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Having stepped through the entrance, we are all now standing in the small yet charming decorative guest lobby.
This small space is just behind that famous ornate entrance door.
Here is a photo i found to show an example of how it appeared, showing one corner of this small area.
Photographer unknown, or i would credit the image.
At a small ornate white desk, two Club Cast Members greet you and attend to your needs.
Here, reservations are checked and Members' cards are looked over to insure they are entitled to venturing further.
As Tony has been a longstanding Member for many years, we didn't need reservations ahead of time as we were going to be dining in the Members only lounge, known as Le Salon Nouveau.
This is the new main addition made to the Club when it was renovated a couple of years ago, and i always thought it looked beautiful in photos.
it also seemed to me that it was one of the only areas after the remodel that still had the 'feel' of the original Clubs' look.
The woods, dark walls, and various trappings.
I was elated that soon i would be traversing the stairs and visiting this lovely area.
My generous host collected a stack of Club 33 Member exclusive instant 'Fast Pass' tickets from one of the attendants behind the desk.
These allow Members and their special guests access to the Fast Pass line at any FP enabled Attraction at any time they wish....for the rest of the day.
As there were three of us together, the passes were numerous.
Here is a snapshot of one of the passes -
After collecting our passes, we were immediately yet gracefully escorted into the Court of Angles, that famous area of New Orleans Square.
It looked absolutely charming at dusk, and i felt like my head was spinning on top of my shoulders.
Here is a photo i found that captures the scene as i looked up at those graceful stairs, beckoning you to come forward and climb them to another level entirely....
Photo credit - Rachel Marie
We had the Court all to ourselves.
There was no one else about except the Club Cast tending to duties in the guest lobby.
Our hostess brought us over to the large 'stained glass' window nook and offered us some refreshment - ice water with lemon and fresh herbs, served from a spouted glass canister.
As she passed us the crystal-like stout glasses, i wasted no time in toasting a cheers to Tony.
So there we stood...glasses clinking in the empty Court of Angles...as the water fountain bubbled and the flower shaped lights glowed softy.
Conversation lighthearted and delightful.
It seemed in just seconds we were told we could go up to our table, and we took our water with us.
Traversing the stairs was surreal...especially with my fine company continuing to say such kind comments about my art efforts.
Our mutual friend fully understood the deep respect and utter enthusiasm i have regarding Tony and his work, and it was a great relief to know they didn't think i was some kind of overzealous nut or borderline obsessed 'stalker' fan.
There was a real genuine trust being displayed here.
In my mind, i have always seen it as this when it comes to any fandom -
There are 'fans' , and then there are the' overzealous fans', and then there are the 'respectful fans'.
I was relieved to be seen as a very 'respectful fan'....but felt like i was treated far more like family.
It truly felt that way...on so many levels.
It was incredible, and oh so wonderful !
After this, we reach the top of the stairs where one is greeted to the visual delight that is the actual Club Entrance.
Here are a few photographs for reference that i found online to use as examples.
I took very few interior shots myself, which might seem surprising, but i was so swept up in the ambiance of it all ( and the engrossing conversations we were having ) that i let my camera stay in my pocket for the most part.
The few photos i DID have taken during my visit are for later....
For now, enjoy these visual samples.
The Club entrance at the top of the stairs -
Photo credit - ( unknown )
A closer look at that handsome tiled entryway -
Photo credit - ( unknown )
Here at the double glass doors, Tony steps ahead to open one for us both, but again gestures for me to step in first.
A true gentlemen.
Feeling like royalty again...i do so and behold the bright and ornate main entrance lobby where we are greeted by more finely costumed Club Cast Members.
Everyone seemed so pleased to see us...but then again, it's no wonder when it's Tony Baxter in your presence.
I would feel the same way, and by gosh I WAS feeling it right then and there!
A photographic example of how this area appeared when we arrived -
Photo credit - MiceChat.com
A look at that ornate chandelier, which our mutual friend made sure to point out.
Note the '33' Logos incorporated into the design....
Photo credit - ( unknown )
From this creamy colored room we were escorted into wooded passageways beyond...into the Members only lounge, Le Salon Nouveau.
A short hallway lined with hundreds of wine bottles had to be experienced first before reaching our destination, and along the way we also passed a set of cozy private booths.
These were all themed to different aspects of New Orleans Square and it's various Attractions.
We stopped in front of one of them on our way to the lounge, as our mutual friend wanted to point out the 'magical' paintings.
Here is a photo example ( not my own ) of what the scene looked like....
Photo credit - ( unknown )
This particular booth was themed to Tom Sawyer Island, and the main painting was as shown in the photo above - Tom and Huck watching a riverboat cruise off up river.
What is 'magical' about the painting is not necessarily the subject matter, or the way the scene was painted.
It was because the painting actually 'changed' throughout the course of the evening.
When we first arrived, i was shown this booth with the painting.
The painting looked like your typical sunset on the river....orange hue in the sky, last streams of light hitting the water, and the scene looking like dusk.
Sometime later when we were leaving for the evening, i was shown the painting again.
This time however, it looked like a nighttime scene.
Starry sky, fireflies in the bushes twinkling, and the soft flicker of a lantern inside Tom's camping tent.
The whole scene had been 'magically' changed.
Way cool.
There were other such 'magical' moments on the Club walls that night....and certainly more magical moments happening during the course of our visit.
Being shown all of these wonders was a treat onto itself.
Much more to come.....!
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