Kool Aid at Club 33, Pt. 2

Yesterday's post covered how the Club 33 remodel impacted the regular pass-buying guest. The guest who spends: $150 per Park Hopper ticket + $17 for parking + approximately $50 for food/snacks (and that's extremely conservative) + $50 souvenirs = $267. If you are spending the night, you'll spend a minimum of at least $130 (again…very conservative) for a room. GRAND TOTAL FOR ONE PERSON: $397. That's at least a $400 day. For one person. Wow.

Want an Annual Pass? One that doesn't have blackout dates and also includes parking? You'll be shelling out $700. For the next level up in service and status, a VIP Tour would probably be what you are looking for. At a rate of $315-500 per hour (depending upon the season) with a minimum of 6 hours, you'd be spending a total of $1,890-$3,000. PLUS admission.



Not enough status for you? Is your wallet still bulging with cash to burn? Your next step would be to attempt to get a Club 33 membership. The unique thing about Club 33 was that it was the ONLY loyalty program that existed at Disneyland. Buy a Park ticket, have a magical day, exit the park, and you're back to zero as far as the Disney Corporation is concerned. You won't be given a discount or any kind of incentive to come back. Same thing for the Annual Passholders. Even at the Premium level, you don't rack up points or gain any special privileges for the years you continue buying. Every year, you are back to square one. At Club 33 though, you plunked down your initial wad of cash (at one time it was $10,000) and then paid the approximate equivalent of a one-time VIP Tour Guide every year thereafter. For Disneyland fanatics who couldn't get enough of the Park, this was a no-brainer! You also had the friendship and camaraderie of other members who renewed every year. They drank the Disney Kool Aid and automatically renewed every year, getting to know the Cast Members while creating a familial bond with them. Life was good.



At one time, the waiting list for this magical place was YEARS long. You could put your name on the list and expect to collect Social Security before you ever got a phone call. Then in 2012, something happened. No new Gold and Silver memberships were added to the existing roster; instead, a new level of membership was created and titled Platinum, which required an initial investment of $25,000 with annual dues of $10,000 (now raised to $14,400 annually). These new members were allowed to use 1901 in Disney California Adventure.



The Silver and Gold members were told if they attempted to enter 1901, they would risk losing their membership. The paltry Gold Member $3,800 annual dues obviously was not of value anymore to Disney. When Club 33 shutdown in January for the remodel, all members were allowed to use the Hollywood Room in the Carthay Circle Restaurant for special occasions until Club 34 (as it has been unofficially dubbed) would reopen in July 2014. They still were not allowed in 1901 (Heaven forbid!). There was no discount provided for this inconvenience; to entice members to go ahead and renew in January, Gold Members were assured that they would have use of the new Jazz Lounge being built above The French Market. Note: although it is being called the Jazz Lounge, so far, the only music that will be playing there is not "live," but rather on a Yamaha Disklavier Reproducing Piano. I guess that saves having to pay a musician.

Although they were still smarting over the Platinum snub, most renewed anyway and looked forward to better levels of service and an improved physical space; both had slipped substantially in the last few years.



The previous view from the Court of Angels out to New Orleans Square:



What Club 33 members see as they sit in the Court waiting for their table to be ready. Something ironic about the former entryway being covered by plastic. Not even real stained glass.



At a very quick glance, the Court looks pretty much the same...



minus the hideous merchandising that was dumped in here seasonally.



But then you notice the elevator crammed in the corner...



and the metallic vines that have been added to the gracefully curving staircase.





Like much of the Club 33/New Orleans Square renovation, it recalls this scene in "Cinderella." You really shouldn't try to shove a size 10 foot into a size 5 shoe. It just doesn't work, and it's definitely not pretty.



At the Dog-and-Pony show last month, members were introduced to the new merchandise offerings (tacky) that featured the new logo (I've already commented on that ill-conceived mess). The food, familiar to those who'd dined at Andrew Sutton's Napa Rose and Carthay Circle, failed to "wow" members, who had not been consulted about what they wanted. It was obvious that the dishes served did not meet their expectations. A beautiful plate is not always the top concern to those who dine out.



