Got to go to Club 33 for the holidays (pics)

[DizMe]

Wow, what fun! My sister and I were lucky enough to get to go to Club 33 before Christmas. I have a good friend who has been kind enough to offer me carte blanche at Club 33, even with the new rules that are in the works. I can't say enough good things about him but as you can imagine, I am flattered beyond words.

I thought some might enjoy seeing some of what we got to view during our luncheon, so here are some pics. I have tons of them but I know it's probably boring to look at them all so I tried to narrow it down. Narrowing it down, as you will see, didn't work out that well as I still ended up with a whole slew of them to post.

First, we felt so...special getting to push the buzzer at the Club 33 door to be let in! People were watching us and whispering that we were going in. Once inside, the hostess asked our name and phoned upstairs to let them know we were there. We took a picture of her with our flat husbands. Those were laminated versions of our hubbies that we took along with us--they are much easier to travel with than the real versions and they totally approved of everything we did

Here is the hostess with our flat boys:


We took the antique lift up to the dining floor above. The dining room was beautiful! We were in the main dining room, which has a gorgeous bar, fireplace, velvet curtains at the French doors and wood floors. It was decorated for Christmas and looked beautiful. I didn't take a lot of pictures as it was a close space and I didn't want to infringe on anyone. Here is the dining room we were in, taken from our table:


This is looking toward the salad/seafood bar. Across from it is the dessert bar and soup area:


And this is us at our table (with the flat boys)! We got to go out the French doors and onto the wrap-around balcony later on. You could look out our window and watch the Mark Twain go by, and we were entertained by the pirate band below:


I will continue in my next post...

 

[DizMe]

...so here we are, enjoying a drink (alcohol!) and the ambience:



The balcony:


How about this for salad plates! And it's all you can eat!!



I couldn't believe how much food we had. Besides crab legs, lobster tails, cheese, fruit, nuts, multiple salad choices and prawns, there was unlimited soup and a lovely basket of bread brought to the table. And that was just starters! You order an entree from the menu and then feast on the soups and salads mentioned above. We ordered Chateaubriand the first day, salmon the second day and I went back to the Chateaubriand the last day while my sister opted for the pasta dish. I think it was 5 kinds of pasta. Did I mention we got to go 3 days in a row?? For some reason, I didn't take any pictures of the main courses, boo hoo. They were fabulous and you're allowed to mix and match sides from any of the other choices. Our wonderful waiter, Blair, let me take home a menu but without it in front of me, I can't remember exactly what the options were. I can look it up if anyone really wants to know, but I didn't think that it would be of much interest.

Dessert is next...

 

[DizMe]

Wow, for a sugar fiend like me, this was hog heaven. A whole dessert table you can visit as many times as you want. They even let you take extra and will box it up for you when you go! Or they did for us, at least.

Here is my dessert plate. I'd love to tell you I didn't eat much of it, but that would be a little bitty lie... it was so tasty!! I was expecting it to be rather blah like dessert buffets tend to be, but it was high quality (most of it). One of the yummy sides was a Mickey macaroon with chocolate ears. They gave us a whole box of those to take with us!


There were some cute club 33 items:



Here is a view as we were leaving the dining room. There is a bridge-like hallway that crosses above NOS:


The reason I had Blair take this picture is because he told us the table we're standing in front of was in the movie Mary Poppins! It's also in the bridge hallway:


Will finish up with one last shot!

 

[DizMe]

It was so much fun! We had to buy some items from the etagere thingy when we finished. We each bought a Club 33 holiday pin and a Club 33 baseball cap. I also got ears and a bunch of pens from our 3 days of gorging I made sure to ask to keep the pen every time I signed anything.

Thanks for looking! Here's me wearing my new Club 33 ears:

 

[WDWLVR]

We sat at that exact same table last year. I loved our visit to Club 33 and seeing it at the holidays was extra special. 3 days in a row....wow!

 

[Rhonna]

Thank you for the pictures! This is one of the things that appeals to me the most about Club 33 (no, I haven't managed to ever go yet) - is being able to sit at a window table and overlook New Orleans square, my favorite area of the park. I have even thought I would choose to go during lunch, not dinner since I want to look out the window in daylight and see the view. You got to do exactly what I would pick if I could go! Love it! Oh, and your "approving flat husbands" are a great idea! Very cute.

We managed the Fantasmic! dessert once when it was on the balcony of the old disney gallery. I would LOVE to stay at the suite that is there now with the private inner terrace.

 

[blackjackdelta]

...so here we are, enjoying a drink (alcohol!) and the ambience:



The balcony:


How about this for salad plates! And it's all you can eat!!



