Club 33 "Regulars" - Question about my 1st trip

[DizMe]

I'm fairly certain it is gone. Chef Sutton was all excited about the kitchen expansion last time he talked. That was where the kitchen was expanded to.

I heard they expanded the kitchen into... part of the Dream Suite instead, maybe? A storage area or something. I know it's a long shot, but I'm holding out a little hope it turns out to be true.

 

[whoever]

That's a major bummer. Probably means I'll never see the inside of 33 again. I'll still have my memories regardless. I'm sure with the new rules, the chance of getting a hosted reservation has gone down to next to nil. All good things must come to an end .... or something like that....

Here's to you C33!! (I think I cleaned out the display case) and especially to my sponsor who made my wife and my 10th wedding anniversary so special. My hat goes off to you.


From my last Trip Report. Had I known the new rules, I may have done a sad face:

 

[LisainCalifornia]

I just wanted to say thanks again to the person who made my reservation a few years ago for me and my daughter from this board. Dizme helped to set it up. I haven't been here in a while because I now work full time after years of working part time as a mom of 3. This is something that I carry with me as a memory that I will never forget. I sincerely appreciate the kindness.

My daughter and I had lunch there in February a few years ago for my birthday trip with her. After that we went on the Mark Twain River Boat and were selected to ride with the captain out of the blue. Everything that day was so memorable and I am so thrilled I got to experience it. My kids are now growing up and we just don't get to Disneyland that often, but this is something that I will remember always. I don't know who the person is that was the member that granted me my reservation, but I want you to know your kindness meant a lot to both of us.

Have a nice lunch or dinner at club 33--either one will be great!

 

[DizMe]

I just wanted to say thanks again to the person who made my reservation a few years ago for me and my daughter from this board. Dizme helped to set it up. I haven't been here in a while because I now work full time after years of working part time as a mom of 3. This is something that I carry with me as a memory that I will never forget. I sincerely appreciate the kindness.

My daughter and I had lunch there in February a few years ago for my birthday trip with her. After that we went on the Mark Twain River Boat and were selected to ride with the captain out of the blue. Everything that day was so memorable and I am so thrilled I got to experience it. My kids are now growing up and we just don't get to Disneyland that often, but this is something that I will remember always. I don't know who the person is that was the member that granted me my reservation, but I want you to know your kindness meant a lot to both of us.

Have a nice lunch or dinner at club 33--either one will be great!

What a sweet post!! So good to hear from you and know it is still a beautiful memory . I have been so lucky to have had the opportunity to visit the club thanks to my wonderful mentor and friend. You have to admire someone who just loves to make others happy

 

[mjlum]

Add to it, they can only book reservations 14 days in advance for Mon-Thurs and 3 days for Fri-Sun and all days from Thanksgiving week thru New Years.

Are these rules the same for corporate sponsors?

 

[jlima]

As I understood the matter, removing the fireplace from the main dining area would open up a small amount of space there to possibly add more seats. And, the new lounge was going to have a small number (4 or less) of booth seating that would be used for dining.

My 2 cents - The new lounge, like 1901, will be a very popular place. With lower-tier members having limited access and non-members having no access, the C33 CMs who work the door are going to be in the position of saying no a lot of times, to a lot of people who are fortunate enough to be dining yet don't have the access to the lounge. Kinda like a VIP area at a nightclub. Something along the lines of this:

Gold/Silver/etc member:
"Hi, I don't have a dining reservation today; but can we go up to the lounge for a bit?"

"Actually sir, the lounge has limited access and without a dining reservation, it is restricted."

or this:

Non-member without club member present:
"Yes, a friend of my bosses' wife's 3rd cousin/the guy who answered my Craigslist ad/my friend's rich uncle/someone I met on this Internet message board called The DIS/etc. made my reservation and we're not members, but could we go into the lounge for just one cocktail before we go to our table?"

"Actually, sir, the lounge is restricted to members only, but we have a unique cocktail menu that your server can go over with you when you are seated in the Grand Salon."

I'm sure the C33 management will make scripted responses and find different yet polite ways to say no, you're not getting in. And this is going to get real old, real fast with CMs who will, IMO, be the Kings and Queens of no by the end of the first day the lounge is open. By dialing back the amount of non-member reservations, this will save these cast members a lot of drama and make it easier for members to make reservations. And, make seating in the lounge available to members when they are there.

 

[M4travels]

Are these rules the same for corporate sponsors?

Yes, they are.

ETA: At least currently.

 

[Malcon10t]

Are these rules the same for corporate sponsors?

Yes and no... A corporation, such as Chevron, has up to 9 members (aka associates or affiliates.) Each member is allotted 20 reservations.

 

[starry_solo]

Add to it, they can only book reservations 14 days in advance for Mon-Thurs and 3 days for Fri-Sun and all days from Thanksgiving week thru New Years.

Eek! I heard the 14-days in advance and 3-days in advance, but I thought the 3 days in advance was only for holidays. WOW even more!

 

[Nonsuch]

So through the generosity of someone I can never repay, I will have the chance to take my wife to Club 33 later this year. Obviously things may be changed after the current refurb finishes...

