More Mouse: Get the VIP treatment at Disneyland

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Get the VIP treatment at Disneyland by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix

VIP Tour Services can help you plan the perfect Disney day

Read it here!

[danyoung]

The thing that would just about be worth it for me would be a dinner (or even a lunch) at Club 33. But with that not being guaranteed, it would be taking a really expensive chance . . .

[AP2CM]

The thing that would just about be worth it for me would be a dinner (or even a lunch) at Club 33. But with that not being guaranteed, it would be taking a really expensive chance . . .

Trust me, eating lunch or dinner at Club 33 is not worth $1000. If you want a fantastic dining experience at the DLR, you need look no further than the Napa Rose. Granted, you won't get the same atmosphere as the Club, but the food at Napa is better. Truly better.

[danyoung]

Ahh, but the difference is that I can book a seat at Napa Rose any ol' time. I've wanted to go into Club 33 since the late 60's, and haven't been able to. So yeah, it would indeed be worth a grand for a once in a lifetime experience. It's not about the quality of the food - it's about the place itself!

[AP2CM]

See if you can find a member. They've been adding new ones lately. As far as atmosphere/decor I would say its more charming than truly beautiful. Have you dined at Carthay Circle yet? Their dining room is everything the Club's should have/could have been.

[danyoung]

I have no doubt that Carthay Circle is much more beautiful than the old Club 33. But again, it's a question of access, and of wanting to go for most of my adult life and not being able to. Someday . . .

[codewoman]

I have no doubt that Carthay Circle is much more beautiful than the old Club 33. But again, it's a question of access, and of wanting to go for most of my adult life and not being able to. Someday . . .

This.

I want to do both, of course. But one is more difficult to do.

[currence]

It sounded like from the earlier thread that they cast member knew when it was booked that they had space. I know you are traveling from far away but is it possible that you can take a semi-spontaneous trip? If so, you may be able to call and find out how far in advance they will know if they can work their magic then keep trying until you get lucky.

I know my job doesn't work that way, but if yours does it could be an option?

[AP2CM]

I honestly don't get how this could work. In order to get a res at the Club without a membership or approval from a member/signer you need approval from the Club Manager him/herself. If you come in on a VIP tour and there's availability they would still need a good reason to risk alienating the members should they get wind of the fact that they're becoming more loose with who dines there. A slippery slope for sure. I wouldn't put any stock in this whatsoever. If you invest in a VIP tour I recommend you do so for the guaranteed benefits, not the imagined ones.

[AVP]

I honestly don't get how this could work... I wouldn't put any stock in this whatsoever.

Understand that we've confirmed this with the Disneyland spokesperson quoted in the article, and the Club 33 reservation situation is exactly as I've described. I agree, if you want to book a VIP tour you should be aware of the difference between guaranteed and possible benefits, but the possibility of a Club 33 reservation is not imaginary. And no, not all of the members who know about this are happy about it.

Adrienne

[AP2CM]

Understand that we've confirmed this with the Disneyland spokesperson quoted in the article...

Thanks for the reply Adrienne. Based on the article is sounds like the spokesperson you're quoting is the tour guide. Unfortunately, guides are not official DLR spokespeople (ala Andrea Finger, etc) and they cannot speak officially on behalf of written policy. Now, it may still be possible to make such a request, I'm not here to discredit your article (which I very much enjoyed btw). I'm simply maintaining a dialog on what I know about the GR department and club/park policy. Granted, I haven't been an active CM since 2006 and policies no doubt have changed (especially with the new Club bylaws that were adopted recently). Either way, it sounds to these trained ears like the Club 33 VIP situation is more an exception (and a rare one at that) than an occasional benefit. And, given the tremendous desire/demand to visit such a special place, I wanted to make sure your readers had a realistic understanding of that.

I'll definitely be looking out for trip reports on VIP tours to see how often this is occurring. If it trends, maybe I'll book a tour as well.

[cstephens]

Granted, I haven't been an active CM since 2006 and policies no doubt have changed.

If I hadn't been with a company for 6 years, I think I'd have a hard time maintaining that my opinion on a company situation was absolutely correct. But I do think AVP's article makes quite clear that a Club 33 reservation might be possible if you book a VIP tour, but it's not something you should count on.

[AP2CM]

If I hadn't been with a company for 6 years, I think I'd have a hard time maintaining that my opinion on a company situation was absolutely correct.

That's an understandable opinion, but I should have added that I am still very connected with the resort's CMs and am in almost constant contact with both Tour Guides, Leads, and Managers at the GR, Ops, and TP levels in the operation. If I hadn't mentioned that timeline (which is also in my sig), would you have considered me more credible as simply a guest or AP with an opinion? I think it strengthens my argument rather than weakening it.

[AVP]

Based on the article is sounds like the spokesperson you're quoting is the tour guide. Unfortunately, guides are not official DLR spokespeople (ala Andrea Finger, etc) and they cannot speak officially on behalf of written policy.

