Smart Money Happy Hour with Rachel Cruze and George Kamel
Smart Money Happy Hour with Rachel Cruze and George Kamel

Critiquing People’s Disney Drama (Debt, Lawsuits and Club 33 Tea)

March 12, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Disney, Debt, and the Price of Magic

George Kamel used to be a Disney skeptic. He found the "Disney adult" culture off-putting—adults crying while hugging Winnie the Pooh, the whole vibe of people who make the parks their entire identity. But after a recent trip where he was invited into Club 33, Disney's ultra-exclusive members-only lounge, he changed his mind. "I was like, oh, this was amazing," he says. "I don't know why I had this thing in my brain." The catch: he had Lightning Lane passes and access to a club that costs $31,500 a year in dues alone. Without those perks, he admits, his experience would have been different.

Club 33: The Hidden Kingdom

Club 33 is Disney's most exclusive membership, with only about 1,000 members worldwide. Each park has a hidden lounge—Kamel visited the ones at Hollywood Studios and Epcot—marked only by a small "33" on an unremarkable door. Members scan in with their phones, and inside, it's nearly empty, with custom food and drinks. The initiation process requires a referral and application; you cannot simply apply. Annual dues run $31,500, and membership is not transferable. Kamel got in for a single day through a connection at Fairwinds Credit Union, a Ramsey-aligned bank in Orlando. "It was one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences," he says. "I will never have this experience again."

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (00:05) **Introduction & Disney Debate** - Rachel and George introduce the Disney-themed episode and their past disagreement on the topic.
  • 2 (02:32) **Disney Trivia: Parks & First Ticket** - A rapid-fire trivia segment covering global Disney parks and the cost of the first ticket in 1955.
  • 3 (07:34) **George's Club 33 Experience** - George describes his recent visit as a guest of Club 33, Disney's ultra-exclusive members-only club.
  • 4 (13:20) **The "I Know Rachel Cruz" Social Experiment** - George recounts wearing a shirt that said "I Know Rachel Cruz" as a social experiment at Disney.
  • 5 (16:07) **Club 33 Lawsuit Drama** - George shares the story of a California couple who sued Disney after being kicked out of Club 33 and lost.
  • 6 (18:46) **Disney Debt Interviews: The "Last Hurrah" Couple** - Rachel and George watch clips from his viral video interviewing Disney-goers about their finances.
  • 7 (21:40) **Disney Debt Interviews: The "No Debt" Guy** - A second clip shows a man who initially claims to have no debt, then admits to a car loan.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

George Kamel Rachel Cruze

Show Notes

💻 Figure out your next financial move with Ramsey’s Get Started Assessment.

 

Vacation debt, budget-friendly hacks and some light legal drama—today we’re unpacking all things Disney! Stick around for the magic, fun and chaos.

Next Steps:

  • 📱 Submit a Guilty As Charged question for Rachel and George! Leave us a voicemail with your question at 877-306-1517 or send a DM to @rachelcruze or @georgekamel on Instagram! Be sure to type “GUILTY?” at the top of your message so we don’t miss it. 
  •  💵 Create a free budget and find more margin with EveryDollar.

 

Connect With Our Sponsors:

  • Check out the FAIRWINDS Credit Union exclusive account bundle.

 

Today’s Happy Hour Special: 🍹 Pineapple Blueberry Margarita Mocktail

Recipe by Yum Recipes Now

  • Lime juice
  •  Pineapple juice
  • Blueberry syrup
  • Sparkling water
  • Salt

 

Instructions: Start by rubbing a lime wedge around the rim of your glass. Then, dip the rim into a plate of salt to coat it evenly. In a shaker or mixing glass, combine 3/4 ounce of fresh lime juice, 1/2 ounce of pineapple juice, and 1/2 ounce of blueberry syrup. Stir or shake gently to blend the flavors without diluting the vibrant colors. Strain the chilled mixture into your salted rim glass filled halfway with fresh ice. Then, top it off with sparkling water.


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