There have been some changes in Epcot’s American Adventure Pavilion as of late. Just recently, the Pavilion’s attraction, The American Adventure, debuted an updated film finale and anthem.
America Pavilion in Epcot
But there’s been a less noticeable change in the Pavilion, too — however small doesn’t mean insignificant. To the right facing the Pavilion’s theater entrance is a new addition.
Door allowing access to stairwells for Upstairs Lounge
Previous attendees of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival may recognize this door which opens to the staircase that bring guests to the upstairs lounge, as the space used to serve as the Chase Visa lounge for the Festival. However, it appears the spot may serve a different purpose soon, as it is rumored that the upstairs lounge is being transformed into the new Club 33 Lounge in Epcot. And this new doorbell and magic band reader is in place, just waiting to be put into use by future Club 33 Members.
Doorbell next to door
Club 33 is legendary for its original location in Disneyland. Accessible by members only, the space was originally designed by Walt Disney and used to entertain friends and VIPs. These days, access is gained via a hefty initial membership fee in addition to annual dues.
It was confirmed last year that Club 33 locations would be coming to Walt Disney World for the first time, with one location coming to each park. The American Adventure upstairs location has long been rumored as the designated space for Epcot. And the arrival of this doorbell echoes the iconic doorbell in Disneyland. Though there is a difference: as you can see in the photo, a reader is located below the doorbell, presumably to utilize RFID technology for granting access.
Wonder what it’s like to dine at Disneyland’s Club 33? Check out our #OnTheList Club 33 dining experience!
We can’t wait to bring you more news on this developing story as the Club 33 locations in Walt Disney World get closer to opening!
What are your thoughts on the Club 33 locations coming to Disney World? Please let us know with a comment!
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So that means no more Chase Visa lounge? I guess Disney really is catering more to the rich lately. (As a look at the membership dues of Club 33 will show.) Too bad.
This is the latest in the trend to cater to the ultra rich. Pricing for hotels and dining has skyrocketed, there are few if any perks left for passholders, and now the Chase lounge at Epcot that had been for passholders is being repurposed for those with thousands to spend on this club membership. It is too bad that those of us with moderate incomes are being left out of more and more of the planning while Disney is concerned only with how much extra money they can earn from VIP services.
Is it really a surprise that yet again Disney is creating more catering to the rich and rubbing it in our faces? Even the parks are becoming too expensive for working class people.
Rubbing it in our faces? Are you joking?
This takes nothing away from anyone. How dare Disney make money! Prices reflect demand (all the usual fans of capitalism seem to disappear when suddenly they can’t afford something) and it’s a free market.
Can you imagine how you’d sound to someone who can barely afford to eat, as you complain about your $800 a year annual pass?
The parks are already overcrowded as it is. If they up the price of park tickets, I would not complain. This restaurant is a luxury, who cares what they’re charging for it. I would never be able to afford to get in, but it’s fun to hunt the parks for the doors. People need to stop getting mad over everything.
About the only expensive Disney park service I can think of that might fairly be considered as “costing” us regular Joes is the Private VIP Tours service.
I have a friend who makes a lot of money — he flies on NetJets, even for his family vacations. When he takes his family to WDW, he gets these Private VIP tours. They assign you your own personal CM for each day of your vacation. And, among the perks they offer is unlimited FastPass+. He said that it cost him about $600/hr, or around $10K for their entire time there. They also get virtually unlimited access to character meets as well as door-to-door transportation around and within the World.
Needless to say, if a park guest gets access to unlimited FP+, then that clearly gives them an advantage over everybody else. Because that’s Disney’s version of Willy Wonka’s Golden Ticket. But, hey, we live in a world where money can buy you nearly anything you want if you’ve got it and are willing to spend it. It doesn’t bother me.