Katherine's 10th Birthday Trip for Dapper Day and Club 33!!

[whoever]

We rolled out of the crypt at 08:33 and decided it was time for breakfast... Beignets is the go-to for Disney breakfast for us.

Satiated, we decided to check out the trains as we knew it was a limited time event while the Railroad was down.

I REALLY wanted to go check out the tunnel but didn't want to get kicked out on day 2..

The Plastic saxophone case was not keeping with the theme...

We have never been in the caboose... ever.

All ABOARD!!!

Our downtime over and being in the neighborhood, Chickapin Hill was our destination..

Beautiful view this morning. A mountain with a mountain in a background.

Geronimo!!!

 

[whoever]

As we returned to the dock, there was practically nobody waiting (what idiots ride Splash first thing in the morning?). They loaded two extra people into our log and we got to go again!!

 

[whoever]

A little moist for this early in the morning, we decided we needed something leisurely to dry off on.. the Caribbean is dry right?

Still struggling with this Bayou shot. I've got a D750 coming which should hopefully give me the edge I'm looking for..

Was this scene ever represented in the movies?

BUY a bride? Have none of these pirates ever been married before? All joking about marriage aside, I'm surprised this has remained as the wife auction is totally non-PC in an otherwise PC-ed attraction. Love it Disney, don't change a thing (except remove Jack Sparrow and Davey Jones, bring back the men chasing the women, the undergarments and shoe pirate, and the original dialog..)

I don't feel I've ever shot a satisfactory shot of this guy either..

This guy is me... as a pirate... with my gaggle of cats..

The elusive orange tabby after the bridge. This is actually one of my best shots...sadly..

This guy is always so happy... a little rum, a nice cool place to rest..

THis tea kettle has always perplexed me. Just seems out of place.

These gentlemen do NOT appear to be practicing proper firearm safety.

 

[whoever]

We returned to the mainland at 10:15 and were eager to have some more adventure...

BTMRR had next to no wait so off we went..

Katherine is so independent... makes me think back to our first trip...

Now:

Then:

Loved her hair here..

She's definitely having the most fun of anyone in this shot.

Can you imagine the ribeye steaks these ribs would have afforded? NOM NOM NOM...

We then ascended up into the jungle..

And found a two-mountain-view.

Amy rocking K's BB8 head band..

ROARRRR!!!

Undaunted, we pressed further into the jungle until we found a temple... we were warned not to gaze upon the deity with our eyes..

And Katherine DIDN'T Listen... oh boy are we in for it now..

You get whipped by this show scene so darn fast you never get to take in the details... like that cave... leading to an exit... why didn't we take that way?

Is Mara EVER in a good mood? At least she's not blowing down the ceiling anymore..

Snakes... why did it have to be snakes?

Holy smokes... BIG SNAKE!!!

Barely surviving our harrowing chase we made our way back to civilization... if you could call Anaheim that..

K needed a snack so a beef skewer it was before we would head back to the room to change for our special lunch..

 

[whoever]

If you DO NOT WANT to SEE Club 33, please stop reading now... the next 3-4 installments will be nothing but...

If you are a member or THE MEMBER and you take exception to any photos, please contact me and I will take them down..

Off our adventure at 11:10, we headed even further into the jungle which was Disneyland...

It would take us a good 20 minutes to fight our way out of the throngs of people who had arrived to partake of the adventures we had already checked off..

Another 25 minutes from leaving the gates we had dealt with some exchanges at DTD and were finally back to the room for our change of attire..

It would take us nearly an hour to redress before we left for our fated reservation...

The Ladies sporting their attire on the way back to the park...

Katherine standing by the door her parents had once passed through which so sadly will never open again..

A bit early for our reservation, we hit the BEST SHOP in all of NOS!!! The Lighting ins superb!!

We let Katherine push the button

[VIDEO]

She got us IN!!!!!

 

[whoever]

Every time I watch this my heart flutters... the First time through 33 is like NOTHING ELSE...

 

[whoever]

We were whisked in with precious too few moments in the vestibule which has become the new elevator room...The hostest sit to your right as you enter and you are quickly ushered in to the Court beyond the next door...

