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How to Join a Disneyland Virtual Queue for Shows & Rides

by Leap on October 21, 2024
13 Los Angeles

Virtual queues are not commonly used at Disneyland, but when they are in use, it's usually to help maintain demand for new or popular rides and experiences. As of 2024, one show utilizes a virtual queue and two rides. Haunted Mansion Holiday reopened July 29, 2024, with a virtual queue (due to construction in the queue area). Tiana's Bayou Adventure opens Nov. 15, 2024, and Disney confirmed that it will operate with a virtual queue (and be available on Lighting Lane Multi Pass).

The Magic Key pass holder previews operate with a virtual queue (more on that below!). Every day of operation, you can join the free virtual Disneyland queue for World of Color — One at Disney California Adventure. The virtual queue is not absolutely necessary to view the show, but it does help and is highly recommended. The Disneyland virtual queue gives you access to the best free reserved viewing areas for World of Color — One at Disney California Adventure.

Fantasmic! and fireworks do not utilize a virtual queue.

Before we get into the details of how to join a virtual queue, let's go over some important information regarding when to join and eligibility to join.

Am I Eligible to Join the Disneyland Virtual Queue?

When there are both rides and entertainment offered on a virtual queue, guests need to enter those virtual queues one at a time. Guests may enter a virtual queue for one attraction and one entertainment at the same time. However, there is an exception for the Tiana's Bayou Adventure Magic Key previews. You CAN join Tiana's Bayou Adventure and Haunted Mansion Holiday at the same time, at least during previews.

If you need to prioritize, get Tiana's first, then Haunted Mansion Holiday. (Get World of Color last at noon.) So, if you want to do both rides, hop on Tiana's first because it goes super fast (like in a second). The Disneyland cast member told us they hope to be done with the Haunted Mansion virtual queue by the time Tiana's Bayou Adventure opens and Holiday Time starts.

Let's simplify this based on your park ticket and the park you are visiting:

  • 1-Park Ticket for Disneyland — You are eligible to join the virtual queue for Haunted Mansion Holiday and Tiana's Bayou Adventure once daily at 7 a.m. or 12 p.m., but not eligible to join the virtual queue for shows in Disney California Adventure. Tiana's as of Nov. 15 also has a 4 p.m. join time.
  • 1-Park Ticket for Disney California Adventure — You are eligible to join a virtual queue for World of Color at 12 p.m., as long as you have entered that park that day. Not eligible for Haunted Mansion or Tiana's Bayou Adventure in Disneyland.
  • Park Hopper Ticket Starting at Disneyland — You are eligible to join a virtual queue once daily for Haunted Mansion Holiday and Tiana's Bayou Adventure at 7 a.m., and 12 p.m. (Plus 4  p.m. for Tiana's) as well as World of Color at 12 p.m., as long as you have entered a park that day.
  • Park Hopper Ticket Starting at Disney California Adventure — You are eligible to join a virtual queue for World of Color, Haunted Mansion Holiday or Tiana's Bayou Adventure at 12 p.m., as long as you have entered a park that day. For Tiana's Bayou Adventure, you can also try at 4 p.m. as well if you did not join at noon.

If members of your party have not scanned into their first park by the noon or 4 p.m. joining time, you will want to remove them from the party before joining the queue. You do not have to have entered a park for a 7 a.m. joining.

Can I get a virtual queue for Both Haunted Mansion Holiday and Tiana's Bayou Adventure?

This is a gray area. In the past, and according to the Disneyland site, you can only hold one ride virtual queue at a time. Once you redeem the first one, you are eligible to join a virtual queue for the other ride. If you haven't ridden the first one by noon, you can not join the other when the joining period opens. But, during Magic Key previews, we have been able to hold both rides at the same time. We joined Tiana's at noon and Haunted Mansion a minute later. So hop back after Nov. 15 for an update after we give it a try!

Will Haunted Mansion still offer a virtual queue when Tiana's Bayou Adventure opens?

Good question. Cast members have told us they believe Haunted Mansion virtual queue will end when Tiana's officially opens. However, we have not seen any official word on this. Unless there is an announcement, I guess we will find out the answer on Nov. 15! Hop back for updates!

Disneyland Virtual Queue for Rides

How to Join a Disneyland Virtual Queue for Shows & Rides - Haunted Mansion Holiday

Haunted Mansion Holiday opened in July with just a virtual queue. It continues to operate with a virtual queue. For Haunted Mansion Holliday, there are two chances to join each day, at 7 a.m. (before you arrive) and at noon (for which you have to have entered a theme park).

Tiana's Bayou Adventure has virtual queue when it first opens (along with Lightning Lane Multi Pass). There are three opportunities a day to join that ride.

