Hello All,

This is my first time posting so please forgive any breach of etiquette I make. Time is of the essence (had a difficult time accessing this site until yesterday!) and I didn't know about it before about a week ago.
Now to the business. I am hoping, praying and trusting that even though I am in the eleventh hour, there will be some kind soul(s) who would allow my husband and I the privilege of utilizing their Club 33 membership for this coming Friday evening or Sunday. Those dates are the 20th for Friday and the 22nd for Sunday.
To share briefly, my husband just made a huge promotion at work. He puts his life down every day for us and I am so very proud of him. It was also his birthday the 15th and we are celebrating our 13th wedding anniversary tomorrow, the 19th.
All that being said, I would sure love to surprise him with lunch/supper at the elite Club 33.
Any assistance anyone can provide would be appreciated more than words can say.
Thank you and God Bless you.
Carla

I am hoping, praying and trusting that even though I am in the eleventh hour, there will be some kind soul(s) who would allow my husband and I the privilege of utilizing their Club 33 membership for this coming Friday evening or Sunday.

I'm not in a position to be able to help you, but the kind of timetable you're talking about would make it fairly unlikely that even a Club 33 member would be able to get such a reservation for themselves. From what I understand, bookings, especially during busy times, are done quite early, and getting a reservation only a couple days in advance would be extremely unlikely.

To offer an alternative, may I suggest looking into Napa Rose at the Grand Californian? It of course doesn't have the same history as Club 33, but they have amazing food and a wonderful staff, and it's a great place for even just a regular meal, much less a double celebration.

Thank you for your reply. I know it is a longshot. I still believe in miracles, perhaps someone who was planning on going and therefore having the time reserved, had or will have to cancel for some reason, thus opening the slot.
If not, we may check out the other place you suggested.
Thanks so very much.
Leah

Hello Again Everyone,

I know you have seen my request. No reply propbably means that it just what is is; no availability. However, since I am a die hard and for some reaosn know in my heart that someone might have a change of plans and not use his/hers/theirs for this coming Friday evening or Sunday lunch/supper, I am just listing again. I don't know how to e-check other than this and when I leave home, I am nervous that there will be a wonderful message granting my request.
I wanted to keep it from my hubby so as not to ask him to access a computer whilst gone but I will be checking this up till tomorrow around 1000.
Thank you, either way, for allowing me to ask such a personal and special favor from people I don't even know. If I don't receive a go ahead, that's okay. It just doesn't hurt to try, right?
God Bless and many thanks,
Leah
Oh, I thought PM meant private message me which I wondered how that happens when my info isn't on her and then I learned it means Personal Message me. I don't know if I needed to post a special e-mail or anything but if you do decide you can help, I check this board, just instruct me and I will follow even if you want me to call you or I will pay for collect.
:):):):):)

I hate to burst your bubble, but to put it bluntly, you shouldn't be under any false beliefs that this is even remotely possible. (I don't see a problem putting it bluntly because, well, I think coming on an internet board and begging for something like this is far more blunt than my statement. In fact, when a similar request was made on another board, at least a couple of people said they felt it was rude to make such a request. I can't say I disagree. I do not doubt that your husband is deserving, but that's not the issue here.)

Basically put, unless a member has completely lost their mind, this is just not going to happen. For so many reasons. No member in their right mind would do this for a complete stranger. (Guest behavior reflects directly upon the member, and they have no way of knowing how you will behave -- their ability to make future reservations could be severely restricted.) In fact, many Club 33 members won't even make reservations for people they KNOW PERSONALLY, and will only make reservations when they are personally accompanying their guests. Honestly, this is a thought you truly need to let go of.

Make alternate plans.

I do apologize if this comes across as being rude, but I'm trying to be as straightforward as possible. This shouldn't be sugar coated, as you shouldn't have false hopes. I'm not going to say you have a better chance of winning the lottery this weekend, but a) finding a member who will b) make weekend reservations for c) a complete stranger who d) simply posted a request on an internet board in e) the height of summer, and those reservations are f) less than a week away . . . ?

On second thought, go buy a lottery ticket, it might just be better odds.