I couldn't believe how much food we had. Besides crab legs, lobster tails, cheese, fruit, nuts, multiple salad choices and prawns, there was unlimited soup and a lovely basket of bread brought to the table. And that was just starters! You order an entree from the menu and then feast on the soups and salads mentioned above. We ordered Chateaubriand the first day, salmon the second day and I went back to the Chateaubriand the last day while my sister opted for the pasta dish. I think it was 5 kinds of pasta. Did I mention we got to go 3 days in a row?? For some reason, I didn't take any pictures of the main courses, boo hoo. They were fabulous and you're allowed to mix and match sides from any of the other choices. Our wonderful waiter, Blair, let me take home a menu but without it in front of me, I can't remember exactly what the options were. I can look it up if anyone really wants to know, but I didn't think that it would be of much interest.

Dessert is next...

Thanks for the photo's. Love the the lunch, takes a time to enjoy everything.

Jack

 

[rowan1813]

Thank you for the lovely pictures!!!! Its been quite a few years since I was there and I love seeing the pictures, especially how it was decorated for Christmas. You are so lucky to have such a wonderful friend!

 

[Disneydreamsdancer]

wow thats one amazing story! Thanks for the photos, looks like such a beautifully decorated place, sounds like you had a great time!

 

[frijolefrito]

Everyone seems to love the lunch. I haven't enjoyed my last 3 dinners hmmm... maybe I need to hit up the lunch. Awesome glad you enjoyed it.

 

[Rhonna]

Does anyone know of a "list" or at least a good number of companies that have membership to Club 33 or is that kept secret? It seems like I've read several times on the boards that someone either found out that their company or a friend's company had membership and they were able to go to Club 33 BUT they didn't know for years that it was available to them.

For those who know (not private individuals who are members) what companies they work(ed) for or their friend work(ed) for that eventually got them in. Is that considered a no-no to tell that info. or do some people not want to reveal it because they think there will be a run on people asking for the perk if it's widely known which companies can get you in?

Has anyone gone as a guest of a company and been told not to reveal who got them in?

As an example, years ago (before DCA) my sister worked for a really tiny company that was basically a tax write off for BP. When the manager of this small company found out my sister and I were planning to go to DL she somehow found out through a contact at BP that they had perks and without asking my sister she got us free 3 day passes, I remember at least two free meals at Blue Bayou (no cost limit) and free vouchers for quick service food places too. I'm pretty sure our meals were paid for the whole three days. We had to take care of our own hotel, of course, and couldn't afford to stay at a nice place. It was really nice of that manager to do it for us and we didn't expect it since my sis didn't actually work for BP itself. I don't think I even knew about Club 33 back then. So, if I knew someone at BP (which I don't) I would probably ask now.

So are people allowed to say: "It was this company I got in through"? Anyone feel comfortable doing that?

I almost feel like I shouldn't mention BP but we were never told not to say anything. Weird how you feel the need for secrecy even when you haven't been told to keep quiet. Of course, I also realize that for large companies, not everyone gets the perks. Often it's who you know within the company. If anyone names a company it will probably help others reading these boards more than me since we don't know anyone at any big companies, lol. I guess I'm just curious.

 

[vettegirl]

Great photos! Thank you so much for sharing.

 

[deej696]

Love your pics...the one of your dessert plate is nearly identical to one I took at brunch last week. We were lucky to go as well, and with the new rule changes it seems like it might be our last. I'm writing a full review as we speak and having so much fun doing it

 

[PrincessSitka]

I love the pics. What new rules?

 

[sonnyjane]

I love the pics. What new rules?

They have decided that from now on, private members will be limited to 50 complimentary guest passes each year. This does not mean they are limited to 50 guests, just that they will no longer be able to give a complimentary parkhopper to Club 33 guests beyond that number of 50. The idea is that this may cut down on members giving away as many reservations so that they can possibly increase the number of members.

 

[PrincessSitka]

Thank you

 

[ArchOwl]

Thank you for sharing, so cool that you went 3 days in a row!

My DH and I sat at that exact same table the last two times we were there, it must be where they put a lot of 2 tops. We loved it, because it had such a great view.

So lucky you got the ears as well! I want those and they are never in stock when I am there, go figure. Enjoy them!

 

[bumbershoot]

Those were laminated versions of our hubbies that we took along with us--they are much easier to travel with than the real versions and they totally approved of everything we did

Love it!

Did I mention we got to go 3 days in a row??

...I can look it up if anyone really wants to know, but I didn't think that it would be of much interest.

Wow, 3 days in a row????

I'm sure that many people would be interested in the menu....

They have decided that from now on, private members will be limited to 50 complimentary guest passes each year. This does not mean they are limited to 50 guests, just that they will no longer be able to give a complimentary parkhopper to Club 33 guests beyond that number of 50. The idea is that this may cut down on members giving away as many reservations so that they can possibly increase the number of members.

