Club 33 membership re-opening...

[Robin&Marian+2]

Do you have any local country clubs? It is very similar. You pay an outrageous initiation fee, you pay annual dues, and the difference here is, you are required at most country clubs to spend a minimum a month between meals, green fees, shops, and lessons. If you don't spend $xxx, they bill you the difference. There is no minimum at Club 33. There are large country clubs that have $250,000-400,000 initiation fees. We have a very small club locally, and the initiation fee is $25000 a family, with $15,000 a year, and a $250 a quarter minimum. I have family that belongs. They also donate widely and have a large philanthropy list. Just because they make money, doesn't mean every penny above their actual needs needs to go to charity.

Well said. DH and I thought about putting our name in the waiting list when we were DINKS. Now with two toddlers and me a SAHM there's no way we'd do it. But at the time it wouldn't have been a stretch, and we went to DL a couple of times of month. It would have been our splurge. Some people belong to country clubs (which in SoCal are more than Club 33 memberships), that would have been our splurge.

 

[Minuet888]

What are the other perks? Admission to the park?
it can't just be getting to eat in an expensive restaurant (and still pay the bill)

 

[Malcon10t]

What are the other perks? Admission to the park?
it can't just be getting to eat in an expensive restaurant (and still pay the bill)

4 premier passes for DL and WDW. 5 VIP tours a year. Access to special events. 50 complimentary passes a year. Valet parking. These are the basics. There are others, but these are the "biggies".

 

[nunzia]

I'm glad for those who can and want to join (the waiting list)!


Still dreaming of the maitai and macaroons I got to experience there thanks to a friend who belongs.



And, even though we aren't in a position to do this, I have at least two relatives who make plenty of money and can do all sorts of fun things. From conversations with them, I have to say...there is nothing saying that a person who does something amazing and expensive for themselves isn't ALSO doing things that are amazing and awesome for other people.

My relatives work HARD for their money (not physically hard like doing manual labor, but other types of work are hard as well), and their financial success took a lot of money and time in excellent schooling, which took a lot of hard work and time as younger students. They deserve to have fun with their money, and it's weird to hear that IF my family members were to join Club 33 (they won't, they aren't big enough fans), someone would think they aren't thinking straight. It's just not fair to think that or say that.

And since there are plenty of members that are on this very forum, it's really unfair to say it here.

If I was wealthy I'd certainly join..and do plenty of gifting for folks who want to go and I already do what I can for kids dreaming of Disney through Give Kids the World.
I think the exlcusive nature of Club 33 was begun by Walt...

 

[Dexican]

Better go see if my money tree has any $100s to harvest.

I wonder if I pluck some Miley Cyrus tickets off my Ticket Oak if that would suffice as payment...

 

[Meriweather]

DH has been on the waiting list for at least 7 years..............but we decided we wouldn't do it if the chance came along.
We have since bought DVC (at 3 "homes") and are happy with that decision.

 

[Mama Who]

If I was wealthy I'd certainly join..and do plenty of gifting for folks who want to go QUOTE]


Regular people have a list of "whose mortgage I'd pay off if I won the lottery." Disneyland nuts have a list of "Who I'd invite to Club 33 if I got a membership!" (And yes, I have a list too.)

 

[jilld11]

Wow, why did everyone jump all over nannyz? I think it was just an off the cuff remark, but think her idea trumps all others. yes, I understand country clubs are expensive, etc. I don't think she was intending to offend others. Must be a touchy subject for some to get so offended.

 

[ArchOwl]

Wow, why did everyone jump all over nannyz? I think it was just an off the cuff remark, but think her idea trumps all others. yes, I understand country clubs are expensive, etc. I don't think she was intending to offend others. Must be a touchy subject for some to get so offended.

Telling people how they should or shouldn't spend their money is rude. I am not wealthy, but just the fact that I can afford to take a vacation makes me better off than many in this country. Because Disneyland is an unreachable dream for someone else, should I forgo my vacation and donate that money instead? That is exactly the same logic used by some when they discuss Club 33. The only difference is the amount of money. But to someone living on the streets, a vacation is a lot of money. It is all relative.

If someone posted that we should all forgo our vacations this year and donate the money to charity, I don't think it would go over very well . Same thing when someone posts that people shouldn't join Club 33.

