In May of 1967, Club 33 was opened inside the Disneyland park to entertain important guests of Disney. Unfortunately, it came five months after he died. Bummer. The legacy of this prestigious hidden club inside the park is a membership coveted by the die-hard Disney fans, myself included. These fans that are not members don’t have thousands of dollars, nor the patience to wait on a list that is several years long. YEARS. You’ve got to be kidding me.
Supposedly named after it’s street address in New Orleans Square, Club 33 is a mystery to everyone minus the members inside. Rumors on message boards talk about the most ideal membership package being sold for $20,000. Are you serious? Seriously, that much for an art gallery, some vintage movie props and alcohol? Even I, one of the most hardcore of Disney advocates, want to scoff at such a place! Really, I want to, but damn, do you know how good it would feel to rub that in people’s face? “Oh, you like Disney you say? I’m Club 33! Suck eggs, loser!”
What I’ve learned from this is that:
1) After you die, people will take something you made for a specific reason and sell it to the extreme followers of your work. A club made for dignitaries is now made available to greasy nerds in Mickey Mouse ears. You know, as long as they have mountains of money similar to Scrooge McDuck. Which I don’t. Screw you, Disney executive bastards!
2) People will pay anything to be the best fan ever. Trust me, I wouldn’t blink twice if I had the money, and yes, that fact does make me hate myself a bit inside.
For more thorough information, including the history and far-fetched reasoning on why it’s named 33 (like it truly matters) check this page: Club 33.
