Club 33
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at 9:00AM Enter the contest to WIN YOUR WEDDING DAY PHOTOGRAPHER!
Ever heard of it? Me either.
That is, until I was invited to be a part of The Really Cool Thing.
If you Google "Club 33" you'll get a lot of information as to what it is, where it is and how it got the name Club 33.
Located within Disneyland, discreetly above the Blue Bayou in New Orleans Square is perhaps one of Orange County's finest five star restaurants. With a limited membership of only 487, Club 33 is not open to the public. Members may however arrange for their friends and associates to experience the club.Source
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. When riding Pirates of the Caribbean, just as the ride departs, the Blue Bayou restaurant is visible, but the balconies above it are actually a part of Club 33.
Club 33 members and their guests have exclusive access to the club's restaurant, and the premises are not open to the public at large. It is the only location within Disneyland to offer alcoholic beverages, though Disneyland has a park-wide liquor license and has set up bars throughout the park for private events. Club 33's wine list includes vintages priced at $1000. In addition to beer and wine, Club 33 has a full bar, though patrons may not order directly from the bar and must place orders through their server.
Members get free access to both Disney parks whenever they are open, plus early park admission several days each week. In addition, members are provided with valet parking to the overall Disney resort and access to Lilly Belle, the presidential caboose car on the Disneyland Railroad. Recently, Club 33 members were also provided the new benefit of getting up to 6 immediate Fastpasses per day, bypassing the stand-by queue for any Fastpass attraction in the parks. Source
That's right, bitches (Sorry, honey. The Candyman hates when I say "bitches."), I got to go to the super-secret Disneyland club! And play in Disneyland. And California Adventure. Booya. Top that.
And it was so incredibly cool and fun.... and the food? Holy crap. It was a bit surreal though. You're all in your semi-comfy Disneyland outfit, yet you're sitting in a 5-star restaurant getting served as if you were in a gown or tuxedo. Our menu choices were so incredible, it was difficult to choose! I went with the Organic Free Range Chicken Breast, Truffled Macaroni & Cheese, Grilled Asparagus with Cipollini Jus. Others in my party had the same, or the Chateaubriand or the Colorado Lamp Chops, Creamy Corn Polenta with Gorgonzola Reduction. I personally started (and finished) with several Kir Royales. One of the amazing things about the club is the "salad bar" that everyone gets to enjoy before their meal. Yeah, I used the quotes because I've never experienced a salad bar that had chilled lobster tails, amazingly beautiful pre-shelled crab claws, shrimp and smoked salmon with capers, dill and cream cheese. Yes, there was salad, but why bother when you've got a big pile of incredibly fresh seafood staring you in the face? I think everyone in our party topped out at 3 visits back and forth to the "salad bar." Not that I was counting. Or cared. I was planted face-first into my plate scarffing up crab claws like it was my job.
After we enjoyed our meals (which were just perfectly cooked), we headed back to the "dessert bar" that was packed with coconut macaroons, mini tiramisus, cakes, mousses...things I'd never even heard of. I ate so much it hurt. And it was totally worth every ache and pain.
Afterwards, we hit up The Haunted Mansion, Thunder Mountain, The Matterhorn (natch) and a few other Disneyland hot spots. By the time we crossed over to California Adventure, we were losing serious steam. We managed a few more rides, a healthy serving of cotton candy, churros and pretzels, some one-on-one time with the Mice and of course, a little souvenir shopping.
Here's a little photographic retrospective of the day.
The non-descript, super-secret entrance to Club 33.
Dinnerware.
Menu
Chocolate and a little writing pad. You know, just in case you need to take notes during dinner.
The balcony at Club 33.
Always the lady.
It was SO HARD not to jump up and down and shout "I LOVE YOU, MICKEY!" So. Hard.
Walt got it so right.
So there you have it. Part one of The Really Cool Thing adventure.
And don't forget to enter to WIN YOUR WEDDING DAY PHOTOGRAPHER!
Designer, TruLu Couture
Blogger. Wife. Smart Ass.
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Reader Comments (8)
so jealous. :) Can't wait to hear more about the Really Cool Thing!
So, so, so good! Lucky you!!!
I think the awkwardness of being in your comfies is what led to more and more people dressing up for the experience. I know we always have ... and then romped like children afterwards. In our pretties. It's fantastic.
Also ... yay Mickey!
I think saying "bitch" isn't really funny. But saying "Listen bitches" is quite funny. There is a difference. One is personal and the other isn't. It's a riff on rap language.
I'm glad it was wonderful!
sounds like an amazing trip, you lucky duck!
Lucky lady! I'd love to be part of club 33 too!
So, my curiosity got the best of me and I Googled Club 33. My jaw dropped when I read that the approximate wait time to become a member was FOURTEEN YEARS!! Holy Hell!! And, the waiting list is closed for this year. At least, that's what I read. My jealousy has increased. :) Happy for you, friend, and glad that you shared your experience. Thanks!
@Christy - I know, right? It truly was the experience of a lifetime! Not just dining in the super-secret Disney club, but the people, the weather, the entire thing was a definite thumbs-up!