BTW, where the hell is
@sweetpee_1993 ? I thought she wanted to discuss this here?
I've been mulling and practicing my one-liners to prepare for my triumphant contribution to a Spirited thread.
One does not simply *post* in the Spirit's thread.
(I don't know how to create those memes with the picture and all. Man, I could had a hum-dinger there!)
Admittedly, I feel like my opinions or thoughts can easily fall into non-validity on the topic as a whole because when we were at DL in May most of the NOS facades were behind tarps. So who am I to criticize or compare when I've never actually seen any of it? Additionally, I'm concerned that I may come off as that sour grapes person since obviously I'm not throwing the big bucks around even if the opportunity was presented to me to be part of the club. I don't wanna be that kinda b-witch. Ultimately, what my current not-biased by personal history feeling is does have a twinge of pea-green-ness. That's the habit of the fangurl in me + that competitive side. But, mostly, I find the club in it's current existence....rude. I'll get to that, tho. I may be opinionated and perhaps abrasive when I let myself go but I pride myself in being polite and kind as a human being. I do have a heart. Remember that when I get to the rude part.
We lived in the New Orleans area (Louisiana, the actual place) for roughly 10 years. If anyone is curious, we lived in Kenner, LaPlace, Abita Springs, and Covington. Some of our dearest friends are visiting us this weekend from Des Allemands. We spent many a day/evening in the actual French Quarter. The pictures I had seen of NOS before the tarps went up were so amazing to me. I really did itch to see all of it for myself. I was thoroughly unhappy about the CoA being taken before I got out west. Best I could tell, NOS was well-done. It captured that charm found in the actual New Orleans French Quarter (sans the undesirable elements, of course). The tarps we saw while we were there hinted at something familiar and comforting to us. Honest. Being in that side queue area of Haunted Mansion was pretty awesome even when it was so unGodly hot. Why? Because the visuals were comforting in a familiarity with the style. I love touring the old homes along River Road. I used to make my man drive me up & down St. Charles just so I could gaze at the grand old homes. So, yeah, I know what New Orleans is like. I know that style, even the eclectic-ness of it well.
So then the tarps came down and I see the pics of the facades start appearing and I'm astounded at how chopped up things are. I asked in another thread if that structure that goes across between the buildings where you walk underneath has always been there but didn't get an answer. I'm not positive. If it has always been there, it doesn't look it. If it's new, it shows. Either way, it looks like crap. You know the movement towards utilizing repurposed storage containers for inhabitable structures? That's what I thought of when I saw that bridged area. It looks like there was beautiful, well-done facades complete with the characteristic ornate wrought iron railings lining 2nd level balconies along a winding back street in the French Quarter.....then BAM! A kid with building blocks came along and plopped a stucco-covered storage container down across the buildings. Let's build a fort, boys! LOL! I'm down with building blocks, fort-building, and storage container construction. I love that stuff. That structure in that setting sticks out like a sore thumb. Very disruptive to the story that I was almost charmed into. The off-center window that faces The RoA. While, yes, you do see quirkiness like that in the French Quarter, there's some authentic details that might not be the best fit for the audience to fully grasp. Also, you're talking about a visual that will be seen from areas not in NoS proper. Too much in the wrong place. Personally, I think a better option would have been to let the window be offset from center on the interior then use drapes or other decorative elements to play it off visually. Easier to do from the inside than the outside.
The big windows look weird. I get they wanted to offer club guests views but, eh, no. Better option? Faux French doors. Floor to ceiling windows. That's what you find in the French Quarter. Why? Because historically, they would open the doors and windows to get cross breezes off the river. The windows/doors are characteristically floor to ceiling. Tall. Not simply oversized. Typically tall and narrow.
Then there's the food. I saw Monkey bread? That's funny. For the price to play I personally would expect more. I'm sure they have better stuff on the menu, tho. Hopefully. Don't get me wrong, my Gramma passed her heavenly Monkey bread recipe to all of us who asked over the years. That's some kinda comfort food for me. I just thought it was an odd, cheap? choice for the setting. Yes, slap-ya-momma good Monkey bread is very easy and inexpensive to make.
