Happiest got happier with 5 star food/service and uh...adult beverages
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by dalydose Aug 5, 2009 Rating: +5
Disneyland is often referred to as the "Happiest Place on Earth". I am certain that this slogan was first uttered by one of the 487 members of the "Club 33" or one of their guests.
I had never heard of the club until my birthday (May 21st if your keeping track). I went to Disneyland for free thanks to a Disneyland birthday promotion and my friend wanted to go find this door with no signage or markings but a simple "33" address plate. She told me lore about this exclusive membership club with a 14 year waiting list just to be considered. I was intrigued, but I got over it.
Fast forward to just a couple of weeks ago. My friend Kelly says that she is having her birthday at Disneyland and that one of her vendors is a member of Club 33 and is going to get us in for Sunday lunch. I was further intrigued and looked up this Club 33 on the good 'ole Internet. There is no "official" Disney site or reference, but there is: www.disneylandclub33.com site that has a lot of information. I will not go into the history of the club here, but rather discuss my experience.
Dining at the club gain you access to both Disneyland and California Adventure for the day. This is an amazing benefit so we all arrived early so that we could do Disneyland before lunch and then California Adventure after. After parking and riding the tram you make your way to Customer Relations...not Customer Services where I waited in a significant line. Once there you give the friendly cast member your ID and the name of your party. It is all verified and you given a ticket and confirmation of the time of your reservation. The cast member asked me if I'd ever been to Club 33 before. I said "no". He said "well, we have something in common". Ahhh, the wave of importance washed over me. (TRIVIA ALERT - This place that Walt created was never even seen by him...he died 5 months before completion)
Now it was off to the park. Yada, yada, blah, blah...this ain't no Disneyland review. Boom...2:15pm is our reservation and you can't be late or you lose out. We all gather at 2:00 at 33 Royal Street of New Orleans Square. What was that address again? Riiiiight!
Once there you push a secret button and announce your party. The door buzzes open and you enter. You are examined to ensure that you are up to the dress code and are taken to your seating. On Sunday, there is a seafood and cold food buffet and you also choose your entree. The place settings are lovely. The decor is just as Walt envisioned and you are seated with original works of art and antiques and history.
We were offered champagne and off to the buffet. I opted for fresh fruit, cracked open crab legs, shrimp and even some salad. Upon returning to the table, the napkins were refolded...nice touch.
As if they were watching us eat and anticipating when we would finish with the cold food, our entrees appeared. I ordered the Chateaubriand. DELICIOUS.
Everyone else seemed to enjoy what they ordered, but I was too busy carnivoring to pay them any attention.
Since it was our friend's birthday, they made her a special desert. She and the rest of us also had access to the "desert bar". Sweet! (Yes, pun intended) The *real* treat in my mind was that we could order a drink...in DISNEYLAND. I opted to teach the bartender a drink that I had learned a year or so ago. The saphire jewel complete with collectible "33" swizzle stick.
We were joined for lunch by two Disney characters: Pluto and Mickey! There were only three tables so we were able to spend plenty of time taking pictures and networking with esteemed individuals.
This was WAY more fun than I though it would be for a group of grown people playing with costumed characters. This is the magic of Disney...assisted by my special martini.
Since this is likely a once or twice in a lifetime opportunity you feel compelled to buy stuff. You do not walk through a sideshow store like the rest of Disneyland. There is a simple cabinet with "33" logo'd and embossed items. I bought a pair of pub pint glasses, a lapel pin, a baseball hat and a key-chain. I also "procured" some swizzle sticks and napkins...and one of the chefs that I made friendly with gave me a pen, which I understand is a great honor. I was told that fanatical Disney fans will buy this stuff online so that is an option, if I decide that I've been there and have the memory and do not need any this stuff.
The afternoon was spent at California Adventure. Yada, yada, blah, blah...this ain't no CaliAd review either.
Perfect service, excellent cuisine, the regal feeling of doing what most will never do and many don't even know about. It couldn't get any better, right?? WRONG! As a parting surprise we learned that the member who made us the reservation also covered our bill! This priceless experience truly turned out to be just that.
