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

[DizMe]

I appreciate that, I really do. I'm going to keep looking. Just to be clear though, I'm not looking for or asking for any DISboards Club 33 member's help. I'm not saying you believed that, but I just want to be perfectly clear so that people didn't.

I've talked to a few Club 33 members here via PM, just picking their brains for info when I confirmed I was going. But I just want to make it clear that I'm not looking for a handout or anything. Hope it didn't come across as that. And if it did, sorry.

I just figured at this point I started the thread, got some great info and insight, people actually took the time to check and make sure I was still good to go after the changes, and I confirmed I was...and now I'm just continuing the story I guess (not that anyone cares about some random internet stranger I'm sure).

Hey, who knows...maybe one day Disney will make this thread into their next animated feature film or even a short. "The Adventures of 33First(or no)Timer." I'd watch that so long as they cast a "good-looking voice" as me.

Ha ha!!! You're funny. Maybe you could star in a podcast, at least.

I doubt anyone thinks you're asking for anything. That has been done plenty of times and your posts have never come off that way at all. However, I know how disappointing this must be, and I admire the way you're dealing with it. I don't know that I could be quite that cavalier, at least on the inside . It's tricky now with the new rules but I will reiterate: don't give up.

 

[33FirstTimer]

Ha ha!!! You're funny. Maybe you could star in a podcast, at least.

I doubt anyone thinks you're asking for anything. That has been done plenty of times and your posts have never come off that way at all. However, I know how disappointing this must be, and I admire the way you're dealing with it. I don't know that I could be quite that cavalier, at least on the inside . It's tricky now with the new rules but I will reiterate: don't give up.

I find laughter to be the best medicine. And I won't give up. Promise. I'll provide updates so that the guys over at Pixar/Disney will have a partial script to work from.

 

[jetskigrl]

My daughter wants the baseball cap and the Dooney and Burke.

Oh no....not a Dooney...now they are playing dirty

Now that is something that I might get down on my knees to beg someone to get for me (assuming they become a regular item).

I haven't seen the purse. I'm still pining for the HM purse but I'd either destroy it (I'm hard on purses) or have to put it in my display case, and that's too much money for either option

I have to admit the new logo looks a whole lot better on the merchandise, especially with the blue background. It doesn't look nearly as childish and princess-y as it started out but it still has a little bit of cartoon look to it. I don't really like the way the numbers look. Then again, I'm one to resist change in things I already love.

I wonder if they'll have ear hats again? I didn't see those, either.

I'm still chasing the elusive HM Dooney too I never seem to be at the park at the right time to catch one.

Well, it's looking like the reason for this thread and the discussion it has spawned may be for nothing. I got an email during the middle of the night from my contact who said they now won't be able to help me out after all.

All in all it feels like a kick to the gut to be perfectly honest. They didn't give a reason, and that's fine. I'm not mad at them or anything, because I realize the new rules and other things have probably had a big effect, and who knows what else came into play. And I know it's just a meal, etc in the end. So, I'll get it over it. Just wish it had played out differently like any of us would have. It's a long trip for us WDW vets from Florida, and I've already booked the flight so we'll still be going and will make the best of a wonderful place anyhow, Club 33 or not.

Yeah, it happens. I mean, I'll still do my best to find a way to go don't get me wrong, be it a charity auction or whatever else comes my way. I've got until March of next year to try and figure it out, so I'll certainly try. But if nothing comes of it, I'll live. Maybe they'll find a way to still offer it, who knows. I'm certainly not even set on dining without the member. Sure, it would be more intimate for my wife and I, but I'd happily go with them and buy their meal if need be, so we'll see. Without know the reasons behind the out-of-the-blue email, I can't really say, and don't really want to pester them either.

But honestly, I'm not mad at my contact because they never owed me anything to begin with. It was a blessing from the start. Like I said before in this thread, the invitation was an honor, not a right. I knew that going in.

I guess the biggest reason for the "kicked in the gut" feeling is not being able to give my wife (I say wife in all these...it's actually fiancee now, wife by then) the Club 33 experience, because there are some very personal/emotional reasons behind the whole Club 33 connection. I didn't think about it this morning at first, but now my fear is that going to Disneyland might actually backfire on me and make it too hard on her to truly enjoy. I know that sounds silly without any insight, but now I just wonder if it's better just not to go the more I think about it this morning. I had went ahead and booked the flight(s) because I had checked with my contact after the new rules came out like I posted before, and they gave me their assurance all was still good...so I went ahead and paid for them which I wouldn't have normally done. I'm sure I can get the airline to let me change them though, even if it's for a small fee. We'll see. Depends on if I ultimately decide it's not worth the risk to take her.

I don't know. I'm rambling here. Sorry about that. Just working through the thoughts/emotions I guess. I'll just have to think it through and figure it out. Keep Calm, it's a small world after all, right?

Oh no....I'm so very sorry to read this. It is one thing to hope to go someday and another thing to be told that you will be going and then find out that you won't. You have a wonderful attitude about it though. It is still really nice that they tried to make it happen in the first place but the disappointment that they are unable to now is still understandable.

