Tips for Virtual Queues

When Disney opens their newest attractions, they have begun to provide a virtual queue system instead of forcing guests into standby queues for hours. The first time I rode Flight of Passage at Animal Kingdom, the wait was almost three hours!

Disney realizes that if you’re in line for hours, you aren’t spending money on food or merchandise and your enjoyment of the parks starts to go down.

Virtual Queue Explained

They began instituting the virtual queue system first for Rise of the Resistance. It has since been used on other attractions including Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. This system provides you a place in line without making you stand physically in line. You’ll be notified when to enter the queue where you will wait in line, but for far less time than if there had been a standby queue.

Currently, the virtual queue is being used for Cosmic Rewind in EPCOT and Tron at Magic Kingdom at Disney World. World of Color - One at Disneyland also has a virtual queue for preferred viewing at Paradise Gardens Park.

For rides with Virtual Queues, there is no standby line. You either have to get a boarding group with a Virtual Queue or purchase an Individual Lightning Lane. Otherwise, you won’t be able to ride. It’s important to understand how this system works before you head to the parks.

How the Virtual Queue Works - Cosmic Rewind & Tron

For the Disney World attractions, the virtual queue opens at 7am for all guests. You’ll want to log into the My Disney Experience app a few minutes before 7am to set up your virtual queue party to expedite the process. Doing this while trying to enter the queue at 7am can slow down the process and cause you to miss out on getting a place in the queue.

If you’re successful, you’ll get a confirmation that you’re in the queue with an estimated wait time. You’ll still be waiting, but not waiting in a line at this point. Be sure to head to the park well in advance of the end of your estimated wait time. As you keep checking back, you’ll see your wait time decreasing.

You will then get a notification that your virtual queue boarding group has been called. You’ll have a 1-hour window to head to the attraction. Please keep in mind that this is when you will have to wait in a line. It is much shorter than if everyone who entered the Virtual Queue at 7am was in line, but it is still going to be a wait. I find that if you get an early boarding group you may end up walking right on, but the later the boarding group, the longer the wait you’ll likely have.

A second Virtual Queue will open up at 1pm. You will need to be in the park where the ride is to enter the queue. On extended evening nights for Disney Deluxe Resort guests and Halloween or Christmas party nights, there is a third Virtual Queue opening at 6pm just for participating guests. You DO NOT need to be in the park to enter the Virtual Queue for this final drop.

Guests can only enter a Virtual Queue for an attraction once per day during regular park hours. Guests attending special ticketed events like the Halloween or Christmas parties and extended evening hours may enter the queue again during these times if eligible.

Guests can be in a Virtual Queue for more than one attraction at a time, but be aware that with current park hopping restrictions before 2pm, you may not be able to access the park where the attraction is during your window if called before 2pm.

How the Virtual Queue Works - World of Color - One

This Virtual Queue only opens once per day at 12pm. You’ll have to be in California Adventure at that time or have already been in the park by 12pm. You’ll want to log into the Disneyland app a few minutes before 12pm to set up your virtual queue party to expedite the process. Doing this while trying to enter the queue at 12pm can slow down the process and cause you to miss out on getting a place in the queue.

If you’re successful, you’ll get a confirmation that you’re in the queue listing your assigned showtime and viewing area. You can’t choose either. It’s first-come, first-served. If you didn’t get a spot, you’ll get a notification that all spots are assigned.

You’ll be instructed to arrive 30-45 minutes before your showtime, but the earlier you arrive, the better spot you’ll get in the viewing area for the show.

What to Do If You Don’t Get the Virtual Queue

For Cosmic Rewind and Tron, you have 2 or 3 chances a day (depending on the day) to enter the Virtual Queue. If you aren’t able to get into the queue, you can opt to purchase an Individual Lightning Lane (ILL) for the attraction. Yes, the virtual queue is free, but if you didn’t get in, you’ll need to decide if you want to pay to ride or skip riding altogether. You can also purchase an ILL and get in the Virtual Queue to ride the attraction twice in one day.

For World of Color - One, you can watch the show without entering the queue for the preferred viewing area. You can roll the dice and show up just before the show to see where is available to watch or you can pick a spot early and stake it out for a while.

Best Tips

You want to enter the queue right when it opens, for example 7am. Not 7:01, not 7:02. Right at 7am. To do this, have a world clock open on your phone with seconds as well as the Disney app. You’ll want to hit “Join the Virtual Queue” in the app right at 7am. Jump from the world clock to the app when the seconds hand is just about to hit 00. I have found this to be the best way to ensure that it is precisely 7am when I’m entering the queue.

(This is the same method I use when grabbing my first Genie+ selection of the day as well.)

Don’t use Disney’s Wi-Fi. Turn Wi-Fi off before attempting the Virtual Queue. Disney’s Wi-Fi is notoriously unreliable. This is not the time to test it out.

Also, be sure to allow push notifications from the Disney app so that you don’t miss your boarding group being called. The 1-hour window is strictly enforced once your group is called. If you’re late, there’s little chance of being allowed on the attraction. You can kindly ask a cast member, but this hasn’t seemed to be successful for people.

If you are planning on getting a Virtual Queue, using Genie+, and purchasing an ILL, you’ll want to book them in this order.

• Virtual Queues are the free option and will disappear first.

• Genie+ selections can disappear quickly depending on which ride you choose.

• ILLs will have the most availability. This doesn’t mean you should sleep on purchasing them, but you should still see availability a couple seconds or minutes after 7am.

If you have a dining reservation that conflicts with your Virtual Queue boarding group, talk to a cast member at the restaurant or if you aren’t near it, find a blue Guest Services umbrella and explain the situation. They should be able to assist with either making a modification or informing the restaurant of your tardiness. This doesn’t guarantee that all restaurants will be able to accommodate you late, but in most cases, they try to work it out. Pre-paid experiences such as Cinderella’s Royal Table or Hoop Dee Doo Review will likely be time sensitive, and may not be able to provide flexibility. You’ll likely need to skip the attraction to avoid missing your reservation and being out the full cost of the meal.

Finally, keep an extra battery or external charger with you. You don’t want your phone to die in the middle of your day causing you to miss your boarding group. Your phone will be how you’re navigating the Virtual Queue as well as much of the other Disney planning and day-of tools. This is my favorite one. The charge lasts a LONG time and it charges virtually as quickly as being plugged into an outlet. Can’t recommend this one enough.