This is what it's like to eat at the secret club in Disneyland that has a 14-year waiting list

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Former Member

This is what it's like to eat at the secret club in Disneyland that has a 14-year waiting list

Joanna Fantozzi, Aug. 24, 2017, 3:20 PM, http://www.thisisinsider.com/c...eyland-review-2017-8

Disney club 33 PROMO The Happiest Place on Earth is home to one of the most exclusive clubs in the world.Tuxyso/ Wikimedia Commons & Christina Martini

The INSIDER Summary:

Club 33 is the not-so-secret club hidden in plain sight in Disneyland. Unless you're a member (and there's a 14-year waiting list for membership) or know one, you can't get in.
Lilian Disney designed the interior of Club 33, but Walt died before it was constructed.
We spoke with three lucky guests who recently had the opportunity to dine there.

Right in the middle of New Orleans Square in Disneyland, located across from La Mascarade d'Orleans, is the inconspicuous entrance to one of the most-whispered-about spots in Disney parks across the globe: Club 33.

Club 33 is a secret five-star restaurant that the regular public cannot access. There are only two ways to get into Club 33: being an exclusive member, or being invited by one.

Membership costs up to $100,000 annually, with a reported $12,500 to $30,000 in additional annual fees. As of 2012, there was a 14-year waiting list for membership applicants.

The club was the brainchild of Walt Disney himself, who, after the 1964 World's Fair, envisioned opening a secret apartment for entertaining corporate sponsors and special guests near his own apartment, which was above the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Unfortunately, Walt Disney never saw his idea come to fruition, as Club 33 opened in 1967, about six months after his death. Originally designed by Walt Disney's wife Lillian, Club 33 underwent extensive renovations and expansions in 2014, and now looks completely different than it used to.

INSIDER spoke with three lucky diners who got the rare opportunity to visit Club 33 about their experience. Lily Hopkins dined there with her brother Max and his girlfriend Christina Martini in June 2017, during the club's 50th anniversary celebration. They got reservations through Max's co-worker.

Keep scrolling to see what it's like to eat at one of the world's most exclusive clubs.

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Former Member

This is the original entrance to Club 33, though it fell out of use after the 2014 renovations, when a second entrance opened up.

"When we got to the area, we had to make sure to go to the right door because there are two doors," Martini told INSIDER.

8/27/173:54 PM

Former Member

The new entrance opens up into the picturesque Court of Angels.

Members only need to swipe their membership cards to get in, though "regular" people must be buzzed in.

"After confirming your last name and reservation through a speaker outside the secret door, the staff buzzes you in and you enter a beautiful courtyard where they offer to take your photo before walking upstairs to the actual restaurant," Hopkins said.

8/27/173:55 PM

Former Member

A staircase at the back of the Court of Angels leads up to the actual entrance to the Club 33 lounge and restaurant.

"My family goes to Disneyland often, so Club 33 has always been a fun mystery/myth," said Hopkins. "We would pass the secret door making jokes about all the celebrities that must be inside. It was really exciting to finally be able to see it for ourselves after talking about it all these years."

8/27/173:56 PM

Former Member

The number "33" can be found throughout the Club.

Legend has it, the name of Club 33 not only comes from its address on 33 Royal Street, but also from the 33 original corporate sponsors of Disneyland.

8/27/173:57 PM

Former Member

Inside, there's an old-fashioned French lift, though it's no longer in use.

As the story goes, Walt Disney was shopping in New Orleans with his wife when he saw this elevator in the French Quarter inside a hotel. The hotel would not sell it to him, so he had an exact replica made.

8/27/173:58 PM

Former Member

The Le Salon Nouveau is the newly renovated lounge inside Club 33.

"Because we aren't club members there was limited access as to what we got to see," Christina Martini said. "But from the area we go there was plenty to see and learn about the history of Club 33."

Guests also get to have exclusive photoshoots with rare characters like Remy from Ratatouille.

8/27/173:58 PM

Former Member

The "Le Grand Salon" is Club 33's restaurant.

