Club 33 expansion and resulting new exteriors

[pwillunlv]

I will wait until I see the entire thing finished before passing complete judgment, and I do appreciate his thoughts....but this is all great for somebody on the inside. It's wonderful that it looks spectacular on the inside, and at the cost of membership, it should. It's more about how it looks on the outside to us common folks who very well may never get the privilege of stepping foot inside. It was said in this text - small concession on that it doesn't look right on the outside, since it's perfect on the inside. It may very well fit in when all is said and done. Although I'll never get over them taking away the Court of Angels

ETA: Since he says anybody with criticisms needs to wait to see it - is that an invitation? Just kidding. Sort of.

+1,000,000,000

"Trust me, it was worth it to take away the Court of Angels from the masses and risk destroying the perfected ambiance of NOS so that my exclusive club could get an addition--which less than .0001% of those who ever go to DL will ever step inside of. Just wait until you see it.... ... ... Oh wait... ... Well, just trust me."

 

[Gisele]

+1,000,000,000

"Trust me, it was worth it to take away the Court of Angels from the masses and risk destroying the perfected ambiance of NOS so that my exclusive club could get an addition--which less than .0001% of those who ever go to DL will ever step inside of. Just wait until you see it.... ... ... Oh wait... ... Well, just trust me."

Good one! Lol
There probably have been class distinctions since cave man days; "why can't we live in a nice two story cave like your brother?" Or present day;
"Oh look what a nice home up there, not so great though if your living down in the valley, where you have to see huge homes cutting into the hillside"

 

[ludari]

I am hoping to check out the changes as soon as a reservation can be made but I am glad I was able to visit Club 33 before the changes.

 

[Gisele]

edited for content

 

[DizMe]

The Club 33 member's comments pretty well sum up what is creating the apprehension and negative feelings toward the renovation/additions. The inside is exceptional, sumptuous, and that's good. I'm happy and relieved to hear that it is both beautiful and has retained some of the history. That's what it should be for those who pay a premium to enjoy it. What isn't good is the rather cavalier attitude that their satisfaction is more important than anyone else's in the park, and the perception that Disney may care more about making additional money from the exclusive club than preserving the distinct and beautiful exteriors of NOS. I am certainly hopeful that it will all turn out beautifully, but I can't help but feel nervous that it will not.

This is a text from my Owner and Friend, his thoughts are:

The Court of Angels looks absolutely beautiful from the inside. Forget the pictures. The lamps on the stairs look pretty, but just wait until my kids accidentally takes them out over the next few months. I may get kicked out... Anyways, Wait until you see it!! It's completely incorporated into the inside space and is now part of the club.

Club 33 member

I bolded those two statements just to point out, as have others before me, that this isn't making the rest of us feel better about losing the Court of Angels.

 

[elaw]

I am hoping to check out the changes as soon as a reservation can be made but I am glad I was able to visit Club 33 before the changes.

I am as well ...

 

[Nonsuch]

...the perception that Disney may care more about making additional money from the exclusive club than preserving the distinct and beautiful exteriors of NOS...

The Disney management responsible for the Club 33 expansion are certainly focused on the money, their jobs depend on it
This project needs to provide a good Return on Investment, likely through initiation fees from new members and increased yearly dues

 

[Gisele]

The Disney management responsible for the Club 33 expansion are certainly focused on the money, their jobs depend on it
This project needs to provide a good Return on Investment, likely through initiation fees from new members and increased yearly dues

I understand your philosophy, however, do their jobs depend upon the club? I would hope not, unless that is funding managements pay checks.

