Inside The Mouse Castle 06-29-2015 - Selfie Sticks, Disneyland Expansion and Club 33 Lawsuit

By Tim Callaway

Paint the Night

Last week, Anthony visited Disneyland, rode the Lilly Belle, previewed Ant-Man, and finally saw Paint the Night, but who cares? Because all we want to do is talk about selfie sticks.

The sometimes useful, mostly annoying camera accessories will be banned from all Disney theme parks--including DisneyQuest and the water parks at Walt Disney World--effective June 30th.

And while Anthony and I ponder how to take pictures of ourselves with our short arms, we also focus on these fascinating stories:

• Disneyland could be investing $1 billion in the Anaheim resort in return for the City of Anaheim extending an existing tax exemption on park ticket sales. This seems kind of a purposeless trade since Disney will probably spend that much on expected expansion projects in Tomorrowland and Hollywood Land anyway.

The nursery in Peter Pan's Flight has some new sparkle to it.

• Annual passholders have gotten a sneak preview already, but the general public will finally get a look at the newly refurbed Peter Pan's Flight at Disneyland starting July 1st. 
• We know for certain Captain EO is making another nostalgic return to Epcot on July 19th, but could Michael Jackson's space hero also be coming to Disney Infinity 3.0? We're hearing rumors.

• Like a little Disney magic with you text messaging? You've got to get the new Disney GIF app for iOS. It's a super fun keyboard extension and it's free. Get it here.

• Is there a creative partnership pending on the horizon between Disney and gaming giant Nintendo? Once again, we're hearing rumors.
• In August, Pixar will have a bigger presence than in the past at the D23 Expo. For the first time, the animation studio will have an exhibit on the show floor. We're especially looking forward to the display of John Lasseter's custom Hawaiian shirts based on most of the Pixar films. Order your Expo tickets now before prices go up.
• It's been a busy week for Disney in the land of lawsuits. They settled out of court with filmmaker Kelly Wilson over similarities between her animated film The Snowman and the first teaser trailer for Frozen. Then, a disgruntled former member of Club 33 filed suit saying he was wrongly ousted from the club. Disney is claiming he repeatedly violated membership rules. 

Enjoy!

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Inside The Mouse Castle 12-15-2014 - Club 33 Meets 21 Royal Street, Oswald's 'Empty Socks' and 'Star Wars' Trading Cards

Le Salon Nouveau at Club 33.

Is there a new restaurant opening next door to Disneyland's Club 33? Is it just a private dining room? Is it for Club 33 members only? Will it ever be open to the general public. What the hell is the fuss all about?

In the latest Inside The Mouse Castle, Anthony and I take on the growing controversy (that seriously doesn't need to be one) over the announced opening of 21 Royal Street. It's a small dining venue for groups of no more than 16. It's geared for Club 33 members, but Disney hasn't ruled out opening up reservations for non-members at a later date. Time will tell. What we do know is it will be open for business sometime in January or February. Stay tuned. 

Also on today's show:

• A long lost Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon was discovered in Norway. Empty Socks was the 12th of 26 Oswald shorts released by Walt Disney from 1927 to 1928.
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens trading cards? Sure, why not? Entertainment Weekly gave us a tease from J.J. Abrams identifying who some of the new characters are in the recently released trailer. Will there be an actual set of Episode VII trading cards? We can only hope.
• At an event sponsored by Variety last week, Bob Iger announced that upcoming theme park attractions based on Star Wars would use the newer movies as their inspiration. I guess that means there no speeder bike races on Endor anytime soon.
• A new trailer for Pixar's Inside Out has been released. It's good.  I mean really good.

• Will Spider-Man ever make the crossover into the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Apparently Marvel and Disney have been talking to Sony about it. That's one of the less traumatic revelations to come out of Sony's uber-embarrassing mass hacking. There's still time to work Spidey into Captain America: Civil War. Just sayin'.

Enjoy!

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Inside The Mouse Castle 07-22-2014 - Disneyland, Club 33, Pirates of the Caribbean and 'Guardians of the Galaxy'

Tim and Anthony talk about their recent visits to Disneyland and review the reopening of Club 33. They also discuss the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' premiere in Hollywood and guest injuries aboard Pirates of the Caribbean. 

