News Club 33 coming to Walt Disney World this Fall

[Sirwalterraleigh]

The level of subversive envy on this thread is entertaining.

Bottom line, I'd say that 99.9% of people here would join 33 if it was a viable option. Disney has made it tough and rightfully so.

The clubs in the Orlando parks are just a small facet of membership: Private events, attraction previews, organized travel, limited-edition merchandise, immediate access to the plaids, etc. The mouse makes sure that it feels like money well spent.

Any of that not tied into amusement parks?

Because where it fails is there is no “exclusive” social element to the club. That’s what all “elite” clubs are about...the collective mindset.

Disney sycophants fall short of that. They just don’t realize it.

Fun fact: I had a meeting for work at the best golf course on earth a couple of months ago...

The clubhouse isn’t the Taj Mahal and the grass blades aren’t diamond encrusted...the members just don’t have to suffer anyone else. That’s the “club”...

Club 33 is more mythical/legendary - just my opinion - than something of substance. Even with exclusive merchandise

agreed. So much jealousy...

disney world is for the wealthy. It’s shown though the price of eveything for admission to a bottle of water. Golden oak, club 33... it’s all very elite. But that doesn’t mean you have to throw hate at the people that can afford it.

Don’t know much about the history of Disney Parks?

Directly NOT What you’re saying...the model is not wealthy at all...but in fact the moderate masses. That’s how the operation/numbers work out.

Cause I’m a total history geek. Walt entertained guests there etc. (I wish I had taken the tour before they redid the lobby but such is life).

Plus it’s a legit “old California” private club. Just has a lot of history to it that I think is cool. Same as magic castle in LA.

Are you a member in Florida? What made you feel like joining and do you feel it’s worth it?

That’s the legit angle I would enjoy.

 

[Josh Hendy]

I know the CA club was a special thing done by Walt ... cloning it sounds more like SNL's "5 Timers Club".

Heh heh heh... call me "Mr. BOB Iger".

 

[TrojanUSC]

Cause I’m a total history geek. Walt entertained guests there etc. (I wish I had taken the tour before they redid the lobby but such is life).

It opened 6 months over Walt Disney's death... so no, he did not entertain guests there?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I know the CA club was a special thing done by Walt ... cloning it sounds more like SNL's "5 Timers Club".

Heh heh heh... call me "Mr. BOB Iger".

And that’s what the difference is

33 had a history and was formed to cater to people Disney himself wanted to patronize....

Totally different than a cash grab in Orlando...

I mean...what’s the pull? Are the workers in there well compensated, educated and paid to be experts in hospitality? Like $100,000 a year and up?
Are there ex Senators in there? Former ambassadors?


Or is it a new money disposable cash throwaway? DVC on steroids?


If I had to bet...wouldn’t be a hard bet to make

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It opened 6 months over Walt Disney's death... so no, he did not entertain guests there?

But I believe it was organized based on his park/LA entertaining...and he died suddenly. Do we know that this didn’t really come from him?

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

It opened 6 months over Walt Disney's death... so no, he did not entertain guests there?

well see if I had taken the walking in Walts footsteps tour I would have known that already. Another reason to hate my life decisions!!!

I didn’t realize that though, but still it was designed in the Walt era.

 

[The Pho]

But I believe it was organized based on his park/LA entertaining...and he died suddenly. Do we know that this didn’t really come from him?

It stemmed from Walt liking the VIP lounges at the Worlds Fair and because he found Red Wagon Inn to be insufficient for what he wanted, which is what he was using. Hence the dedicated space in New Orleans Square. He was involved in its designs the same as other major park features.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It stemmed from Walt liking the VIP lounges at the Worlds Fair and because he found Red Wagon Inn to be insufficient for what he wanted, which is what he was using. Hence the dedicated space in New Orleans Square. He was involved in its designs the same as other major park features.

Which really explains why it makes sense in Disneyland...it was a personal thing.

In wdw? It looks like a prefabricated cash grab - not organic at all.

That’s not to say they couldn’t have done something a little more ingenious...

Michael Eisner - in particular - had a few spots he preferred that could have been made into “chairman’s club”....or something...

In particular, some of the private spaces at boardwalk and the lounge above the coral reef at seas...

Bob just isn’t creative though...takes whatever thing looks good on the books and slaps a label on it by default

 

[Little Green Men]

I thought the DL refurb removed all the history of its club 33

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I thought the DL refurb removed all the history of its club 33

Not sure about all, but definitely removed a lot. Most was understandable for ADA reasons and all.

 

[My95cobras]

Any of that not tied into amusement parks?

Because where it fails is there is no “exclusive” social element to the club. That’s what all “elite” clubs are about...the collective mindset.

Disney sycophants fall short of that. They just don’t realize it.

Fun fact: I had a meeting for work at the best golf course on earth a couple of months ago...

The clubhouse isn’t the Taj Mahal and the grass blades aren’t diamond encrusted...the members just don’t have to suffer anyone else. That’s the “club”...

Club 33 is more mythical/legendary - just my opinion - than something of substance. Even with exclusive merchandise
Don’t know much about the history of Disney Parks?

Directly NOT What you’re saying...the model is not wealthy at all...but in fact the moderate masses. That’s how the operation/numbers work out.