Here is how to join a ride virtual queue at Disneyland:

  1. Check Availability: Log in to the Disneyland app before one of the distribution times (we set alarms for about 5 minutes ahead of join time). Select Virtual Queues on the home screen, choose the park and then tap Join Virtual Queue. Make sure you have a good phone signal. We turn off the park's Wi-Fi (when in the park) and make sure we have a full cell signal.
  2. Enroll Your Group: Make sure you've linked all tickets to your Disney account (everyone must have valid admission and park reservations for the park you will visit). Edit your party if necessary and enroll everyone in the virtual queue at the same time (subject to availability). We pull up a world clock or watch the second hand on an Apple watch to count the seconds to join time. We tap the refresh button repeatedly and the Join Virtual Queue as soon as it appears.
  3. Watch for Notifications: You'll receive a notice if you are able to join a group. Watch for your group to be called to the ride. If your boarding group is called to return, you’ll receive a notification via the Disneyland app. Then, head over to the entrance of the experience within your designated return window.

What if you miss your boarding group?

People who join at 7 a.m. may be far away from the park when they join. You have no control over how early a group you get. What if you get an early boarding group and can't make it? We got Group 1 once — Ribbit! — but could not make it in time— Croak! Our group was called by park opening and we had to ride within 52 minutes. We were late that day due to traffic and lines. We had to try to join again at noon, which we did.

In the afternoon, you have to have entered a park to join the virtual queue, so traffic and arriving at the park should not be an issue. But you could run into other issues such as a dining reservation conflict or a different ride breaking down. If that hoppens, talk to a cast member at the ride entrance.

Tiana's Bayou Adventure

Tiana's Bayou Adventure has a virtual queue as of Nov. 14, 2024, as well as Lightning Lane Multi Pass. There is no standby line initially. The Disney World version also opened with both a virtual queue and Lightning Lane Multi Pass.

How to Join a Disneyland Virtual Queue for Shows & Rides - Tiana Animatronic

Starting Oct. 21, 2024, Magic Key holders can preview the new ride via the virtual queue. The ride is open for previews select hours of select dates Oct. 21 through Nov. 12, 2024:

  • Monday, Oct. 21, 3-9 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Oct. 22, 3-9 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 23, 3-9 p.m.
  • Friday, Oct. 25, 3-9 p.m.
  • Saturday, Oct. 26, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • Sunday, Oct. 27, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Oct. 29, 3-9 p.m.
  • Friday, Nov. 1, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • Sunday, Nov. 3, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Nov. 5, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Nov. 6, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
  • Friday, Nov. 8, 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
  • Saturday, Nov. 9, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
  • Sunday, Nov. 10, 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Nov. 12, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

The virtual queue operates mostly the same as the virtual queue for Haunted Mansion, except that there is an extra chance to join at 4 p.m. Magic Key holders with a Disneyland reservation have three chances per day to join the virtual queue:

  • 7 a.m. — Join before the park opens.
  • 12 p.m. — You need to have entered a theme park to join at noon.
  • 4 p.m. — You need to have entered a theme park to join at 4 p.m.

You can only join once per day. You have to have a Disneyland Park reservation or a Park Hopper ticket to be eligible to join.

Joining a virtual queue does not guarantee riding the ride. These spots went so fast on preview opening day. We did not get to join the 7 a.m. queue, but we did join the queue in the park at noon. But both join sessions filled up in a second or two. We were able to join Tiana's Bayou Adventure and Haunted Mansion Holiday when we visited. But that may not be the case when Tiana's Bayou Adventure is officially open.

Tips for Joining

You need to be in a spot with full bars of cell signal, away from other guests. We turn off Wi-Fi in the park. Edit your party in advance and keep the virtual queue page open. Have someone count down the seconds from the World Clock (on a different phone or follow an Apple watch, which is pretty close to the World Clock), and just rapid tap the refresh button and join button (which appears in the same spot, so rapidly tapping with help you get it faster) until you hopfully see a Boarding Group number.

We got backup group 27 when we joined at noon. We rode about four hours after the ride opened. It did have a long breakdown period for over an hour, or we might have ridden sooner. Some people with later backup groups received notifications that their numbers would not be called. The ride is just getting going again, so expect delays during this preview period.

