Part VI: Coast-to-Coast Disney Trip Report

That said, here’s my capsule account of the tour, including the information I have been able to verify as accurate. After leaving the main dining room, where we were seated, our tour proceeded to the room that’s known informally as the Trophy Room.

Over the years, this room has changed, with animal heads and other once-living creatures removed from the years gradually as Disney attempted to distance itself from sport-hunts. The references to hunting are now more subtle, with memorabilia, art, and masks displacing some of the actual trophy heads.

Some remnants of the previous decor remain. An Audio Animatronic vulture that once entertained diners still sits perched in the upper corner of the room under the door, and microphones/speakers that were once used for the vulture’s interactive “show” can be found in the light fixtures hanging about tables.

The Trophy Room is smaller than the main dining room, and appears set for parties and visiting dignitaries who demand privacy from the rest of high society (although when we were there, I was surprised at how many of the patrons appeared to be “regular folk” just like our party; there were few patrons who seemed as if they were part of the pantheon of Southern California’s elite). If Teddy Roosevelt ever ate at Club 33, this is the room I imagine him utilizing. It oozed of restrained and refined manliness, yet I can’t help but imagine the place becoming a rowdy bastion of ‘stories from the hunt’ of an African hunting expedition amongst the elite after the liquor began flowing. Perhaps I let my imagination get the best of me. It definitely has a cozier feel, but is equally as ornate and well-appointed as the main dining room.

Leaving the Trophy Room and continuing down the hall, we encountered one of the Club’s more famous pieces of decor: a phone booth. This functional phone booth is quite ornate, with its bevelled glass windows and flawless oak panels is actually a prop from the 1960’s film, “The Happiest Millionaire,” which is one of the last films Walt Disney personally touched.

In the same vicinity is another movie prop, and arguably the Cub’s most famous piece: an ornate walnut table with white marble top. It was used in the legendary 1964 Disney film, “Mary Poppins.”

Of course no tour is complete with a stop in…the lady’s restroom…yeah, I don’t know what to say about this one. Sarah took photos of the restroom, and it’s pretty luxurious for what it is. Sorry if these photos offend your sensibilities, but I thought they were pretty interesting.

Moving along with the “normal” tour, one of the highlights of the restaurant is probably the piano just past the Gallery and across from the bar. Seemingly innocuous and no more refined than your average piano (at least to my untrained eyes), the inside of the lid features a meticulous painting of 19th century New Orleans Harbor.

Sadly, as implied above, Walt Disney never lived to dine at Club 33. Around the time of Disneyland’s 50th Anniversary, the Club had a painting commissioned of Walt dining at the restaurant. The painting now hangs in the restaurant, and features Walt at a window table, with the Mark Twain Riverboat outside, sipping a cup of coffee as he reads the paper. As far as art goes, this is probably the only piece I have ever seen that actually gave me chills. It is truly a moving piece of art.

At the end of the tour, in typical Disney fashion there was, of course, a gift shop! (This joke is so tired now, but what the heck.) Contrasting typical Disney fashion was that there was no counter or cash register nearby or any other means of knowing how to make a purchase. Rather, you simply loitered around a glass case, and sooner or later, a Cast Member would ask you what you’d like to purchase. It was almost as if the case was daring you to buy something, and waiting around a bit before being able to make a purchase was like even deeper initiation into “The Club.” If gift shops (or cases, in this case) could talk, this one would say, “I don’t need a person hawking goods bearing the exquisite logo of this Club. I’m cool, you know that, I know that. You want to buy me–you’ll wait around until we’re good and ready to sell something to you.”

I was going to purchase Club 33 ears, but ultimately opted against them once I saw them. Sarah purchased a baseball hat. There were something interesting items, most noteworthy the class ring style men’s rings. However, most of the items were stock print-shop clothing with the “33” logo emblazoned on them. Definitely nothing imaginative, and not what I expected for such an exclusive club. I have heard that they once sold prints of the Walt painting I mentioned earlier. Had that been available, I think I would have purchased it regardless of the price tag.

