Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members have reason to plan ahead: Disney has officially confirmed that the Membership Magic Beyond perk will return in 2026 — and with it comes a brand new, members‑only character meet & greet with Mickey and Minnie in travel‑themed costumes.Credit: Inside the MagicWhat Is Membership Magic Beyond?Membership Magic Beyond is an optional benefits package DVC members can add, offering enhanced perks beyond the standard membership. The program debuted in 2025 for eligible members and ran from January through the end of the year. It came with a mix of ticket discounts, expanded lounge access, point flexibility, and that all-important character meet & greet within the DVC Member Lounge at EPCOT (the ImaginAtrium).Originally, the cost for the 2025 year was $99. Some of the benefits included:Discounted five‑day weekday Walt Disney World tickets (including a water park day) and 3-day weekday Disneyland tickets (with Lightning Lane Multi Pass) for the enrolled member and up to seven household membersA 40‑day Memory Maker entitlementExclusive access to DVC Member lounges (including ImaginAtrium and Star View Station) and priority lounge accessUse of DVC points toward a Disney Sorcerer PassWaived transaction fees for certain Disney Collection and cruise/resort bookingsThe character meet & mingle at ImaginAtrium — one of the marquee perksBecause it was optional, DVC members had to specifically enroll for 2025; it does not auto-renew. That means even members who joined in 2025 need to enroll again for 2026 if they want to receive the benefits.Although Disney has not yet released full pricing or the full 2026 benefits package, the confirmation of the exclusive meet & greet is headline news for DVC fans eagerly watching what extras might return or evolve.The New Mickey & Minnie Costumes: Travel MotifCredit: Video Screenshot, Instagram, @livinglocurtoOne of the standout returns is the meet & greet event, now evolving with fresh, travel-inspired costumes for Mickey and Minnie. According to early reveals, Minnie’s dress will feature a map motif: continents in dark blue with dotted lines in lighter blue, accessorized with a blue sequin wrap and matching map-themed bow. Mickey will don a coordinating waistcoat with map details and sequin lapels, paired with sapphire blue pants.They will host these meet & greets within the ImaginAtrium Member Lounge at EPCOT, located on the second floor of the Imagination Pavilion. In 2025, ImaginAtrium had hosted nightly meets with Nick and Judy from Zootopia, but starting in 2026, those will be replaced by Mickey and Minnie in their exclusive travel-themed looks.Because this is meant as a premium, exclusive benefit, access will be limited to members enrolled in Membership Magic Beyond, not all park guests or even all DVC members.How It Will Work (Based on 2025 Precedent)While Disney hasn’t published the full 2026 schedule or details yet, we can infer some mechanics from how the program operated in 2025, and from DVC’s announcements:In 2025, the ImaginAtrium lounge shifted its hours to welcome all qualifying DVC members during the day, then closed briefly before reopening exclusively for Magic Beyond members during evening hours (typically 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.)The character meet & greet was scheduled within those evening hours; in 2025, the meet ran daily from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. but was subject to changeMembers must hold a resort reservation booked using DVC points (i.e. staying on points), and eligible participants could bring up to 4 guests or as many as are included on their resort reservationThere were capacity restrictions and priority lounge access when the ImaginAtrium was busyFor 2026, Disney is likely to follow the same structure — daytime lounge access for all qualifying DVC members, then evening exclusivity for Magic Beyond participants. Whether the same 5:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. window will apply or if hours shift slightly remains to be confirmed.Why This Perk MattersCharacter meets are among the most memorable moments for many Disney visitors. The promise of meeting Mickey or Minnie in exclusive attire — in a relaxed lounge environment away from the hustle of the park — is a strong draw. For DVC members making the leap into Magic Beyond, this benefit alone will justify the investment for many.Moreover, it signals Disney’s intent to continue positioning DVC memberships not just as lodging and vacations, but as a layered, premium experience. Benefits like exclusive character interactions, which cannot be easily replicated outside this tier, help differentiate Magic Beyond from the standard DVC experience.Another important aspect: having new character outfits adds novelty. The travel motif underscores the global nature of DVC members’ park travels and offers something fans can’t see elsewhere. That helps make the experience feel “earned” and unique.Also, this perk can drive enrollment in Magic Beyond. For DVC owners on the fence, the draw of a one‑of‑a‑kind Mickey & Minnie meet may push them to opt in.What Remains UnknownWhile the meet & greet is confirmed, many details are still pending:Pricing: Will the 2026 fee remain $99, or will it increase? Disney hasn’t said.Full perks list: Will Disney keep ticket discounts, waived transaction fees, lounge priorities, and Memory Maker entitlements exactly the same? Or will some benefits be cut or adjusted?Schedule & frequency: Will Mickey & Minnie appear every night? Will there be “dark nights” or rotation?Access rules: Will staying off‑site or using non‑point bookings disqualify you? Historically, lounge and character access has required stays on points.Expansion of characters: While Mickey & Minnie are confirmed, Disney has hinted there could be additional surprise character appearances during the year.DVCNews, a reliable insider source, confirmed the return of the program and stated that these new meets will replace Nick and Judy in 2026. The report also noted that while no pricing or full benefit list has been released, the character meet is one benefit already secured for next year. (DVCNews)Tips for Interested MembersIf you’re a DVC owner thinking about whether Magic Beyond is worth it, here are some suggestions to help you decide:Watch for the enrollment window — Compare benefits, factor in your vacation style and frequency, and decide early whether you’ll opt in.Plan stays at DVC properties using points — That’s often required to access the lounge & meet.Verify schedules when you visit — Even once benefits are announced, the actual appearance times may vary nightly.Use your benefit early — If you’re staying over multiple days, consider doing your meet on one of your first nights in case of schedule changes or early closures.Bring your guests — If the limit is up to 4 guests or equal to your reservation size, bring family or friends so they can share the moment.The return of Membership Magic Beyond in 2026 — with a confirmed exclusive Mickey and Minnie meet & greet in new travel-themed costumes — marks a bold move by Disney Vacation Club. It reinforces the notion that DVC is more than resort stays; it’s an evolving lifestyle offering layered exclusivity for those who opt in.For DVC members, this means planning ahead, weighing the perks, and marking their calendars for what may become one of the most anticipated member-only experiences in Disney’s repertoire. As details roll out, fans will be watching closely to see if the rest of the 2026 benefit suite lives up to the promise of this new, premium meet & greet.The post Paywall Added for Mickey and Minnie Mouse Meet and Greet at Disney World in 2026 appeared first on Inside the Magic.