KDR,
Thank you for taking your time for the tongue lashing. I thought about the things you mentioned before posting my request.
Actually, I will not mention who told me to attempt this forum but I will say that the person(s) rank in the Club 33 system. Had it not been for the contact with the abovementioned, I would never had considered the possibility. Additionally, I have witnessed the other people receive the blessing/honor of visiting the club and doing so by using the same rude, unlikely and begging manner (your words were something to that effect) as mine.
Rest assured that I am aware of any and all risks a member of the club would take on my account and that both my husband and I would conduct ourselves becomingly.
People like you, sir or ma'am remind me of the world in which we live, i.e., don't worry or do for others. Care about yourself first, etc., etc.
Should you be a member, I am happy to say it is well with me that we won't be meeting at the said club. If you are a member I hope you are of the few and not the masses with your abrupt and harsh honesty (as you call it). I am not trying to be rude either. I am just responding honestly to the shocking lashing I received from you. If you wanted to give me a negative comment, a simple 'Don't get your hopes up' would have done it. I didn't need dragged through the proverbial mud for making a request.
Thank you

Dear Leah,

First of all, just because other people do something doesn't make it any less rude to do it as well. It just means there are more rude people out there.

As I said, though, I wasn't trying to be rude. I was trying to put things into perspective for you. I'm not trying to dash your dreams, but they are unfortunately completely unrealistic. During busy seasons, members can't even make reservations for themselves on such short notice, let alone other people. There is typically a waiting list for weekend reservations, and I'm told that members get first priority. So even if someone cancels, that spot is almost certainly going to go to a member.

Without going into detail on names, etc., I'll just say that I know several Club 33 members. All have been burned in the past by people who they never would have expected to cause problems for them in the Club. Luckily for them, the Club was lenient back then. But that's changing. I've seen recent letters to members from the Club's new manager -- they are cracking down.

I know you've made assurances that you will behave well and follow rules, etc., but don't you think everyone says the same thing?

The members I know feel that their membership is an extremely precious thing. And they would not want to jeopardize any part of that membership.

Let me make an analogy. It won't be perfect, as I am comparing something nearly irreplaceable and almost impossible to obtain with something that can easily be replaced, but . . .

Take your original message and substitute borrowing a car for getting into Club 33. Would you, or anyone you know, let a complete stranger borrow your car for a few hours, even though you will not meet them face to face before they take your car, no one you know has ever met them so no one you know can vouch for them, you have no idea what their driving record is, and no knowledge of whether or not they have insurance?

Having said all that, many people do get into Club 33 through friends, family, or (and this, from my understanding, is the biggie) work. Many large companies have memberships. A few examples are Bank of America, AT&T, Chevron, and most movie studios. Have you checked with all your friends and family?

I also know several people who ended up dining at Club 33 because they happened to strike up a friendly conversation with someone in line at Disneyland, and that someone happened to be a Club member.

The idea here isn't to go around the park asking for something. Just go to Disneyland, have fun, be nice to people you meet. You never know where it may lead you.

FWIW, I though KDR's posts are straight on.

We have a family friend who has a C33 membership. When we first found this out they more than happily offered that we could use it. A few years later, we asked and they had to turn us down.

Now. This man and one of our fathers were fraternity brothers. They both met their now wives in college so the two families have known each other for over 40 years. They've watched us grow up and know what responsible people we are and that we've been to the Club before - so we have a 'proven track record'.

They would like to get us reservations. But the lawfirm with which the gentleman is a partner has absolutely cracked down strictly on how they are to be used.

I've long said what KDR has said in his posts. I know it's disappointing, but I can only respect the members who don't share their reservations with people they don't know. Not only are they doing it to protect their own memberships, but they're doing it out of respect for the club, it's policies, and the other patrons. Forget what it would do to the members' reputation, if I was a member and someone I sponsored into the club for a meal misbehaved and "ruined" the evening for the other patrons dining their that night and were difficult for the staff, I would feel responsible and upset that I had responsibility for that.

It's very disappointing, it's blunt, but it is what it is.

Adrienne

I just recently posted a req to go to Club 33 as well on this board. The only reason I did is when I did a search I found others who had req that received notes about getting a PM so I assumed, hey maybe. But I know it is wishful dreaming.

