If any of you already know what Disney Club 33 is, then, you’d certainly know that this secret is not just one of those ordinary theme park snack bars or some kind of basic VIP pass. Like what actually? Well, this is the kind of place that makes legends out of Disney. Hidden away in Disneyland, California, it has an exclusive membership so hidden that you could wait a decade (or longer) just to receive an invitation. Oh, and by the way, be prepared to drop some major cash here once you finally get in: $50,000 for initiation, and an annual fee of $30,000. This isn’t a membership, in our opinion, it is more like a lifestyle.
For Disney lovers out there, Club 33 isn’t just about avoiding lineups or backstage access, it’s more like being part of an almost mythical community where Disney magic is made for you, and that sure just sounds dreamy, doesn’t it?
Now, Scott and Diana Anderson walk into the picture: a couple living this reality. Until it just all crashed. What happened? Something really dramatic, and that’s why we’re seeing this Disney Club 33 Couple Lawsuit in action.
Living the Disney Dream, for a While
Just to give you perspective on things, you see, Scott and Diana weren’t just fans of this club, they were seriously devoted to Disney. After waiting 12 long years to be eligible, they spent $40,000 paid up front (with tens of thousands more each year later for the rest of the time) to grab their golden ticket. And they really did it all in for five years, like, hitting the club over 80 times that year, enjoying it all.
The magic ended in 2017 when an incident occurred at California Adventure Park and their Club 33 membership was abruptly terminated which left them devastated. Sure enough, for Scott and Diana, Club 33 wasn’t just a perk; it was their life’s goal. You see, meeting, befriending, and creating memories made them feel they were a real part of Disney’s inner circle, but now it was all gone.
What Happened That Day?
Then the plot thickens, how? Well, on a September afternoon in 2017, Scott was there at California Adventure Park when suddenly a voice from behind said: “You’re drunk”; it was a security officer. As per the details out there, the officer thought that Scott spoke with slurred words and even appeared to stumble as he tried to stand up. But that wasn’t what Scott said, it’s just that he was fighting off a nasty allergic attack and had drunk only a little wine that day. No drunken role-playing, he insisted.
And just so you know, Disney made no inclination to buy it. Club 33 polished off Scott and Diana, who in that instant fell from fantasy’s heights. To make matters much worse, both of them felt that soon this incident would turn out to be a cover-up punishment for some voicing about other club issues including allegations of sexual harassment by another member.
Disney Drama Hits the Courts
Well, it appeared so that the Andersons weren’t about to go quietly, and sure enough, they really took all this to court. You know, fighting all the way to get their membership reinstated, well, that’s what they aimed for. And sure enough, the legal battle went on and on, and over the next seven years, they poured $400,000 into their legal battle, even asking for $231,000 in damages. No matter what you think about this case, you must agree that this is some really strong commitment right here by this couple.
If you think they got justice easily, keep in mind, the road to justice was anything but smooth. Why do we say that? Well, like, COVID-19 delayed their trial, and when it finally happened in 2024, the verdict was quick, like, way too quick actually. You know, after just 45 minutes of deliberation, the jury sided with Disney, which was unfair in the couple’s opinion. And sure enough, for them (for Scott and Diana) it was a gut punch. All that time, effort, and money… gone.