And twenty some-odd years later, I did. I've always felt that if a person surrounds themselves with good people, good things will happen. Since moving to Southern California two years ago, I have had the great fortune of meeting some truly wonderful people, many of whom I now consider friends. Through these friends I met other friends and much to my surprise, one of whom extended an invitation to the one, the only, the legendary, Club 33.

And so, on August 26, our group of eleven assembled at the door to 33. As we took turns hamming it up for photos at the door I felt an amused smile cross my face. The idea of going to this place, this Grail for Disney geeks like me, had rarely ever been more than an abstract notion and yet when it was time, the door opened and our party was ushered into the lobby of Club 33.

Naturally, the first thing you notice upon entry is the lift to the second floor. History says that Walt had been in a restaurant in Paris and was so taken with their elevator that he tried to buy it on the spot. The restaurant owners wouldn't sell, so Walt instead located and hired the designer and brought him to Anaheim to have a duplicate lift built. To ride the lift that Walt had used countless times was just the beginning of an amazing experience. We proceeded into the Trophy Room, and took our seats at a lavishly appointed long table. I hate food and restaurant reviews so I'm not going to go into detail, other than to say that both the food and the service were exquisite. But there was so much more to it than just food and service. The décor included a great many artworks that represent Walt's vision of Disneyland, with enough touches and artifacts to satisfy even the most hardcore of Disney fans.

As most already know, the purpose for this club was so that Walt could privately entertain the many sponsors, bankers and others who made it possible to bring his vision to life. The initial costs of getting Disneyland out of planning and into reality were more than Disney could afford, so it became necessary to seek additional funding from outside sources. Which is why, for many years, Adventure Through Inner Space was sponsored by Monsanto, It's A Small World was sponsored by Bank of America, and so on. Club 33 was Walt's way of showing his appreciation to these people and companies in a one-of-a-kind setting.

But here's the thing: It didn't really matter where we were. Of course, it was an amazing opportunity to visit Club 33, but that's not made it a great time. It was the people; the shared experience with a group of friends in which the location, which was great, didn't really matter. We have had just as much fun hanging out at the hot dog joint in California Adventure, and even the Denny's across the street from Disneyland. We've spent hours eating fries near Splash Mountain and talking and have had trips to the park where we took in few, if any, attractions. I realize this may sound like heresy to some, but my honest feeling is that a successful visit to Disneyland does not hinge on how many rides a person goes on or how many things they do. A good experience does not depend on where you stay or how much money you spend. No, what makes the difference is the company you keep. Whether you visit with friends or family, it is the experience that you share together which creates the memories that will last a lifetime.

Suffice it to say, it was an extraordinary day and we all had a wonderful time. The feeling of simply being there was nothing short of amazing. To have been able to stand in the places where Walt had stood, in a place where so much of the history of Disneyland was plotted, is almost indescribable. If pressed for a single word to describe the experience, I would fail. If given two words, I would say the experience was both humbling and inspiring. What Walt Disney stood for, what he believed in, was that in each of us lies the potential for greatness, the limitless possibilities we all share, if only we dare to make our dreams come true and if we give our imagination wings and the room to fly, anything is possible.