Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Separate But Equal...


The announcement of this new plan has gotten strong reaction from Disney Geeks/Fans...

I don't think it'll ever be said the the Disney community is ambivalent on something. Many people are expressing outrage that Disney would dilute the specialness of Club 33 by having another exclusive club over in in the Disneyland Resort's sister gate. Others have felt that there is no way people would be giving up their place in line for a secondary club in a park that doesn't reach the high standards that Walt himself would have imposed.

It's clear to understand the strong feelings that Disney fans are having, but I don't think that it should be looked at as something that takes away from Club 33. I've gotten a few e-mails from people that have said: how dare Disney add another private club." They insist that it'll only hurt the original one. Well, first off, it's in an entirely different park so I won't feel that it is taking away from the one in NOS. And from everything I've heard or seen, it won't be a sub-par club it terms of theming or decorations. It'll be a different period of architecture as it should be, but it that's to be expected regarding where it is being placed.

I believe it's the intention of WDI and the Suits to provide a distinctive experience for these members, but I don't know if the price is going to sway die hards on the 33 waiting list to give up their place in line. That being said, I wish they would wait until the new DCA develops a reputation of its own. Maybe around 2013 or 2014 there will be a much greater desire to have a club there and enough Legend will have developed around the rebranded California Adventure to make it so. I also feel that putting it at the front, directly in public view is tricky. I mean, it's the park weenie, or at least one of two (the other being Grizzly Peak) and guest may not take to walking up to the icon and being told: "Sorry, you're not allowed." How would one feel if this had been the case with Sleeping Beauty Castle? The only way this will work is if the bottom area is easily accessible to the general public that moves around Buena Vista street. If they make the entrance to the CCC somewhat discrete and subtle, while still allowing the normal guest to peruse around the lower sections of the building it could be worked out. But WDI and Burbank need to realize that Club 33 succeeds because of its anonymity as well as it's exclusivity and this project doesn't seem to have any of that. But this is still an evolving concept and the final design and implementation haven't even begun to gel. The final form of this club could be very different than what we're discussing here today.

My own personal preference would be for them to put the club somewhere in Hollywoodland once a Second Phase has begun. Hopefully Imagineers will turn this land into more of something like a bygone era of Tinsel Town, and less a working studio. That way they could create a little back alley or culdesac with a discreet entrance into some form of Art Deco building which could house DCA's exclusive club. But that's my two-cents, it's doubtful that the higher-ups in WDI are listening to me. And truthfully, their plans for the CCC may work out, it won't be until the holiday season of 2010 that the front entrance would be done and that is presuming there won't be any delays. That's a year and a half from now. Nations have been born and disappeared in that amount of time. These plans could change a dozen times between now and the debut of this new entrance.

And they probably will...

20 comments:

Thomas Phillip said...

My view is, as long as DCA actually develops into a park worthy of the Disney name I'm fine with CCC. But I really like your idea better!

olegc said...

IMHO this is an attempt to "force" a notion of getting in on the ground floor of an opportunity and paying for it - thus providing Disney with some additional capital. It's not much - but it sounds so much like a marketing pitch (is someone from DVC running the marketing?) instead of building a place like 33 was - a private club for special guests to have time away from the masses. Instead it's like D23 on a top 1% income wage earner spree...

animated response said...

What exactly do you think Club 33 is? This is an exclusive, private club in DCA. It charges a initiation fee, just like 33, it charges a yearly due, just like 33 and it provides exclusivity, just like 33. It bears no relation to D23.

The Imagineers are just trying to gauge the interest of the crowd that can afford this. The same ones that go to 33.

Anonymous said...

My reaction really depends on which tact they take.

I fully agree that if this is all that's in the Carthay theatre--then I hate the idea. Frankly one of the things I like is that--for the most part--everyone can enjoy a Disney park the same, no matter if the costs of the day represent a year of saving up, or what someone would spend one afternoon at the mall. I like that it is for everyone. The idea of noticeable exclusivity would hurt that feeling of everyone being special.

If it IS set up on a top floor, or discretely hidden away--then I don't mind. I DO think it could be successful. Sure it won't have the historical cache of Club 33--but people who can afford it will definitely pay to feel closer to the experience. In the end, I think it will be very successful--but it won't put a dent in the waiting list for Club 33. People will continue to wait for that--but happily pay to enjoy this in the meantime.