Share Morereview of Disneyland Club 33
by dalydose Aug 5, 2009 Rating: +5
Disneyland is often referred to as the "Happiest Place on Earth". I am certain that this slogan was first uttered by one of the 487 members of the "Club 33" or one of their guests.
I had never heard of the club until my birthday (May 21st if your keeping track). I went to Disneyland for free thanks to a Disneyland birthday promotion and my friend wanted to go find this door with no signage or markings but a simple "33" address plate. She told me lore about this exclusive membership club with a 14 year waiting list just to be considered. I was intrigued, but I got over it.
Fast forward to just a couple of weeks ago. My friend Kelly says that she is having her birthday at Disneyland and that one of her vendors is a member of Club 33 and is going to get us in for Sunday lunch. I was further intrigued and looked up this Club 33 on the good 'ole Internet. There is no "official" Disney site or reference, but there is: www.disneylandclub33.com site that has a lot of information. I will not go into the history of the club here, but rather discuss my experience.
Dining at the club gain you access to both Disneyland and California Adventure for the day. This is an amazing benefit so we all arrived early so that we could do Disneyland before lunch and then California Adventure after. After parking and riding the tram you make your way to Customer Relations...not Customer Services where I waited in a significant line. Once there you give the friendly cast member your ID and the name of your party. It is all verified and you given a ticket and confirmation of the time of your reservation. The cast member asked me if I'd ever been to Club 33 before. I said "no". He said "well, we have something in common". Ahhh, the wave of importance washed over me. (TRIVIA ALERT - This place that Walt created was never even seen by him...he died 5 months before completion)
Now it was off to the park. Yada, yada, blah, blah...this ain't no Disneyland review. Boom...2:15pm is our reservation and you can't be late or you lose out. We all gather at 2:00 at 33 Royal Street of New Orleans Square. What was that address again? Riiiiight!
Once there you push a secret button and announce your party. The door buzzes open and you enter. You are examined to ensure that you are up to the dress code and are taken to your seating. On Sunday, there is a seafood and cold food buffet and you also choose your entree. The place settings are lovely. The decor is just as Walt envisioned and you are seated with original works of art and antiques and history.
We were offered champagne and off to the buffet. I opted for fresh fruit, cracked open crab legs, shrimp and even some salad. Upon returning to the table, the napkins were refolded...nice touch.
As if they were watching us eat and anticipating when we would finish with the cold food, our entrees appeared. I ordered the Chateaubriand. DELICIOUS.
Everyone else seemed to enjoy what they ordered, but I was too busy carnivoring to pay them any attention.
Since it was our friend's birthday, they made her a special desert. She and the rest of us also had access to the "desert bar". Sweet! (Yes, pun intended) The *real* treat in my mind was that we could order a drink...in DISNEYLAND. I opted to teach the bartender a drink that I had learned a year or so ago. The saphire jewel complete with collectible "33" swizzle stick.
We were joined for lunch by two Disney characters: Pluto and Mickey! There were only three tables so we were able to spend plenty of time taking pictures and networking with esteemed individuals.
This was WAY more fun than I though it would be for a group of grown people playing with costumed characters. This is the magic of Disney...assisted by my special martini.
Since this is likely a once or twice in a lifetime opportunity you feel compelled to buy stuff. You do not walk through a sideshow store like the rest of Disneyland. There is a simple cabinet with "33" logo'd and embossed items. I bought a pair of pub pint glasses, a lapel pin, a baseball hat and a key-chain. I also "procured" some swizzle sticks and napkins...and one of the chefs that I made friendly with gave me a pen, which I understand is a great honor. I was told that fanatical Disney fans will buy this stuff online so that is an option, if I decide that I've been there and have the memory and do not need any this stuff.
The afternoon was spent at California Adventure. Yada, yada, blah, blah...this ain't no CaliAd review either.
Perfect service, excellent cuisine, the regal feeling of doing what most will never do and many don't even know about. It couldn't get any better, right?? WRONG! As a parting surprise we learned that the member who made us the reservation also covered our bill! This priceless experience truly turned out to be just that.
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