I think the club as it was had a mystique and deep historical significance to the park. So much of what was there were Walt's choices. I thought the old door was perfect because if you wanted to find it you could but it wasn't something that you couldn't help but spot. So for the members it truly held the charm of being low-key as a good ol' speak-easy might've been. Trust me, a speak-easy didn't draw attention to themselves. With the new entrance I can honestly say I'm surprised there's not a sign that says something along the lines of "Members only. For information on becoming a member call (xxx)xxx-xxx."
I agree whole heartedly with your opinions of the interior design. It's nice...even beautiful...but it could be anywhere. You wouldn't look at a pic and know exactly where that is. It lacks the historic soul and distinguishing hints at what the place is. It's just a nice lounge and a nice restaurant. Well, like you said, there's nice lounges and restaurants at DL and elsewhere. So, how is it special?
I love when people say, "It's the only place in DL you can have a cocktail which is part of the exclusivity." I have to laugh. Were none of these people any shade of teenage hooligan in their time? Trust me, if I want a cocktail in DL park proper I'll have one or several and I won't be paying crazy membership fees, kissing up to members for a hall pass, or spending money on overpriced libations.
I think the club and it's members have been put on display to the average guest now. Look at THIS. But most guests will never get to go there or experience that. That's counterproductive to the purpose of referring to your paying customers as "guests", don't you think? Flaunting unobtainable exclusivity is tacky. Classy people don't do that. I certainly wouldn't treat any guest in my home that way. And THAT is where I find what has been done with the club as RUDE. I was taught to welcome guests in my home with far more eloquence than that. Really. It's very fundamental stuff.
But, you know, this is the Disney of today. They've tapped into the tiered magic money stream. Come to us for magical memories.....but you could have more magic if you spend $$$ for this....and the better magical memories are here if you spend $$$$$... It's what Disney does now. It irks those of us who know that things like magic and memories aren't tiered, bought, or sold as Mickey would have us think. They didn't used to be and things were great then. But it's the nature of things now. Club 33? It's the top tier of magical things to have. If it's worth it to some, more power to 'em. I'd rather go more places, do more things, keep my money, and still have more magic then Disney produces nowadays. That's just me.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I did get access to 1901 when we were there in May. If Club 33 had been open we would've dined there as we were guests of members. I have zero ties to any company or wealthy people in California. LOL! I'm no lifestyler. I don't have a blog (yet, I'm considering it as a place to store our travel stories for my husband to enjoy at his leisure when he's not at home. Apparently re-re-re-reading my trip reports is his happy thing when he gets breaks at work or when he's out of town on business). No person, company, entity, etc. stands to gain a single thing from my reflections. I posted on a random thread on another forum that I found it easier to not get my feelings hurt about all the things I can't do at DL like go into the clubs or ride in the Lilly Belle by pretending they don't even exist. 2 club members separately, privately reached out to me. These were complete strangers. I had nothing to offer them in return. (I'm not that kinda girl! LOL!) I did find a bit of humanity redemption in the random generosity of both these members who both expressed that part of the value in their membership experience came in sharing it. Maybe it's fun to show it off. I'm choosing to think better and recall the fun in taking first timers to WDW and on DCL. Don't burst that bubble for me! LOL! The member that took us to 1901 and offered us all the other perks he could get for the day was a very nice gentleman and his wife. These were not the show-offy types at all. Plain old folks like us. Family their raising. Disney fans. Their income to cost of living (they live up near San Francisco) probably isn't grossly different from ours, really. We have a boat and all the expenses associated with that because it's what we (read: the hard-working bread-winner husband) enjoys. Really, annual membership dues aren't a whole lot more than that. Disney is a hobby, one they make happen because it's what they value not much different from us (husband) and the boat. Whether or not this was ever intended to be the type of person who held the club membership, I don't know. But I can tell you that the member I had the pleasure of meeting was a regular guy, friendly and not so different from us. Pretty down to earth couple. Definitely enjoyed their company far more than any venue. THAT is what I took from our experience. It was the human experience, not the geography.
There's my novel! Bet you regret ever tagging me, Spirit! Hahaha!
But seriously, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate it.
