Disney’s participation in the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair was a watershed moment for the company.

The full-scale use of Audio-Animatronics technology in all four Disney-created shows was perhaps the most heralded advancement to come out of the Fair.

But the implementation of innovative ride conveyances – specifically, the early PeopleMover system employed by Ford Motor Company’s Magic Skyway and the boat propulsion system used in the “it’s a small world” attraction, also were ground-breaking achievements.

And, of course, there was the answer to the question that had nagged Walt Disney and his chief lieutenants for years: Would Disney’s brand of entertainment be popular on an always demanding East Coast audience? In the end, Disney had four of the five most popular attractions at the Fair.

But Walt took something else out of the Fair that few folks realized: The use of VIP lounges.

When Walt visited other pavilions at the Fair, he was invited behind the scenes, where he was wined and dined by the corporate sponsors who financed those attractions. Walt’s reaction was: Why can’t we do something like this at Disneyland?

The result? Plans were made to develop Club 33, a private lounge located in the New Orleans Square section of the park – on 33 Royal Street, to be exact – where members, invited guests and celebrities could enjoy a meal, relax and spend time away from the hustle and bustle outside.

Club 33 opened in Disneyland in 1967, a few months after Walt passed away. And it’s still going strong.

Everything about Club 33 is upscale, from the service to the elegant atmosphere to the menu. Membership is limited, with fees ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 a year, and annual dues running from $10,000 to $30,000.

The entrance to Club 33 is rather unassuming. If you don’t notice the “33” above the door, you’ll likely walk right past it.

Once you pass through the entrance, there’s a vestibule where you check in with a host in an area known as the Court of Angels. Guests can either take an art nouveau-themed elevator or a winding staircase to the second level, where the dining rooms are located.

Once guests are seated, there’s a wondrous selection of gourmet dishes, prepared by world-class chefs and served by an equally incredible array of servers and hosts.

Presidents of the United States, heads of foreign nations, dignitaries, actors and business leaders from around the world have enjoyed this unique sanctuary.

I have been to Club 33 twice, including once with Disney Legend Marty Sklar as our guest. Those visits were truly unique and memorable experiences.

Over the years, five locations inspired by Club 33 have opened in Disney parks, with four located in Walt Disney World: The Spotlight Lounge in Hollywood Studios, the Constellation Club in EPCOT, Captain’s Quarters in the Magic Kingdom and Harambe House in Animal Kingdom.

In Disney’s California Adventure, there’s an upscale restaurant located in the Carthay Circle Theater.

Although not nearly as posh as Club 33 and its sister sites, the Disney Vacation Club offers its members exclusive lounges, one in Disneyland as well as several locations around the Walt Disney World resort. To enter any of them, all you need to do is show your DVC membership card.

The DVC lounges offer members a quiet place to relax — an oasis amid the hustle and bustle of the parks, if you will — while enjoying a light snack, a soft drink or a hot beverage.

The Disneyland DVC lounge is located inside the building that once housed the Carousel of Progress attraction in Tomorrowland. It’s now known as Star View Station, which is appropriate, since the building is home to the Star Wars Launch Bay.

Star View Station is a large space with comfortable chairs, a children’s entertainment area and Wi-Fi. There are restrooms in the lounge, and soft drinks and light snacks are available.

In Walt Disney World, there are four locations for DVC members to chill, each with its own vibe and each with varying degrees of charm.

The DVC lounge in EPCOT, called Disney Vacation Club ImaginAtrium, occupies the second floor of the Journey into Imagination pavilion in the World Celebration section of the park and is perhaps the most spectacular from a design standpoint.

You check in on the first floor near the attraction’s gift shop and take either an elevator or a winding staircase to the second floor, where a massive glass dome encases the area and guests can enjoy great views of EPCOT.

There are comfortable seats, many equipped with charging stations; soft drinks, coffee and snacks are available. The only drawback: There are no restrooms in the lounge.

You can find another DVC lounge in the Disney Springs shopping/dining/entertainment district. It’s called the Gateway to Discovery – A Disney Vacation Club Welcome Home Center.

This one is centrally located near Disney Springs’ Welcome Center, and, like the EPCOT location, it is on the second floor. Drinks and snacks are available, as are restrooms. Guests who are interested in joining DVC are welcomed into this lounge to tour models of DVC rooms.

The lounge also features a balcony, where guests can look down on the activity below.

The newest DVC lounge in Walt Disney World opened late last year in the Magic Kingdom. It was built in the space once occupied by the Frontierland Shootin’ Gallery. It’s called McKim’s Mile House.

As you might expect, the lounge is themed to America’s West and even has a cozy stone fireplace and plenty of wood accents.

Like the other DVC lounges, McKim’s offers soft drinks and snacks; restrooms are located just outside the lounge.

The final DVC lounge in Walt Disney World sits atop Disney’s Bay Lake Tower and is called Top of the World Lounge. This is more of a traditional lounge in that guests can purchase adult beverages and small plates of food.

The main draw of the Top of the World Lounge are the rooftop views of the Magic Kingdom.

The nighttime fireworks show takes on a new perspective from this elevated 16^th floor perch. To further enhance the experience, music from the pyrotechnic display is piped in.

Chuck Schmidt is an award-winning journalist and retired Disney cast member who has covered all things Disney since 1984 in both print and on-line. He has authored or co-authored eight books on Disney, including his On the Disney Beat and The Beat Goes On, as well as his latest, Marty, Mickey and Me, all for Theme Park Press. He has written a regular blog for AllEars.Net, called Still Goofy About Disney, since 2015.

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