New Rare Character Costumes Debut at Disney World’s Best Kept Secret
If you visited Walt Disney World in the 1990s or 2000s, you undoubtedly saw advertisements on buses, in-room televisions, around the resorts, and even in the parks for “Disney’s Best Kept Secret.” This was the original marketing slogan for Disney Vacation Club until it became a punchline because it was so poorly-kept.
The jump-the-shark moment was probably a Travel Channel special in 2008 that was literally titled “Disney’s Best Kept Secret” and was just an hour-long DVC infomercial. The one-two punch of that special unveiling Bay Lake Tower and the in-plain-sight construction of BLT that Disney simply pretended wasn’t happening for over a year was a comical combo.
I’m not sure when Disney Vacation Club officially retired the “Best Kept Secret” slogan, but it reminds me of a simpler time. A window when DVC still was a charming little club, offering great money-saving potential and strong benefits, compared to the well-oiled machine that it is today.
Ironically enough, Membership Magic Beyond actually has become Disney’s Best Kept Secret. Or at least, DVC’s Best Kept Secret. For whatever reason, Disney Vacation Club hasn’t really pushed the paid perks program or iterated on it all that much since it launched at the beginning of last year.
There have been some changes for 2026, but they’re fairly minor in the grand scheme of things. I wonder how many DVC Members aren’t even aware that Membership Magic Beyond exists. If I weren’t active online, there’s a good chance I would’ve missed it. I’ve seen no ads for Membership Magic Beyond on the buses, in the hotels, or even inside the DVC lounges. And normally Disney Vacation Club isn’t shy about self-promotion!
This is curious, because Membership Magic Beyond would hold appeal to a decent number of DVC Members if they simply knew about its existence and stopped for a moment to put a dollar value on its benefits. The problem, at least in part, is that MMB is a bit incoherent as a product offering. It’s a grabbag with a bit of something for everyone, and high likelihood that not everything offered will be worthwhile to everyone.
Maybe it’s a messaging problem? “Paid perks” creates a strong, negative first impression. Disney Vacation Club Members already have understandable upcharge fatigue, and this is yet another thing to add to the list after Lightning Lanes and everything else. It’s easier to just say “nope” and dismiss paid perks out of hand.
Perhaps it’s all of the above, plus internal politics within Disney? Because, again, it doesn’t seem like much of an effort is being made to market Membership Magic Beyond. Normally, Disney performs mental gymnastics to stress the value of its product offerings. With Membership Magic Beyond, the strategy is more like a single email per year saying “this exists, buy it or don’t, we couldn’t care less.” It’s an interesting approach, to be sure.
To quote one of the great thinkers of our time, Michael Scott, “reverse psychology is an awesome tool, I don’t know if you guys know about it, but basically you can make someone think the opposite of what you believe, and that tricks them into doing something stupid. Works like a charm.”
When I got the “message” that Disney didn’t care whether I bought Membership Magic Beyond, that only made me want it more. You better believe that the first thing I went out and did was bought it. Didn’t even bother with the math. Just took one look at the first set of unique character costumes and the tease of more to come, and bought right then and there.
I’m not sure whether there’s interest in a full Membership Magic Beyond review or breakdown, but what I will say is that I’ve been incredibly satisfied with the MMB perks. I’m a bit of an outlier because of the way I visit the parks, but I couldn’t be more happy with my decision to buy.
Honestly, I’m a little worried that this Membership Magic Beyond experiment won’t continue into 2027 because it feels too good to be true. I’d be shocked if it’s not losing money. Suffice to say, the “Disney’s Best Kept Secret” slogan is completely apt. And although I’ve enjoyed the fruits of this secret, it’s probably in my own best interests of the word getting out a little bit more so MMB sticks around.
Let’s start with the latest update, which is that Minnie Mouse and Mickey Mouse are embracing the provincial life with charming “cottagecore” outfits. These brand-new styles look like they’re right out of a quiet village; you know, the kind that’s home to a peculiar girl with her nose always stuck in a book, and a barge-sized man who eats five-dozen eggs each day for breakfast.
