Club 33

Though often discussed by Disneyland fans, many are unaware of what Club 33 really is.

Located in New Orleans Square, Club 33 is open to members only, and is known for being the sole place in the park which sells alcoholic beverages. Becoming a member is something to celebrate on its own--the waiting list is said to be years long, and the least-expensive membership (the Gold Membership) has a member fee of $9,500, along with an annual fee of $3,175.

The entrance to Club 33 - DISNEYLANDCLUB33.COM

You may have yet to discover Club 33 for yourself, and there's a good reason for it: The club is practically hidden in its location next to the Blue Bayou restaurant. Thousands of people pass by the door each and everyday, with only a select few knowing what lies behind it.

The famous elevator in the club - MKT3000.COM / 2004

If you ever become fortunate enough to become a member, take advantage of it. Members have heaps of benefits: Renting the entire club for a special event, entering Disneyland without a ticket and being able to stay all day, and getting the chance to see a new attraction before it opens to the public, along with many other benefits.

Like I previously mentioned, however, becoming a member takes years and thousands of dollars. For now, however, you can easily take a picture-tour by means of the many Club 33 websites.

It's quiet in Disneyland; too quiet

News relating to the park has been rather scarce lately, seeing as how construction on many attractions is still going strong, and nothing out of the ordinary has occurred. A user from MousePlanet reported that the Penny Arcade is currently closed due to floor replacement and that Splash Mountain is being tested (it's going under refurbishment as I'm typing this), though that's the most notable of all updates.

The Penny Arcade is closed at the moment - DARKBEER.SMUGMUG.COM / 2007

As always, I'll be sure to inform you of any breaking news in Disneyland. For now, feel free to leave any requests you may have for specially-themed posts (i.e. Disneyland Resort hotels, Tomorrowland, etc.), as I've got little else to talk about!

Disney's Best Kept Secret

Have you ever been tempted to purchase the "perfect" souvenir at Disneyland, only to find that it is more than over your budget? No need to become upset any longer--simply visit your local Disney Character Warehouse Outlet Store and get the item you want for unbelievable prices!

Please note that this post is not intended to look/sound like an advertisement--I merely wanted to inform all of you Disneyland fans of this amazing place: I visited yesterday and saved a whopping $210+!

The front of the store. Picture taken by me.

While the store is not affiliated with the Disney Company/Disneyland, they manage to have hundreds of authentic items from the park, likely purchased from a wholesale auction. Items that originally went for $30 can be purchased for $5--I have proof! Remember the gold 50th Anniversary Mickey ears that went for nearly $12 at the park? They're only $.99 here!

I spent $102 here and later calculated the items to be worth over $315. There was a section dedicated to 50th Anniversary souvenirs, which was one of my personal favorite sections!

Along with 50th Anniversary sections, the store was home to a vast amount of Disneyland pins, shirts, mouse ears, magnets, bags, plates, watches, framed prints, books, candy, stuffed toys, glasses, mugs, hats, and much more.

This limited edition 50th Anniversary plate went for well over $30 at the park and on websites--I got it for $6.99! Picture taken by me.

The store I visited, located at the Prime Outlets Burlington (WA), closes on May 15. Don't worry, however, as this is a traveling store--it will return to Washington within time!

If you don't live in Washington, you still have a chance to visit the stores. Currently, Disney Outlets are located in California, Nevada, Utah, and Oregon. Visit the official website for more information, and have fun shopping!

The Fake Disneyland

WIKIPEDIA.ORG / 2005

Next time you plan on visiting Disneyland, make sure you're going to the real Disneyland and not a carbon-copy.

Of course I'm talking about Nara Dreamland, the infamous park in Nara, Japan. Built in 1961, the park was designed to be an exact replica of Disneyland. Rumor has it that the developers of the park sent many of their people to Disneyland after its 1955 opening to take thousands of photographs, which they later used to design their park after.

LEFT: Nara's version of Sleeping Beauty Castle. RIGHT: The original version at Disneyland.

This bizarre park is essentially a dirtier version of the Happiest Place on Earth. It's got everything: Main Street Train Station, Sleeping Beauty Castle, the Monorail, even the Matterhorn Bobsleds. Unfortunately, the filthy state of the park reminds guests that they're not in Disneyland.

LEFT: An aerial view of Nara Dreamland. RIGHT: An aerial view of Disneyland.

The park has been described as "the world's finest play ground facility" in a pamphlet for the park, although visitors beg to differ. The people over at Theme Park Review described the park as "[the] alternate universe Disneyland...most of the place looks like [an] abandoned park."

ALL IMAGES ON LEFT ARE NARA DREAMLAND; ALL IMAGES ON RIGHT ARE DISNEYLAND.

Needless to say, Nara Dreamland closed permanently on August 31, 2006. It's safe to say that this is one park that will not be missed.

Sources: themeparkreview.com, athenamama.com, disneycastmagic.com

Then and Now: Main Street Train Station

A Disneyland original, the Main Street Train Station is nearly as popular as Sleeping Beauty Castle. Much like the castle, it has gone through several extensive refurbishments (even as I'm typing this, the building is being worked on), yet it remains a classic in the eyes of Disneyland fans.

DARKBEER.SMUGMUG.COM / 2007

There are few ways to enter Disneyland without coming across this landmark, and that's what makes it so special. The ever-familiar Mickey Mouse flower garden is one of the most popular spots for photos, and the station itself is home to the Disneyland Railroad, an attraction that Walter Disney himself was fond of.

TOP ROW: Train Station in 1955 vs. Train Station now; BOTTOM ROW: T.S. in the 1960's, T.S. being built in 1955.

One of the most notable refurbishments the train station has gone under was in 2005 for Disneyland's 50th Anniversary. The station received one of the famous "50" plaques, along with the floral garden in front being changed to celebrate the anniversary. In 2006, these decorations were all taken down and the building was returned to its pre-2005 state.

THE TRAIN STATION DURING ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY STAGE.

One should also note that the sign on the train station -- the one reading "DISNEYLAND" -- changes periodically based on the number of guests coming to the park. For example, in recent years the sign has been changed to read "POPULATION: 500,000,000," due to the 500th million guest walking through the gates in late 2004/early 2005.

Unlike other attractions in Disneyland, the Main Street Train Station is one that is practically guaranteed to never be removed. Next time you visit Disneyland, hopefully you'll think of the station in a new light.

Sources: justdisney.com, wikipedia.org, matterhorn1959.blogspot.com, travel.webshots.com.