Club 33 Info from the Disney Insider

[Crazy Legs]

Hello I got this in my email I thought I would share this.It has info on History of Club 33, how to join, and also some recipies.


Club 33

[Disneynut]

Despite what everyone is told, Club 33 is not doing well financially. Mary Niven (Chief loser of food and beverage) and her minions Jeff Plumb (the absentee manager) and Russel Trahan (My wife got me my job / Guest Services Manager) are having a tough time keeping the place booked. It does not matter how many members you have if they do not make reservations for guests. This is a very cleverly worded "AD" designed to look like a story. They seem to have lots of space open now that they are in the habit of taking members money and cancelling memberships without cause. God forbid if a "member" complains that he does not like the current buffet set-up or was overcharged for a party. As stated previously, this is the one area of the park that Matt has not fixed. Mary Niven needs to be promoted to some far away island and I am here to lead the campaign!

[Crazy Legs]

Despite what everyone is told, Club 33 is not doing well financially. Mary Niven (Chief loser of food and beverage) and her minions Jeff Plumb (the absentee manager) and Russel Trahan (My wife got me my job / Guest Services Manager) are having a tough time keeping the place booked. It does not matter how many members you have if they do not make reservations for guests. This is a very cleverly worded "AD" designed to look like a story. They seem to have lots of space open now that they are in the habit of taking members money and cancelling memberships without cause. God forbid if a "member" complains that he does not like the current buffet set-up or was overcharged for a party. As stated previously, this is the one area of the park that Matt has not fixed. Mary Niven needs to be promoted to some far away island and I am here to lead the campaign!

Thanks for the info. So you work in the park? Club 33?

[lashbear]

What's that the "Luxe" bit ?? I think they MEANT to say "Disney's D-luxe hideaway" *oops*


PS: I think I;ll be trying that recipe next time I need to impress guests !

[Crazy Legs]

What's that the "Luxe" bit ?? I think they MEANT to say "Disney's D-luxe hideaway" *oops*


PS: I think I;ll be trying that recipe next time I need to impress guests !

Recipes are good......
I love to eat....

[cellarhound]

Despite what everyone is told, Club 33 is not doing well financially. Mary Niven (Chief loser of food and beverage) and her minions Jeff Plumb (the absentee manager) and Russel Trahan (My wife got me my job / Guest Services Manager) are having a tough time keeping the place booked. It does not matter how many members you have if they do not make reservations for guests. This is a very cleverly worded "AD" designed to look like a story. They seem to have lots of space open now that they are in the habit of taking members money and cancelling memberships without cause. God forbid if a "member" complains that he does not like the current buffet set-up or was overcharged for a party. As stated previously, this is the one area of the park that Matt has not fixed. Mary Niven needs to be promoted to some far away island and I am here to lead the campaign!

Wow, that's interesting...

So it is an AD, huh? It looked awful suspicious, only because there is a level of mystery around that place... people ducking into a dark corner and disappearing... We talk about Club 33 an awful lot on this board...

Ironic people don't talk about Big Thunder Ranch the same way, do they? I always wondered how many events happen there...

I find it also interesting that you say "this is the one area of the park that Matt has not fixed." I am just wondering if you mean that Mat hasn't referbished it, or if you mean he hasn't gone in and tried to fix what is broken about it...

I am not surprised that it is losing money... After all the park lost sponsors as well over the last couple years...

It is very difficult to fix a membership club without angering the membership itself... And it is very difficult to bill it as an exclusive club at a park that is popular when the message from corporate is centered around attracting people to WDW...

Going public will help a little... But looking at where it fits in your over all marketing strategy will help more than anything...

[AP2CM]

Despite what everyone is told, Club 33 is not doing well financially. Mary Niven (Chief loser of food and beverage) and her minions Jeff Plumb (the absentee manager) and Russel Trahan (My wife got me my job / Guest Services Manager) are having a tough time keeping the place booked. It does not matter how many members you have if they do not make reservations for guests. This is a very cleverly worded "AD" designed to look like a story. They seem to have lots of space open now that they are in the habit of taking members money and cancelling memberships without cause. God forbid if a "member" complains that he does not like the current buffet set-up or was overcharged for a party. As stated previously, this is the one area of the park that Matt has not fixed. Mary Niven needs to be promoted to some far away island and I am here to lead the campaign!