Anonymous said...

'I've gotten a few e-mails from people that have said: how dare Disney add another private club."'

People need to get a life.

I think that I would be fine if they had a private club in DCA. WDI clearly has high hopes of DCA being considered a classy place in the future.
But where ever it goes, they had better make sure that the exterior is as discreet as Club 33's.

Anonymous said...

"The final form of this club could be very different than what we're discussing here today."

Very true.
Unfortunately, that is a concept that most Internet Disney nerds fail to understand.

Anonymous said...

It all comes down to how they do it and what else is in there.

I have no issue whatsoever with a secondary club... but if it is the ONLY thing in the theater it is quite obnoxious. First of all this is the icon of the park, the center of the park. It will draw people to it. What does it say about the park or Disney is when people arrive at this beacon they are turned away as not being special enough?

Hide it way, build it where the wine restaurant used to be, whatever, I am all for it. But don't take the center of the park and make it off limits to anyone, it is just off putting.

C33 said...

I participated in the Club 33 survey, so I found out about it in the best possible way- directly from Disney itself with no commentary from fans or others.

I wouldn't say I'm against it, per se, I just don't see the point of it. TWO private clubs with multi-thousand dollar annual dues in one resort? It just seems ridiculous. The CCC doesn't sound like a bad idea at all, but would I join it instead of Club 33? No way. Regardless of the status of DCA no new club could ever have the cache of Club 33, with its history and intrigue. Club 33 may be a little overrated in its own way, but its still a cool, classy place.

To me I see this as a problem only because it creates a bit of competition between the two club- when people are paying thousands of dollars a year they will expect some exclusive features and access for their trouble. With two clubs any new features would have to be divvied up- particularly any sort of private events.

I say, just make the CCC a part of Club 33, another outpost if you will. That will let Club 33 expand their membership and give existing members more bang for their buck, since they'll now have two restaurants to visit and be able to get that reserved seating for the World of Color.

I just dont see seperate clubs as being a viable idea, financially or otherwise.

Anonymous said...

This may be a bit off-topic, but I've always wondered why the animatronic buzzard at Club 33 has never been activated as originally planned?

Spokker said...

At least Club 33 has some history, though it's a club I would never want to belong to. The DCA version has no history and is simply a marketing ploy.

Anonymous said...

"their plans for the CCC may work out, it won't be until the holiday season of 2010 that the front entrance would be done and that is presuming there won't be any delays."

So the new park entrance is supposed to be done by late 2010?
I kept hearing that it wouldn't be ready until sometime in 2011 or even 2012.

Honor Hunter said...

Dates keep changing so everything is tentative...

If all goes well you could see it done by the end of next year.

But if it doesn't...

Anonymous said...

/\ Gotcha. Thanks for the response.
BTW, if you still happen to look here;
Is WDI set and locked on the Carsland name, or is there really a chance that it could still be called something like Route 66?

PirateGuy 815 said...

I wish they would wait until DCA was finally fixed until they did it. Granted, I like the idea of putting in another Club, as long as it is completely different then Club 33. I don't think it will take the prestige and secrecy away from Club 33

Anonymous said...

I'm not completely against the idea of a provate club, but I wish they'd spend the money on something else. Then, as PirateGuy said, add it in later.

Anonymous said...

That's "private" club, not "provate" club.

Anonymous said...

Also, the title should read "Separate but equal..."

Sorry... I'm a spelling geek.

Allen Huffman said...

"How would one feel if this had been the case with Sleeping Beauty Castle?"

Meh. These days, I get that all the time in Florida at Cinderella castle ;-) Just try to get a walk-in there without booking six months in advance...!

Anonymous said...

I don't know if I like this idea. Will people waiting to have the honors of access to Club 33 will really want to go in a new, not-as-famous-or-historic-or-popular club in DCA. I really hope that a real disney theater is built inside eventually, so the 98% of people who cant afford the club can have something to do and see in there. I want a Walt Disney Story show in a big theater, and the CCC is hidden somewhere on the 2nd floor, not JUST the club.

Spokker-Hater said...

"The DCA version has no history and is simply a marketing ploy."

Oh, shut up Spokker! You're wrong as usual and you know that!

Please ban this jerk already, Honor-Hunter!