wbl2745
Pointless infinite loops are prohibited.
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2010
- Messages
- 708
I thought our recent experience with Club 33 membership might interest the forum.
About 15 years ago I joined the waiting list for Club 33. At that time there were two membership levels: Gold and Platinum. Previously there had been a silver level, but that had been discontinued. In the mean time the gold level has also been discontinued and the only membership being offered is the platinum level.
A year ago I received a survey from the Club 33 people wondering at the interest level in a separate club to be in Disney's California Adventure (DCA). It would have been cheaper than Club 33 without privileges of making reservations at Club 33. I expressed an interest, for what that was worth.
About the beginning of June (sorry, I've been meaning to write this up for a while) I received a note in the mail from Club 33 offering the opportunity to purchase a membership. I was given a phone number to call. When I called it went straight to a voice mail box that said that they were backed up in talking to people about the club memberships and to leave your phone number and a time to call. As I understand it the rationale behind being able to open up the Club 33 memberships is the increased capacity that Club 1901 offers, since it would be included in the membership instead of being separate. More on that later.
About a week later I received the call back from a very nice lady, "Marcie," who talked to me about the membership.
First, the only membership level available is the platinum membership. (When you stop to think about it, they can completely fill up the club with platinum members, so why offer anything less?) The initiation fee is $25,000 and the yearly membership fee is $10,000. These aren't new numbers to me so I didn't fall off my chair. What was surprising was that the yearly fee is due on top of the membership fee and the yearly fee is prorated to January 1, so the cost of membership starting June 15 was $30,416. "What credit card would you use to make this payment?" Well, I don't know about you, but I don't have a credit card that has a $30,000 limit. Since I knew the prices prior to the call I had already decided that this was completely outside of what I could afford or justify for us. We're DVC members and had already purchased at the Villas at the Grand Californian. We seem to get more from our DVC membership than we would from Club 33. But, not wanting to let the dream completely die yet, I asked her to explain some of the benefits.
Obviously, you get to make reservations at Club 33 and Club 1901 in DCA. As you may already know, Club 1901 is in the same building at the Carthay Circle Restaurant on the second floor. The restaurant is also on the second floor so I suppose that the kitchen serves both Club 1901 and Carthay Circle Restaurant. You can see the door to Club 1901 to the right of the entrance to the restaurant. Through the grapevine I've heard that the menu of the Carthay Circle Restaurant is the same as for Club 1901. I can't verify that, but it would make sense. If that is the case, however, why have a pricey Club 33 membership to eat in Club 1901 when you can just make a reservation at the restaurant?
Continuing with the benefits, as a member you can schedule up to 5 tours at the Disneyland Resort (DLR) per year. You can get hotel upgrades, valet parking at the hotel for all resort visits, concierge planning for any visit to the resort, and four Premier Passports, good at both DLR and WDW, with no blackout dates. You may order additional Premier Passports with a 20% discount. You also get 50 complementary one-day park hopper tickets to DL and DCA. Recall that previously a reservation at Club 33 meant that you got a one-day park hopper. Now the reservations and the park tickets are separated. You can still make as many reservations as you want, but only 50 park tickets.
Lastly, there are special Club 33 events, items for purchase, as well as a "special welcome" and renewal gifts.
I asked Marcie if we could have a lunch at either Club 33 or Club 1901 to give it a try. No way. Hoping to try and pull this together I asked my two brothers if they were interested at $10,000 each. No go.
So I'm off the Club 33 waiting list. It was a dream that was not to be. Several years back I was able to arrange a reservation at Club 33, which was a one-time opportunity, so at least I've been there once.
About 15 years ago I joined the waiting list for Club 33. At that time there were two membership levels: Gold and Platinum. Previously there had been a silver level, but that had been discontinued. In the mean time the gold level has also been discontinued and the only membership being offered is the platinum level.
A year ago I received a survey from the Club 33 people wondering at the interest level in a separate club to be in Disney's California Adventure (DCA). It would have been cheaper than Club 33 without privileges of making reservations at Club 33. I expressed an interest, for what that was worth.
About the beginning of June (sorry, I've been meaning to write this up for a while) I received a note in the mail from Club 33 offering the opportunity to purchase a membership. I was given a phone number to call. When I called it went straight to a voice mail box that said that they were backed up in talking to people about the club memberships and to leave your phone number and a time to call. As I understand it the rationale behind being able to open up the Club 33 memberships is the increased capacity that Club 1901 offers, since it would be included in the membership instead of being separate. More on that later.
About a week later I received the call back from a very nice lady, "Marcie," who talked to me about the membership.
First, the only membership level available is the platinum membership. (When you stop to think about it, they can completely fill up the club with platinum members, so why offer anything less?) The initiation fee is $25,000 and the yearly membership fee is $10,000. These aren't new numbers to me so I didn't fall off my chair. What was surprising was that the yearly fee is due on top of the membership fee and the yearly fee is prorated to January 1, so the cost of membership starting June 15 was $30,416. "What credit card would you use to make this payment?" Well, I don't know about you, but I don't have a credit card that has a $30,000 limit. Since I knew the prices prior to the call I had already decided that this was completely outside of what I could afford or justify for us. We're DVC members and had already purchased at the Villas at the Grand Californian. We seem to get more from our DVC membership than we would from Club 33. But, not wanting to let the dream completely die yet, I asked her to explain some of the benefits.
Obviously, you get to make reservations at Club 33 and Club 1901 in DCA. As you may already know, Club 1901 is in the same building at the Carthay Circle Restaurant on the second floor. The restaurant is also on the second floor so I suppose that the kitchen serves both Club 1901 and Carthay Circle Restaurant. You can see the door to Club 1901 to the right of the entrance to the restaurant. Through the grapevine I've heard that the menu of the Carthay Circle Restaurant is the same as for Club 1901. I can't verify that, but it would make sense. If that is the case, however, why have a pricey Club 33 membership to eat in Club 1901 when you can just make a reservation at the restaurant?
Continuing with the benefits, as a member you can schedule up to 5 tours at the Disneyland Resort (DLR) per year. You can get hotel upgrades, valet parking at the hotel for all resort visits, concierge planning for any visit to the resort, and four Premier Passports, good at both DLR and WDW, with no blackout dates. You may order additional Premier Passports with a 20% discount. You also get 50 complementary one-day park hopper tickets to DL and DCA. Recall that previously a reservation at Club 33 meant that you got a one-day park hopper. Now the reservations and the park tickets are separated. You can still make as many reservations as you want, but only 50 park tickets.
Lastly, there are special Club 33 events, items for purchase, as well as a "special welcome" and renewal gifts.
I asked Marcie if we could have a lunch at either Club 33 or Club 1901 to give it a try. No way. Hoping to try and pull this together I asked my two brothers if they were interested at $10,000 each. No go.
So I'm off the Club 33 waiting list. It was a dream that was not to be. Several years back I was able to arrange a reservation at Club 33, which was a one-time opportunity, so at least I've been there once.
Definitely a real thing!
I'm still trying to fix that mistake! 