It makes allot of sence because their name would be placed w/ your behavior. I'm not saying you would not behave but the internet is a place were anyone can be what ever they want and I wouldn't trust anyone either.

I have asked Friends & Family and my husband works at a pretty large Co. so I've asked him to check there but we have found nothing. But I'll always be looking, I know some people that work @ AT&T I may try that now too.

I hope I get a once in a life time chance to go to Club 33 one day, but until then I wanted to say that I agree w/ KDR's "harsh honesty"

The thing is, I really didn't intend to come across as rude. I did feel though, that "Don't get your hopes up" was not coming across. That's basically what cstephens had already said.

FWIW, I showed my first post to my wife before I hit the submit button. She said, "don't be surprised when people think you're a jerk." So, Leah, at least in that regard, someone has your back.

The thing is, I really didn't intend to come across as rude. I did feel though, that "Don't get your hopes up" was not coming across. That's basically what cstephens had already said.

I agree 100%. Sometimes you have to be blunt to get your point across. I think that people see other posts and get their hopes up that they'll be successful.

But then, when I'm trying to be helpful, I get considered a jerk a lot, too.

Adrienne

I think there's a way to be blunt and yet still be polite and being blunt and crossing over the line of being polite.

While I think the information in KDR's post was spot on, I can certainly see why the OP might have taken the chastising the way she did. I thought the post could have been a bit less condescending.

The way I see it, if someone wants to get their hopes up even after being told it's probably not going to happen, that's on them. Different thing entirely if they come back and curse the people who didn't come to their assistance. I've seen that before, where some people basically feel that anyone who has access to a Club 33 membership is somehow obligated to share with others. I didn't get that feeling from what the OP posted.

I agree 100%. Sometimes you have to be blunt to get your point across. I think that people see other posts and get their hopes up that they'll be successful.

But then, when I'm trying to be helpful, I get considered a jerk a lot, too.

Adrienne

Well, I must admit here in public and for the record . . . my wife is almost always right. Even after more than 13 years of marriage, I'm still struggling with that concept. Yet deep in my heart, I know it's true. I have well-deservedly received an "I told you so" on several occasions.

That's not to say in this case I didn't have to be blunt to get the point across; just that in doing so I should be prepared to be thought of as something of a jerk. Of course I don't like being thought of that way (I'd hazard that few people do), and I'm pretty sure I don't come across that way in person, but that's one of the pitfalls of the internet -- a lot of the subtleties that make up human communication are lost when it's reduced to type on a computer screen.

While I think the information in KDR's post was spot on . . . I thought the post could have been a bit less condescending.

Point taken, and it's a good one. Mea culpa. Just the same, though, it's very difficult to make those points clearly without being rather blunt. And being less blunt would likely leave false hopes that it's possible such a request is likely to be met.

So, could I have been more tactful? Certainly.
Should I have been more tactful? Possibly.
Will I be more tactful in the future? I'll try. (No guarantees, though.)
And I'll absolutely work on being less condescending.

A question for you -- do you think it's rude for people to come on an internet board and ask a Club 33 member to basically risk certain privileges of their membership? I mean, considering the fact that the vast majority of Club 33 members joined years before boards such as MousePad existed, it's not as though this is something they should have expected when they became members.

The way I see it, if someone wants to get their hopes up even after being told it's probably not going to happen, that's on them.

Yes and no. Had the OP simply not posted anything after her reply to you, I probably wouldn't have felt it necessary to chime in. But she pretty much re-posted her original request after that. The way I see it, if someone asks for advice and is basically told, "hey, there's really no chance of this happening, so the best plan would be to give up on this idea and make other plans," only to continue on without actually seeming to take the advice they asked for in the first place . . . isn't that sort of like saying "I don't like your answer so I'm going to ask again and again until I get the answer I want"? Perhaps I'm reading too much into things, but that's the way it came across to me.

Furthermore, I think it's often very important for people to understand the why's of an answer such as "Don't get your hopes up." Because without knowing why, the door is still left open for those hopes to be up. You gave a very good basic explanation. It didn't seem to make an impact, so I expanded upon it.

I still think she should've bought a lottery ticket. Hmmm, for that matter, maybe I should go buy one . . .