The biggest blow came when Gold Members were told that unless they had dinner reservations (which comes out to a minimum of $100 per person), they would not be allowed to use the Jazz Lounge. While you digest that, I'll show a few photos of the interior, graciously supplied by Andy Castro.



The harpsichord made the transition.



It was handpainted by Imagineer Collin Campbell:



One of the vultures from the historic Trophy Room (a casualty for a larger kitchen) was plopped atop this grandfather clock.



The interior and decor are almost unrecognizable to me. They are akin to the Dream Suite, not the Victorian-style that Walt and Lillian lovingly created for the original Club.



One of the biggest questions for me is why would you have a menu at a supposedly exclusive club that mirrors at least 2 other restaurants in the Resort?



Additionally, why would you remove the history and unique flavor that made the Club so special, and replace it with something that has no relation to the area (New Orleans Square) in which it resides. I've been to New Orleans many times, and this interior has nothing to do with that historic city.



Sure, it looks nice enough, but why would anyone plunk down thousands of dollars to experience this when you could visit any other "fancy" restaurant/lounge in the Resort and get the same ambiance?



If a picture can be worth a thousand words, then this one speaks volumes. Recognize this tiny enclosed lounge space wedged in the corner?



It was once the elevator in the lobby of Club 33. The one Walt had built specifically for his VIP restaurant/lounge. It has been stripped of all use and meaning. Need I connect the dots?



Yesterday, a comment was left on the blog that possibly Disney was planning to eventually open the club to the public; perhaps this is why they made the changes allowing it to be so conspicuous. I highly doubt that. Just like the Pressler years, I believe Management has seen the amount of money people are willing to pay for Premium Passes and even for the Platinum Membership, and they are going to see just how far they can push it. So far, they haven't hit the threshold, but I have a feeling they are close. Another person asked "When did Disneyland become so shi shi?" If I wanted to experience "shi shi," Disneyland would not rank anywhere on my list of places to go. For levels of quality and service, it falls far below what I would call a truly elegant, tasteful, and gracious experience. I don't think the people who put the new Club together would know what "shi shi" was if it bit them in the a$$. Expanding the kitchen and adding the lounge allows the Disney Corporation to host more high level parties and events; these can bring in the big bucks…much more than a mere $100 a plate dinner would. I truly believe this is what drove the changes. Ever since the 50th Anniversary in 2005, the amount of premieres, special events, and exclusive parties has mushroomed while the space to handle them inside the park has not. Has the Disney Corporation gone too far? Have they raised prices and lowered quality to a degree that they will alienate patrons like they did back in the Pressler years?

I think the Kool Aid is wearing off. Somebody better mix up a stronger batch.



See more Daveland Disneyland Club 33 photos at my main website.

Kool Aid at Club 33, Pt. 1

First, many thanks to Andy Castro for generously allowing me to use his photos in today's post.

Up until the last few years, Club 33 has sailed through Disneyland history as a hidden part of the New Orleans Square landscape. It was that elusive place that some were aware of but weren't quite sure exactly where or what it was. Many have been fortunate enough to visit, thanks to the generosity of a friend of a friend, but only a select few who patiently suffered through the years-long wait list were actually members. They enjoyed the camaraderie of other long-time members and the ability to experience Walt's park in a private setting that he had helped conceive and design. Rich with history, there were a number of personal artifacts that he and Lillian had hand-picked for the decor. Its dark and richly adorned interior just positively oozed Walt Disney.

The once understated entry door (shown above), which was probably not even noticed by 80% of the people who walked by it, has given way to a more lavish (but not necessarily better designed) and ostentatious entrance. If you're not a member and can't afford the dues, that fact is now shoved in your face.



As if that wasn't bad enough, the lovely Court of Angels has also been taken away from the regular paying Joe Schmoe guest. What you once saw was this:



and this:



Now, you get two sets of colored acrylic doors:





Faux candles adorn the new addition above. Really?



Once unable to see inside the Club, brand-spanking new windows allow the guests who only pay $125 or so (and that's just to get into the Park) to see exactly what they're missing.



