Gah! It’s good to have friends. My girlfriend and fellow Disneyphile Kate Klein has graciously allowed me to share her photos from a recent trip to the newly refurbished Club 33 in Disneyland.

I was able to have dinner at Club 33 a few years back on my very first Disneyland vacation (another reason why it’s good to have friends) and fell in love with the historic space over the course of our three hour meal.  I was so sad to hear that the club would be going through a make over and I figured it would lose it’s charm by getting an upgrade. I sat with my mouth gaping at the site of the French Lift stripped out of it’s metal cage and tossed into a corner as a solitary confinement single-seater booth. I almost cried. I wanted so bad not to love this refurb. And then, I saw Kate’s lovely photos and my resolve changed.  I’m so happy that I was able to see the original Club 33. That said, the new club is a beautiful space and still has some of the nostalgia contained in the little details throughout.

Let’s start our tour shall we?

First and foremost, let me introduce you to our guide for this adventure. Big “Thanks” goes out to Kate for allowing me to borrow her images so we can take a peek into the new club.

Here’s a look at the doorbell with the new club logo.

After the Club 33 member scans their card, the gold light will illuminate blue signifying club membership.

COURT OF ANGELS

What you are looking at here is the Court of Angels which is the new entryway to the door to Club 33.

Guests make their way up the grand staircase to a landing where the entry doors are located.

Kate and her dapper date about to enter Club 33.

CLUB 33 LOBBY

Once inside the club, members can scan their cards at the hostess desk using this reader which will also illuminate confirming membership. Not sure if I love the new logo or if I am just clinging to the past…

The harpsichord from the old Club, commissioned for Lillian Disney, with the amazing painting by Colin Campbell on the inside of the lid. It looks right at home here.

The audio-animatronic vulture from the “Trophy Room” now sits atop this Grandfather Clock in the lobby.

CLUB 33 BAR

There is now a lounge area where guests can enjoy a cocktail before entering the main dining room for dinner. Here’s a look around that space.

See that man playing the piano on the left of the panorama above? Oh, that’s just Robbie Sherman!!! Yes, Robbie Sherman, son of the late Robert Sherman and nephew to Richard Sherman. In case you’re not up on your Disney trivia, the Sherman Brothers were two of the most influential composers in Disney history. Google them to see all of the Disney songs that they created that you will most certainly know and love.

Robbie treated club guests to his Father and Uncle’s favorite tunes, like “Feed the Birds”, “Supercalifragalisticexpialadoucous”, “It’s a Small World” and “Miracles From Molecules”.

And graciously posed for pictures…. WHAT A TREAT!

Back to our bar tour.

Lovely booth seating. There are also four private nook areas, each with it’s own unique Disney theming.

The Royal Street Bachelors…

Lot’s of amazing art in the Club.

Logo coasters. I think I might have to try and sneak one of these out as a souvenir.

The one thing that broke my heart in two. The iconic French Lift from the original Club 33. Guests had the option of taking the stairs up to the club or riding up in the French Lift. Now it’s seating for one. “Now seating! Sad Panda Party of One!”

THE DINING ROOM

After guests have finished their cocktails and are ready for dinner they are escorted into the main dining room.

Here’s a look at the dinnerware with the new Club 33 logo.

A nook in the main dining room.

Another shot of the entire dining area.

The above piece was made by Disney design artist Marc Davis and the bottom Alice Davis.

The view…

THE POWDER ROOM

This almost concludes our tour of the new Club 33.

But first, one last look out the peep hole to the “outside world”.

Well, what did you think? Did you ever get the change to go to the original Club 33?