 

[Malcon10t]

Wow, why did everyone jump all over nannyz? I think it was just an off the cuff remark, but think her idea trumps all others. yes, I understand country clubs are expensive, etc. I don't think she was intending to offend others. Must be a touchy subject for some to get so offended.

For me, I simple wanted to explain how Club 33 isn't really as outrageous as some might think. Other things are even more outrageous, and the Club is simply appealing to a specific group. I think a lot of people have their mindset on what is acceptable to spend money on, and what isn't. For some, the expense of the resort hotels is acceptable, but spending on a suite is not. Three nights in the pirate suite would pay for your one year dues at the Club. It comes down to a mindset of "If it is outside my ability, then it is too outrageous." I have a friend who was very surprised it will be this "cheap" and plans on plunking down the cash when her turn comes up. They will use it.

Some would say if you have that much money, you should donate it. Or take the kids from the barrio to Disneyland. But instead of Disneyland, wouldn't it be better to use THAT money then to make sure they have the proper school supplies? Or that they have decent meals?

It really doesn't matter what people say, someone else will have a differing opinion. Using Nanny's original thinking, instead of Disney making a movie, why not use that funding for donation to support education? (Yes, I know the money then creates jobs, and revenue, so why not use that profit to support education?) You can see the circle this goes in....

 

[Mama Who]

Wow, why did everyone jump all over nannyz? I think it was just an off the cuff remark, but think her idea trumps all others. yes, I understand country clubs are expensive, etc. I don't think she was intending to offend others. Must be a touchy subject for some to get so offended.

I think it's interesting that you view her unsolicited criticism of people with different values as "just an off the cuff remark" but other people answering her question as "jumping all over" her. Why is it okay for her to tell people that their way is wrong but not okay for others to say that it isn't?

I don't think anyone has been rude in responding to her. Must be a touchy subject for you to get so offended that people disagreed with her. Or maybe we're all just adults having a conversation with different viewpoints and nobody was being touchy at all.

 

[franandaj]

Personally, I think it's great they are reopening the waiting list. I have a friend who wanted to put his name on it when he graduated HS, thinking by the time his name came around he might be successful enough to buy in. Then they closed the list.

He had submitted his application by 8:30AM and the story ran on the 6:00AM news here in SoCal.

 

[nannyz]

Believe me, none of your comments offended me. I am way too old to let those things bother me.
And now I understand what the Club 33 thing is all about.

 

[Malcon10t]

Believe me, none of your comments offended me. I am way too old to let those things bother me.
And now I understand what the Club 33 thing is all about.

Thank you. I had hoped my post didn't offend you, it wasn't intended that way.

 

[Mama Who]

Personally, I think it's great they are reopening the waiting list. I have a friend who wanted to put his name on it when he graduated HS, thinking by the time his name came around he might be successful enough to buy in. Then they closed the list.

He had submitted his application by 8:30AM and the story ran on the 6:00AM news here in SoCal.

Good luck to him!

 

[DizMe]

Sorry this is somewhat OT, but if you buy a membership and then die, can your family members continue to pay the membership dues and keep it or does it go back into the pool for those on the waiting list? For instance, if your spouse has a membership and you and the kids go along but then your spouse passes away, can you take over the membership? If so, would you have to pay a new initiation fee?

 

[M4travels]

Sorry this is somewhat OT, but if you buy a membership and then die, can your family members continue to pay the membership dues and keep it or does it go back into the pool for those on the waiting list? For instance, if your spouse has a membership and you and the kids go along but then your spouse passes away, can you take over the membership? If so, would you have to pay a new initiation fee?

The way the rules are currently written, if the member dies the spouse/significant other has the option of, yes, paying the initiation fee and taking over the membership before it goes out to the general public. If the current member is a gold, the survivor would be required to upgrade to the platinum level.

 

[Disney Dreams]

My heart goes out to the person (people) who have been on the list for YEARS, can now afford what the price used to be, but now cannot afford to join because of the significantly higher pricing. If you are one of those people, .

- Dreams

 

[jlima]

I put my name on the list in 2006.

I got the invitation in the mail today.

 

[Nonsuch]

I put my name on the list in 2006.
I got the invitation in the mail today.

Same here