A DISNEY-obsessed couple filed a lawsuit against the theme park after their exclusive Club 33 membership was revoked.
The couple spent nearly $125,000 a year at the private club and almost four times more to regain status.
In 2012, Scott and Diana Anderson were taken off the waitlist and granted access to Disney’s Club 33 membership.
The Andersons utilized their membership to visit the two Anaheim theme parks between 60 and 80 times a year.
However, the Disney-loving couple only spent five years at the club before their membership was revoked.
Initially, their access was suspended after Scott was allegedly found in the park intoxicated on September 3, 2017.
A month later, the Andersons were kicked out of the club.
One of the rules of being part of Club 33 is that the membership forbids any type of public intoxication.
In December 2017, the couple filed a lawsuit against the Walt Disney Company and have reportedly spent over $400,000 in court trying to reinstate their membership.
“They finally became part of this special place,” argued the Anderson’s attorney, Sean Macias, as per The Los Angeles Times.
“That was their spot. That was their happy place, their home.”
While one of the guards testified, saying Scott “smelled of alcohol,” Macias argued that “They have not established that Mr. Anderson was intoxicated.”
Macias said Scott’s behavior was due to a vestibular migraine, which was triggered by red wine.
“He doesn’t want to be known as a drunk,” Macias told the jurors.
“They love that place. They took the fight to Disney because it’s his name.”
Jonathan E. Phillips, the lawyer representing Disney, responded, “They did not want to pay the consequences of failing to follow the rules.”
Prior to the two being ousted from their Club 33 membership, Diana was briefly suspended in 2016 from using “salty language” in the exclusive lounge.
REJECTED
Despite the years-long battle, on Tuesday, a jury at an Orange County court rejected their claim, stating Disney kicked them out improperly.
What is Disney’s Club 33?
Club 33 first opened in Disneyland in the 1960s as a safe space for the elite to gather. Here’s a closer look at what Club 33 entails:
- Club 33 is a membership-only fine-dining establishment with a restaurant and lounge.
- The invitation-only club costs roughly $30,000 to join and about $16,000 a year.
- There is a Club 33 at all Orlando parks, Tokyo Disneyland, and Shanghai Disneyland.
- The exclusive membership comes with perks, including:
- 50 single-day guest passes to Disney Parks a year
- Five private VIP tours a year
- Six Genie+ fast passes at Disney World
- Exclusive access to Disney World’s lounges
- Exclusive Club 33 merchandise for purchase
- Entry to VIP events including attraction previews
While the two were rejected, the Andersons told The Los Angeles Times that they wouldn’t stop fighting.
“My wife and I are both dead set that this is an absolute wrong, and we will fight this to the death,” Scott said.
“There is no way we’re letting this go.
“My retirement is set back five years. I’m paying through the nose. Every day, I’m seeing another bill, and I’m about to keel over.”
Scott said he plans to make an appeal following the court’s decision.
“I’ll sell a kidney,” Diana told the outlet. “I don’t care.”
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Disney for comment.