Keeping in mind my lukewarm review of the meal itself, I would give our experience at Club 33 a 10/10. (Click here for my full review of Club 33, which is a variation of what’s present here.) If ever a restaurant deserved a mantra of, “come for the food, stay for the experience,” it is Club 33. Our hours there will likely go down as some of the best ever in any Disney park, and if we ever have the opportunity to go back, we will in an instant.

After the Cast Member returned with Sarah’s hat, we slowly made our way down the stairs and to the exit. We knew this time would come, but we were in no way prepared for it. Some kids dream of camping out in the Swiss Family Treehouse overnight, I think my dream place to stay the night would be in Club 33/the Disney Gallery.

As the door slowly closed behind us, we turned back for our last peak inside the Club. Right around the time we headed into New Orleans Square, the food comas set in. We still had a little bit of time left until the park closed, so we set out to hit a few attractions before closing. By this time, I was so drowsy that I barely even remember what we did. I know we hit Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion, and I think that was it.

I had been playing message-tag with Hilger, a fellow photographer and Nikon shooter. We had planned on meeting up with him the previous night, but our fun time at elecTRONica sort of nixed those plans. Instead, we met briefly with he and his girlfriend before continuing on to take some photos in Fantasyland.

We started a few minutes before the park closed, as the previous two nights had been busts photo-wise, and I wanted to get as many shots as possible before calling it a night.

I made quick work of Fantasyland, shooting the exteriors of Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Pinocchio’s Daring Journey, Peter Pan’s Flight, and King Arthur’s Carrousel before moving on to the Castle.

Since I had a jacket and khakis on, I thought it might be cool to recreate the classic shot of Walt walking through the back of the Castle into an empty Fantasyland. I was a bit concerned that this would seem a bit conceited, as if I were comparing myself to Walt Disney, but I’m sure many people have tried this shot, and they all did it in the name of fun. That was also the reason I was doing it–for the record, about the only thing Walt Disney and I have in common is legendary mustaches. (Okay, I don’t have a mustache, but I’m betting I could grow a killer one!)

After this shot and a similar shot of the same scene with Sarah in it, I was struggling for ideas. For some reason, I decided to have her stand by a gift shop window for what ended up being, by all accounts, a lousy idea and shot. I wouldn’t post it if not for the sake of the story, because right as I finished taking it, I heard, “you again,” from a familiar voice. The security guard from two nights’ prior.

He reiterated his, and City Hall’s, position that tripods weren’t allowed in the park, and I clarified that they weren’t allowed in busy thoroughfares. This exchange didn’t go on for too long, because at this point Sarah started to firmly let him have it. She wasn’t rude, but she wasn’t exactly polite, either. Like I said earlier, she feels the need to protect me. Based on my encounter with this @$#%$#*&^# the previous night, I knew this would take us nowhere positive.

I quickly stopped Sarah, and told the security guard we’d head to Main Street. Before we left, I told him that I had been coming to the Disney theme parks all of my life, and I had never felt unwelcome or humiliated until the encounter I had with him two nights earlier. I thought I possibly gotten through to him because he wouldn’t even make eye contact with me, but Sarah said she heard him laughing as we walked away. I would post the guy’s name and description on here, but I will be the bigger man. It’s seriously taking all the restraint I have, though, as just thinking about this gets my blood boiling again.

It was still only around 12:15 am at this point, and the Main Street shops were open until 1 am, so we wandered around Main Street. Sarah made friends with some people in rocking chairs, and I wandered around, just soaking in the ambiance. It was actually a new and unique experience to just walk around the empty Main Street just soaking in the atmosphere without taking (many ) photos.

Finally, when the clock hit 1 am, we headed out. Not even the setback with security could wipe the smiles off of our faces as we walked out the gates. A wonderful day in the parks followed by an amazing evening at Club 33 topped off with a nice stroll around Main Street, USA. It was like cake on top of cake, on top of MORE CAKE!