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It's Launch Time! The Premiere of 'Inside the Mouse Castle'

The wait is over. It's time to launch Inside the Mouse Castle.

ITMC is the brand new, highly anticipated, hugely entertaining and unquestionably humble new podcast that keeps you up to date with the latest news and information from the world of Disney. Tim Callaway (that's me) and Anthony Reynolds (that's him) are your hosts of this twice weekly extravaganza of information and silliness.

Today we celebrate Disneyland's 59th birthday, take a look at what might be wrong with the Club 33 refurbishment, and talk with Robbie Sherman, the son of Disney songwriting legend Robert Sherman. Robbie paid us a surprise visit in honor of our epic new show. That's our story and we're sticking to it.

A big thank you to our awesome friends at the Anabella Hotel, across the street from the Disneyland Resort, for their excellent hospitality and for letting us record our first show poolside. Also, thanks to our fake producer Scott Linder for taking photos, but especially for bringing donuts. You're hired.

Oh, and for fans of The Mouse Castle Lounge, it returns this weekend with former Disney Imagineer Alan Coats as our guest. Mouse Castle podcasts are back, baby!

Welcome Inside the Mouse Castle. Please, step all the way in to make room for everybody. There's no turning back now.

(l. to r.) Anthony, Robbie Sherman and Tim

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Reservations at Club 33? Think Again

Dining at Disneyland's exclusive, members-only restaurant, Club 33, has always required one of two things: a boatload of money or connections (preferably both). The boatload of money comes from Club members who have ponied up $25,000 for the right to join and then pay up to $11,000 in annual dues. Most of the rest of us who have been to Club 33 don't go that route. We require connections: know a Club member who likes you and is willing to make a reservation for you. Once upon a time you could book up to 60 days in advance (90 days if the Club member went with you) for the privilege of plunking down $150 for a quiet lunch or dinner in Disneyland's most luxe location. Network with the right people and it was a pretty easy process--and you could make a reservation as often as time and budget allowed.

That's about to change.

In a letter sent to members this week, Club 33 is adjusting its reservations policy to coincide with its reopening on July 18, following a six-month remodel and refurbishment. According to the letter, non-member reservations are going to be harder to come by:

Each Membership will continue to have the opportunity to make dining reservations for unaccompanied guests in Le Grand Salon dining room. To allow for appropriate availability and access for all Members, the following policy for unaccompanied guest reservations will be in effect:

• For all weekends (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays) and the holiday period from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day, dining reservations for unaccompanied guests may be requested up to three (3) days in advance.
• During all other time periods, unaccompanied guest reservations may be requested up to fourteen (14) days in advance.
• Each Membership may book up to twenty (20) reservations for unaccompanied guests during one calendar year.

So the window for "unaccompanied guests" to book reservations has gotten shorter and there's a ceiling on the total amount of these reservations a member can make. Rumor has it that this policy came about because of members making excessive "unaccompanied guest" reservations, causing the restaurant to sell out, and denying other members the opportunity to book their own reservations.

Makes sense to me. If I was a member and found out I couldn't make a reservation because non-members shut me out, I'd be pissed. For the amount of money members pay, a degree of exclusivity should come with it. Members should always have first crack at booking a table.

First World problems, I know.

I also know I can't wait to see the newly remodeled Club 33 when it reopens. The new Le Salon Nouveau lounge (available to members only and their guests) and a refurbished dining room are quite enticing. I expect it might take me a while before I can get back in there--the place is going to be packed in July and August--but rest assured when I do you'll read all about it in The Mouse Castle, with pictures.

I hope my Club 33 friends keep me in mind. You know, 20 reservations a year is really quite a lot. Right? Right?

Related:
Inside Club 33

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Inside Club 33

As I promised in the last Mouse Castle Lounge podcast, here's a look inside Club 33, Disneyland's exclusive members-only restaurant.