I certainly hope your host will be able to make your reservations considering all the new rules...

On the bright side for all guests, the Grand Reopening is July 18
All the construction walls and blocked paths should be gone
Some friends were in the park last weekend, and even NOS restrooms were closed.

 

[jetskigrl]

Add to it, they can only book reservations 14 days in advance for Mon-Thurs and 3 days for Fri-Sun and all days from Thanksgiving week thru New Years.

Wow...I had not heard about those new rules. I had almost worked up the courage to ask my father's friend for a reservation next year for mine and DH's 20th anniversary. But they haven't been as close lately so I have been reluctant to ask. But now I just lost my nerve again. I could not ask them to use one of their 20 bookings on us.

I am extremely grateful that he was able to get us a reservation 4 years ago for my DS's birthday, so at least we did get the opportunity to dine there once.

 

[Gisele]

Wow...I had not heard about those new rules. I had almost worked up the courage to ask my father's friend for a reservation next year for mine and DH's 20th anniversary. But they haven't been as close lately so I have been reluctant to ask. But now I just lost my nerve again. I could not ask them to use one of their 20 bookings on us.

I wouldn't allow that to stop me. I say, just ask, after all if you don't, then you may wonder about it over time.
His response will be yes or no.
This would be for your 20th anniversary, that's a milestone, which by the way congratulations!
Not to sound like a cliche, but one really does only live once. Well unless you believe in reincarnation, but that is an entirely different story man.

 

[mjlum]

I heard! Members can only make 20 reservations per year for their guests, if they are not dining with them. WOW!

I just heard that 20 reservations is not 20 parties, but party of 6, party of 3, etc. can anyone confirm? Sounds like my source talked to Disney.

so, I would be hesitant to ask a member if I could use their guest reservation. To me, that seems like a pretty big favor unless they knew they were not going to use their reservations.

 

[pinksand]

I just heard that 20 reservations is not 20 parties, but party of 6, party of 3, etc. can anyone confirm? Sounds like my source talked to Disney.

That's not correct. It's 20 separate reservations (not individuals) of any party size (up to the Club maximum of 12).

 

[whoever]

Not to sound like a cliche, but one really does only live once. Well unless you believe in reincarnation, but that is an entirely different story man.

According to my Indian coworkers, while they don't really have a number as to how many times you live, 3 is the accepted reincarnations.

 

[Aladora]

Wow...I had not heard about those new rules. I had almost worked up the courage to ask my father's friend for a reservation next year for mine and DH's 20th anniversary. But they haven't been as close lately so I have been reluctant to ask. But now I just lost my nerve again. I could not ask them to use one of their 20 bookings on us.

I am extremely grateful that he was able to get us a reservation 4 years ago for my DS's birthday, so at least we did get the opportunity to dine there once.

My way of thinking has always been this: If you ask someone for a favour, the worst they could do is say no. If you don't ask, then the answer is automatically no.

I don't know anyone with a C33 membership but if I did know someone well enough to know that they had one, I would probably ask very, very nicely!

 

[jetskigrl]

I wouldn't allow that to stop me. I say, just ask, after all if you don't, then you may wonder about it over time.
His response will be yes or no.
This would be for your 20th anniversary, that's a milestone, which by the way congratulations!
Not to sound like a cliche, but one really does only live once. Well unless you believe in reincarnation, but that is an entirely different story man.

My way of thinking has always been this: If you ask someone for a favour, the worst they could do is say no. If you don't ask, then the answer is automatically no.

I don't know anyone with a C33 membership but if I did know someone well enough to know that they had one, I would probably ask very, very nicely!

All good points Our 20th anniversary is not until next year so I'll see how my father's relationship with his friend is at that time. I have spent a little time with this man in the past (family events, etc) but he is not someone that I'm close enough to myself to ask, especially if he and my Dad are no longer friends.

 

[Iceman93]

The new lounge, like 1901, will be a very popular place.

I agree with your entire post, but did want to ask if 1901 is really all that popular. Anytime my family has been there, we've either been the only guests in the whole place, or sharing it with maybe one other group. We have certainly never been turned away at the door, had difficulty finding a place to sit, etc.

 

[pinksand]

I agree with your entire post, but did want to ask if 1901 is really all that popular. Anytime my family has been there, we've either been the only guests in the whole place, or sharing it with maybe one other group. We have certainly never been turned away at the door, had difficulty finding a place to sit, etc.

Many a Saturday night it's been difficult, if not impossible, to find a place to sit.
1901 is peaks and valleys. Sometimes it's super busy and you do your best to find any available seat and just wait for a party to leave so you can grab their spot, and sometimes it's dead empty. You've actually been quite lucky to have had only the latter.

 

[Malcon10t]

I agree with your entire post, but did want to ask if 1901 is really all that popular. Anytime my family has been there, we've either been the only guests in the whole place, or sharing it with maybe one other group. We have certainly never been turned away at the door, had difficulty finding a place to sit, etc.

You are very lucky. When we have gone, it is usually fairly packed. We are typically there busy periods (weekends, spring break, Christmas) and there are times you can get in easily and others where we have walked out due to no seats available.