You now can put your name on the waiting list for a membership to Disneyland's famed Club 33. Disney's taking names again, in anticipation of the opening of the new Club 33 annex - 1901 - in the Carthay Circle at Disney California Adventure.
It's $25,000 grand to join if you get in, with yearly dues of $10,000 - the first year paid up front. But several of us on Twitter have wondered if that's the only price to be paid to get into Walt's exclusive club.
"Is there any hazing involved?" Arthur Levine from About Theme Parks asked on Twitter. "Do applicants have to consume insane amounts of Dole Whip while Mickey goads them on?"
So we'll take your silly suggestions for #Club33HazingRituals in the comments.
By the way, if you're loaded (and not just on Dole Whip) and really want to sign up, the email to send your inquiry is club33interest@disneyland.com. The email link to invite me, once you join, is at the bottom of the page. ;^)
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Does anybody know if you get a portion of the up front fee back if you decide to leave the club, or do they just keep the money?
You got $35,000 and another $10,000 a year to burn? Why not buy a DVC (Disney Vacation Club)?
Hazing for Club 33 involves Turkey Legs+Tea Cups+ 24 Hours of non-stop action... 10 minute breaks every hour.
Hazing for the new restaurant involves devouring as many Award Weiners while riding Tower of Terror. One dog minimum per trip into the Twilight Zone and must be finished before photo op. Kobayashi and Chestnut will be on hand for tips and motivation.
When you buy into many clubs, you are buying a membership. Since you have a stake in the club (ownership) when you decide to quit, you sell your membership at either a profit or loss to another person who wants to join the club. Club 33 members are not owners and the initiation fee is one-time charge that is lost forever.
Most clubs are also managed by the members who elect a board who supervises the overall operation of the club. In most cases the board will hire a management team that reports to them to manage the day-to-day operations. That's not the case with Club 33. It's solely run by Disney. They set the prices, policies and benefits and offer up no guarantee when you purchase a membership for the future.
Annual dues can be raised at any time and to any amount they so desire. They can drive the existing membership out of the club if they want simply by raising the price to a point that no existing member will participate. You have no say, and thus the members are not represented.
Lastly, dinner at Club 33 is pricey, but what makes Club 33 special is the events, but the price of the member events has gone through the roof. With the initiation fee and annual dues at these price points I would expect the events to be priced appropriately. It's not the case. There is an upcoming dinner event for club members and it is $500 a person. That would certainly be one of the most expensive covers in the country.
I was interested in Club 33 for many years, but with the recent changes in dues, which I can still afford, I have lost interest for the reasons I stated. The benefits offered are just not worth it.
After writing this I find it disgusting how Disney is managing Club 33.
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Now if Disney wanted to create some sort of premier pass like USF has that gives you fastpass access to all rides after a certain time each day I would definitely consider the investment in that, but it would have to make $en$e.
Club 33 does not.