The costumes may not technically be inspired by the French countryside, and I could also see Mickey & Minnie doing a photoshoot at the quirky cottages at BoardWalk Inn, but they look the part to me. These detailed outfits feature denim, floral pattern-work, and other details, and are yet another hit in the Membership Magic Beyond-exclusive costume line.
These directly replace the cruise-inspired outfits that were perfectly at home over at Disney’s Beach Club Villas, and the dynamic duo’s alpine apparel for winter. The previous costumes have lasted about two months each, which suggests that the adventurous outfits inspired by the U.S. National Parks will take over in August, presumably followed by fresh ‘fits for Halloween and Christmas.
Between these short-lived and exclusive costumes for Minnie & Mickey Mouse, and the character appearances at Moonlight Magic events, DVC has quietly become the club for rare character fans. There must be someone in DVC leadership who is a rare character hunter, as members have been treated to some deep cuts from the vault over the years, plus costumes that never appear elsewhere.
These costumes sported by Minnie & Mickey Mouse are exclusive to Membership Magic Beyond. They’re available nightly to eligible members from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM at EPCOT’s DVC ImaginAtrium – A Member Lounge.
This is a fantastic experience in the former upstairs ImageWorks above Journey into Imagination, and one that I highly recommend. That’s doubly true during dates when the sunset is earlier and you can enjoy evening in the ImaginAtrium.
With that in mind, I took a two-hour trip up to the ImaginAtrium for the very important research of capturing the photos below. It didn’t hurt that there were never more than three other parties in the lounge the entire time I was there, making for a relaxing experience. I’ve been taking even more research trips than usual up to the lounge this year because it’s so peaceful and relaxing up there.
If you’re unfamiliar with Membership Magic Beyond because the secret has been so well kept, here’s basic background on the 2026 version of the program:
Membership Magic Beyond Basics
The “Membership Magic Beyond” add-on option is a yearly enhanced benefits package over and above Membership Extras, which gives you special ways to elevate your family’s stays. Eligible Members can purchase the 2026 Membership Magic Beyond benefits package for $99, with a usage window from now through December 31, 2026.
In other words, Membership Magic Beyond is a calendar-year paid perks program, as opposed to one with a rolling 365-day membership. The program is not prorated for those who purchase it later in the year, so you could theoretically buy for a family vacation during Christmas week and still pay $99 for that one week of access.
This is probably purposeful, both to allow for tweaks to the program by calendar year and also since many DVC members are only doing one stay per calendar year, regardless. There are probably plenty of DVC Members with trips in the second half of 2026 who visit annually during the Halloween or holiday season and no other time, so there’s no ‘loss’ to them in not having the previous months of eligibility. Either the value is there for their annual week, or it isn’t. Simple as that!
Membership Magic Beyond offers the following paid perks for 2026:
- Purchase specially priced 5-day weekday Walt Disney World Theme Park tickets, each with up to 5 water park visits or sports options included. Available for the enrolled Member and up to 7 guests in the traveling party. Save up to $140 per ticket compared to the non-discounted price of a standard ticket.
- Purchase specially priced 3-day weekday Disneyland Resort Theme Park tickets that include Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Available for the enrolled Member and up to 7 guests in the traveling party. Save up to $177 per ticket.
- Receive an 8×10 photo print during your stay at AULANI.
- Receive a 30-day Memory Maker entitlement to capture and share treasured Walt Disney World memories. Up to a $210 value if purchased separately.
Get Exclusive Access
- Special Character Access: Meet and mingle with special Disney Characters daily from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM (subject to change) at Disney Vacation Club ImaginAtrium – A Member Lounge at EPCOT. The enrolled Member can bring up to 4 guests or the number of guests on their resort stay reservation, whichever is greater. Available 7 days a week. Capacity restrictions may apply.
- Priority Access to Member Lounges: Take advantage of priority access to Disney Vacation Club ImaginAtrium – A Member Lounge, Disney Vacation Club Star View Station – A Member Lounge and Disney Vacation Club McKim’s Mile House – A Member Lounge at Magic Kingdom Park. Use this benefit when lounge access goes on a waitlist. Same rules apply for party sizes as above.
