The Mystery of the Two Club 33 Doors at Disneyland

Normally, the Haunted Mansion is the thing that intrigues me most when it comes to Disney. However, we recently took a trip to Disneyland in Anaheim to celebrate a friend’s 50th birthday. After riding Pirates of the Caribbean, we walked around New Orleans Square. Her husband pointed to a door and asked, “Have you ever seen Club 33?”

The last time I was there, I forgot to look for the fabled not-so-secret private club entrance. I would’ve forgotten again, so I was excited he thought to point it out. The trouble was, he fooled me. Sort of.

The Second Door

After I took photos of the blue door and its address plate, he said, “Now do you want to see the real entrance?”

Wait. What do you mean that’s not the real one? It’s got a big “33” next to it and everything.

Confused —and super curious about this turn of events— I followed him a few steps down the path to a second door of a different blue hue. It was also numbered “33.” However, instead of a plaque next to the door, it was etched in a glass insert above it.

“This is the real one?” I asked.

He nodded, so I cautiously proceeded to take photos and video of it. (I half-expected he’d say, “Psych. That’s not it either. The real one is over here…”)

“But why do they have two doors?” I wondered.

I still don’t know, but I turned it into a Shorts, hoping someone might answer. So far no one has, but if you’re reading this and know, please leave a comment.

Club 33 Discoveries

The mystery of the two doors led me in search of more answers about the exclusive private club. That’s how I found a couple of videos, both embedded below. One is about the club’s origins from Yesterworld Entertainment. The other is from Disney Duo Adventures, a lucky couple who got to dine there as guests of Club 33 members they know.

The Yesterworld Entertainment video shows clips of members accessing it through both doors. In the first door’s case, a woman is shown putting her Club 33 card in one of the slots to the left of the door. In another part, a man holding his card is entering through the door with the glass above it.

So maybe one isn’t fake after all? Maybe the first door was the original, but after the remodel in 2014, they added the second door? Maybe they use both?

I’m still on the hunt for answers, but here are some other things I learned that I thought were interesting.

The Club’s Purpose

My husband and I are just regular folks, so it’s hard for us to wrap our minds around special treatment. But that’s what Walt wanted to create with a special private place to entertain celebrities and other “important guests and dignitaries.”

Why the Number 33

An unofficial fan site for the private club explained two theories behind the number. The “official Disney explanation” states it has to do with the club’s address: 33 Royal Street. The origin video explained due to California law, any establishment that serves liquor has to have its own address. There used to be a time Disneyland didn’t sell alcohol, so they created this address for that purpose.

But another explanation had to do with the original number of exhibitors and lessees who offered “a variety of services and entertainment to the guests in the Magic Kingdom.”

However, no one knows for sure. Much like the two doors in Disneyland, perhaps both answers play a part.

Membership Cost

As you might imagine, it’s pricey and super exclusive. In fact, Yesterworld Entertainment said the waiting list for membership applications was re-opened for the first time in decades in 2014. And without the “right connections,” applicants can expect to wait 15 years before hearing back.

Membership also comes in tiers. Initiation fees start at $25,000, and annual fees run $15,000, for the lowest tier. The highest tier’s initiation fee is around $40,000 according to Yesterworld Entertainment.

What Membership Gets You

Besides the club, membership for the lowest tier includes four premiere annual passes with year-round access to any Disney park in the U.S., 50 Park Hopper tickets to share with friends and family, five annual VIP tours of any U.S. Disney park, six Fast Passes per guest per day, and access to Club 1901, the Club 33 equivalent in Disney California Adventures, as well as Club 33 VIP services.

The Restaurant

Since the couple from Disney Duo Adventures are not Club 33 members, they had to pay for their meal. According to them, the four-course prix fixe menu started at $130 per person. But she got the wine package with her meal, which was $205.

But do members have to pay also? I’m not sure, but it sounded like they did.

Club 33s in Other Parks

Disneyland isn’t the only park with a private club. According to AllEars, you’ll also find Club 33 (or equivalent) in these parks:

• California Adventure — 1901 Lounge, near Carthay Circle
• Magic Kingdom — Adventureland (Captain’s Quarters)
• Animal Kingdom — between Pandora & Africa (Harambe House)
• EPCOT — American Pavilion (Constellation Club)
• Hollywood Studios — Hollywood Brown Derby (Spotlight Lounge)
• Disneyland Tokyo
• Disneyland Shanghai

But to visit the original, if only to see it’s door, you’ll find that in Disneyland’s New Orleans Square.

Cool Club 33 Videos

History and Origins

Lucky Visitors

Check-In

Have you ever seen Club 33? (Even if it was only the door leading to it.)