Actually, Disneynut, two memberships were cancelled last year because they were SOLD ON EBAY, which is against the club's bi-laws. Check your facts before you post, please.

[cellarhound]

Actually, Disneynut, two memberships were cancelled last year because they were SOLD ON EBAY, which is against the club's bi-laws. Check your facts before you post, please.

LOL... That is kinda sad, really...

Makes you wonder about the state of the membership, doesn't it?

[DznyVan]

Hey Crazy Legs...You beat me to it.

I received the same email from the DisneyInsider this morning and was going to post the info on it when I got to work. You're a fast worker!

I also felt that it was some sort of advertising. However, we have been on the waiting list going on four years now and I figured that why would they need to advertise if they have that long of a waiting list? :confused:

Once again, nice post Crazy Legs. You're an asset to MiceChat!

[Emelius_Browne]

Thanks for the information, Crazylegs. I'm thinking about writing for a brochure. I don't think I'll join anytime soon but it should be an interesting read.

[dshimel]

Thanks for the information, Crazylegs. I'm thinking about writing for a brochure. I don't think I'll join anytime soon but it should be an interesting read.

Get your name on the waiting list about 15 years before you actually want to join.... or so I hear.


Anyone know how much the dues are? How much a meal is? Do members pay for meals, or just guests?

[WDI]

Club 33 insider from the Dinsey Insider

Get your name on the waiting list about 15 years before you actually want to join.... or so I hear.


Anyone know how much the dues are? How much a meal is? Do members pay for meals, or just guests?

- Membership wait time is approxiamately 7 years right now. Disney recently increade the number of memberships from 400 to 470 which drastically reduced the queue time for the wait list.

All it takes to get on the list is an application and 500 bucks to hold your place on the wait list. the 500 dollars is non refundable of course and is applied to your first years membership dues upon acceptance.

1st years dues are 10K plus some minor sub costs.

What you get is free entry into the park 365 days a year for you and your guests!!! sounds good right!!!

Waht you also get is the cost of feeding yourself and all your guests at 30 dollars plus per plate for a Lunch Buffet. Even more for dinner.

But Club 33 is'nt really about Value so much as Cachet, it is really cool place to entertain guests at the park and the ambience, drinks, food and all are really quite fun, not to mention the special events they hold as mentioned in the article.

It is really an extrodinary place.
WDI

[cellarhound]

All it takes to get on the list is an application and 500 bucks to hold your place on the wait list. the 500 dollars is non refundable of course and is applied to your first years membership dues upon acceptance.

Ah, so that is it... they just want my 500 bucks for a video cassette and lint...

You know I think it would be easier if they just started a Vacation Club in California that is only slightly cheaper and you get more of a benifit...

And I think in the long run a VC would reduce the numbers of AP...

(Of course, I said that before else where, didn't I?)

[WDI]

Club 33 Info from the Disney Insider

Despite what everyone is told, Club 33 is not doing well financially. Mary Niven (Chief loser of food and beverage) and her minions Jeff Plumb (the absentee manager) and Russel Trahan (My wife got me my job / Guest Services Manager) are having a tough time keeping the place booked. It does not matter how many members you have if they do not make reservations for guests. This is a very cleverly worded "AD" designed to look like a story. They seem to have lots of space open now that they are in the habit of taking members money and cancelling memberships without cause. God forbid if a "member" complains that he does not like the current buffet set-up or was overcharged for a party. As stated previously, this is the one area of the park that Matt has not fixed. Mary Niven needs to be promoted to some far away island and I am here to lead the campaign!

Nut,

Not everything at Disney is slated to make a profit, the initial concept of Club 33 was not established for profit at all - it was originally designed to wooze and smooze , Walt Disney's personal guests and dignitaies visiting his park. The Club concept was derived after Walt's Death. the operations cost for Club 33 are very small and based on the # of Members and the 10K per year they spend on membership dues (470 X 10K = 4.7 Million per year) that ought to cover the 70 employees working in the club and the cost of food for the year and that's without adding the profit on one drink or the profit on one plate of food sold. the park tickets are a direct write off for DL - I.E Big Tax Advantage!

