Club 33 - Some Rule Changes For 2015

[Malcon10t]

Thanks Malcon10t for your reply. I don't know his membership level. He's had it a long time and no one else at our company has the ability to make reservations (I'd asked both my immediate boss and a senior exec prior to being directed to him), so I'd guess it's an individual one. Unfortunately, all routes go through his secretary. Haha as an 80 year-old I think he's reached that point where he's realized it's a better use of his time to have her handle anything he doesn't need to himself.

On a corporate account, they usually only have 1 authorized caller. (ie the secretary here.) There are any number of reasons why they are saying no. I know of several corporations that are refusing reservations and saving for important clients.

 

[whoever]

I know many members that are now doing exactly this, due to the 20 per year cap. "Sorry, I can't make unaccompanied reservations anymore" told to those more casual acquaintances requesting reservations. .

That's so unfortunate. I'm a truthful person, and I would prefer to hear the truth even if it was a disappointment. Simply saying I don't have enough reservations to fulfill the request would have been sufficient.

Twenty a year is only about a reservation every three weeks if metered out, so it should be completely understandable by the person asking that they may be competing with the members close friends and family, and nobody would begrudge them the decision they have to make in that regard.

 

[wisdomgiver]

A lie, but done perhaps to save face for both parties. They probably figure most people asking wouldn't have knowledge on the actual rules of the Club anyway.

Little do they know the resources of the true Disneyland fan.

I know of several corporations that are refusing reservations and saving for important clients.

Sigh. Yeah, echoing Whoever's sentiments, my disappointment stems more from the lie / how they handled this. I'd been trying through business contacts for months to even find a member outside our company (and failing) and only asked him as a last resort. My heart jumped through the roof when he said "Sure, I'll have her call."

Ultimately it's his membership to do with as he pleases, and I totally understand that. I just wish he hadn't gotten my hopes up only for his secretary to backtrack and wrongly place the blame on Disneyland. I'd much prefer to have been told upfront that he only makes reservations for family or clients. Oh well.

The "good news" is at least now I know we can still go with a member. We both have annual passes and live an hour from the park. That part of the logistics is easy. I just have to be patient and hope to run across a member who won't be put off by having a gay couple as dinner guests. In evening attire we'd just look like business contacts, I swear! But I won't ask my guy to lie about our relationship to this man for the sake of a reservation. However special it may be, he's more special to me.

Guess we'll just have to keep filling out the cast member compliment cards and continue building good karma! Someday...

 

[Iceman93]

Unless the secretary is a real dragon lady, can't you go back to her and say something like, "Hey, I know you looked into making a Club 33 reservation for me and were told they can no longer accept reservations without the actual member present. But I did some digging online and it sounds like there's been a lot of confusion and recent changes regarding their rules. I'd be really grateful if you could call again just to see if maybe they've changed the policy. Go ahead and do it now while I'm here--I'll wait!"

 

[Malcon10t]

I did some checking and there may be some confusion here. If your friend is an individual member, his secretary is his authorized caller. New rules - Authorized callers cannot make reservations for unaccompanied guests. The member must make the reservation themselves. Corporate accounts are different.

 

[whoever]

I did some checking and there may be some confusion here. If your friend is an individual member, his secretary is his authorized caller. New rules - Authorized callers cannot make reservations for unaccompanied guests. The member must make the reservation themselves. Corporate accounts are different.

That's potentially great news for the OP. Way to go digging that up, A!

 

[DizMe]

I did some checking and there may be some confusion here. If your friend is an individual member, his secretary is his authorized caller. New rules - Authorized callers cannot make reservations for unaccompanied guests. The member must make the reservation themselves. Corporate accounts are different.

Once again, Malcon10t comes through with her endless fount of knowledge (paired with exceptional research tenacity)

 

[wisdomgiver]

I did some checking and there may be some confusion here. If your friend is an individual member, his secretary is his authorized caller. New rules - Authorized callers cannot make reservations for unaccompanied guests. The member must make the reservation themselves. Corporate accounts are different.

Malcon, thanks so much for this info!!! The member is traveling at the moment, so it'll be probably a week or two until I can speak with him directly, but maybe there's a chance after all. Even if it turns out his membership isn't individual, this at least gives me a politically sensitive way of bringing it up. I'll post the outcome after we speak.

I'm headed to the park tonight (Sat) and will probably be there next Sat evening as well. If you also might be there, feel free to shoot me a message! I'd love to get you a thank-you mint julep or Carthay circle cocktail or other classy beverage of your choice. No worries if not, of course.

Btw I've been browsing lots of topics on the boards / starting to post a bit and it's nice to see so many helpful people on here. So glad I came across the site!

 

[Malcon10t]

That's potentially great news for the OP. Way to go digging that up, A!

Once again, Malcon10t comes through with her endless fount of knowledge (paired with exceptional research tenacity)

Malcon, thanks so much for this info!!! The member is traveling at the moment, so it'll be probably a week or two until I can speak with him directly, but maybe there's a chance after all. Even if it turns out his membership isn't individual, this at least gives me a politically sensitive way of bringing it up. I'll post the outcome after we speak.