How to Join the Virtual Queue for World of Color

How to Join a Disneyland Virtual Queue for Shows-World of Color Star Wars section

The virtual queue for this show does not move too quickly, so it's about the least stressful virtual queue we've experienced. If they change the show or Disney offers a new version, then it will move more quickly. Here's what you need to know:

  • The World of Color virtual queue opens at noon daily.
  • All members of the party who wish to watch the show and make a virtual queue selection must have entered a theme park by this point to be eligible to join the virtual queue.
  • You can join after entering Disneyland (with a park hopper) or Disney California Adventure (depending on your ticket).
  • You must have an eligible ticket or Magic Key pass and theme park reservation: You can either have a 1-park per day ticket that starts in Disney California Adventure, or a Park Hopper or Magic Key pass that starts in either park. If you have a 1-park ticket with a reservation starting in Disneyland, you are not eligible to join the queue or watch the show on this day. May we suggest Fantasmic! or the fireworks or projections show instead? You don't need a virtual queue to watch those nighttime spectaculars.
  • Boarding groups for a virtual queue are limited, subject to availability and are not guaranteed. Not all boarding groups may be called to return, based on the availability of the experience.

Disneyland Virtual Queue System - World of Color

If there are two World of Color shows that day (showtimes vary), you will not get to choose the show you watch or the entry area. Show boarding groups could disappear more quickly at peak times. If you do not get to join the virtual queue, don't give up. There are other ways to see the show by standby (arrive 45 minutes early), dining packages and dessert parties. You can read all about them in our World of Color post.

Step-by-Step Guide to Joining the Virtual Queue

We have these tips for when the virtual queue moves quickly. So, here's how to prepare:

  • Download the latest version of the Disneyland app.
  • Bring a portable charger with you to the park.
  • Set an alarm (we usually set ours five minutes early to give us time to prepare).
  • Use your ticket to enter a theme park before the virtual queue opens (the Monorail entrance counts as a theme park entrance).
  • Make sure all tickets in the party are linked to the person or people trying.
  • Get off the park Wi-Fi if you can and find a good cell signal with full bars.
  • Close out all other unnecessary apps.
  • Have someone pull up a world clock to count down to join time (we use the second hand on our Apple Watch, which works pretty well. It's about a half second faster than the world clock.
  • A few before noon, open the Disneyland app and scroll down to the Virtual Queues box.
  • Tap Join Virtual Queue.
  • Then select the park at the top of the screen only if there are virtual queues offered in each park. Otherwise, it will just say Disney California Adventure Park at the top.
  • Confirm your party. Tap Confirm Your Party. You can tap Edit if you need to make adjustments (remove any guests who have not yet entered the park).
  • There should be a Refresh button at the bottom of the screen. You can repeatedly tap that as the joining period approaches. Or pull down to refresh until the blue Join Virtual Queue button appears. We wait until 11:59:58 to tap Refresh. Then we keep rapidly tapping until the Join Virtual Queue button shows up, and we keep tapping until we see Done.
  • Tap Join Virtual Queue as soon as you see it appear. Use your speedy fingers to tap it ASAP! That's why we rapidly tap until it shows up. If you take the time to look for it and read it, it could be too late if you are going for the first show! We go a few seconds slower when we want the second show.

Disneyland Virtual Queue System - Join Virtual Queue screenshot

  • Hopefully, you have "No troubles. Only bubbles!" and get assigned a show time.
  • The app will indicate when there is no availability for a specific distribution time, or if a backup group is available. We got lucky and scored the first show, but it automatically assigned it. We did not put in a preference.
  • If you join a boarding group, it should tell you or let you know which show. When your boarding group is called, you'll receive a notification 45 minutes before show time to tell you which color entrance point to use (Blue or Yellow).
  • You can locate your show time by tapping Virtual Queues in the app.

If you do not have a smartphone, ask a cast member in the park about your options for getting a ticket. There are no longer distribution machines.

You do not get to pick your show time for the shows. The virtual queue assigns people to the first show automatically. Once that is full, it assigns them to the second show (if there is one). You'll be directed to a screen that shows whether you were added to the queue or not. If you cannot join the queue, you may be able to view a performance via a standby area. Or you can upgrade a meal at a restaurant to take advantage of a dining package. You can reserve the World of Color Dessert Party in advance. It includes treats, drinks and a place to sit during the show.

Hopfully, we've answered your questions about the Disneyland virtual queue system. If you still need Disneyland tickets, you can save some green when you purchase discounted multi-day tickets through your favorite froggy friends.

Related: How to Use Disneyland Mobile Order Service

Keep hopping!

Keep hopping, Leap!
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Comments

Nov 12, 2021 at 5:50 a.m.
Derek Terry Says...

If I buy the 3-Day 1-Park per day ticket on your site can I use the Virtual Queue System at 7am before I activate the e-ticket at the gate?

Reply
Nov 12, 2021 at 8:20 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Derek!