I have heard this is quite a nice profit item for Disney but not a gold mine, if bookings are down I can see drop in profits, but it is not a money hole thats for sure. Besides if it is losing money, then it's losses can be written off against there tax basis, so in the end they make double the money. Isn't Accounting fun !! So many way to Warp I mean report the numbers in your favor. something like Club 33 just gets lost in all the other Line item business segements Disney has to report.


WDI

[WDI]

Ah, so that is it... they just want my 500 bucks for a video cassette and lint...

You know I think it would be easier if they just started a Vacation Club in California that is only slightly cheaper and you get more of a benifit...

And I think in the long run a VC would reduce the numbers of AP...

(Of course, I said that before else where, didn't I?)

Cell,

A Great point As a DVC member myself I have longily waited for a DVC property at DL. As a matter of fact I am holding off on purchasing more points for my Florida club in hopes of a California club coming into existence. However the Hilton Head and Vero Beach Properties taught Disney a valuable lesson on why people purchase timeshares from them in first place. It becuase there proximity is near or attached to the parks we want to visit. The attraction is not the "timeshare" itself but the Parks!

And it took managers building two of these resorts elsewhere to learn there lesson :confused: .

Well we can at least hope they add on another wing to the Grand California Hotel or Purchase another hotel outright ?? but in reality I don't think we will see a DVC club until plans are in place for a 3rd gate??

I am betting not until 2010 or so before expansion is talked about again for anaheim. So right now my hopes and dreams reside in a field of strawberries

WDI

[DznyVan]

The membership levels have changed twice since we have been on the waiting list. Corporate members pay the big bucks while they still have a personal membership less than 10K.

You get free entry into the Park for you and your guests as long as you plan on dining at the Club that day.

We can make our final decision when/if they contact us and give us the going terms at that time. We're still waiting...

[cellarhound]

Cell,

A Great point As a DVC member myself I have longily waited for a DVC property at DL. As a matter of fact I am holding off on purchasing more points for my Florida club in hopes of a California club coming into existence. However the Hilton Head and Vero Beach Properties taught Disney a valuable lesson on why people purchase timeshares from them in first place. It becuase there proximity is near or attached to the parks we want to visit. The attraction is not the "timeshare" itself but the Parks!

And it took managers building two of these resorts elsewhere to learn there lesson :confused: .

Well we can at least hope they add on another wing to the Grand California Hotel or Purchase another hotel outright ?? but in reality I don't think we will see a DVC club until plans are in place for a 3rd gate??

I am betting not until 2010 or so before expansion is talked about again for anaheim. So right now my hopes and dreams reside in a field of strawberries

WDI

Well you know, I do think they are beginning to look at the idea...

The brought their cruze liner over to do California based cruzes...

They are looking to expand vacation packages to the western attractions out side of DL...

VC's in California have worked... particularly in the Lake Tahoe area...

It has nothing really to do with a 3rd gate, really... which I think would be a water park... But I think it would actually improve the 2nd gate...

The VC with a spa like what they are trying to do with their Sarasota Springs Resort, would be an attraction in and of itself... and if you build it along side what would be a Water park/cabana for a 3rd gate... I think it would work...

I personally almost bought into the DVC, but I didn't think it had enough of a California Benifit to be worth my leasure dollar... I felt it would be better to invest in a AP and use the discount to build my own DVC... I did notice on the website they are offering discount Vacation packages to AP members now... Could this be a test of a DL DVC? It is possable...

And to be honest I don't picture myself heading out to Florida every year... California is a huge vacation market... I don't see why they wouldn't want to, other than the fact that land here is a heavier premium for the "singles and doubles" profit model of Eisner to work with a VC... So the risk is higher...

But I really do believe that the market is there...

[cellarhound]

I also had a question floating around the crags of my subconsious...

If as a Club 33 member... Where do you park?

[DznyVan]

Valet at the DL Hotel...

[cellarhound]

Valet at the DL Hotel...

Ahhh.... Of course....