I just don't understand why they would think that it would cut down on the number of reservations. It's not like you can upgrade the tickets (or even use them on a different day) as far as I have read. Not very interesting to the regular park goer who might have an AP, or for someone on a trip that's longer than one day, since they still have to buy tickets for the other days.

 

[DizMe]

Love it!



Wow, 3 days in a row????

I'm sure that many people would be interested in the menu....

Ok! I scanned it so here it is. The bottom got cut off but all of the food items are there. What's missing is: Executive Chef: Marcel St. Pierre General Manager: Jeannie Villarreal-Bissell

I just don't understand why they would think that it would cut down on the number of reservations. It's not like you can upgrade the tickets (or even use them on a different day) as far as I have read. Not very interesting to the regular park goer who might have an AP, or for someone on a trip that's longer than one day, since they still have to buy tickets for the other days.

Yes, I agree. I read that there were some members who were handing out free passes/reservations like crazy and it was costing DLR (allegedly) more than the members were paying. That is very hard for me to believe, but even if true, it couldn't be too many of them doing this. I would think it more likely to come from the corporate members but they pay a lot more anyway, don't they? I know my friend doesn't hand out that many reservations/passes. It's a little dangerous to do that because of the fact that the member is on the hook to pay up if the diners don't show and their behavior reflects on the member. I know you know all of this, Molly-- just posting it for others.

What puzzles me is the huge increase in the membership cost. New members, from what I understand, will now have to pony up $10,000 per year in dues! Current members pay $3000 (which goes up to $3600 under the new rules). They can upgrade to the new platinum level membership, which includes both Club 33 and the Carthay Club in DCA, without having to pay the initiation fee or they can remain as gold members. Anyone not currently a member will be obligated to purchase a $10k platinum membership if their name comes up on the list and they decide to join. I would think a lot of those on the current waiting list will not be able to pay that much. It's one thing to plan for $3000/year and a whole different ballgame when you're talking about $10,000. It pretty well eliminates Mr. or Ms. Average, especially with some of the other cuts that go along with it. I can't imagine what could be so spectacular at Carthay Club to merit a price increase of that magnitude, with perks eliminated on top of it.

 

[ArchOwl]

Yes, I agree. I read that there were some members who were handing out free passes/reservations like crazy and it was costing DLR (allegedly) more than the members were paying. That is very hard for me to believe, but even if true, it couldn't be too many of them doing this. I would think it more likely to come from the corporate members but they pay a lot more anyway, don't they? I know my friend doesn't hand out that many reservations/passes. It's a little dangerous to do that because of the fact that the member is on the hook to pay up if the diners don't show and their behavior reflects on the member. I know you know all of this, Molly-- just posting it for others.

What puzzles me is the huge increase in the membership cost. New members, from what I understand, will now have to pony up $10,000 per year in dues! Current members pay $3000 (which goes up to $3600 under the new rules). They can upgrade to the new platinum level membership, which includes both Club 33 and the Carthay Club in DCA, without having to pay the initiation fee or they can remain as gold members. Anyone not currently a member will be obligated to purchase a $10k platinum membership if their name comes up on the list and they decide to join. I would think a lot of those on the current waiting list will not be able to pay that much. It's one thing to plan for $3000/year and a whole different ballgame when you're talking about $10,000. It pretty well eliminates Mr. or Ms. Average, especially with some of the other cuts that go along with it. I can't imagine what could be so spectacular at Carthay Club to merit a price increase of that magnitude, with perks eliminated on top of it.

That is the strange part, isn't it? You can't go around handing out parkhoppers to your friends. They have to have a reservation at the Club and they have to pick it up from Guest Relations. You can't go around just handing them out.

However, a previous benefit was the plus one benefit. A Club 33 membership used to function like a Premium Annual Pass for the Member. In addition to 365 day access to the parks whether they were eating at the club or not, they could sign one additional person into the parks per day. Now they are completely abolishing this perk. There will be no more plus one benefits for any Member and only the new Platinum Members will get the new perk which is 4 Premier Annual Passes (good for WDW as well as DL) that they can give to whoever they want. If you stay at Gold, you won't have your plus one benefit or the new Premier Pass benefit. Basically limiting your access to the parks to just yourself. You also get to book 5 VIP tours a year with Platinum membership. I think Disney is thinking that the total cost of 4 Premier Passes plus the VIP tours is supposed to be why the new membership level is so costly. You also get the benefit of Club 1901 in DCA, which isn't really sounding that amazing right now, basically a small lounge area.

From the outside it looks as though Disney is trying to whittle down the list to people with serious cash. Maybe an attempt to make it more exclusive. Since a member now only can give out 50 parkhoppers, they will make less reservations and Disney can add more members at $10,000 a pop. Overall, more money for Disney and more exclusivity for the Club.

The vast majority of people who are guests of a Member at the Club are not AP holders I would imagine. They are friends or business associates of the Member who would not pay extra to spend a day at DL.