KDR . . . for what it is worth, my internet "jerk" attenna has been getting much better then it was a few years ago and I am getting "NOT a jerk" reading on you. :);)

A question for you -- do you think it's rude for people to come on an internet board and ask a Club 33 member to basically risk certain privileges of their membership? I mean, considering the fact that the vast majority of Club 33 members joined years before boards such as MousePad existed, it's not as though this is something they should have expected when they became members.

I was really proud of the fact that we didn't allow people to do this with the Disneyland forums. We never allowed it until we set up this forum. Some people would try to sneak them into their posts in the DLR, and we have deleted single lines from posts, for example, for this reason.

I have mixed feelings about "allowing" Club 33 solicitations. I've often been very curious to know how many people have successfully gotten reservations from asking here. The only reason I have to rationalize allowing them here is that Club 33 members have no obligation so to speak to read this forum and if they do, they sort of know they can expect to see some and prepare for them. I think it's much more intrusive on the DLR forum.


Also - to acknowledge both sides of this issue: I have heard of people who have been told "Sure, we'll get you some reservations! We just want to help out another addict!" and then they showed up and their promised reservations had been a hoax.

Adrienne

Also - to acknowledge both sides of this issue: I have heard of people who have been told "Sure, we'll get you some reservations! We just want to help out another addict!" and then they showed up and their promised reservations had been a hoax.

Oh. My. GOD! I can't imagine how I'd feel if something like that happened to me. Those poor folks must have felt terrible. I mean, wow, that goes beyond jerkiness into just plain cruel. How awful.

Dear All,
I am on my way out now. I haven't had a chance to read all of your input, however, I did read enough to get a feel for both sides.
KDR, sorry, but you did come across as a jerk! Like I said, it was at the urging of some people with ranking in the club 33 system who even told me of this forum and to attempt it--alas the late date, etc.
I totally agree with you on the fact that one never knows how another will behave somewhere and when a persons name is tied to it; well, it is a scary thing.
Walt's whole idea is that dreams do come true. I also believe in the Lord and He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think--hard to put one's mind around.
Anyway, we do not touch alcohol of any form so we wouldn't get looped and become jerks and we know how to eat with our manners well intact.
That being said, I have enough confidence in myself and my husband that we would make anyone who was generous enough to grant a wish, look good.
I can't believe that this caused a big deal.
God Bless you all. Have a wonderful weekend wherever you are.
Leah

I was really proud of the fact that we didn't allow people to do this with the Disneyland forums. We never allowed it until we set up this forum. Some people would try to sneak them into their posts in the DLR, and we have deleted single lines from posts, for example, for this reason.

That's how it was when I first started posting here . . . maybe a year and a half ago. At first I didn't understand the rationale, but I looked at it from all angles and eventually realized that it made the place more welcoming for everyone.

I have mixed feelings about "allowing" Club 33 solicitations. I've often been very curious to know how many people have successfully gotten reservations from asking here. The only reason I have to rationalize allowing them here is that Club 33 members have no obligation so to speak to read this forum and if they do, they sort of know they can expect to see some and prepare for them.

That is the most appropriate counter-point to my thoughts. But then again, they (that is to say Club 33 members) are the only segment of the MousePad population who are regularly targeted by specific requests on the board. You don't see people here asking CMs to sign them into the park, for instance. I'm not advocating going back to the old ways, though. I'm really just thinking out loud. Don't mind me . . .

Point taken, and it's a good one. Mea culpa. Just the same, though, it's very difficult to make those points clearly without being rather blunt. And being less blunt would likely leave false hopes that it's possible such a request is likely to be met.

Not saying you should have or should in the future word things differently - there just seemed to be the implication that the OP's reaction to your first post was out of left field, and while I don't think I took your response the same way, I could see how someone could take it the way it was taken.

