Most Disney World fans and frequent visitors have heard of Disney's exclusive Club 33, however, there is not too much information available about the club on Disney World's website or other Disney sites. Many know Disney Club 33 members have to shell out a lot of money, both as the initiation fee and the annual fee, to join the club. However, unless you are a member yourself, most of the information seems to be kept under wraps and unavailable to nonmembers.
I am a Florida resident, Disney World annual passholder, and visit Disney World multiple times per month. This article will discuss what we know about Disney World Club 33, how to join, and what perks are associated with being a member.
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What is Disney World Club 33?
According to Disney World's website, Club 33 is vaguely described as “a private Membership club with a variety of tailored experiences for its Members.” There is not much else listed on Disney's website regarding price, what these exclusive experiences entail, or any other general information regarding the Club 33 Disney World membership. However, if you dig a bit further, there is other information regarding this private club which we will get into more below.
Club 33 lounges are located at Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, Tokyo Disneyland, and Shanghai Disneyland. Club 33 Disney World members specifically have access to the Club 33 lounges which are located at each of the four Disney World theme parks. According to Disney, each of the lounges is uniquely themed and represents Walt and Lillian Disney's adventures they shared around the world. The following Club 33 lounges are located at Disney World:
- Captain's Quarters at the Magic Kingdom is located in the Adventureland area. This lounge pays homage to the Adventurer's Club which makes its location in Adventureland very fitting.
- Spotlight Lounge at Hollywood Studios is located just above the Hollywood Brown Derby Restaurant near the Chinese Theater. Rumors state the lounge gives tribute to old Hollywood, similar to various themes around the theme park.
- Constellation Club at EPCOT is located within the American Adventure Pavilion in the World Showcase. This Club 33 lounge was previously the location of Disney Chase Visa cardholder lounge but has since been refurbished to Club 33 lounge standards. Various leaked photos of the Constellation Club show a more modern theme with black and white photos of Walt Disney throughout the lounge.
- Harambe House at Animal Kingdom is located in the Africa area of the theme park. Guests can spot the building's name with the phrase “thelathini na tatu,” which in Swahili means “thirty three.”
Disney World Club 33 History
Despite the lack of overall information about Club 33, there is a bit of history available on the club and how it came to be. Although there are several theories on how the name “Club 33” came to be, the first Club 33 location opened in 1967 in Disneyland and is located at 33 Royal Street in New Orleans Square. We were lucky enough to visit the Club 33 lounge in Disneyland.
Read more about the history and all about our experience at the Club 33 lounge at Disneyland.
The first Club 33 Disney World lounge was opened at Hollywood Studios in the spring of 2018, followed shortly by the other three Disney World theme parks.
Walt Disney created the first Club 33 lounge at Disneyland to invite special guests to a private lounge. Walt knew how busy and overwhelming the theme parks could be, and he wanted a space to entertain VIPs such as celebrities, investors, and other senior corporate officials. The success of this lounge was then transferred to Disney World and other international Disney parks as well, where it continues to be a private getaway for VIP guests.
Along with little information about the Club, there is also a lack of photos of the Club 33 lounges at Walt Disney World. For the Walt Disney World locations, Disney strictly prohibits the distribution of photos of the lounges to keep it as private as possible. Although there have been some leaked photos, most of the lounges have been successfully kept private to Club 33 members only. However, if you look closely, guests can see some of these lounges hidden in plain sight throughout the parks. You just won't be able to see the inside of the lounges unless you have membership access. This isn't the case for the Disneyland locations where photos are allowed. It was a genie out-of-the-bottle situation. I am sure if they could forsee the popularity of the content on social media, there would be no photos allowed at the Disneyland locations also.
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All Disney Club 33 Locations Around the World
As previously mentioned, there is a Club 33 lounge located at all four Walt Disney World theme parks. However, there are also Club 33 lounges located at Disneyland and other international Disney parks as well, including:
- The original Club 33 lounge located at Disneyland Resort opened in 1967. In 2014, the lounge went through extensive renovations which included doubling the size of the lounge and changing its entrance location (to about 40 feet away from the original entrance).
- Tokyo Disneyland opened its first Club 33 lounge in 1983 located within the park's World Bazaar area. This lounge was inspired by the World Bazaar's elegant style, and members can enjoy fine dining as well as a private balcony overlooking Cinderella's castle.
- Shanghai Disneyland opened its Club 33 lounge in 2016 on Mickey Avenue. Although this lounge opened fairly recently, it does not disappoint. Shanghai Disneyland's lounge was inspired by Fantasia, where members can enjoy the fanciful décor and furnishings and tributes to the classic animated film.
There are a total of eight Club 33 lounges located throughout Disneyland, Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland, and Shanghai Disneyland.