 

[33FirstTimer]

Oh no....I'm so very sorry to read this. It is one thing to hope to go someday and another thing to be told that you will be going and then find out that you won't. You have a wonderful attitude about it though. It is still really nice that they tried to make it happen in the first place but the disappointment that they are unable to now is still understandable.

Yeah, that's really the only reason I am mildly upset (disappointed is probably the better word)...because I checked, double checked, and then triple checked even with the new rules and then made plane reservations, etc.

But I've got 8 months or so to try and find an alternative. So we'll see.

 

[ParkHopper1]

Offer to treat your potential host to dinner at Club 33! They can make as many accompanied reservations as they want! They show...you buy...win win!

 

[33FirstTimer]

Offer to treat your potential host to dinner at Club 33! They can make as many accompanied reservations as they want! They show...you buy...win win!

I actually sent that offer earlier today...so we'll see. Being outside of California, communication often takes some time due to different schedules.

Honestly I don't know if the new rules/limits had anything to do with it or not. Maybe they are part of a company membership who is tightening strings on who they can bring. Maybe it is something else entirely. I really can't say, as I don't know them well enough, and they actually offered the meal to me out of the blue when they heard about my soon-to-be wife's past and her story. I was actually just inquiring about the possibility of bidding on a charity auction when they hooked up with me. So that "out-of-the-blue" connection has become somewhat of a curse and a blessing with all these twists and turns.

So, we'll see. I'm certainly more than willing to treat them or any member in any way possible. My fiancee certainly wouldn't mind, and would probably even enjoy it honestly. She's shy, but in general we're people persons...and we're nice people...at least I think we are.

 

[33FirstTimer]

Up, down. Up, down. A roller-coaster day, but not thanks to the like of Big Thunder or Space.

My contact said they could still take me, they'd just have to eat with us. Which I would be absolutely OK with. So, for now, it's back to happiness. I'll update you when the next round of bad news comes, so that you can live vicariously through me and laugh at my posts.

 

[crystal1313]

Woo Hoo! Great news!!! This is how I have been lucky enough to dine at Club 33 in the past, I paid for my hosts meal

 

[Ember]

Okay, never mind! I'm so glad you still get to go!!

 

[jetskigrl]

Up, down. Up, down. A roller-coaster day, but not thanks to the like of Big Thunder or Space.

My contact said they could still take me, they'd just have to eat with us. Which I would be absolutely OK with. So, for now, it's back to happiness. I'll update you when the next round of bad news comes, so that you can live vicariously through me and laugh at my posts.

WOO HOO - you don't have to give up your username!! I'm so glad that it is going to work out after all.

 

[DizMe]

WOO HOO - you don't have to give up your username!! I'm so glad that it is going to work out after all.

Hopefully you'll have to give up your username before too long and become 33oldtimer! Sounds promising. So glad to hear your news, and look forward to the Disney/Pixar production of this.

 

[33FirstTimer]

Basically the 20 non-member limit was one factor, as well as other reasons the host couldn't go into, which I certainly understand. Now, only many months to go before the next down moment.

I'm thinking possibly Brad Pitt to play my voice in a movie. One of you can be voiced by Morgan Freeman.

 

[33FirstTimer]

Two months later, and we're still good to go for 2015. Fingers remained crossed.

Anyone have any new advice/info they think would be relevant since it reopened?

 

[Nonsuch]

...Anyone have any new advice/info they think would be relevant since it reopened?

A recent trip report from another board
(a Happy report, from the Grumpy board )

 

[33FirstTimer]

Just a few months to go, and everything still seems to be lining up. So we'll see. Any news of late that I should know or need to know?

 

[starry_solo]

Just a few months to go, and everything still seems to be lining up. So we'll see. Any news of late that I should know or need to know?

There are some changes in store for Club 33 members which I'm not sure will impact your reservation (the member is going with you, correct?)

 

[33FirstTimer]

There are some changes in store for Club 33 members which I'm not sure will impact your reservation (the member is going with you, correct?)

Yes, the member will be going with me. I honestly couldn't tell you what level membership my member has. Again, it was just an amazing gesture by them. So far they haven't told me anything negative (such as, hey, we're canceling our membership as a result of all this)...so we'll see. My fingers remain crossed that everything to this point hasn't been too good to be true.

 

[starry_solo]

Yes, the member will be going with me. I honestly couldn't tell you what level membership my member has. Again, it was just an amazing gesture by them. So far they haven't told me anything negative (such as, hey, we're canceling our membership as a result of all this)...so we'll see. My fingers remain crossed that everything to this point hasn't been too good to be true.

From what I've been told, the members are getting information this month as to what will be in effect in two weeks.

 

[Nonsuch]

Yes, the member will be going with me. I honestly couldn't tell you what level membership my member has...

You should be "good to go"
Even with all the rules changes over the last few years, members at all levels have always been able to make reservations for themselves. Changes to this basic club benefit seem unlikely, however rules for guest reservations (without the member) could easily change.