For example, something like this

Basically put, unless a member has completely lost their mind, this is just not going to happen.

implies that the person making the request should know how completely outrageous it is for them to even make the request at all AND that any member would have to be a complete idiot to do it, which I think could be construed as insulting to both the person asking the question and anyone (and I don't doubt that it *has* happened) who has agreed to such a request. Would I? Nope. I'm not trusting enough, and I would value something like a Club 33 membership too much to possibly endanger it in that way. Heck, there are regular restaurants that I go to where I'm known by some of the staff, and I'm careful about who I'm with because I don't want someone's bad behaviour to be associated with me. Can you imagine how paranoid I'd be with Club 33? There are a lot of people who don't know the specifics of Club 33. I don't profess to know a lot, but I do know that the member is responsible for their guests' behaviour. Many people don't know that. They don't know how huge the favor it would actually be for someone to let them borrow their membership. They may also not know how extremely booked Club 33 is. I think there are times that those of us more entrenched in this stuff assume that *everyone* knows or should know the same thing, and that's just not true.

And I have seen situations, not necessarily like this, where people have done things by being extremely trusting, and sometimes, it works out, and sometimes, it doesn't. Everyone has to decide for themselves how much they want to put themselves out. I don't think that someone who puts themselves out is more generous or the person who holds back is more selfish - it's just what you're comfortable with.

A question for you -- do you think it's rude for people to come on an internet board and ask a Club 33 member to basically risk certain privileges of their membership?

As long as it's permitted by board rules, and they ask nicely, I guess I'm not sure that it's any more rude than any other requests that people make - for maps, for souvenirs, for other items. Someone can ask, but no one is forced to respond. Again, some people might not fully understand the implications of what it would mean for a total stranger to let them use their membership. I've seen people be far more rude in asking for simple information about this or that, when they don't get the exact answer they're looking for, when they don't get an answer within an hour's time, when they don't get an answer at all. I posted a request on this board asking for a total stranger to do a favor for me - would you consider that rude?

And I've seen people post this kind of request on various boards, and someone has responded purporting to help get them in. I don't know whether it actually worked out in the end.

isn't that sort of like saying "I don't like your answer so I'm going to ask again and again until I get the answer I want"? Perhaps I'm reading too much into things, but that's the way it came across to me.

I can see how you would think that, but again, someone can keep asking as much as they like. If they don't like the answer I give, that's fine, they can disregard it (not saying that is what actually happened, just giving an example), and I've made an attempt to be helpful, so I'm done. As I said earlier, it's if someone flips out that no one has come forth where I think the true rudeness shows itself.

Dear All,
I am on my way out now. I haven't had a chance to read all of your input, however, I did read enough to get a feel for both sides.
KDR, sorry, but you did come across as a jerk! Like I said, it was at the urging of some people with ranking in the club 33 system who even told me of this forum and to attempt it--alas the late date, etc.
I totally agree with you on the fact that one never knows how another will behave somewhere and when a persons name is tied to it; well, it is a scary thing.
Walt's whole idea is that dreams do come true. I also believe in the Lord and He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think--hard to put one's mind around.
Anyway, we do not touch alcohol of any form so we wouldn't get looped and become jerks and we know how to eat with our manners well intact.
That being said, I have enough confidence in myself and my husband that we would make anyone who was generous enough to grant a wish, look good.
I can't believe that this caused a big deal.
God Bless you all. Have a wonderful weekend wherever you are.
Leah

Dear Leah,

I am sorry if I came across as a jerk.

Please just take that last little bit of advice I left you: Go to Disneyland and have a great time. Be nice to people in line around you. Strike up conversations and be friendly. You never do know where that will lead you.

You don't see people here asking CMs to sign them into the park, for instance.

Actually, I've seen it happen before, but you're right, it doesn't happen nearly as often as Club 33 reservation requests do. But that goes back to my 'Mixed feelings' about this issue.

However, regarding targeting Club 33 members - there have been members who have made it known that they are Club 33 members - or rather clear that they have access to a membership. Although we have allowed asking for reservations here, it has always been and still is against our policies for members to send PMs directly to MousePad members or e-mails through the MP system, asking for C33 reservations (or anything else.) We have had occasions where this has happened and we've addressed the members involved because we do NOT want our members to be bothered by unauthorized solicitations. But it does mean that members would have to report them to the moderators because we do not read PMs nor e-mails sent through our system.

Adrienne

Not saying you should have or should in the future word things differently - there just seemed to be the implication that the OP's reaction to your first post was out of left field, and while I don't think I took your response the same way, I could see how someone could take it the way it was taken.