Perks Associated with Disney World Club 33 Membership
If you are lucky enough to become a Club 33 Disney World member, there are various perks and benefits that you can use for yourself and your guests. It is rumored only a few hundred memberships are accepted per Disney park. Additionally, just because you are a Club 33 member at Disney World does not mean you can access the Club 33 lounges at the other Disney parks. This means each membership is exclusive to the park at which it was purchased.
However, with a Club 33 Disney World membership, you also receive the following:
- 50 single-day guest passes to the Disney parks each year
- An annual pass to the park at which you are a member
- Five private VIP tours each year
- Six (estimated) Genie+ fast passes during visits to Disney World
- Exclusive access to Disney World's lounges at each of the four theme parks
- Exclusive Club 33 Member merchandise for purchase
- Other VIP experiences (for example, Disneyland Club 33 members can tour the Disneyland Resort Dream Suite and access The 1901 Lounge at Cathay Circle Theater)
See our guide to Disney World VIP Tours for everything you need to know about what is included in this experience.
How to Become a Club 33 Disney World Member
If you want to inquire about becoming a Club 33 Disney World member, Disney states on their website to contact a representative via e-mail at Club33@WaltDisneyWorld.com. Disney World also implies that there is a long wait list for becoming a Club 33 member, as a frequently asked question is “I e-mailed my interest in Club 33. Why haven't I heard back?” Disney states they will contact those who inquired “as membership opportunities are evaluated,” indicating there is likely a waitlist and lengthy process. There have even been rumors of a waitlist for as long as 15 years to become a Club 33 member at Disney World.
Even if you can get through the extensive waitlist, you will also need to have the money to shell out on a membership. For a Club 33 Disney World membership, you are required to pay an estimated $33,000 upfront initiation fee. Additionally, members are required to pay an annual fee of $15,000 each year they intend to be a Club 33 member. Other clubs have similarly priced initiation and annual fees. Disneyland Club 33 members are required to pay $25,000 upfront and $10,000 annually. Considering Disney World Club 33 members have access to four different lounges, including general ticket access to the four different theme parks, the price isn't too “bad” in comparison to Disneyland's membership cost.
In addition to individual memberships, it appears Disney also offers corporate-level Club 33 memberships as well. If you're lucky enough, you could possibly be invited to a Club 33 lounge through a friend or family member's corporation membership. Most Disney fans will tell you visiting a Club 33 lounge is a huge bucket list item. This is not only due to its exclusive membership and overall level of intrigue but also to feel as if they are being welcomed into Walt's own private lounge.
Plan Your Next Disney World Vacation
Although the Disney World Club 33 membership comes with a lot of perks, most of us will unfortunately never be able to afford it. However, if you are planning an upcoming trip to Disney World, we can make it easier with our FREE Mickey Visit newsletter! Be sure to subscribe for helpful planning tips and tricks for your next visit to Disney World. We will let you know the best deals on Disney World vacations, and how to make the most out of your next Disney World trip. For more resources on planning your next trip to Disney World, check out these other resources:
- Disney World After Hours Dates 2024 – Calendar, Prices, Event Info
- Park Hopping at Disney World: Tips & Is It Worth It?
- Best Disney World Discounts 2024: Ranking Ticket & Hotel Deals
- Every Character Dining Disney World 2024 Experience Reviewed
- Disney World Hotels Reviews 2024: Pros + Cons of Every Walt Disney World Hotel
Frequently Asked Questions
Many ask how much it costs to join Disney's exclusive Club 33. For Disney World, the initiation, or upfront fee, to join Club 33 is $33,000. After becoming a member, there is an additional $15,000 annual fee. Disneyland also offers a Club 33 membership which costs $25,000 upfront and $10,000 annually.
In order to enter the Club 33 Disney World lounges, you must have a Club 33 membership at Disney World, which requires a high upfront and annual fee. If you are not a member, you must be invited by another Club 33 Disney World member in order to access the Club 33 Disney World lounge or take advantage of the membership's perks.
Club 33 Disney World is an exclusive lounge located at all four theme parks. In Magic Kingdom, the Club 33 lounge called Captain's Quarters is located in Adventureland. At EPCOT, the Club 33 lounge is located in the American Adventure Pavilion, and is called the Constellation Club. The Club 33 lounge at Hollywood Studios is called the Spotlight Lounge and is located above the Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant. Lastly, Animal Kingdom's Club 33 lounge, Harambe House, is located in the Africa area of the park. These lounges are where Club 33 members can enjoy gourmet meals and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the theme parks.
As expected with the high cost of becoming a Club 33 member, there are many amazing benefits that come with being a member. This includes an annual pass, 50 single-day admission tickets to give friends or family, 5 private VIP tours per year, Genie+ access, as well as access to the Club 33 lounges located within the theme parks including exclusive Club 33 merchandise.
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