Being November they had fall beverages at the ready. Some spiced cider. As far as authenticity goes, it was a bit weak.. It felt more like spiced apple juice vs. a real cider. Being at Club 33, I appreciated it to it's fullest extent.

The ladies took their place on the steps. Amy has had her portrait cast here before since the club took it over, but never with guest...

Clearly the three of us were NOT breaking fire code..

I know many lament what has happened to the Court. I too lament that it is not what it was, a quiet retreat for the many... alas.. it was NEVER for the many.. it was for the FEW of us who appreciated it. I do regret that I cannot visit as I wish and that others who also appreciate it cannot, alas it is PRESERVED and is beautiful as ever it was.

Katherine even tried her hand with the P&S..

Katherine climbed the stairs...to what?

[VIDEO]

 

[whoever]

Once in the inner sanctum, we gave our name and were escorted to our table nearly immediately... and... it was the SAME TABLE we get every time (the NW corner table)!!!! I wonder if this is just coincidence or they somehow know. There used to be a corner table, but they shifted the table slightly out of the corner to allow better access out the doors there, but close enough. Those who have read my past TR's know I had a SMASHING time on my first trip for my 10th wedding anniversary in this very spot and a beautiful lunch for Amy's 35th Birthday the following year... it's truly a memory maker for us and now we get to celebrate Katherine's 10th Birthday in the same spot!!

These new chargers are GREAT. I MUST get one, one of these days.

I haven't been able to track down the previous style for my collection either, but I do have some C33 china from days past...

I noticed they've changed the flatware from the previous trip as you can see here:

I actually preferred the previous style... I wonder what prompted the change.

Katherine didn't know what to think at the start...

They had some fresh-cut roses on the table. Very pretty for my pretty ladies...

While we were looking over the menu, we decided we needed some adult libations... and a non-adult one for Katherine.

Amy got (presumably, a sidecar from the picture), I had a C33 Manhattan (same recipe as the Carthay Manhattan to my palette and the same I make at home complete with Luxardo Cherries)

Katherine got the Le Raymond Fizz (A decadent creamy delight with Lemon Juice, Heavy Cream, Sugar and Egg White garnished with an Orange Peel).

While we were waiting to order I took in the artwork adorning the dining room..original renditions of the Court of Angels.

Even the drink menu had the art work...

 

[Aladora]

Is it wrong to be jealous of a 10 year old?

 

[whoever]

Is it wrong to be jealous of a 10 year old?

Heck, I am jealous of my 10-year-old. While I did get to experience the ORIGINAL club, Honestly to experience this for the first time in one's youth is a truly magical experience. The look on her face and excitement in her voice when she got us in and climbed the stairs was truly amazing...If you could only bottle that feeling...

 

[Aladora]

Heck, I am jealous of my 10-year-old. While I did get to experience the ORIGINAL club, Honestly to experience this for the first time in one's youth is a truly magical experience. The look on her face and excitement in her voice when she got us in and climbed the stairs was truly amazing...If you could only bottle that feeling...

Since I am 40*mumblebmumble* and have yet to experience either the original or new one, I'm just going to have to be jealous of both of you and live vicariously through your TRs! (closest I could get to a green-eyed smilie!)

 

[whoever]

Since I am 40*mumblebmumble* and have yet to experience either the original or new one, I'm just going to have to be jealous of both of you and live vicariously through your TRs! (closest I could get to a green-eyed smilie!)

Keep up the quest... you never know when one of the great C33 members will grant your wish..

 

[Aladora]

Keep up the quest... you never know when one of the great C33 members will grant your wish..

I wasn't angling for an invite from any C33 member who might be reading this, I was just commenting on how lucky your daughter is! Yikes, I hope I did not come off as shady in my comments!

 

[whoever]

Here was the adult lunch menu for today

Amy would start with the Wild Blue Crab Cake. It was great according to her.. I didn't even get a bite..

and I the Lobster Rockefeller... supremely great. Katherine commandeered the large sea salt.. I paired my meal with the wine course... couldn't tell you what they all were, but I enjoyed them...

