through in this book is how vital that exhibition was to the history of Disneyland, as many great ideas occurred during that era.
Theoretically, the name Club 33 refers to the private restaurant’s address, which is 33 Royal Street. A seemingly random coincidence was that Disneyland listed 33 sponsors at the time. Since this was their space, odds are quite good that influenced the name as well.
Notably, Disney World didn’t open its own version of Club 33 until March of 2018. We aren’t members, but we were in frequent communication with someone going through the process at the time.
In 2018, the price of Club 33 membership started at $33,000 merely to join. According to this individual, others paid as much as $50,000, although our understanding is that some of those were corporate patrons. We won’t pretend to claim we know how any of that works.
The striking part of Club 33 membership involves that entrance fee. That is NOT the final cost. In the greater scheme, it’s really just a trifle, as Club 33 members pay annual fees.
The cost of those hovered around $15,000 in 2018, a time when Disney’s Hollywood Studios hosted the only Club 33 restaurant. By 2020, all four Disney World theme parks had their own.
We’ve never visited any of them, although we have a standing invitation we sincerely appreciate. However, several social media influencers have posted videos of their Club 33 experiences. Note that you cannot record or take pictures inside these spaces. Members who violate these rules will have their Club 33 licenses revoked.
In fact, there’s an infamous account of a couple of who spent hundreds of thousands of dollars attempting to restore their Club 33 membership. They behaved poorly, and Disney polices boorishness at Club 33, as it should.
Countless famous people own Club 33 memberships. They’re paying a pretty penny to be treated with some respect. Someone with boundary issues or substance abuse problems shouldn’t be harassing them at an expensive club, right?
That’s one of the unheralded aspects of Club 33. When you join this program, you’re agreeing to honor a dress code and behave respectfully while you eat fancy. You’re dining with the one percenters, and Disney demands best behavior.
As long as you follow these rules (and have money to burn), Club 33 is a pretty sweet deal. The price includes Annual Passes, 50 single-day admission tickets to give to loved ones, access to various concierge services, and even a few annual VIP Tours.
To us, that’s not the best part, though. Club 33 members get to shop at the store here, which sells exclusive merchandise. This gear sells for a fortune on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and the like, as it should. After all, you must pay the exorbitant entry fee just to shop here.
This leads us to a valuable tip. Should you ever receive an invite to Club 33, GO! Seriously, don’t even think about it. Just go. While you’re there, buy everything you like. Then, wait a few months and sell anything you don’t love.
As discussed in the ticketing section, there’s a danger in this. Disney has started cracking down on merchandise resales and third-party ticket sales. Still, it’ll be a fun thing for you to do at Disney. We’re guessing you love the merch so much that you choose not to sell it anyway.
One other note: Should you visit Club 33, please don’t bother people at other tables. We’re told that’s the biggest membership no-no other than drunken behavior. You may think these people are celebrities when in truth, they’re Disney vacationers looking to enjoy a fun park visit, just like you.