"We actually went on the 50th anniversary," Hopkins said. "Being present in the same area where many celebrities and Walt Disney himself came to experience fine dining made us feel as if we were celebrities ourselves."

8/27/173:59 PM

Former Member

Headed up by Chef Andrew Sutton, you can order dishes like filet mignon and chicken schnitzel.

8/27/173:59 PM

Former Member

Club 33 is the only restaurant in Disneyland that serves booze.

"Club 33 is the only place in the park to buy alcohol, making both their cocktail and mocktail menus impressive! " Hopkins said. "All drinks came out with fancy garnish and a Club 33 stirrer."

8/27/174:00 PM

Former Member

There's a homage to the Haunted Mansion inside Club 33, as the 2014 renovation added some artistic nods to classic Disney rides.

8/27/174:01 PM

Former Member

Even the bathrooms inside Club 33 are lavish.

"From what we were told, the club was decorated by Lillian Disney herself," said Hopkins.

8/27/174:02 PM

Former Member

The bathrooms even include old-fashioned sitting rooms.

According to Hopkins, every item in Club 33 was either chosen by Lillian Disney herself, or in the very least personally approved by her.

8/27/174:03 PM

Former Member

A balcony at Club 33 looks out onto New Orleans Square.

"If I were given another opportunity to go, I would take it in a heartbeat," said Martini. "It felt so cool to be a part of something so exclusive, and the food was amazing."

8/27/174:03 PM

Former Member

But whatever you're looking at, you never forget where you are at Disneyland's secret five-star restaurant.

8/27/174:04 PM

Former Member

Topics

This is what it's like to eat at the secret club in Disneyland that has a 14-year waiting list

The INSIDER Summary:

This is the original entrance to Club 33, though it fell out of use after the 2014 renovations, when a second entrance opened up.

The new entrance opens up into the picturesque Court of Angels.

A staircase at the back of the Court of Angels leads up to the actual entrance to the Club 33 lounge and restaurant.

The number "33" can be found throughout the Club.

Inside, there's an old-fashioned French lift, though it's no longer in use.

The Le Salon Nouveau is the newly renovated lounge inside Club 33.

The "Le Grand Salon" is Club 33's restaurant.

Headed up by Chef Andrew Sutton, you can order dishes like filet mignon and chicken schnitzel.

Club 33 is the only restaurant in Disneyland that serves booze.

There's a homage to the Haunted Mansion inside Club 33, as the 2014 renovation added some artistic nods to classic Disney rides.

Even the bathrooms inside Club 33 are lavish.

The bathrooms even include old-fashioned sitting rooms.

A balcony at Club 33 looks out onto New Orleans Square.

But whatever you're looking at, you never forget where you are at Disneyland's secret five-star restaurant.

SEE ALSO:Here's what it's like inside Disneyland’s mysterious $40,000-per-person secret club

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Topics

This is what it's like to eat at the secret club in Disneyland that has a 14-year waiting list

The INSIDER Summary:

This is the original entrance to Club 33, though it fell out of use after the 2014 renovations, when a second entrance opened up.

The new entrance opens up into the picturesque Court of Angels.

A staircase at the back of the Court of Angels leads up to the actual entrance to the Club 33 lounge and restaurant.

The number "33" can be found throughout the Club.

Inside, there's an old-fashioned French lift, though it's no longer in use.

The Le Salon Nouveau is the newly renovated lounge inside Club 33.

The "Le Grand Salon" is Club 33's restaurant.

Headed up by Chef Andrew Sutton, you can order dishes like filet mignon and chicken schnitzel.

Club 33 is the only restaurant in Disneyland that serves booze.

There's a homage to the Haunted Mansion inside Club 33, as the 2014 renovation added some artistic nods to classic Disney rides.

Even the bathrooms inside Club 33 are lavish.

The bathrooms even include old-fashioned sitting rooms.

A balcony at Club 33 looks out onto New Orleans Square.

But whatever you're looking at, you never forget where you are at Disneyland's secret five-star restaurant.

SEE ALSO:Here's what it's like inside Disneyland’s mysterious $40,000-per-person secret club

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