That’s the legit angle I would enjoy.

dont know much about economics?! It’s nothing to do with operational costs. It’s max profits for shareholders. If you think 6 buck ice cream bars and 14 dollar chicken fingers are anything but mostly profit your insane.

500 dollars a night in contemporary, 600 for the gf... that’s not operational numbers.

disney is now priced for upper middle class and above. People save for many years to go on a four or five day trip with their kids And have to stay at budget places.

its all supply and demand. There is a high demand and they can charge what they want and it has nothing to do with operational costs.


oh and bobs salary......

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

dont know much about economics?! It’s nothing to do with operational costs. It’s max profits for shareholders. If you think 6 buck ice cream bars and 14 dollar chicken fingers are anything but mostly profit your insane.

500 dollars a night in contemporary, 600 for the gf... that’s not operational numbers.

disney is now priced for upper middle class and above. People save for many years to go on a four or five day trip with their kids And have to stay at budget places.

its all supply and demand. There is a high demand and they can charge what they want and it has nothing to do with operational costs.


oh and bobs salary......

Laisse faire is not an adequate excuse for every action ever undertaken by DIS...

We have this over and over again and it never satisfy the argument of “fiduciary responsibility”.

Maximizing profit is one interpretation of that...responsible longterm stewardship is another.

Neither is more right or wrong...so nearly all moves can be debated...including this.

An “exclusive” club is not supply and demand at all...we’ll discuss that after everyone competes ECON 302 next semester:

For one...I challenge anyone to unearth one instance where someone is denied “acceptance” to club 33 in Orlando that HAS the money. You won’t find one...

And therefore the supply is entirely dependent on the demand with no actual dependency/effect on the price. Which is not how the curve works

 

[Benjamin_Nicholas]

For one...I challenge anyone to unearth one instance where someone is denied “acceptance” to club 33 in Orlando that HAS the money.

The first rule of Fight Club is that you don't talk about not getting into Fight Club if you didn't pass the interview and background check.

A lot of folks have the money, but they don't get the invite to join. That's the tough cookie. The waiting list remains years long.

Also, even with the bank balance, if you've got a questionable past, you're not getting in. Disney will figure it out.

 

[larryz]

Do I envy the owner of the $300,000 Bentley because I drive a VW Golf?

Do I envy the diner in the back room at Shula's while I'm enjoying my Whopper?

Do I envy the Golden Oak denizen while I'm cutting my suburban Midwestern lawn?

No. I've made choices that satisfied me and my lifestyle -- none of them "questionable" -- and have no burning desire to rub elbows with those who have paid the considerable extra to have a quiet landing spot in the middle of a theme park.

Frankly, if being in the park stressed me out so much I needed a quiet landing spot, I think I'd just leave the theme park.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Do I envy the owner of the $300,000 Bentley because I drive a VW Golf?

Do I envy the diner in the back room at Shula's while I'm enjoying my Whopper?

Do I envy the Golden Oak denizen while I'm cutting my suburban Midwestern lawn?

No. I've made choices that satisfied me and my lifestyle -- none of them "questionable" -- and have no burning desire to rub elbows with those who have paid the considerable extra to have a quiet landing spot in the middle of a theme park.

Frankly, if being in the park stressed me out so much I needed a quiet landing spot, I think I'd just leave the theme park.

Yeah...I don’t think I can ever bridge the gap between wanting to go to an amusement park and “needing” a “luxury” spot in an amusement park...

Are the roller coaster tracks not oiled the same way? Are the places not run by minimum wage employees and half cooked college kids looking for “the time of their lives”?

To each their own...but the mental chasm is too big for my feeble mind to leap.

I also question the concept of “self control” by management to make this truly “exclusive”...they have shown no such restraint...in Orlando. Quite the opposite - throwing meat to the masses and trying to sell everything and anything over the last 10 years that’s tied down.

Remember: they put up tents on the smoking section in Tomorrowland and tried to sell them for $500 a day as a “luxury cabana”

 

[ImperfectPixie]

Yeah...I don’t think I can ever bridge the gap between wanting to go to an amusement park and “needing” a “luxury” spot in an amusement park...

Are the roller coaster tracks not oiled the same way? Are the places not run by minimum wage employees and half cooked college kids looking for “the time of their lives”?

To each their own...but the mental chasm is too big for my feeble mind to leap.

I also question the concept of “self control” by management to make this truly “exclusive”...they have shown no such restraint...in Orlando. Quite the opposite - throwing meat to the masses and trying to sell everything and anything over the last 10 years that’s tied down.

Remember: they put up tents on the smoking section in Tomorrowland and tried to sell them for $500 a day as a “luxury cabana”

Both Canobie Lake Park (in the "water park" area) and Great Wolf Lodge do the same thing...and they are FAR from luxurious.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Both Canobie Lake Park (in the "water park" area) and Great Wolf Lodge do the same thing...and they are FAR from luxurious.

One of these places on the list has always self-described themselves as “better”

 

[ImperfectPixie]

One of these places on the list has always self-described themselves as “better”

And I've always felt the "cabanas" are marketed towards people who do the same thing.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

For one...I challenge anyone to unearth one instance where someone is denied “acceptance” to club 33 in Orlando that HAS the money. You won’t find one...

Incorrect.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Incorrect.

I’m from Missouri