Another secret corner of Disneyland is the legendary Club 33. Named for its address at 33 Royal Street in New Orleans Square, this private club and restaurant above Pirates of the Caribbean was established as a place where Disney executives and family members could entertain friends and business clients. For years, a wait list was kept for those interested in potentially becoming members of Club 33. The list got so long, it was ultimately closed.
For those lucky enough to be members (or the invited guest of a member), a special and exclusive experience awaits just beyond the entrance door. The doorway leads to a small lobby with a staircase and elevator leading up to the club on the second floor. The lift is actually an exact replica of one Walt saw on a trip to Paris. It's the old-fashioned cage variety with folding doors.
Throughout the club's lobby and two dining rooms are genuine antiques selected by Lillian Disney, as well as pieces used in Disney films such as Mary Poppins.
As part of that special 1996 tour of Disneyland I wrote about yesterday, our group also had the privilege of not only visiting Club 33, but dining there. In the photo below, I'm pictured with Dave Smith and Robert Tieman from the Walt Disney Archives, along with the glass phone booth from Disney's The Happiest Millionaire.
Of course, this was before the advent of digital photography, and I was more interested at the time in enjoying the fabulous food and fascinating company. As a result, I don't have any personal pictures of the dining rooms themselves, although I'm sure the curious can find plenty of examples elsewhere online.
What I do have for you, though, are more pictures from the tour, including peeks backstage and a trip aboard the Lilly Belle. Check back tomorrow, when I'll be sharing it all with you.
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