secrets of 33

In this post, I'll be talking about the very elite and exclusive Club 33, located in New Orleans Square and tucked away upstairs from the Blue Bayou Restaurant. It was originally intended to be a private dinner hall, where Walt and his brother Roy would meet and entertain potential Disneyland backers, corporate leaders, and celebrities. It is still in use for that purpose to this day. Along with being the only place within Disneyland to serve alcohol, it is also an exclusive club, whose membership fee is $7,500 with $2,825 in annual fees and a waiting list of up to ten years. However, the lure of belonging to a club that Walt himself intended to use for entertaining dignitaries is very strong to most Disneyphiles.

 

The entrance to Club 33, nothing more than a door and a plaque with the number 33 on it.

 There are various origins that have been claimed for the name "Club 33." One says that Club 33 was named for Disneyland's 33 sponsors at the time, one of which was Chevron. Another explanation is that Walt Disney chose the name simply because he liked the way "33" looked. Another, given by a Club 33 employee, says that since Walt wanted to serve liquor in the Club he had to obtain a liquor license — which requires a full street address. Walt, wanting to protect Disneyland's alcohol-free status, didn't want to use the park's Harbor Boulevard address, so he ordered that all the buildings in New Orleans Square (then under construction) be given addresses. According to the employee, "33" was chosen because Walt's lucky number was 3. 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 the address assigned to the door by chance — all of the buildings in the square have addresses, but they are internally-designated numbers. To enter Club 33, a guest must press a buzzer on an intercom concealed by a hidden panel in the doorway. A member needs only to insert his/her membership card in a slot near the buzzer and the door will open. A receptionist will ask for their name over the intercom and, if access is granted, open the door to a small, ornate lobby. Guests have the option of going to the dining level via an antique-style glass lift. The lift is an exact replica of one Disney saw and fell in love with during a vacation in Paris, but the owner of the original refused to sell. Undaunted, Disney sent a team of engineers to the Parisian hotel to take exact measurements for use in the creation of a replica; even a sample of the original finish was taken so that it could be duplicated. A staircase to the second level wraps around the lift.

This is a picture of the lift from upstairs.

The second level has two dining rooms. One room has dark wood paneling; the other room is more formal but has a lighter environment. 

Once at the dining level, guests can view antique furniture pieces collected by Lillian Disney. Walt Disney also handpicked much of the Victorian bric-a-brac in New Orleans antique stores. The club is also furnished with props from Disney films. There is a fully functional glass telephone booth just off the lift that was used in The Happiest Millionaire and an ornate walnut table with white marble top that 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 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. 

Elton John has played this harpsichord and it can be played by anyone who sits 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 partially installed and remains so to this day. An Audio-Animatronic vulture is perched in one corner of the club's "Trophy Room." 

The microphones are clearly visible at the bottom of each of the room's lighting fixtures. The animal trophies (Walt inherited them from a friend), for which the room was named, have been removed by Disney family members. 

Disneyland guests participating in the "Walk In Walt's Footsteps" tour are provided entrance to the lobby of Club 33. The tour guide will provide a brief history of the club and explain some of the artifacts in the lobby. The tour members may be photographed in the lift, but are not allowed upstairs. This is the Main Hall of Club 33.

This framed map hangs in the Main Hall. Amongst the figures around the edges are many characters from the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.

This picture, also in the Main Hall, is an original Haunted Mansion painting, circa 1951. One of the first concept paintings of Disneyland.

These are Marc Davis' original "stretching room" paintings from The Haunted Mansion.

These are rare sights in Disneyland that few people get to see from this perspective. These are shots taken from the balcony of Club 33 overlooking New Orleans Square.

I hope you enjoyed this peek into the elite world of Club 33. I've been thinking about putting my name on the waiting list... just in case. Some day I hope to get a chance to dine at Club 33, even if it's only as a guest.