 

[DizMe]

The Disney management responsible for the Club 33 expansion are certainly focused on the money, their jobs depend on it
This project needs to provide a good Return on Investment, likely through initiation fees from new members and increased yearly dues

Well, true! But what is the initial reason for the expansion? I think Disney recognized a lucrative market that was waiting to be tapped. I don't begrudge them that at all. That's just good business. If they wished to expand Club 33, it needed to be spectacular. That's why people are paying $10k a year and $25k initiation (not positive about those numbers, but it's something like that). But why should making exclusive improvements to enhance their revenue base mean a reduced experience for the rest, the multitudes of Disney fans that flock to the resort? What are the regular guests getting out of it? Less. I think that is what's most upsetting about the loss of the Court of Angels and the possibility that NOS will not have the same visual appeal; it was done to make things nicer for the privileged few and, I assume, to make more money off of them. Hopefully, this will turn out to be a moot argument and the final look will turn out to be splendid. But if not, and you've enhanced the experience for a handful at the expense of the majority, I don't think you've stuck to Walt's intentions.

 

[peterpanandwendy]

I don't understand all the exec hating.

I mean, Disney just put a billion dollars into upgrading DCA for us, adding new restaurants (like Carthay Circle… swanky!) and a whole new, outstanding Cars Land. They are putting tons of money into refurbing all the rides, and making sure they are safe and meeting the new standards. Every time we go we have always had amazing service, with tons of Disney magic and upgrades and freebies (especially on anniversaries or birthdays). This is why we keep going back.

Now, Disney is doing a long overdue expansion and upgrade to their club, making it more accessible to those with physical limitations.. and sounds like doing a fine job of keeping in tradition of the NOS vibe, and everyone is hating on the execs… I don't understand.

What exactly do we want? What would keep us happy?

 

[Malcon10t]

Club 33 is for the very wealthy, for they are the only ones that easily can afford the membership and annual fee. The majority of the populace in this country is not a part of that level of wealth.

You should meet some of the members sometime. You might learn how wrong this attitude is. I know several members. A couple are teachers, one is a bartender, a couple are farmers, one is in the military, a couple I know are police officers, one is a cameraman for TV, and some own their own businesses. To say it is only for the "very wealthy" is wrong. I know one who saved for 12 years to become a member.

 

[goooof1]

I don't understand all the exec hating.

.....everyone is hating on the execs… I don't understand.

What exactly do we want? What would keep us happy?

See the post above yours from DizMe: you've enhanced the experience for a handful at the expense of the majority, I don't think you've stuck to Walt's intentions.
not "hating" just pointing out the obvious bias of catering to a very small group with no thought of the vast majority of visitors/patrons/customers.

 

[opus1guy]

I just had a long conversation with my member-friend who attended the preview. Keep in mind that he was one that was quite upset and vocal about the changes and skeptical of how the whole thing was going to turn out. He was worried the club would be "Dream Suite'd".

To make a long story short...he was impressed. And let me tell you, he doesn't impress easily.

I'll quote one thing he said that sticks out, as best as I can remember it:

"You know, I feel more than a bit like an idiot. I should have known Disney would do it right. The heritage and traditions of the club are all still there. If anything they have gone back to what Walt originally envisioned and how it was originally run. It's the same place only better. Believe me, Walt Disney's spirit is still alive and well in the new club".

And he should know. He's been a member for decades.

He felt the restaurant portion was wonderful and was very recognizable as the club of old. He said he felt very much "at home." Lots of nice touches and attention to detail. He said it reminded him of several famous and classic fine restaurants in the real French Quarter of New Orleans...like Antoine's and Arnaud's. Although he added that the club always did.

He said they mentioned that there is more work to be done inside and out, but from what he saw: "Grand Slam." Honestly...I've never heard him more excited about the club. And that was all JUST about the original dining room!

There was much more he discussed, including the courtyard and the new jazz club, both of which he thought were great. Problem is after listening to him...I can't freaking wait to see the place myself now! Drat!

(BTW...my member-friend is far from being what I would consider "wealthy." He makes under 6 figures. He just elects to spend a disproportionate amount of his disposable income on something he loves and values).

Edited to add: BTW, his above thoughts are just about the physical facility of Club 33. His opinions about some of the policy changes regarding member benefits are another matter, not covered in this post. Also he said he did not have any info about any wait staff changes.

That is all.

 

[pwillunlv]

I don't understand all the exec hating.

