Disney Dreams DO Come True: The Adventures at Club 33!

Disney Dreams DO Come True: The Adventures at Club 33!

By: Erin

Last week, I gave you a little teaser for my upcoming birthday trip to Club 33 that is a hidden jewel inside of Disneyland. Some of you may know what a treat it is to be able to walk into this most magical place. If not, here is a little bit of history on the beloved Club 33. This is one Disney Dream I can now check off my list, but I would go back in a heartbeat if I could! It was a very magical experience. My most magical birthday by far! šŸ˜‰

Ā  Club 33

If you are a true Disney fan, then Club 33 will be a tremendous, once in a lifetime (or hopefully more than once if you are lucky!) experience. It does have a hefty price-tag along with it, but it is SO worth it for the amazing dining experience and special Disney ambiance, and the food is beyond amazing!

Club 33 is located within Disneyland, quietly hiding above the Blue Bayou in New Orleans Square. It is a very exclusive club with a limited membership of only 487. Club 33 is not open to the public. Members may however arrange for their friends and associates to experience the club. Which is how I was able to get a reservation, through a Club 33 member who was so kind enough to make me a reservation for this special occasion! Thanks BL! šŸ˜‰

Walt Disney felt the need for a special place where he could entertain others in a quiet, serene atmosphere where amazing cuisine and magical decor would meet for the most unique and delightful experience for his guests. Artist Dorothea Redmond was asked to produce watercolor creations of what such a magical place might look like. Walt and his wife then traveled to New Orleans to select many of the beautiful antiques that are on display here at Club 33 today. After years of planning, Club 33 became a reality in May of 1967. Sadly though, it was never seen by Walt himself because of his unfortunate death five months earlier.

Club 33 is named after its address, 33 Royal Street. There are two dining rooms and several adjoining areas. Club 33 is filled with an abundance of magical and magnificent antiques and original works of art that were hand-picked for this very special place. Upon entering you will be swept away into the majestic lobby where you will soon be ascending in the French lift to the second floor. As you enter, it’s like you are entering a totally different time and place.

Club 33

Taking a special call from Mickey Himself and the famous Club 33 Lobby.

The phone booth!

The phone booth!

As we entered into The Gallery, we found many interesting items such as an oak telephone booth (seen here, where I was taking a special Happy Birthday call from none other than the Mouse himself) šŸ˜‰ In The Gallery and around Club 33 you will find many original works by Disney artists and sketches done of New Orleans Square and the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

Continue reading »

Cars Land at Disney California Adventure Park

If you have not yet been to Disney California Adventure Park, then you should make sure to put that on your list of things to do the next time you are in the Orange County or Los Angeles area. If you are an annual pass holderĀ like myself, then what are you waiting for?? If you are sadly blocked out for the summer, then make sure to go the first day you are able to! It is well worth it. Disney got it right and did a marvelousĀ job designing this land, tailoring it so that there is something for everyone here. It’s NOT just for kids…. šŸ˜‰

This was my first time to California Adventure since they finished construction on the park and opened up Cars Land, so I still have much left to explore and see myself. This is a list of my “Must-Do’s” and “Must-Sees” thus far while you are in the park.

 

 

1. FAST PASS/RIDES–

If you get to the park early enough in the day, as soon as you enter the park make sure to get a Fast Pass for the Radiator Springs Racers ride! Otherwise if you get there later in the day like we did around 6:30pm, go eat dinner first. The line will die down a little bit and it will save you at least an hour or so! The line for that ride was 195 minutes when we got there. After we had some dinner and drinks and looked around a little, the line had died down to 120 minutes! Notice the wait time listed on theĀ right tire!Ā LOL šŸ˜‰ *Radiator Springs Racers is an AWESOME ride, so make sure to hit up that ride! It’s especially awesome when your car wins like ours did! šŸ˜‰


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. FOOD & DRINKS–

Be sure to try some of the amazing food and drinks offered in Cars Land! We ate at Flo’s for dinner and then grabbed some treats at the Cozy Cone for the long line awaiting us at Radiator Springs Racers. I had a vegetarian potatoĀ bake with pasta salad. It was very light and refreshing for a warm evening. My friend had some SangriaĀ (they have a few wine choices at Flo’s to choose from), which I had a taste of. It was pretty good! My FAVORITE drink I found though was at the Chili Cone QuesoĀ at the Cozy Cone! They have a Vodka PomegranateĀ LimeadeĀ drink, can you say YUM!!!!??? You MUST try it. The Chili Cone Queso was good too, and I am not even a Chili person. So that says a lot.

3. LIGHTS AT NIGHT–

Be sure to stick around until the sun goes down to see how awesome Cars Land is at night when it lights up! It is sure to awe you, and will give you tons of photo ops for you photographers out there!

4. DJ Dance Party–

Perfect for kids, or if you just want to listen to the music, people watch and enjoy a drink outside by Flo’s it’s fun for everyone.

5. STARBUCKS–

You can use your pass holderĀ discount AND your StarbucksĀ card to get your StarbucksĀ fix at California Adventure. The mark up on price isn’t too horrible either. There was about a 32 cent difference between what my Grande Mocha Frap would cost me at the local Starbucks near my house and what it cost at Disney.

6. TREATS–

You MUST try some of the delectable treats offered in the shops on Buena Vista Street, the main street when you first walk into California Adventure. Chocolate Covered Brownie Truffle Micky Ears? Don’t mind if I do!! šŸ™‚

This is just a tiny glimps of what Dinsey California Adventure has to offer. I hope to add more to this list as I get a chance to explore the place more in depth. Will you be making a trip to Cars Land anytime soon? Or maybe you have gone already? I’d love to hear all about it!

Day 17: Celebrate!!

A couple years ago (Dec. 2009)Ā the whole family (including my uncle, aunt and cousins from Minnesota) went to Disneyland to help CELEBRATE my granpa’s 90th birthday!! To CELEBRATE his 90th birthday he wanted to go on Space Mountain!!! Here he is on the Space Mountain ride. If you look closely, he looks awfully bored, doesn’t he?