Club 33 was originally intended to be a private place where Walt Disney himself could entertain VIPs away from the hustle and bustle of the park. Sadly, Walt passed away before the club was completed in 1967, but it lives on as an elite hideaway where members and their guests can enjoy a quiet and elegant meal.

Aside from the number 33 that adorns the entrance, there are no other signs or special markings to identify Club 33. It would be easy to not even notice it unless you were looking for it.

Club 33 entrance.

Stories persist on how Club 33 got its name. The most popular notion is it was named for 33 Disneyland corporate investors/sponsors that were around when the club was built in the late 1960s. The fact is, it's just the number for that particular door on Royal Street in New Orleans Square. The address for the Blue Bayou Restaurant next door is 31 Royal Street.

Club 33 foyer.

To step into the Club 33 foyer is to transport yourself to a world far removed from Disneyland's hectic crowds. Victorian and Napoleonic flourishes abound, with sculptures, busts, artwork, vintage furniture and textured wallpaper everywhere. You reach the restaurant itself by climbing the stairs to the second floor or by taking the old fashioned Parisian lift that accommodates two or three passengers at a time. Custom dictates that guests who have never visited Club 33 nor been in the elevator before should be given preference to ride instead of walk.

The lift, by the way, is not wheelchair accessible. Disabled guests requiring assistance must use a freight elevator behind the Pirates of the Caribbean queue to reach the back entrance of the kitchen adjacent to the Disneyland Dream Suite. It's not the most glamorous way to enter Club 33 and reportedly this issue will be corrected with the next major club refurbishment.

The lift.

At the top of the stairs is Lounge Alley, the L-shaped passageway that connects Club 33's two dining rooms. Take some time to explore this area which is full of beautiful antiques and Disney art. 

Lounge Alley. The cabinet on the right contains Club 33 souvenirs,
available for purchase.

A look down Lounge Alley toward
the main dining room.

This table was used in the film Mary Poppins.

Costume design sketches from The Happiest Millionaire.

The harpsichord in Lounge Alley was said to be a favorite of Walt's wife, Lillian. The artwork on its cover depicting 19th century New Orleans was painted by Disney artist Collin Campbell.

Pirates of the Caribbean artwork:

The main dining room, which overlooks Royal Street and the Rivers of America:

This sculpture, across from where we were seated, has always been
a favorite of mine.

The view from the balcony. "When I'm human, and I'm gonna be...."

Sunday lunch includes a complimentary glass of champagne which...ahem...went well with my dirty Grey Goose martini.  I ordered food too, I swear.

See? I told you there was food. A salad, antipasto and dessert buffet accompanies your lunch entree.

Did I mention there were desserts?

Yep, lots of desserts.

To make our visit even more special, two of my bestest friends dropped by:

At the other end of Lounge Alley is the second dining room dubbed the Trophy Room. Once upon a time, there were plans to have audio-animatronic characters around the room interact with the guests. It never panned out. The room was also once adorned with actual hunting trophies which the Disney family has removed over the years. 

This silent, motionless vulture is all that remains of a once-planned
audio-animatronic experience.

I've been very fortunate to dine inside Club 33 on more than one occasion. With it's wonderful atmosphere, excellent food and impeccable service, it's always a special event to be treasured.

Related:
Reservations at Club 33? Think Again

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Drinking at the Disneyland Resort: The Mouse Castle Lounge Goes Bar Hopping

Me and two of my besties at Club 33

In the latest edition of The Mouse Castle Lounge, I go bar hopping at the Disneyland Resort and I take a few of my friends with me as we determine once and for all the best drinking establishments around the Happiest Place on Earth.

Carthay Circle Lounge

There are a few surprises along the way as my friends and I "take the pledge" and become honorary citizens of Disneyland while enjoying a few tasty beverages at the Cove Bar.

We solemnly swear to be good Mouseketeers.

I'll post more pictures of our escapades soon (including a visit to Disneyland's exclusive Club 33), but for now, give a listen to what happens when I escape the studio and go in search of tasty beverages. Enjoy!

The Mouse Castle Lounge can also be heard on iTunes and Stitcher.

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