Experience More Flexibility
- Use your Points to purchase the Disney Sorcerer Pass to enjoy Walt Disney World Resort Theme Parks. Get a new pass for 75 points or renew your pass for 65 points.
- Get one bonus One-Time-Use Point for each One-Time-Use Point purchased! Members can purchase up to 12 Points for a total of 24 One-Time-Use Points in a Benefit Season. Excludes bookings offered through the hotel exchange program.
- Enjoy having your $95 transaction fee waived when booking Disney Collection Resorts and experiences, including Adventures by Disney, Disney Cruise Line and National Geographic Expeditions experiences.
The Membership Magic Beyond option is part of Membership Extras which, effective June 3, 2021, requires having an ownership interest with 150 Vacation Points or more purchased directly from Disney Vacation Development, Inc.
This is an incidental benefit subject to availability, change or termination. Yearly enrollment fee applies. All offers are subject to availability. Special ticket and Annual Pass offers are not part of the ownership interest and are subject to change or termination.
This means Membership Magic Beyond is what’s colloquially known as a “blue card” perk. It’s all-digital now, so “blue card” member is a misnomer, but that’s what most DVC members still call it. Disney Vacation Club is able to restrict perks to only certain owners because these things are funded by DVC’s marketing budget–or some other budget–and not annual owner dues.
If you’re thinking about joining DVC, be sure to read our Ultimate Guide to Disney Vacation Club. This covers the pros & cons, resale v. direct, how much money you’ll save, and other important things to know before taking the plunge. If you still can’t decide whether membership is right for you, “try before you buy” with the recommendations in How to Save BIG on Deluxe Disney Accommodations Renting DVC Points.
YOUR THOUGHTS
If you’ve joined Membership Magic Beyond, would you agree that it’s actually Disney’s Best Kept Secret? If you’re a rare character hunter, do these costumes and other character exclusives make you want to join DVC or MMB? Will you be doing Membership Magic Beyond at some point this year or in 2027 (if it still exists)? Or is MMB a non-starter for you? Excited or disappointed about this new upcharge, or do you not really care? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Share any questions, tips, or additional thoughts you have in the comments!
I wish they’d allow the Memory Maker 30-day allotment to be spread out over multiple trips throughout the year. I bought it this year before a trip because membership plus the discounted Memory Maker essentially got me free priority access to the lounges. I need to do the math on the value of using points for a Sorcerer’s Pass.
I’m curious about buying this just to get the OTUP, to in turn have some points to get the AP. Seems like a multi part math problem to solve if it’s worth it using the target of $15 minimum per point.
An as unwashed resale DVC member, all I see in the DVC marketing is features for membership extras. I suspect that DVC guides will make a big deal out of the lounges and AP discounts when you go for a tour/sales pitch. Neither have enough value to encourage me to pay the premium for points from Disney. Maybe lakeside lodge will, but we’ll cross that bridge once its closer to opening and they reveal the points chart.
Oh yeah, they absolutely go hard on Membership Extras as part of the sales pitch to differentiate from resales and create FOMO. It’s why they spend so much of the marketing budget on Moonlight Magic, etc. I definitely see that.
What I don’t see, as an existing member, is a big push for Membership Magic Beyond above the regular Membership Extras. Maybe I’m just missing it.
Tom,
Mickey’s costume looks like The Netherlands to me, expecially with the bikes on his shirt, and the bike with tulips and other flowers parked there. Minnie’s costume looks Nowegian, and other Scandinavian countries, with the Rosemaling embroidery. That was my first thought without reading a word.
Looking again, I think you’re right on the money with those placements.
(“Cottagecore” is how Disney described them, FWIW. I had never heard that term before this, but apparently it’s a thing!)
nnie,
I don’t see anywhere that says Sorcerer Pass in no good on weekends, and doesn’t have park hopping. I checked the WDW site, and don’t see it anywhere there.
Maybe you should read that again.
She is not referring to Sorcerer’s Pass only on weekdays. She is referring to the 5-day specially priced tickets that MMB can buy. MMB includes an option to buy discounted WDW 5-day tickets that are only valid on weekdays and also a 3-day Disneyland version.
On our second year and will continue as long as the perk lasts.
Loved the points no transfer fee for a DCL cruise.