The worst offense was what was done to the portion of the Club above Cafe Orleans. Here is how it was originally designed:



And the hideous off-center window that replaced its tasteful predecessor:



For Club members though, the view is lovely. The Disney Corporation is sending a very clear message to the public.



If you think only the regular paying guests are getting the shaft, come back tomorrow for an inside look at the "new" Club 33 and hear what many of the members are grumbling about.

See more Daveland Disneyland Club 33 photos at my main website.

Freaky Fridays @ The Haunted Mansion: The Pet Cemetery 2 & 40th Anniversary Event

Although I’d been to the Haunted Mansion too many times to count, it wasn’t until a few years ago that I first saw this “cemetery” to the right side of the mansion (thanks to a Disneyland Tour Guide who did a great job of keeping his group entertained). Although not really a cemetery, apparently the tombstones have many inside jokes from the creative geniuses at Disney.









On Wednesday night, I attended the Disneyland 40th Anniversary Haunted Mansion Event. I am so glad that I attended.



Most interesting to readers of this blog would be the two panel discussions; one held at the Grand Californian Hotel and one held during the dinner served over in California Adventure. The first discussion had Tony Baxter, Kim Irvine, and Jason Surrell (Imagineer and author of The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies -- Updated).



Kim showed up in full face makeup as Madame Leota, with her blond hair teased out appropriately. She truly does resemble her mother (the original Madame Leota, Imagineer Leota Toombs). Most touching part of the discussion was hearing Kim talk about her mother, whose voice as Madame Leota was dubbed by actress Eleanor Audley. Leota’s actual higher-pitched voice can be heard at the end of the attraction, where she acted and spoke for herself as Little Leota, the ethereal bridal figure that repeats "Hurry Back.” Kim said that when she went on the attraction with her children, she would always point to "Grandma" at the end of the ride. When Madame Leota had to be re-created for the Nightmare Before Christmas Holiday overlay at Disneyland, Kim stood in for her mother. With advancements in life-mask creation, the detail of Kim's head turned out to be much more lifelike than the one created 40 years ago from her mother's face. When the original film of her mother was projected onto her (Kim's) life-mask, it was a perfect fit because of the similar bone structure between mother and daughter. So when you enter the seance room, it is Kim’s head in the crystal ball year-round with her mother's face projected onto the head during the off-holiday season. Kim discussed the process at both lectures and how her head was put in a brace so that it wouldn't move while being filmed for the Seance projection; at the 2nd lecture, she let the audience know that her mom came home from the process and told her that X Atencio tied her hair to the chair when she did it; what a kinky bunch those early Imagineers must have been! Kim had many other fond memories of her mother (as well as a large blow-up of an opening day photo with her mom) and was proud to be carrying on the tradition of working at Disney.



The stage also had this photo of Leota with Claude Coats, the other very influencial Imagineer who worked on The Haunted Mansion and was a huge mentor to Tony Baxter.



Jason shared a story told to him by Rolly Crump about Marc Davis & small world. Apparently during one of the initial test ride-throughs, Marc told Walt that he noticed Luxembourg was missing in the line-up of countries. Walt acknowledged Marc's comment but things continued. After about the third time that Marc brought it up, Walt lifted the one eyebrow and told Marc that nobody gave a s&*t about Luxembourg. Apologies to all my readers from Luxembourg.



There were the usual digs about the Eddie Murphy "The Haunted Mansion" movie and Tony trotted out his Hatbox Ghost stories for the umpteenth time. Still, it was very refreshing to hear Tony breathlessly speak of his ability to go through both Pirates and The Mansion during their test phases—he was in teenage Disney Geek heaven. It is obvious that he has always had (and still does have) a passion for the Anaheim park. He also mentioned that the movie "The Haunting" (1963) with Julie Harris & Claire Bloom was a major influence on the attraction.



The second panel discussion was held over in California Adventure inside the soundstage where the Constance & George "wedding feast" was held.





Tim O’Day was the moderator for this one, with Kim, Tony, and Jason in attendance again, joined by Alice Davis (Marc's widow) and X Atencio, songwriter of "Grim Grinning Ghosts" and "Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)."