I mean, Disney just put a billion dollars into upgrading DCA for us, adding new restaurants (like Carthay Circle… swanky!) and a whole new, outstanding Cars Land. They are putting tons of money into refurbing all the rides, and making sure they are safe and meeting the new standards. Every time we go we have always had amazing service, with tons of Disney magic and upgrades and freebies (especially on anniversaries or birthdays). This is why we keep going back.

Disney put a billion dollars into DCA to draw more crowds and generate more revenue--and it worked well and I'm glad they did it. But they did not do so for us out of their kindness of their hearts (they would be facing shareholder derivative lawsuits if they did). They give freebies and do other awesome things to create magic and draw more people to the parks. Nothing is wrong with this, and we all love Disney for this reason--but we understand that Disney is not a non-profit.

Now, Disney is doing a long overdue expansion and upgrade to their club, making it more accessible to those with physical limitations.. and sounds like doing a fine job of keeping in tradition of the NOS vibe, and everyone is hating on the execs… I don't understand.

The main issue is not the upgrade itself, but the effects it had--primarily closing the Court of Angels to the public and not "doing a fine job keeping in tradition of the NOS vibe ...." I think the upgrade could have been done without either of those things becoming an issue.

I also believe that their decision to close the Court of Angels and to negatively alter the theme of NOS is a bad business decision. I would venture to guess that NOS is the most popular land among those who regularly go to the DL. Part of the reason NOS is so popular is due to its detail and ambiance. Closing the Court of Angels and changing parts of the exterior (in a manner that clashes with other parts of the exterior) take away from that detail and ambiance--i.e. the magic. It's DL's magic which sets it apart from other theme parks and draws in the crowds.

Will it stop the us or others from coming? No. But such short-sighted grabs for cash directed to the ultra-wealthy chip away, in admittedly very small pieces, at the magic and Disney's earning capacities from the masses, in my humble and non-expert opinion.

What exactly do we want? What would keep us happy?

For me, open the Court of Angels back up to the public (almost certainly not going to happen) and fix the exteriors to match the ambiance of NOS (may happen if they are truly not finished with the exteriors).

 

[pwillunlv]

You should meet some of the members sometime. You might learn how wrong this attitude is. I know several members. A couple are teachers, one is a bartender, a couple are farmers, one is in the military, a couple I know are police officers, one is a cameraman for TV, and some own their own businesses. To say it is only for the "very wealthy" is wrong. I know one who saved for 12 years to become a member.

That's a fair point. The main issue is that most of us cannot access Club 33--nothing to do with the pocket books of Club 33 members.

 

[Malcon10t]

(BTW...my member-friend is far from being what I would consider "wealthy." He makes under 6 figures. He just elects to spend a disproportionate amount of his disposable income on something he loves and values).

I think this is what people don't get.

 

[keahgirl8]

I have nothing against people who are Club 33 members, and it really doesn't matter to me how much money they make or what they choose to spend it on. I think the issue here is that they are in the minority, and changes were made that are (so far) negatively affecting the majority. These are upgrades that most of us will never see, and they have changed the exterior that millions of people do see. I am trying to wait and see what it is like once the exterior is completely finished, but that was my initial reaction. It has nothing to do with what I personally think of any members and they do not need to defend themselves or their income.

 

[pwillunlv]

I think this is what people don't get.

I don't think that fact would change anyone's opinion. Doesn't matter. The members did not chose to make the renovations in the manner they were made, Disney did.

 

[pwillunlv]

I have nothing against people who are Club 33 members, and it really doesn't matter to me how much money they make or what they choose to spend it on. I think the issue here is that they are in the minority, and changes were made that are (so far) negatively affecting the majority. These are upgrades that most of us will never see, and they have changed the exterior that millions of people do see. I am trying to wait and see what it is like once the exterior is completely finished, but that was my initial reaction. It has nothing to do with what I personally think of any members and they do not need to defend themselves or their income.

Exactly. No need for them to defend their income, I aspire to be a multi-millionaire myself!

 

[Gisele]

-nothing to do with the pocket books of Club 33 members.

And you know this how?