The mysterious Club 33 at Disney: couples go to great lengths to maintain their membership.

Disneyland is a dream destination for many people.

Among the many passionate Disney fans, there is a particularly coveted place—the Club 33 at Disneyland.

Despite the strict conditions for joining this club, which requires a hefty annual membership fee, some people are willing to pay for it. For instance, some have even spent $400,000 suing Disney to retain their membership.

The origins of Club 33 date back to 1964 when Walt Disney promoted amusement facilities at the New York World's Fair, prompting him to realize the need for a VIP lounge.

Thus, he created this lounge in Disneyland in Anaheim, California, specifically to host sponsors and important clients.

Shortly after Walt Disney passed away in 1967, the lounge opened to individual members, becoming the first Club 33. Subsequently, similar clubs were established in Tokyo, Shanghai, and California's Walt Disney World.

The Anaheim Club 33 is particularly famous.

Originally, the club's entrance was located in the park's New Orleans Square, marked simply with a sign that read "33."

In January 2014, the club underwent a major renovation, and the entrance was relocated to the Angel's Court.

According to data from 2012, becoming a member of Club 33 is not easy.

First, a $50,000 initiation fee must be paid, followed by an annual fee of $15,000, with typical wait times for membership lasting over a decade.

Membership is divided into several tiers, initially offering Gold and Silver cards, later adding Platinum and VIP cards.

Despite the challenges of joining, the benefits for members are quite tempting.

They do not have to crowd with other visitors in restaurants; instead, they can enjoy gourmet meals prepared by renowned chefs, and they can even drink alcohol in the park, as Club 33 is the only place in the park that serves alcohol all day.

Basic member benefits also include one Disney annual pass each year, 50 one-day tickets for inviting friends, five private VIP tours (without waiting in line) annually, and many other special services, such as advance access to park news, free upgrades at resorts, and valet parking services.

Club 33 attracts many social elites and celebrities who connect over their shared love for Disney.

However, there have been some incidents here.

For example, Tom Hanks and his wife had the club closed during Thanksgiving to accommodate them, preventing other members from making reservations and causing dissatisfaction.

Also, Katy Perry, known as "the Fruit Sister," once donated $160,000 for the use of the club lounge, which violated club rules.

The club has many rules that members must follow.

For instance, some members resell the one-day tickets they receive, with each ticket fetching up to $125, and there are even those who resell exclusive club merchandise for prices as high as $1,000.

Additionally, taking photos in the park's restrooms is strictly prohibited. While photography is allowed in the lounge, videos and pictures of other guests are not permitted to prevent celebrities from being secretly filmed.

Disneyland enforces these regulations quite strictly.

In March 2023, actress Rebel Wilson was banned from entering the park for 30 days for taking photos in a private restroom, which was speculated to be in Club 33.

The rules regarding drinking alcohol in the park are also strict.

Although the club is the only place that serves alcohol, members are prohibited from being intoxicated within the park, a rule that led to a lawsuit.

Scott and Diana Anderson, a couple from Arizona who own a golf course, faced this situation.

In 2017, their membership was revoked because Scott was deemed intoxicated in the park.

The couple had spent 20 years saving up and waited 10 years to join Club 33.

During the five years after joining, they dined at the club nearly 80 times each year.

On September 3, 2017, while dining in the park, Scott had a few drinks and was later found on a bench by security, leading to suspicions of intoxication.

Despite Scott stating he was not drunk and was only dizzy from tinnitus, Disney did not conduct a thorough investigation and directly revoked their membership.

The couple felt very wronged, believing Disney's handling of the situation was retaliation for a prior complaint made by Diana.

To restore their membership, the couple chose to sue Disney for compensation of their unused membership fees and other damages.

The allure of Club 33, combined with its strict regulations, has made this private VIP club a competitive and uniquely experiential social venue.

Despite facing various challenges, countless Disney fans are still willing to pay the price to pursue that dream and glory in their hearts.