Deep within the original Disneyland park in Anaheim, there is a door that you or I will likely never enter. The door itself is in New Orleans Square, not far from the popular Haunted Mansion attraction, and is unassuming. Green with gold detailing, the only thing that gives it away is a plaque that reads “33”. It marks the location of one of several secret clubs in the Disney Parks — with a hefty entry fee ($25,000 plus a $10,000 annual fee for OG Disneyland), a long waiting list (years), and unclear entry requirements, it’s really only open to the elite the Disney adults. Tom Hanks and Elton John are reportedly members. The mysterious plaque is a symbol of Disneyland’s longstanding relationship with celebrities, dating back to the park’s opening in July 1955 — and continuing to this day.
In recent weeks, various Kardashians have made headlines for not only going to Disneyland, but for engaging in both annoying and messy behavior there; from skipping the queue to closing rides completely. Parks blog Inside the Magic boldly claimed, “Kourtney Kardashian celebrates how sisters wreak havoc at Disney.”
The hyperbolic mayhem itself was just a bit of legitimate queue jumping, but it adds to a litany of sins in the eyes of regular, well-behaved Parks fans: ITM also reports that Kylie Jenner’s bodyguard went after a guest for filming her a very public place, while Kylie herself recently shut down “It’s a Small World” at Walt Disney World so she could ride alone.
With all these headline-grabbing visits, viewers might think that the Kardashians are the only adult celebrities inclined to visit. You might be wondering: what’s the appeal of celebrating a 43rd birthday at Disneyland surrounded by screaming kids, anyway? Especially when the only place they sell liquor in the main park is Club 33, a place the Kardashians didn’t appear to have been offered membership?
Well, simply put, it’s not uncommon. The Kardashians aren’t the only ones enjoying the guilty pleasures in the happiest place on earth; They are apparently the only celebs who act legitimately during their visits to warrant extensive press coverage. In fact, celebrities love Disney, albeit more reluctantly than the family, whose show recently moved to Disney+. Paris Hilton apparently wears prosthetics when she visits the parks to avoid being spotted. Cardi B was spotted on the Teacups in March while her security guard quietly drove in the Teacup next door. Nicole Richie goes on trips with her family every six months. The Kardashian-Jenners are far from the most famous people to go to Disneyland, even if they seem to be the worst behaved.
While Disneyland does offer private VIP tours for those who can afford it, they tend not to make it a habit to offer special privileges like closing the parks or even parts of them. Clearing out rides is a major rarity, as Disney wants to give all “guests” the same level of experience (at a price, but whatever). Celebrities who visit Disneyland have to do so pretty much like a normal person. So the question arises: Why do they do it at all when instead they could afford all sorts of other, more exclusive experiences without being bothered by strange children?
There are a few reasons why that might be the case. It’s important to note that, firstly, many regular people in Southern California visit Disneyland far more frequently than we in the UK might go to Paris. In fact, Disneyland California used to offer annual passes to local residents to encourage regular travel, and they still get discounted access today. The appeal to the parks’ neighbors is obvious: it’s not that far away, it’s accessible, and if you’re rich it comes at a fairly insignificant price. Over the years, the location has become something of a cultural touchstone in the area, one that celebrities — even celebrities without children — want to be close to. Plus, if you can handle the lines and don’t have a heart of stone, Disneyland makes for a fun day trip after all.
Of course, many celebrities have children, and it follows that the happiest place on earth has a greater appeal for them, even for the overly famous. Kourtney Kardashian’s last visit was with her and Travis Barker’s children. Chrissy Teigen and John Legend are also taking their family; while Christina Aguilera was spotted visiting her daughter. If you had a family, all the money in the world and lived an hour away from the happiest place on earth, wouldn’t you make your dreams come true a few times a month? Ultimately, while the Kardashians made headlines for being so… Kardashian-like with their visits, their decision to stop by and visit Mickey is hardly unique.
Of course, not all celebrities enjoy Disneyland in a nice, normal, casual way just because of the proximity to their palatial homes. Some of them are just massive nerds about it. Even the famous aren’t immune to the allure of becoming a Disney adult. For example, Ryan Gosling — who began his career as a mouseketeer in the early ’90s — reportedly loved one ride (the Haunted Mansion, my favorite) so much that he and a friend formed a band inspired by it: Dead Man’s Bones. He was even rumored to be in a movie about the Guillermo Del Toro ride, but the project was pretty much shelved despite fan requests. For nerds (me, Gosling), there’s a lot to love about Disneyland, and delving into the trivia and lore is worth the trip.
It might seem strange from the outside—we mere mortals have to save money and make big plans to go to Disneyland—but even for average Southern Californians, it’s a relatively easy trip. However, perhaps a Disney trip for celebrities is more than just a way to keep the kids entertained. Maybe it’s about escapism. I love Disneyland because it’s totally immersive and takes you to another world for a day; one who does not obey the laws or cares of ours. Despite the crowds, the cameras, and the chaos, Disneyland may be a way for celebrities to feel normal. A place for those who want to get lost in a crowd and indulge their inner child, who doesn’t live by a clock but by the whims of waiting times. And who could deny them that?
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