What does it take for one to become a member of the
Disneyland Social Clubs? It varies from club to club. At the very
least one must be a true Disney fan. Not surprising, the rules are
fairly simple and could have been written by dear old Uncle Walt
himself. Be courteous and respectful to other social clubs, their
members and of the park itself. Sounds simple enough. Other
requirements for membership
include the ability to attend meetings at the park, which could be hard
if you live outside of California. Once a potential member has been
chosen they are given a trial period to see if they click with their
fellow members. No hazing allowed. After the trial period has ended
and they are officially inducted into their club they receive their
patches.
include the ability to attend meetings at the park, which could be hard
if you live outside of California. Once a potential member has been
chosen they are given a trial period to see if they click with their
fellow members. No hazing allowed. After the trial period has ended
and they are officially inducted into their club they receive their
patches.OFF THE WIRE
Added by Mary Kay Love
Disneyland
Social Clubs are welcoming gang members. Sort of. Forever fans of the
Happiest Place on Earth have begun organizing themselves into various
social clubs that are inspired by old school
motorcycle gangs. These non-menacing, hard core fans aren’t
threatening anyone’s enjoyment in the least. Their drug of choice?
Limited edition Disney collector pins.
motorcycle gangs. These non-menacing, hard core fans aren’t
threatening anyone’s enjoyment in the least. Their drug of choice?
Limited edition Disney collector pins.
Presently there are over 20 social clubs. Some clubs are
named after popular Disneyland rides, such as the Hitchhikers (named for
the hitchhiking ghosts of the Haunted Mansion), and The Jungle Cruisers
(named for the safari themed Jungle Cruise). Other Disneyland social
clubs have more generic names, such as The Hidden Mickeys, The
Wonderlanders, The Main Street Elite (the largest and most visible
gang), and Walt’s Misfits. The first acknowledged social club is known
as The Neverlanders, who boasts a gang of over 30 members ranging from
ages 2 to 63.
In
true Disney form, these social clubs are merely there for the fun of
it. Their attire mainly consists of “gang” jacket, actually a denim
vest, which identifies their affiliation. The vests themselves are
quite impressive, fashioned after Hell’s Angels, but far less menacing.
They feature the member’s name on the front with their favorite Disney
character and the aforementioned collector pins, either to show off or
to trade.
Disneyland Social Club members are truly the happiest
people on earth and love to share their passion for Disneyland. The
clubs don’t discriminate when it comes to race, gender, age, or sexual
orientation. And they are a tight knit crew, staying in touch with one
another via Facebook and Instagram where each trip to the park is well
documented.
Of course, there are always the party poopers. Some find
the “gang” members to be intimidating. Others speak of turf wars in
online chat rooms. But the members themselves will tell you that it’s
all just rumor. They are more than happy to offer explanations, saying
that they are all great friends and it’s a fantastic way to enjoy the
park. Social Club leaders go out of their way to express their
appreciation for the other clubs.
Disneyland Social Clubs welcome their gang members with open arms.
There is a true sense of belonging here. Their vests are their suits
of armor. They represent fellowship, commitment, and above all, fun.
It’s what the happiest place on earth specializes in, after all.By Mary Kay Love