I feel guilty using the break-the-line perk at the Member Lounges.
Really like using the points for Annual Passes perk.
I am on my second year of Membership Magic Beyond and it is worth every penny! My grandchildren are growing up and don’t want to visit as much. My husband and I are snowbirds and visit frequently in the Winter. We no longer needed all our DVC points. I had begun to investigate selling one of our contracts. Then we I saw I could renew our annual passes using points I was thrilled! Definitely the best $95 I ever spent. We love the lounge in the evening and the wonderful costumes as well as no crowds!
Out of principle I don’t like encouraging DVC to charge for perks. I paid a big upcharge to buy points direct with the benefit of perks. No more upcharges for me. The character greet and lounge priority would be my only uses as a annual passholder with memory maker.
shout-out for the AFC Richmond shirt!
Front of the line lounge access alone is worth the cost to us, because of the way we visit and enjoy the lounges. We go down monthly from PA just for the weekend, typically, with some of those months including longer stays. It’s usually just my husband and I and we enjoy a midday break in the lounge. I haven’t yet taken advantage of the BOGO bonus points, but that is also a nice perk. I have the photopass added to my AP, so the free Memory Maker does not interest me.
I definitely understand everyone’s various issues with it and how it appears. I also love it! Well, love it for the current price and really hope it doesn’t significantly increase in years to come. The half off one time use points, memory maker, and priority lounge access with unique costumes in the evenings are perfect for our family. I do wish they’d change the ticket discount to make it more meaningful for more guests as there are few families who need a 5-day ticket but only on weekdays. I wonder what percent of MMB buyers buy that ticket.
Love the extensive Mickey and Minnie photo shoot! Adorable! My parents-in-law have been DVC members almost since the beginning so I’ve gotten to enjoy this lounge, but there’s not really anything in MMB they feel is worth it. We would probably do resale if we get our own points so it wouldn’t be an option.
I was literally the only guest in the lounge, so they just kept posing and posing. I’m not normally one for a 5-minute photoshoot with the characters, but it seemed like they really wanted it!
It was also amusing to watch their interactions with one another continue while I was just sitting off in the distance. Makes sense; they always have to be in-character!
I’ll never be able to be a DVC member but it sure would be nice!! That being said, those new costumes for Mickey and Minnie are adorable! Thanks for sharing so many wonderful photos!
For myself, I feel like the MMB is so close, and yet so far. It doesn’t start off on a great foot, as -yes- it gives that aura of upcharging on perks for people who have already paid extra for perks by buying direct. I could overlook that and justify it as a loose collection of products for people whose use has changed over time. or who aren’t really served by some of the other DVC perks, except …
Generously, the 30-day Memory Maker is a good bridge product for those once-a-year visitors who can’t justify the purchase of a Sorcerer pass with the add-on. Similarly, using points to buy Sorcerer passes is – while maybe not a good deal financially – something that potentially provides value to a significant cohort of people whose use of the DVC product has changed over time.
But the ticket discount feels cheap. Disney has correctly identified an issue experienced by those for whom the Sorcerer Pass discount doesn’t make the parks more accessible because it’s still way more expensive than the ticket they would buy. But no park hopper version? Only weekday access? That doesn’t say “We want to offer some ticket discounts to help all our members get some of the value offered by that AP perk”. Because, for instance, my kids can only come on long weekends as they are young and don’t have much vacation time. So instead, it feels like it clearly messages “We only want to be good to you if it’s also good for us. The good for you part isn’t our primary motivation.”
And then, yes, there are the exclusive access features. There is no way (for me) to dismiss the unpleasant paid line-skipping feel of the priority access to lounges. Which, I recognize that line-skipping is complicated … but this feels over the line, so to speak.
TL;DR: There are some things of value there. But it’s hard to understand why these perks are paywalled, and other perks aren’t. Why is the Sorcerer Pass not an MMB perk, but other ticket accessibility discounts are? Why is the Memory Maker entitlement — or simply a discounted one-per-year purchase — not just a standard perk? I get that it can make financial sense for those who opt in. But the absence of common sense dividing the paywalled and non-paywalled perks makes it feel like an icky cash grab that is not about member service.