“Club 33”
There is a secret door to Disneyland – entry costs 20,000 euros
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Although Disney films and their theme parks are known worldwide, there is one place in Disneyland that only die-hard fans know: “Club 33”. This is also the only place where alcohol is allowed to be consumed.
Walt Disney had a vision – even if he didn’t get encouragement straight away. When he started drawing and producing cartoons in the 1920s, nobody really believed that he would be successful with them. The name Disney now stands for an international brand in the entertainment industry.
Over the years, Walt Disney has received a total of 26 Academy Awards – unmatched to this day. If he had an idea, he put it into practice, like building an amusement park in Anaheim, California. The first Disneyland was opened there in 1955. But the visionary had even more in mind: an exclusive club for well-heeled Disney fans. And so in 1967 the “Club 33” opened behind a secret door.
It takes money and patience
In order to be accepted into the club of the exclusives, you not only need money, but also a lot of patience. The registration fee should be between 20,000 and 90,000 euros. In addition, there is an annual membership fee of between 11,000 and 27,000 euros. But that’s not all: According to media reports, the waiting time should be up to 14 years. How it looks there is only known thanks to a few members who post pictures on social media. A well-known account is “dl33member”.
That’s why you’re in good company. Rumor has it that prominent guests such as Elton John, Tom Hanks and Christina Aguilera are supposed to be here. Of course you get an exclusive service at the steep prices. Members are reportedly given access to a bar and high-class restaurant. If you want to book a table there, you have to expect a waiting time of up to a year, because it is one of the best addresses in all of California.
In addition, you can book a luxury suite via “Club 33” and have access to rooms in which VIP guests can relax after their visit to the amusement park. Not even the website of “Club 33” can be accessed without membership.
There are now several Disneyland clubs
The Disneylands in Tokyo and Shanghai now have their own “Club 33”, as does Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Why the whole thing is called “Club 33” has never been clarified. Some followers see a connection to the Freemasons in the name. The 33rd degree is the highest rank that can be achieved in the secret organization.
It is speculated that Walt Disney was a member of the Freemasons, but there is no evidence of this. Another reference could be the year 1933: In that year prohibition was lifted in the USA – and “Club 33” is the only place in all of Disneyland where alcohol is allowed.
Sources: “Wikipedia “,” Travelbook “,” Indy100 “
This article originally appeared on stern.de.