No problem. It was just an accident I found it out. I happen to be with several members who were discussing it. A couple were commenting that their authorized caller could no longer make unaccompanied reservations, where as another was commenting they could according to their rule book. Come to find out, the first ones were individuals, and the last a corporate account. Just happen to be in the right place at the right time for the conversation!

 

[Disneyluvr2]

Hang in there wisdomgiver! Dreams really do come true. I can't tell you how many years I stood at the green door just hoping for someone to go in, or come out, so I could get a peek in. That would be the highlight of my trip. I didn't think my dream of dining there would ever come true. Then one day without even expecting it, my dream came true and my wish was granted. Keep dreaming. It's going to happen for you some day too!

 

[wisdomgiver]

I have fantastic news!!! Thanks to the info Malcon provided, I was able to give the member one final nudge that his secretary was mistaken... and it worked! Reservation confirmed for Sunday April 26. I'm beyond thrilled! And even better, with the timing happening a little later, I get to do it as a special occasion / gift for the guest I'm taking. Thanks again to Malcon and everyone with supporting words. The dream is happening!

 

[whoever]

GREAT news!!! I'm glad you were graced with some pixie dust!!

 

[Nonsuch]

...As for policies, from what friends and I have discussed, members are limited to 20 unaccompanied reservations a year. They also can only be made 14 days in advance during non-peak times and 3 days prior peak periods.

...Reservation confirmed for Sunday April 26. ...

It does not seem possible to have a confirmed reservation unless the member is joining you for dinner.

 

[Malcon10t]

I have fantastic news!!! Thanks to the info Malcon provided, I was able to give the member one final nudge that his secretary was mistaken... and it worked! Reservation confirmed for Sunday April 26. I'm beyond thrilled! And even better, with the timing happening a little later, I get to do it as a special occasion / gift for the guest I'm taking. Thanks again to Malcon and everyone with supporting words. The dream is happening!

It does not seem possible to have a confirmed reservation unless the member is joining you for dinner.

I'm also a little confused. If the member is joining you, you are good. But if not, you won't be able to get a confirmation until April 23rd at the earliest. And that weekend is going to be exceptionally busy. They have a member event going on.

 

[Carolynleanne]

Well shoot, I guess my chances of ever going just went down even further haha. It's on my life bucketlist - so I will continue to dream it'll one day happen!!!

 

[wisdomgiver]

I'm also a little confused. If the member is joining you, you are good. But if not, you won't be able to get a confirmation until April 23rd at the earliest. And that weekend is going to be exceptionally busy. They have a member event going on.

Hm, good point. I'll check with the secretary again - she seemed to think everything was set. At any rate, the good news is that at least the member is officially approving and helpful now. Any idea what defines "peak periods"?

 

[Malcon10t]

Hm, good point. I'll check with the secretary again - she seemed to think everything was set. At any rate, the good news is that at least the member is officially approving and helpful now. Any idea what defines "peak periods"?

Friday-Sunday everyweek, the week of Thanksgiving, the week around Candlelight, Dec 19-Jan 3 are the ones I can think of quickly. I think there is also a time frame around the 4th of July.

 

[funantiques]

Sooooooo, how about this? I have a friend of a friend that is a member. Could I offer to treat them for dinner, and I join them? Win-win. They get a free dinner and not use up a coveted unaccompanied guest, and I get to go to Club 33??

 

[Malcon10t]

As long as the member is acceptable.

 

[wisdomgiver]

I am happy to report that the dinner Sunday happened! The secretary had misspoken but it all got worked out on Friday. In the end, I still don't know which type of membership was involved. The secretary is so all-over-the-place that I think the member just called and did it himself after becoming exasperated with her. Out of respect for his time and sanity, I can't ever ask him to do so again, but it was completely worth the hassle and effort. He has a very nice thank-you card coming.

Wow. Just wow. It's so beautiful inside! I think my favorite detail was the Pan statue above one of the lobby windows (now my avatar here). The watercolor artwork was great too. We got to step out to the balcony for a peek at both Fantasmic showings, though honestly I enjoyed watching passersby more. I was amazed at the impeccable food and service. We did the full six courses and it took over two and a half hours, but the pacing was perfect. Our sommelier took a shine to us and changed his dessert pairing recommendation at the last minute. Couldn't have asked for a better experience. Aaaand I may or may not have bought a pin, ears, and two cordial glasses. We were the last people to leave the dining room at the end of the night, which was just so magical.

Still kind of pinching myself.

Malcon and opus1guy, if I can ever buy you a drink at Carthay or Napa or some other concession of your choice, let me know. I am so thankful - without your info I would have A) thought a reservation for guests wasn't possible anymore or B) showed up on Sunday, guest in tow, without actually having one.

Side note: As we were waiting to be escorted up, a gentleman who was seated somewhat unsteadily on one of the chairs started peppering us with questions about where we lived, whether we had been here before, whether we were members, etc. I thought he was trying to get a future invitation back from someone exiting, until he said he was a member. Then he got to the point: what we were drinking? The look of disappointment on his face when I said it was just cucumber water was priceless. So apparently when a member has had one too many, they send him to the Court of Angels for a Time Out? Perhaps that's a new rule!