Yeah. I can see that, too.

For example, something like this

implies that the person making the request should know how completely outrageous it is for them to even make the request at all AND that any member would have to be a complete idiot to do it, which I think could be construed as insulting to both the person asking the question and anyone (and I don't doubt that it *has* happened) who has agreed to such a request.

You make quite a bit of sense, there. I should at least have prefaced that statement with an explanation of my understanding that things have been drastically changing at Club 33 recently, and how members are being held much more accountable for the actions of their guests. As to the person asking -- I do believe that they should realize it's a big deal. If it's special enough for them to make such a request they should figure it's going to be even more special and important to the person who actually has the membership.

Would I? Nope. I'm not trusting enough, and I would value something like a Club 33 membership too much to possibly endanger it in that way. Heck, there are regular restaurants that I go to where I'm known by some of the staff, and I'm careful about who I'm with because I don't want someone's bad behaviour to be associated with me. Can you imagine how paranoid I'd be with Club 33? There are a lot of people who don't know the specifics of Club 33. I don't profess to know a lot, but I do know that the member is responsible for their guests' behaviour. Many people don't know that. They don't know how huge the favor it would actually be for someone to let them borrow their membership. They may also not know how extremely booked Club 33 is. I think there are times that those of us more entrenched in this stuff assume that *everyone* knows or should know the same thing, and that's just not true.

And I have seen situations, not necessarily like this, where people have done things by being extremely trusting, and sometimes, it works out, and sometimes, it doesn't. Everyone has to decide for themselves how much they want to put themselves out. I don't think that someone who puts themselves out is more generous or the person who holds back is more selfish - it's just what you're comfortable with.

True dat. (As the kids say these days.) You, once again, make excellent points.

As long as it's permitted by board rules, and they ask nicely, I guess I'm not sure that it's any more rude than any other requests that people make - for maps, for souvenirs, for other items. Someone can ask, but no one is forced to respond. Again, some people might not fully understand the implications of what it would mean for a total stranger to let them use their membership. I've seen people be far more rude in asking for simple information about this or that, when they don't get the exact answer they're looking for, when they don't get an answer within an hour's time, when they don't get an answer at all. I posted a request on this board asking for a total stranger to do a favor for me - would you consider that rude?

Honestly, it depends on the favor. Picking up an extra set of maps and papers next time I go to the park is one thing. Lending a stranger my car is another.

And I've seen people post this kind of request on various boards, and someone has responded purporting to help get them in. I don't know whether it actually worked out in the end.

Apparently, it doesn't always work so well. Honestly, I was shocked when I read what Adrienne wrote about. How cruel.

I can see how you would think that, but again, someone can keep asking as much as they like. If they don't like the answer I give, that's fine, they can disregard it (not saying that is what actually happened, just giving an example), and I've made an attempt to be helpful, so I'm done. As I said earlier, it's if someone flips out that no one has come forth where I think the true rudeness shows itself.

Well said. You have given me much to think about.

Like I said, it was at the urging of some people with ranking in the club 33 system who even told me of this forum and to attempt it--alas the late date, etc.
Leah

I know you are on your way to DL so you won't be able to answer this till you return. And I hope you have a wonderful trip. But what exactly does ranking in the Club 33 system mean? Does it mean they are on the watt list, or they know a lot about the Club, or they work there? That just kind of confused me.

I have mixed feelings about "allowing" Club 33 solicitations. I've often been very curious to know how many people have successfully gotten reservations from asking here. The only reason I have to rationalize allowing them here is that Club 33 members have no obligation so to speak to read this forum and if they do, they sort of know they can expect to see some and prepare for them. I think it's much more intrusive on the DLR forum.I have never asked to get a ressie to Club 33. I have posted I have never been and am on the waiting list. I found it very interesting I received an email (or was it a PM) giving me a link to an eBay auction for "charity". After the listing ended, I received an email stating that while I lost, for a $400 per person donation, they would get me a ressie. I never replied. I honestly do not know if they were a serious charity, or just claiming that to get around the Clubs rules. (This was some time ago, at least a year ago.)