My Disneyland Birthday Extravaganza: The Big Day

As I briefly mentioned last week, a cast member at Paradise Pier Hotel made my day, my birthday. It also marked the first time I dined at Club 33 and rode in the Lily Belle car on the train. My actual birthday, March 6th, was filled with friends and fun. Come, let me show you.

Yoli and I went straight to Paradise Pier Hotel that morning to see if we could check-in early. The only people in line ahead of us were two teenage girls who were just hanging back from their parents at the front desk. I was waved over by Brian, a handsome and friendly fellow. As Brian was pulling up my information, I put the Blowpop on the counter, smiled and said as I would many times during the day, “Thanks for coming to my birthday party.” He seemed surprised and delighted by my gesture. As he typed away, I handed them out to the two other girls working the front desk and a CM who was cleaning right next to me.

Brian told me he had some surprises in store for me. The first of which was that I had been upgraded from a Standard Room to a Park View. Awesome! I absolutely love seeing CA Adventure all lit up at night and sometimes you can hear the oceanside amusement park music they play. Then Brian disappeared for a while. Yoli and I chit chatted with the girls while we waited and tried to locate Drina who was also staying with us and the other Lisa who was waiting for us over at Disneyland. When Brian returned he was carrying 4 Mickey Mouse helium balloons, a CA Adventure mylar balloon shaped like one of the fish from King Triton’s Carousel, and my birthday button. How incredibly cute!

As he handed me the keycards to the room, he said the room was on the 13th floor with a park view and a little more space. There’s no way I wasn’t smiling and nodding at the amazing news. Yoli & I quickly went up to the 13th floor and found our corner room. I opened the door and yelled out something positive. I don’t remember what it was but take your pick from these possibilities: Yes!, Score!, Yeehaw!, Wepa! or a hearty laugh followed by “Nice!”

Brian gave us a sweet suite. The living room is composed of a sectional sleep sofa, an entertainment unit with a TV, DVD player, fridge, microwave, and coffee maker. There are 4 chairs and a circular table for dining and a full bath with a large glass encased shower.

The bedroom holds 2 queen size beds, another entertainment unit with a TV, and plenty of drawers and shelves, a desk with Internet connection, and another full bath with a tub, and dual sinks.

The room we had was 1322.

It was and is genuinely awesome! I prefer this hotel over the Disneyland Hotel because of it’s decor. The colors are soft greens, blues, rust, and yellows with beach themeing and they use the same stripes in the comforter, window curtains, and shower curtain. Everything is very cohesive. I find the Disneyland Hotel uses darker colors and has far too many patterns going on at once and it makes me feel rather uncomfortable.

I’ll try to shorten up all the things we did before lunch and after lunch otherwise this blog entry might take several days to read. Then again, you the reader can request that I write in more detail. Wink, wink.

We met up with the other Lisa, her son, my friend Drina, and Yoli’s Club 33 pal at the Grand Californian. At CA Adventure we rode Soarin’. They flew up and down on Tower of Terror (Lisa and I are both chickens. Bawk! Bawk!). Then it was off to Disneyland and while part of the crew went one way, Drina and I had our photo taken with Mickey Mouse. Also, Flat Stanley had his photo taken with Mickey as Drina was trying to outdo her brother for her nephew’s project.

Before we knew it, it was time for our reservation at Club 33. Yoli, Drina, and I were the ones dining. Yoli’s been before but it was the first visit for Drina and myself. Yes, we were very excited and even a little nervous due to all the “secrecy” behind Club 33, its rules, and elite status of its members.

Have you ever walked past this door in New Orleans Square? It’s the entrance to Club 33.

After being buzzed in we waited in the lobby until our table was ready. We took photos and had a nice conversation with Nadine who is the receptionist. When our table was ready, we went upstairs, were greeted by a hostess, walked passed the buffet, and taken to our table against the wall on the far end of the room.

This wasn’t our table but it looked just like this.

The End.

Fooled you!

Our server was Robert, an adorable guy who picked up on our crazy sense of humor right away while still maintaining his dignity. Good job, Robert! He went over the important things like first we should visit the appetizer buffet, then our chosen entree would be served, and then try everything in the dessert buffet. He took care of my dietary needs which weren’t much of a big deal based on what I ordered, the pan seared chateaubriand, truffle vintage port reduction. Mine was plain with vegetables and cinammon couscous. It was delicious. Yoli had the same thing but as it appeared on the menu. Drina had the Maine lobster melt with avocado relish, and house made Yokon Gold potato chips and she LOVED it.

The girls tried most of the desserts. I can’t have chocolate so you’ll have to ask them how good they were.

