This Disney Couple Has Spent 7 Years and $400,000 Trying to Get Reinstated Into Club 33
When Scott and Diana Anderson became Club 33 members in 2012, it was a dream come true for the Disney-obsessed couple.
After trying to get into the exclusive club for more than a decade, the Andersons were finally Disney royalty. For the next five years, they visited Disneyland 60 to 80 times a year, spending close to $125,000 annually.
Then, it all came crashing down.
Photo: LA Times (via the Anderson family)
The Andersons Had Their Membership Revoked in 2017
On September 3, 2017, the Andersons were ousted from Club 33 after Scott appeared to be intoxicated at Disney California Adventure.
Security guards reportedly found the club member near the park’s entrance, where he allegedly had trouble standing.
Photo: Disney
“His breath smelled of alcohol quite a lot,” one of the guards said in court, according to a new Los Angeles Times report.
Shortly after the incident, Club 33 revoked the Andersons’ membership.
The Couple Filed Suit
Following their ouster, the Andersons filed suit against Disney, claiming that their Club 33 membership had been revoked improperly. While the couple’s lawyer, Sean Macias, admits that Anderson had 2.5 to 3 drinks, he claims that Disney did not thoroughly investigate the incident.
Photo: cba.cj
“They have not established that Mr. Anderson was intoxicated,” Macias said.
According to their suit, Disney never gave Anderson a breathalyzer or blood test, and there is no video from the incident.
As opposed to being intoxicated, Macia argues that Scott Anderson was suffering from a vestibular migraine, which was triggered by the red wine that he drank earlier that day.
A medical expert brought in by the Andersons testified that the symptoms of a vestibular migraine could be conflated with those of inebriation. A neurologist hired by Disney, however, argued that the behavior was more likely due to the consumption of alcohol.
The Jury Sides with Disney
In court, Disney argued that the Andersons were simply trying to avoid the consequences of their actions.
“They did not want to pay the consequences of failing to follow the rules,” Disney attorney Jonathan E. Phillips said. “ [Anderson’s actions] cost his wife of 40 years her lifetime dream of having access to Club 33.”
Photo Credit: Tim Rue – TravelandLeisure.com
Ultimately, the jury sided with Disney.
“That Was Their Happy Place”
In the seven years since the 2017 incident, the Andersons have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to get back into Club 33. The couple was suing for over $240,000 in addition to their reinstatement to the exclusive club.
“They finally became part of this special place,” Macias told jurors. “That was their spot. That was their happy place, their home.”
Initially, they tried to argue that Disney targeted them because they had complained about a club member harassing other members and the staff. Judge Deborah Servino, however, determined that the allegation lacked merit.
The Andersons Are Not Giving Up
Despite their latest setback, the Andersons will appeal the latest ruling and continue their fight.
“My wife and I are both dead set that this is an absolute wrong, and we will fight this to the death,” Scott told the LA Times. “There is no way we’re letting this go.”
Photo: Miriam-Webster
So far, Scott says that he has spent $400,000 in legal fees.
“My retirement is set back five years,” he said. “I’m paying through the nose. Every day, I’m seeing another bill, and I’m about to keel over,” he said before confirming that he will appeal.
His wife, Diana, agrees.
Photo: Disney
“I’ll sell a kidney,” she defiantly stated. “I don’t care.”
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