Over the past few years, new attractions at Walt Disney World opened with a virtual queue on the My Disney Experience mobile app instead of a regular standby line. Given such high anticipation for these new attractions and experiences, Disney did this to enhance guests’ experience of new attractions. Our guide will cover everything you need to know about Disney World virtual queues.
We at Disney Dose have been fortunate enough to use the virtual queue experience for all Walt Disney World attractions (multiple times) since its implementation. Because of this, we’ve learned what works best for you! Let’s dive into everything you need to know about the virtual queue system at Walt Disney World so you can have the smoothest experience possible on your next trip.
In this article:
What are Disney World Virtual Queues?
In short, the Disney World virtual queue system acts as a replacement for the regular standby queue. Guests join the virtual queue on their mobile devices using the My Disney Experience app in order to enjoy an attraction or experience later that day. The benefit? You don’t have to wait in a standby line for hours to ride Walt Disney World’s newest attractions. Instead, you can experience other attractions and experiences while you wait.
Currently, guests can utilize the Disney World virtual queue system for the following attractions and experiences at Walt Disney World: TRON Lightcycle / Run, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Journey of Water Inspired by Moana, Meet Santa, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney Jollywood Nights. Each attraction has important details regarding its specific virtual queue, so make sure to keep reading to keep yourself in the know!
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Walt Disney World Virtual Queue: The “Need-to-Know”
You’ve Got Two Chances to Join the Virtual Queue
On the day of your Disney theme park visit, you have 2 opportunities to join the Disney World virtual queue: once at 7:00am and once at 1:00pm. There’s one key difference between these two opportunities. For the 7:00am virtual queue, guests can join the virtual queue from outside the Walt Disney World theme parks (like their resort). However, for the 1:00pm virtual queue, all guests within the same party need to be scanned into the theme park containing their attraction-of-choice before joining.
Outside of these 2 opportunities, there are select dates during Extended Evening theme park hours where guests can join the virtual queue starting at 6:00pm. This benefit is reserved for registered guests staying at a Walt Disney World deluxe resort, Disney deluxe villa resort, or other select hotels. While these guests do not need to be inside the theme park to request to join at that time, they must have valid theme park admission.
When a Disney World virtual queue is in place, a standby queue will not be available. For some attractions, the virtual queue is the only way to experience an attraction or experience at Walt Disney World. The Disney World virtual queue has been especially useful when new and popular attractions or experiences debut. Make sure to check the My Disney Experience app for daily schedules.
How Are Boarding Groups Called?
Take note of your assigned boarding group number. Boarding groups are called in chronological order and the My Disney Experience app provides an estimated wait time for Walt Disney World guests. Make sure to check the My Disney Experience app periodically though, since wait times can fluctuate!
When you do successfully get a boarding group, you are also able to use the Disney World virtual queue to hold a boarding group for other select experiences at the same time, when available. However, guests are not able to hold a boarding group for multiple Walt Disney World attractions at the same time. For example, guests can hold a boarding group for both Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Journey of Water Inspired by Moana over at EPCOT. However, they cannot hold a boarding group for both Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and TRON Lightcycle / Run.
You Got a Backup Boarding Group: Now What?
When using the Disney World virtual queue, guests sometimes get assigned backup boarding groups. These groups are only called if all of the initial groups were called back and there is capacity for more riders. If you get this, hope is not lost! Although they come with a higher possibility of not being called, we’ve found that backup boarding groups regularly get called.
How to use the Disney World Virtual Queue
The Disney World virtual queue system is entirely on the My Disney Experience mobile app. This is the same app that allows guests to link their accounts to their Walt Disney World hotel reservations, theme park reservations, and dining reservations.
Before requesting to join a Disney World virtual queue, guests must have valid theme park admission. As long as you link your Disney account to your group’s park tickets and everyone has valid admission for the park you will visit, you can enroll everyone in the virtual queue at the same time.
Disney recommends that guests select one member of their party to access the virtual queue to get a boarding group for everyone in their party. Although Disney specified that complications may arise if multiple people in the same party try to join the virtual queue simultaneously, we haven’t found this to be a problem.
Walt Disney World Virtual Queue: Step-by-Step
Log in to the My Disney Experience mobile app before one of the distribution times. Select the three line “hamburger” icon on the bottom of the home screen.
Find and select “Virtual Queues” and then “Join Virtual Queue.” Here, guests can view the current status and next steps for joining a virtual queue.
Select your Walt Disney World theme park of choice, select your attraction or experience of choice, and then select “Join” at the designated time. Remember, as long as you link your Disney account to your group’s park tickets and everyone has valid admission for the park you will visit, you can enroll everyone in the virtual queue at the same time.
When your boarding group is called, you’ll receive a notification via the My Disney Experience app. Make sure to return to the attraction entrance within your designated return window (which is usually 1 hour). Late arrivals are usually not accommodated!
