A new lounge is opening today, March 18, 2025, in Magic Kingdom and this one will not serve alcohol nor will it adults-only, so it shouldn’t be the least bit controversial…right?! This first look inside the venue in Frontierland shares photos and details, along with our commentary.
The new rest stop allows eligible Disney Vacation Club members (so much for it being uncontroversial) to enjoy McKim’s Mile House – A DVC Member Lounge in Magic Kingdom. This takes over the space previously occupied by the free-to-play Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade, an opening day original that had been around since 1971 (also totally controversy-free that Disney replaced an attraction with exclusive lounge space).
Located in Frontierland, this brand new “home on the range” invites eligible members and their guests to relax, recharge and reconnect in a space steeped in Disney storytelling. Let’s take a closer look inside McKim’s Mile House, the second in-park DVC lounge at Walt Disney World!
Ready to rest those feet? Visitors can mosey into “The Frontier’s Best Kept Secret,” a special nod to a former Disney Vacation Club slogan, “Discover the best kept Disney secret,” and relax in style on a variety of comfortable sofas and chairs.
Disney Vacation Club retired that slogan several years ago, seemingly because it had become a punchline among fans given the ubiquity of Disney Vacation Club resorts around Walt Disney World. To each their own, but I liked the slogan. I also prefer the old school DVC logo. Maybe I’m just nostalgic for the bygone days, which would also explain why I love Frontierland.
From the wood floors to the hand-carved stone fireplace, every aspect of the McKim’s Mile House lounge tells a story, including its name.
The lounge’s namesake is Sam McKim, a Disney Legend and concept artist for the original Frontierland in Disneyland Park. To combine McKim’s everlasting contributions and the story of Frontierland, Imagineers were inspired by historic mile houses of the American West.
Mile houses were what we would now consider hotels. Spread across the frontier, travelers could check in to a mile house for a much-needed spell of rest and relaxation.
Now, after an adventure with Princess Tiana or concert with the Country Bears, members and their guests can enjoy that same bit of respite in this new member lounge said to be operated by a fictional McKim family of hospitality pioneers.
As visitors gaze around the McKim house, they may notice stairs that appear to lead up to boarding rooms said to be occupied by some famous folks from around Frontierland.
One room, for example, is designated as the host room of none other than the owner and founder of Big Thunder Mining Company, Barnabas T. Bullion. Just down the hall is the room occupied by M. Davis, a special recognition to Disney Legend Marc Davis.
Although members can’t access the lounge’s second floor, they can appreciate these Imagineering details from the comfort of the lounge’s seating area. And with a keen eye, they may even spot some original artwork and details from Sam McKim himself.
Inside, as travelers kick up their spurs and sip on complimentary soft drinks, the space’s visual details bring special attention to the backstory of the fictional McKim host family, including drawings said to be created by the McKim children.
Along with these amenities and storytelling details, the lounge also includes complimentary Wi-Fi and phone charging spaces.
Disney Vacation Club McKim’s Mile House – A Member Lounge is open daily from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. EST and for all eligible Disney Vacation Club Members with valid park tickets and reservations to Magic Kingdom.
As mentioned above, McKim’s Mile House is the second in-park lounge at Walt Disney World exclusively available to eligible DVC members. In Florida, eligible members also have access to Top of the World Lounge – A Villains Lair atop Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, as well as the ImaginAtrium – A Member Lounge atop the Imagination pavilion at EPCOT.
In California, members can recharge amongst the stars at Star View Station – a Member Lounge, located in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. This is probably the ‘most accessible’ lounge, as it occupies a massive amount of indoor (and outdoor!) space, and there are fewer DVC members at Disneyland.
All three of these lounges are excellent, although Top of the World can be a bit of a hassle with its various rules. I love the Imagination lounge because it occupies the former upstairs ImageWorks, offering views out the glass pyramid of the former Future World at EPCOT. (We’ll stick to that as opposed to GEO-82.)
I’m really looking forward to have a DVC lounge in Magic Kingdom. I don’t love that it took over attraction space that was previously available to everyone, but selfishly, we’ll use McKim’s Mile House Having a spot to stop for a quick break and “free” Coke Freestyle or coffee is huge.
I would hazard a guess that our #1 or #2 “attraction” at both EPCOT and Disneyland is the respective DVC lounges. But I also understand that I’m one of the lucky few who will have access, and what’s good for me–personally–isn’t always the same as what’s good for the park-going public as a whole.
It is somewhat surprising to see McKim’s Mile House only open from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily. I know that’s roughly how long the Imagination lounge is open (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), but Magic Kingdom is a more popular park, and not having McKim’s Mile House open at 10 a.m. seems like a recipe for long lines to “rope drop” the lounge. I guess we shall see if that ends up being an issue, and DVC moves forward the opening time. I’ll be doing some Very Important Research this weekend and next week to see what lines are like.
For anyone wondering about Disney’s motivation for building McKim’s Mile House and other DVC lounges, the company has good reason for it. The EPCOT lounge is incredibly popular, and often utilizes a waitlist during busier times of year. Disney Vacation Club has also started selling “Membership Magic Beyond,” although that hasn’t been marketed or explained all that much–but it includes priority and extended lounge access as a paid perk.
Disney Vacation Club’s other rationale for more lounges is to increase sales. While rational consumers might think that surely a lounge in Magic Kingdom will not move the needle on a $20,000+ purchase. That would be very irrational, to put it mildly. But buying DVC isn’t always a completely rational purchase–it’s an emotional one.
I would also hazard a guess that the totality of the Disney Vacation Club perks–the Moonlight Magic parties, lounges, discounts, etc–actually does move the needle on selling memberships. The existence of these perks and additions to them keeps member satisfaction high, which also helps sell more points. Disney Vacation Club is the closest thing that Walt Disney World and Disneyland have to loyalty programs that makes fans actually feel valued, and a lot of people really appreciate that. I know we do.
Equally important, the various Membership Extras do move the needle on the resale vs. direct dilemma. We’ve heard from many potential purchasers who are willing to pay a bit more because of FOMO associated with missing out on current and potential future Membership Extras. Sure, saving money is important and the paramount consideration for most–but the emotional side of buying DVC cannot be overlooked.
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
What do you think about the new McKim’s Mile House DVC member lounge in Magic Kingdom? Are you a Disney Vacation Club member who’s looking forward to using the space? Disappointed about the location given all of the unused spaces in the park, or do you not really care? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? IShare any questions, tips, or additional thoughts you have in the comments!