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Disneyland's Secret Restaurant
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Ever since I was a kid I've heard stories about a secret, legendary restaurant hidden on the grounds of the Anaheim Disneyland to which only a few select people are allowed entrance.
In fact, the restaurant is so secretive that I've always assumed it just might be urban legend. Well, according to an LA Times article by Kimi Yoshino, it exists and it is indeed a nearly impossible place to find and get into.
Located in the New Orleans section of Disneyland behind an unmarked door, the club has just 487 members and a nine-year wait to get on the list -- if you're lucky. And then, one must pay $9,500 to become a member and annual fees of $3,175 after that. This does not cover the cost of the meal, but reservations at the restaurant (good luck finding a phone number) allow free access to the park.
Apparently the restaurant is five-star and, if I remember the legend correctly, is the only place in Disneyland that serves alcohol. It is also frequented by actors, presidents, and other celebrities, according to DisneylandClub33.com, a fan site created by Dale Mattson, one of the many hopefuls sitting somewhere on the ominous wait list.
His site has a detailed selection of photos of the restaurant which, after an entire life of wondering about this place, has now demystified it for me. It's very strange, but now that I can actually see what it looks like, the mystery and allure is gone. Damn!
Related:
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Pirates of the Caribbean Ride: Yo Ho, Yo Ho
Spend a Night in Cinderella's Castle
Visiting all Five Disney Parks
5 Bizarre Theme Park and Carnival Ride Accidents
(photo above from DisneylandClub33)
Filed under: Food and Drink
Reader Comments (Page 6 of 6)
Ripoweewee Nov 21st 2007 1:13PM
They call their elevator the "lift". If that person was not able to fit into the lift to go to the second floor restaurant, then they must be really FAT! :-)
Kelly Nov 13th 2007 3:47PM
To: Fred -- so are you saying you don't really believe it's there? Odd.
Anyway, just to add, I've eaten there. About 10 years ago - my BFF husband's company has a membership, and four of us went. It was late afternoon. I remember kind of being disappointed it wasn't more extravagant or something. I don't know what I expected. Anyway, it was cool, just to be in Club 33. The memorablia is the best, but we didn't have a view - we were in a center table. I think that there may be a lower and upper level of dining. The food was fine. I don't remember anything to rave about. Except for the fact that I ate at Club 33. The entrance is by Pirates. Just a number 33. (Actually, isn't right next to The Blue Bayou?)
I worked at Disneyland shortly before that, so the mystique of Club 33 was still new to me. It was cool experience, but there are much better things to do at D-land than that. But I guess that's easy for me to say since I've been there, huh.
Also, there are other places in the park that serve alcohol now - Blue Bayou and a couple others and the restaurants in Calif.Adventure.
SLB Nov 15th 2007 11:35PM
Sounds like Disney now has as much of a "secret" as Victoria! LOL
Billie Jul 31st 2008 1:52AM
A friend's boss had a membership so she got us in for brunch one day and it was WONDERFUL! I would love to have dinner there sometime but no longer have a connection to get in. It was many years ago when I was there and our brunch ran about $250 with drinks and tip. I remember the amount because each couple paid half and a $125 for brunch for two was a lot of money even way back then but I wouldn't give up the memory of having eaten there for twice the amount. I don't know about now but way back then, the ladies room toilet looked like a throne! And yes, the bathroom was pink then too. I got a chuckle out of the throne looking toilet because the rest of the expertence was soooo elegant that a throne looking toilet seemed sort over the top garish. If anyone has been there recently, does the toilet in the ladies room still look like a thrown? We were there way back in the day when smoking wasn't a no-no and people could still smoke wherever they wanted to and when we were seated at our table one of the first things I noticed was that there were personalized matches on the table with last name of our friend who had made the reservations. I thought that was a wonderful touch, it made our experience there seem more personalized. The food was delicious and and the service was fabulous. Inside you don't 'feel' like you are at Disneyland at all because the atmosphere is so different from the rest of the park. I would love to go back!
Bill Nov 17th 2007 3:51PM
I am not surprised that it exists. In fact I would have been surprised if it did not. For those that think the cost anything above a Big Mac should go to charity are probably talking about someone else’s money. For those that find the existence of the restaurant objectionable they should build their own amusement park to their own taste.
Elizabeth Nov 18th 2007 12:00PM
I realize prices may seem extravagent, but as a true disney fan this would be an experience of a lifetime. Ive been trying to find an in for quite some time and coming up empty....le sigh... :-(
Susan Nov 19th 2007 1:28PM
Question: How exclusive can it be if it allows diners to wear baseball caps at dinner. See one of the photographs. What ever happened to civility?