Where You Can Use the Virtual Queue at Walt Disney World
TRON Lightcycle / Run
Currently, TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom uses a virtual queue during normal Walt Disney World park operating hours. More recently, however, guests were able to use the virtual queue during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party. During these events, the virtual queue opened at 6:00pm. It’s also good to note that guests also have the option of purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane via Genie+ for this attraction.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Currently, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT uses a virtual queue during normal park operating hours. Guests also have the option of purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane via Genie+ for this attraction.
Journey of Water Inspired by Moana
The Disney World virtual queue for Journey of Water Inspired by Moana at EPCOT is only used during peak theme park hours. This means that on days that are expected to be busier, the virtual queue will likely be in place. If a virtual queue is in place, there will be no standby queue option. Also, note that Journey of Water Inspired by Moana also does not utilize Lightning Lane.
When the virtual queue is in place, Walt Disney World guests can join starting at 9:00am on the day of their visit. For this virtual queue, you must be inside EPCOT to join. More importantly, you may only join the virtual queue once per day.
Meet Santa at Disney Springs
During the Holiday season in recent years, guests can meet Santa Claus at Once Upon a Toy in Disney Springs. Because of this, there is no standby queue available. Available times to join the virtual queue include 9:00am, 11:30am, 2:00pm, 4:30pm, and 7:00pm. Guests must be in Disney Springs in order to enter the virtual queue and there is a maximum party size of 10 people.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney Jollywood Nights
Although Walt Disney World did away with the virtual queue for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, they brought it back just for Disney Jollywood Nights. Since this Holiday event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios was completely new for 2023, we’re not sure if Disney will implement this again in the future.
Our Top Tips for Success with the Virtual Queue at Walt Disney World
The virtual queue tends to fill up within seconds of opening, let’s go over our top tips for using the virtual queue so you can have the most magical time at Walt Disney World.
First off, the My Disney Experience app is key. Not only do we recommend downloading it prior to your Walt Disney World trip, but we also recommend practicing the step-by-step process of joining the virtual queue (without actually confirming a boarding group). That way, you’re ready to go first thing the morning of your park day. If you’ve already downloaded the app, make sure to update it to its latest version.
We mentioned this earlier, but it’s worth mentioning again: Before your Walt Disney World trip, make sure to add and confirm your entire party to your Family and Friends list within the app to avoid wasting precious time on the virtual queue. For children under 13 years who prefer not to have a My Disney Experience account, parents can create a profile for their children to ensure they’re included in their Family and Friends list.
Next, timing is key. For the smoothest experience possible, you can select your party starting 1 hour before the time boarding groups become available. We recommend using the clock on your phone to keep track of the second-by-second countdown to select “Join.” An alarm 5 minutes before the virtual queue opens can be helpful. Need a bigger safety net? Set multiple alarms!
Finally, we’ve found that using our phone’s data to join the virtual queue made for a smoother process instead of the Walt Disney World wifi. Whichever option you choose, make sure you have a good signal or wifi wherever you are.
Remember to Set Your Expectations at Walt Disney World
Like anything else at Walt Disney World, it’s important to set your expectations with the virtual queue. If you are unsuccessful with the 7:00am virtual queue, you still have another chance at 1:00pm. Your odds at 1:00pm tend to be better since fewer guests try for the 1:00pm distribution time.
It’s worth noting that we found the longer an attraction has been around, the more likely you are to get a boarding group after the virtual queue opens. This is especially true for the afternoon virtual queue. There have been quite a few times when we’ve successfully entered a boarding group for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind 1 or 2 hours after the 1:00pm window. However, we’ve had less success with TRON Lightcycle / Run since this attraction is the newest to open with a virtual queue.
However, you may find yourself unsuccessful at both times on the virtual queue. Or, as we mentioned earlier, your boarding group may not be called. Disney does their best to accommodate as many guests as possible at Walt Disney World, but things don’t always go smoothly. It’s important to set realistic expectations during your trip.
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Walt Disney World is still doing virtual queues, but only for specific attractions and experiences. Currently, these include TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT, Journey of Water Inspired by Moana at EPCOT, Meet Santa at Disney Springs, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney Jollywood Nights.
The virtual queue at Walt Disney World works through the My Disney Experience app, where guests have the chance to join online in order to enjoy an attraction or experience later that day. That way, you can experience other attractions and experiences while you wait.
For the virtual queue, Disney most likely uses the clock that syncs up with the clock on any smart phone device. Timing is crucial when successfully getting a boarding group with the virtual queue, so make sure to time your moves down to the second!
For most days, you join the virtual queue at Walt Disney World at either 7:00am or 1:00pm. Outside of these times, guests staying at select Walt Disney World resorts can also join the virtual queue at 6:00pm on select dates during extended theme park hours.