Servers appear to work as a team where someone is always standing by to help guests, refold napkins, and refill water glasses. I must tell you that I was extremely surprised to see SmartWater being served and not something of a fancier nature like Evian or Panna. When the Vintage Room still existed, they served Evian and you don’t have to pay upwards of $10,000 to become a member. As I was saying, servers work as a team, and one guy stood out, Chase. With a dry sense of humor, an outgoing personality, a steady handsome face, and the body of a Chippendale, Chase became our new friend. When Yoli asked for more bread, he brought it but only after pretending there wasn’t any more and surrendering defeat to her.

We’d hoped to see celebrities of any sort at Club 33 given the list of clientele. I spotted a blonde gentleman with a goatee or beard (how quickly the memory goes) who looked familiar but I couldn’t quite place him. Therefore I decided he was either a wrestler or a country singer. Hulk Hogan? No, he was far too young and deflated to be Terry. John Schneider? Sadly, no, I’d recognize a good ol’ boy never meanin’ no harm.

The party beside us left not too long after our arrival. During our meal, it was filled with what looked like a family of four; mom, dad, and two daughters. After much oogling and whispering we couldn’t put a name to “dad”. I told Yoli, 9 o’clock. Alas, poor Yoli didn’t understand and turned the wrong way. I suggested 11 o’clock. She’s not very subtle and turned around 45 degrees. OK! I give up! The family got up and headed to the buffet so Yoli followed so she could get a better look. Upon returning to our table she said, “Kevin Pollak.” I swear the next 2 tables all went “Ohhhhh riiiight.” at the same time. You had to be there.

When the girls came over to ask Yoli where she got her ultra cool zippered Snow White hoodie (from me), I handed the younger one a Blowpop because it was her birthday, too. My psychic powers told me so and the birthday button might have helped.

There’s a second room they use for large parties and for overflow. It’s called The Trophy Room.

After lunch we somehow missed out on buying souvenirs. I’m not sure how we managed that but we did. Remember this in a week or so when I recall my second experience at Club 33.

You can walk around the verandahs outside Club 33.

We met up with Lisa and her son and headed over to the train station as we had the chance to ride in the Lily Belle car. I never even knew it existed. What’s wrong with me? Luckily, we were able to get the last ride of the day (with that car) as a conductor has to be available to ride with us and give us a very detailed history about it. I’d offer to tell you what I was told but my memory is terrible. I do recall he said the EP Ripley is still a working train and is somewhere in a more northern part of CA. The car is named after Walt’s wife, Lily.

The feeling in the car is that of high class with its warm woods and dark woods, velvet reds, and stained glass windows of gold, crimson, and green.

After a complete trip around Magic Kingdom we took on the refurbished it’s a small world. This has always been one of my favorite attractions but now…eh. They changed the lighting and it’s overly dramatic. This is a family attraction, not a rock concert. They’ve added Disney characters to scenes and they don’t all blend in the way they claimed they would. When was the last time you saw an alien (Stitch) riding a surfboard? Don’t get me started on the America or United States room. It’s a bad combination of gaudy twinkling lights, cowboys, Indians, and children of the corn…uhhh… with corn.

Here’s the newly enhanced Africa room. Do you spot Pumba and Simba? To their right popping out the top of a cone-like object is Timon.

And now, a very short description of the rest of the day/night so you can actually get to work on time. Is it too late?

Lisa and family left to meet her sister and nephews. Yoli and Drina grabbed snacks while I turned in that Deluxe Annual Pass voucher I got at Costco. Why now? How did I get into the parks without it? Guests at Club 33 are given 1-day Hopper tickets. As an AP holder I was also able to get the free Birthday Fun Card worth $69.00.

We went back to the hotel. Yoli was suffering even more from her crappy cold so she ordered room service. Our friend Jen came over with her teenage son, Corey. After much goofing around, we left Yoli to hit the hay while we went back to Disneyland to run amuck.

First stop was Buzz Lightyear Astroblasters followed by dinner at Tomorrowland Terrace while listening to and watching the cover band, Sandbox. Then it was time for the main event, my rematch against Corey on Dance, Dance Revolution. I lost, again. I also lost my balance and the power to jump on 2 squares at once. We took the late night cruise at it’s a small world where I mistakingly called Jiminy Cricket, Ghepetto. Jen’s never going to let me live that down. We caught the last sailing of the night at Storybook Land Canal Boats. It was now after midnight and the park was closed except for shopping on Main Street. We lolly-gagged about taking silly photos of one another before finally calling it a night.

What a birthday!

To learn more about Paradise Pier Hotel, click here. If you’d like to see more photos of suite 1322, click here.

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