A few of the tales from the first discussion were repeated, but there were also a few new gems. I believe it was Kim who said that with the original Pirates and Mansion attractions, neither was really about telling a story; they were more like a fantastic cocktail party where guests would go from conversation to conversation. What a fantastic analogy. I believe the "error" on many of the newer attractions is that their creators attempt to cram a story into a 4 minute attraction and many of the guests just don't get it. The interesting vignettes that stand alone in Pirates & The Mansion bear repeated viewings without having to have a linked storyline that holds each vignette together. Marty Sklar's "retirement country club" sign gave the Haunted Mansion all the storyline that it needed.



Another interesting one from Tony had to do with the French/Europeans and the Mansion created for Disneyland Paris (Phantom Manor). He said that Europeans like scary and they like funny, but didn’t care for the two put together. Naturally, this caused the attraction to change quite a bit as Anaheim & Orlando’s are full of Marc Davis' humor along with a few safely scary touches for good measure. Any attempts that John Lasseter was going to make to change Phantom Manor or upgrade it were abandoned when he was told by the French that they loved their version best and thought it should stay just as it was. When in France, do as the French do.

When it comes to "scary," both Tony & Kim said that after hours when everything was "off," going through the Mansion could be a little on the eerie side. Kim said she refused to go through it alone and usually recruits another Imagineer to go with her ("Don't you have a sound check to do? Good...let's go!"). Tony said that even when the power was off for the attraction, sometimes the Audio Animatronics retain a little "juice," and often they'll continue to move at very inopportune moments, causing quite a scare.

Alice remembered Walt's wish to make the house immaculate on the outside so that guests could see that the entire park was well-manicured. She also remembered that Walt wanted the Haunted Mansion to be for the entire family and not so scary as to frighten the little ones into having nightmares. Alice has always been outspoken, and as she put it, at ago 80 she’s earned the right to say what she wants to. She was very clear in expressing her opinion that she felt that much of what Marc put into the Mansion (the gags, the humor, and his skill as an artist) had either been ruined or removed. O’Day attempted damage control by saying that his stretch portraits were still in the mansion, but Alice quickly corrected him that the versions being used now were not by Marc, nor was the coloring correct. Once that uncomfortable moment passed though, Alice did say that she and her group of Imagineers had their time to shine and explore and that she felt that today’s Imagineers should be given the chance to do the same, and that as long as people lined up for the attractions, she was okay with that. You can see in the following example that she is correct about the changing of the portraits over the years:





Besides the consistent digs at Eddie Murphy's Haunted Mansion, X Atencio also got one in when O'Day asked him if he was excited to go through the Mansion that night. X answered he'd already been on that attraction before, however, sure...he'd go on it again, and see if "they'd added Jack Sparrow to it." Much laughter followed that one. He also got a laugh when O'Day asked him if he ever imagined back in the 60's that his two hit songs "Grim Grinning Ghosts" and "Pirate's Life For Me" would still be around 40 years later. X quickly replied, "I didn't even think I'd still be around 40 years later!"

Jason said that when interviewing actress Jennifer Tilly (Madame Leota in the "Haunted Mansion" movie) for his book, she told him that she'd heard that her head would replace Leota Toombs' in the mansion if the movie was a success. Jason laughed at that one, but Kim gritted her teeth.

Tony was particularly touching in his discussion about the charm of the Anaheim park, and that he was particularly proud that when foot traffic along the Rivers of America in front of the Pirate's attraction threatened the removal of trees and landscaping, his decision to build the underpass and footbridge allowed even more plants and trees to be installed, thus preserving the charm of the park. Again, obvious that he truly cares about the Anaheim property, regardless of what many grumble about.



The evening concluded with a procession over to Disneyland for "wedding" cake at the Mansion and two hours of being able to ride the Haunted Mansion as much as you please. What a trip that was! For the first time ever, I got to ride the stretching elevator back up to the top; a little creepy, as you get the feeling that the room will crush you as it closes back up. Actor Nicolas Cage (with Goth-looking son Weston Coppola Cage) made a very quick appearance as well, posing for a handful of photos with guests before departing.







More to come...

See more Disneyland Haunted Mansion 40th Anniversary Event photos at my website.