Two Disney super fans spent a whopping $400,000 in legal fees as they tried to regain access to Disneyland’s elite Club 33 after being banned due to alleged public drunkenness. Scott and Diana Anderson, both aged 60, recently lost their lawsuit against the House of Mouse when an Orange County, California judge ruled that Disney was within its rights to decide who is allowed to remain in the resort’s exclusive enclave.
Club 33 membership provides access to VIP lounges, special events, celebrity encounters and other perks at Disney resorts around the world. The Andersons spent two decades saving up to join the club and a decade waiting for their membership to be granted. In the five years they were members, they visited Disney’s Anaheim theme parks between 60-80 times each year from their home in Arizona, reportedly spending an estimated $125,000 on park visits alone. During this time, they formed close friendships with other members and even rubbed shoulders with celebrities like Kurt Russell and Dick Van Dyke, as told by Scott Anderson to The Post.
Scott Anderson, who owns a golf course, revealed that the legal battle set his retirement back five years but added he has no regrets about the experience. His wife Diana vowed to keep fighting, telling the LA Times she would “sell a kidney” to raise funds for another legal challenge against Disney.
The controversy began with claims that Scott was drunk at Disneyland. However, Scott Anderson maintains that he wasn’t intoxicated, though he admits he had “a few beers” and a glass of wine or two during a full day of fun at Disney’s California Adventure Park. He attributed his wobbliness to a vestibular migraine, a condition he has suffered from for decades. The next day, the couple was shocked to learn that their membership had been revoked.
Club 33 is known for its secrecy and exclusivity, with entrances often hidden in obscure corners of the parks. The clubs allow elite members to mingle in opulent parlors and dining rooms while enjoying meals prepared by world-class chefs. Despite losing their membership, Scott Anderson told The Post that he and his wife are still exploring their options to force Disney to let them back into Club 33 and reconnect with the relationships they built through their shared love for Disneyland.
All these relationships we’ve developed over the years were centered around Disneyland,” Scott told The Post. All these people we know from different parts of the country, that’s where we met. We would do everything together. And we lost that. We lost all that.