From the Children's menu, Katherine would start with the Pear Yogurt Parfait... did I mention she got to keep the menu as a souvenir????

She wan't a huge fan. Amy and I cleaned it out.

For Amy's entree, she selected the Grilled Lamb T-bone with raised Lamb Ravioli with Green Fennel Puree

It was astoundingly good. Had I to do it over again, I would have gone with this dish instead of the filet..

I selected the safe option... The Filet with Huckleberry Braised Beef SHort Rib and Parsnip Puree... it was GREAT, just not as good as Amy's lamb..

Katherine's entree would e the Petit Filet and she appreciated it.

Amy went for the Autumn Apple Galette with Candied Walnut Gelato. Again.. I didn't get a bite because it disappeared. The dried apple crisps were such a great edible garnish.

I got the Manjari Dark Chocolate Boudino with White Chocolate Chantilly. Decadent and bitter... just how I like it.

Katherine's dessert course was of course French Beignets with a trio of dipping sauces (Chocolate, Caramel, and Vanilla) complete with Happy Birthday Wishes!!! Who doesn't LOVE beignets... had to stop Katherine from wanting to drink the dipping sauces..

At the conclusion of our meal Katherine took the time to write a Thank You to our host which I texted the picture to. I've blurred out their name here to protect their identity but you know who you are!! THANK YOU SO MUCH. You've repeatedly made dreams come true and I and my family is truly grateful for your continued hospitality.

After dinner, we had some coffee and biscotti. It was SOOOO good. I'm super envious of the new teacup/saucer combo... WOW. I have a few teacups from the old service, but the new combo is over the top.

Happily fed family..

 

[whoever]

I wasn't angling for an invite from any C33 member who might be reading this, I was just commenting on how lucky your daughter is! Yikes, I hope I did not come off as shady in my comments!

I was just saying never give up. You never know when pixie dust will happen

 

[Aladora]

OMG, those teacups and saucers!

 

[whoever]

Completely stuffed, we waited for our bill to arrive... but while we waited, we decided it was time to go out on the balcony and get some pictures. I don't know what it was about my first couple trips to the club, but I was totally camera-shy. I felt like it was taboo to take pictures. I wasn't going to make that same mistake on this trip. It was going to be pictures galore!!!

Serious Amy..

Jovial Amy..

Serious Amy sucks. You don't want to get that stare... trust me..

The neighbor across the street has these HUGE ficus, pretty much this tall. I keep telling him he needs to trim them into DISNEY FICUS... he has yet to convert... Maybe I should just go over and do it for him..

Probably my favorite outside shot..

I never realized how LOOOOONG the balcony was. I always remembered it as much shorter..

As we were enjoying our time outside and above the crowds who do I spot, but Joe F!! (mre200200 on MiceChat). We just happened to be looking down while he was looking up... seriously.. totally random and unstaged. I got a shot of him and he took a shot of us!!

This one made the Christmas card... seriously..

 

[ashley0139]

Loving your report! What an amazing Club 33 experience. I hope you show us what you bought! That's always my favorite part. I will make it there one day!!

 

[whoever]

Loving your report! What an amazing Club 33 experience. I hope you show us what you bought! That's always my favorite part. I will make it there one day!!

That's a good question... I know several ornaments and probably a key chain/pin and compact... honestly... we have so much Disney stuff it's hard to say..

 

[whoever]

For the first time in forever...... OK.. for just the first time, we asked if we could go the Eastern balcony. They said of course... it was awkward and clumsy like asking a girl out on the first date... It's the feeling I get every time I ask a C33 member for an unaccompanied reservation... not knowing whether to fight or flee.. butterflies... anxiety....BUT... it worked out.. Eastern Balcony here we come...

The theming is great... the parakeets were perfect..

I'm so surprised they didn't run the CCTV cables UP the chimney into the hood to hide the camera. Disney, wake up!!

As all hunters know... prey seldom looks up...

Is that Spain, USA, and France??

Katherine is way too complacent here.. she feels like she belongs when she does not...

Christmas is always great.. a bit of a crossover for Mardi Gras here though..

We... were... behind.. those..doors...

But not those..

The East bacony feels wider than the West..