C.A.T. (Chris’s Attraction Trivia): Club 33

Look at the vulture in the trophy room at Club 33.

Photo by disneybychris.

This Audio-Animatronics figure was originally intended to allow an actor to interact with the guests while they dined. Microphones were built in to the chandeliers over the tables, and would allow an actor in another room to listen in on conversations, and surprise guests by joining in. The vulture would move and converse with the guests.  Sadly, it wasn’t completed before Walt Disney’s death in 1966, and so it was never actually used. The vulture is still perched up on the corner of the trophy room.

Club 33 Trophy Room

Step inside the trophy room in Club 33!!

Photos by disneybychris

Wait a minute, that’s me!!



The room is a mock up of an old style Gentleman’s Club. The walls are wood paneled like an “olde” pub, decorated with trophies and photos!!

The History of Club 33

Did you know that Club 33 was one of the last projects that Walt Disney created for Disneyland?

Walt Disney was planning to make Club 33 a reality when he was at the New York World's Fair in the mid 1960s. During his time there, he visited the VIP lounges. It gave Walt a dream to create a private lounge at Disneyland.

When Walt came back to Burbank, he started to create the club.

Unfortunately, Walt passed away in 1966 and Club 33 opened in the summer of 1967 at Disneyland's New Orleans Square.

Before Walt died, he asked Production Designer Dorothea Holt Redmond and Oscar winning Set Designer Emile Kuri to work on Club 33.

Check back and see the two artists behind the club.

The Haunted Mansion (Part One)

Halloween is just around the corner. The scary Disney Attraction to see is none other than the legendary Haunted Mansion. 
In 1957, Walt Disney was telling his guests on his Disneyland series on ABC what new attractions are coming to Disneyland Park. He said that The Haunted Mansion is one of them. His plan was to put it on Main Street U.S.A.  Instead, he decided to put it in New Orleans Square. 
The Original Idea for this attraction was to make it as a walk-through attraction to include images from Fantasia’s Night on Bald Mountain sequence, The Ichabod Crane sequence from The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, and the very popular Mickey, Donald, and Goofy short, Lonesome Ghosts.
The one rumor about the early concept of this attraction is it was supposed to be a home for Walt Disney and his family.
The Building was completed at Disneyland Park in 1963.  The project was on hold because Walt was busy working on attractions for the New York World’s Fair. While that was happening, Walt assigned Imagineer Marc Davis to finish The Haunted Mansion.
When the members of WED Enterprises created the Omni-Mover vehicles for Adventure through Inner Space, they said it’s the answer for what primary vehicle to use for The Haunted Mansion. They call it the “Doom Buggy”.   
“Hurry Back” for Part Two.