Perhaps I should have been more clear in the original article. Suzi Brown, who is one of the official spokepeople for the DLR, provided confirmation and clarification of the policy. I did not want to write about this new aspect of the tours until I was able confirm it officially with Disney. You won't know this, but publication of this article was delayed by two weeks so I could get that confirmation.

Either way, it sounds to these trained ears like the Club 33 VIP situation is more an exception (and a rare one at that) than an occasional benefit. And, given the tremendous desire/demand to visit such a special place, I wanted to make sure your readers had a realistic understanding of that.

And that's why I wrote what I did - don't book a tour just to get Club 33 access, but know that it's a possible bonus you might enjoy. As to how rare it is, I too am interested to hear from other VIP tour guests if they were offered this opportunity.

Adrienne

[AP2CM]

Perhaps I should have been more clear in the original article. Suzi Brown, who is one of the official spokepeople for the DLR, provided confirmation and clarification of the policy. I did not want to write about this new aspect of the tours until I was able confirm it officially with Disney. You won't know this, but publication of this article was delayed by two weeks so I could get that confirmation.

Thanks for the reply Adrienne. It sounds like you absolutely went through the right channels on this, which is more than I can say for some other Disney columns.

[cstephens]

If I hadn't mentioned that timeline (which is also in my sig), would you have considered me more credible as simply a guest or AP with an opinion?

Ummmm, since I don't know you from Adam, no. I have no idea as to the validity of what you're saying since I have nothing to base it on. Believe me, I'd be the first to say that someone simply being a cast member doesn't mean they automatically have the correct information. I've come across many a CM who claims to know this or that and is instead just disseminating incorrect information. But I do find it amusing that you're claiming that because you know various people who work for the company, that means you're much better informed than 2 VIP tour guides currently actually working and giving tours. You say they're not authorized to speak about Disney policy, but with all due respect, I'd be much more inclined to take their word at what they do in practice than what someone who hasn't been with the company for 6 years is positing.

[Drince88]

And that's why I love MousePlanet so much. Adrienne in particular, has developed a FANTASTIC relationship (as far as I can see) with the Disney company by actually complying with information embargos, etc. Adrienne wrote a detailed blog about how MousePlanet deals with information, if you're curious. Click here

[AP2CM]

Ummmm, since I don't know you from Adam, no. I have no idea as to the validity of what you're saying since I have nothing to base it on. Believe me, I'd be the first to say that someone simply being a cast member doesn't mean they automatically have the correct information. I've come across many a CM who claims to know this or that and is instead just disseminating incorrect information. But I do find it amusing that you're claiming that because you know various people who work for the company, that means you're much better informed than 2 VIP tour guides currently actually working and giving tours. You say they're not authorized to speak about Disney policy, but with all due respect, I'd be much more inclined to take their word at what they do in practice than what someone who hasn't been with the company for 6 years is positing.

I'm just offering up my opinion for everyone's benefit, nothing more. You're free to read my comments or to ignore them completely. I'm also not contesting what the guides said, but how what they said may have been misinterpreted (which happens quite often). Since Adrienne clarified, I no longer have those concerns.

[cstephens]

Very nice article, AVP. I'm floored, though, at the people who booked the 6-day package. Even for newbies, I wouldn't think there would be enough to do to require that kind of access to the resort. I could see it making more sense at WDW (Does WDW offer a similiar VIP tour?) since there are 4 parks there.

[Malcon10t]

That's an understandable opinion, but I should have added that I am still very connected with the resort's CMs and am in almost constant contact with both Tour Guides, Leads, and Managers at the GR, Ops, and TP levels in the operation.

You might wish to speak to the current VIP guest relations supervisors. You will find what Adrienne wrote to be correct.

[Malcon10t]

Very nice article, AVP. I'm floored, though, at the people who booked the 6-day package. Even for newbies, I wouldn't think there would be enough to do to require that kind of access to the resort. I could see it making more sense at WDW (Does WDW offer a similiar VIP tour?) since there are 4 parks there.

Me too. I mean, I can understand wanting to, but I also think it would be hard to "relax" and sometimes just sit and people watch, which we like to do also. We have done the VIP tours a few times, and really enjoy them. But there is no way I would want to do 6 days of them!

[AP2CM]

You might wish to speak to the current VIP guest relations supervisors. You will find what Adrienne wrote to be correct.

I'll be doing that next week (I'm messaging one right now on FB in fact). Either way, this is kind of a moot issue. Please read the entire comment thread.

[Malcon10t]

(Does WDW offer a similiar VIP tour?)

Yes. You can read about them here.

[AP2CM]

I just confirmed this (sorry for doubting, AVP) and I also discovered that the benefit is offered to Concierge guests at the Disney-owned hotels as well (when space is available)!

[potzbie]

Wow! That is QUITE a bargain!

Think of it:
Get 10 people together.
Everybody chips in $100. (Well, $120, but you get the idea.)
Now you got $1,000. (Okay, $1,200, but you get the idea.)
Now you've got VIP service, for (a little over) $100 out of your own pocket.

That sounds like a bargain to me, when a DL ticket is nearly $100.
Reservations, all day long.
Fast Pass access, all day long.