You'll just need to link your ticket to your Disneyland account in the Disneyland app before the virtual queue opens. As long as your tickets are linked, you can use the 7 a.m. virtual queue.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Nov 9, 2021 at 5:04 p.m.
Jon Says...

My family and I live in Texas and have been to Disneyland 5 times and DisneyWorld 48 times over the years. We just went to Disneyland in October. The lines varied but most were manageable and we had an acceptable time - not the best.

The big disappointment was the Virtual Queue. Considering having to buys tickets make a reservation and add everything to the app, then trying to work the virtual queue was just impossible! I am on the older side and am fairly computer capable, but what Disney is now asking guests to do just to ride one ride is totally unacceptable. The entire system is too complicated.

I am not sure if we will ever go back to any Disney park again. It's just not fun anymore. We might have to just enjoy memories of the good and uncomplicated times in the past.

Good luck to newcomers!

Reply
Oct 15, 2021 at 3:29 p.m.
Phyllis Hanan Says...

Unfortunately senior citizens who love the Disney rides, or are Magic Key holders, will never be able to navigate this system. It’s much too complicated and most times their iPhones aren’t as up-to-date and their fingers aren’t as fast. Wish there was another option.

Reply
Sep 29, 2021 at 3:15 p.m.
Mia Says...

Hi. Can i only join the virtual queue for the day i purchased the ticket? I’m not able to join in advance correct ?

Reply
Sep 29, 2021 at 10:21 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Mia!

Correct! You can only join a virtual queue on the day(s) that you have valid admission and a park reservation.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Sep 8, 2021 at 11:02 p.m.

This is our third day trying to get into Rise, and even using an exact clock, we were only able to get in back up group 268. We got in yesterday, back up 350 but it eventually told us they were at capacity. I can't imagine trying on a day in peak season! How many boarding groups get to ride in a day, on average?

Reply
Aug 17, 2021 at 4:10 p.m.
Jerry Says...

Hi guys!

Do you know if there will be virtual queues during the Ophir boogie bash? And if I have a ticket for such event will I be able to join a regular virtual queue??

Thanks in advance!!

Reply
Aug 17, 2021 at 12:46 p.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Jerry!

So far, we know that Avengers Campus will be open during Oogie Boogie Bash, but no word yet if WEB SLINGERS will be using a virtual queue (or not) during the event.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Jul 9, 2021 at 1:40 p.m.
Tiffany Dressler Says...

Hi! Thanks for much for all the great info! To clarify, for a family of 4, for example, all of our tickets MUST be registered to my Disneyland app account in order for all of us to join a queue? If all 4 are not registered, then only the registered can join? Thanks! :-) We have a cast member using their passes to get three out of the four of us in to the park, but not sure yet how the comp tickets work these days - if we’re able to gain access to the passes ahead of time.

Reply
Jul 9, 2021 at 2:59 p.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi Tiffany!

Thanks for hopping by! We are not sure exactly how the comp tickets work, but all tickets need to be linked to the app to join the queue. If you have the tickets before you visit (or the cast member can share the code or number with you), you can link it before your visit. If they have the sort of pass that requires them to take you inside the park and then you receive the ticket upon entering, you will likely be entering the park after the 7 a.m. joining period, and you'll only be able to join at noon. Once you receive the tickets at the gate, you can link them to your Disneyland account.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Jul 28, 2021 at 5:24 a.m.
Mchavez Says...

Help! My son is going to Disneyland with 5 friends. They all downloaded the app and purchased their own ticket. However, I purchased my son’s ticket on my app not his and I’m not going to Disneyland with him. How do I transfer the ticket on my app to his? As for my son’s friend’s wanting to try to get a Virtual Queue for Rise of the Resistance do they all need to transfer their tickets to one person and if so the person with all the tickets on their phone would only show his phone when entering the park since they linked them all together or does each individual still use the app on there phone to enter the park? Hope this makes sense, thank you!

Reply
Jul 28, 2021 at 11:27 a.m.
FrogBlog Says...

Hi there!

You can link his ticket to his own account by either scanning the code on the ticket (or manually inputing the ticket number). Once his ticket is linked, you'll still be able to see the ticket in both your account and his account. As for getting a Boarding Group with his friends, there are a couple of ways they can do it. 1) Make sure that each person's ticket is linked to all accounts of everyone in the party. Then multiple people can try getting a Boarding Group at the same time since everyone's tickets are linked to each other. Or 2) Have a designated person attempt joining a Boarding Group and everyone sends a screenshot of their ticket code to link it. But if multiple people try it and they don't have everyone linked, it could result in an error by leaving people out. We have another post about joining a Boarding Group for Rise of the Resistance that may help as well.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply

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