Well, I guess we can move “The American Adventure’s upstairs lounge becoming Epcot’s Club 33” out of the rumor column…
The staircase and elevator to the right of the entrance to the attraction now have a doorbell and MagicBand reader installed.
The classic location at Disneyland is well-known for a similar looking console which guests use to access the club. The speaker is there so a cast member on the inside can speak with the guests coming in. The Walt Disney World version of the Club 33 logo will eventually adorn the device. Most interestingly, members will be able to use RFID ticket media to enter (such as a MagicBand) via the scanner below.
Walt Disney World plans to open a Club 33 location in each of the four theme parks, though they are yet to confirm any of those locations as of yet. The rumored locations include the Adventureland Veranda at the Magic Kingdom, the upstairs lounge at the American Adventure in Epcot (pretty much confirmed here), the former Catwalk Bar at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and a back room at Tiffins at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. Memberships are currently being sold to Golden Oak residents only.
There’s not much elite or fancy about Walt Disney World. It’s mostly known for huge crowds of out of towners whom Disney tries to extract as much money of as possible while providing the most minimalist experience and quality of food and service. In LA, there’s a lot of uber elite or those who want to see and be seen, not so much in Orlando, and those who are avoid it parks. Will be interested to see if this flies past the Brazilians who have defended on Golden Oak. Many better truly elite options in central Florida, especially Windermere and a little south of us on the coast.
I’m really meh on this whole Club 33 thing. The original had meaning and value, these WDW ones feel like a money grab. I’ve yet to see justification for spending tens of thousands of dollars to eat at a private restaurant. This model won’t work in FL where the built-in clientele doesn’t exist. I give this 3-5 years before the clubs are quietly repurposed.
Luxury really isn’t Disney’s “thing”. This won’t last in Orlando in my opinion. Orlando WDW is more about huge lines, tourists from Brazil and mostly the southeast USA (Poorest area of the USA by statistics) In California it should still make it, though, obviously not really worth it. Most of California memberships are Disney hand outs to executives of other companies to make them ‘feel special’. Orlando doesn’t have that.
I can’t afford this so it is stupid and they shouldn’t be doing it.
I wonder if people will line up next to this door just because.