'Sup! It's Tad here, the tech support of the Frog Family. If you are planning a trip to Universal Studios Hollywood at a peak time or after a new attraction opens, you’re going to want to be on top of how to join its virtual lines. Don't worry — you do not need to be super techie like me to join a virtual queue. Even my parents can do it without my tech support! The crowd levels and demand will dictate whether virtual lines are in place for select attractions, mainly the newest attractions. That could include newest ride, Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, opening in summer 2026 when needed. You don't want to miss out! Let’s hop to it and go over the attractions that may utilize virtual lines at Universal Studios Hollywood and how to join them.
FAQs
- Will Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift use a virtual line when it opens? Most new attractions use a virtual line for a limited time when needed. We do not yet know if Fast & Furious will open with virtual line. For the latest updates drive on over to our Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift post.
- Does Super Nintendo World still have a virtual line? No. Feel free to enter the land and ride Mario Kart at any time.
- How can I save on Universal Studios Hollywood tickets? You can save on general admission, Universal Express tickets, VIP Experience and more when you purchase through Undercover Tourist, an authorized ticket seller for Universal theme parks.
- Do attractions at Fan Fest Nights or Halloween Horror Nights use a virtual queue? No. But you can save time and money with After 2 p.m. Day/Night Combo tickets from Undercover Tourist, Universal Express add-ons and Early Access add-on tickets.
Overview of Virtual Lines at Universal Studios Hollywood
Virtual lines are only in place for limited times and when needed. Most of the time you don't need to worry about them. You may need to join a virtual line for entry to select rides, shows and certain lands, depending on crowds and demand. Virtual lines have been in place to manage crowds for attractions such as Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash, WaterWorld and Super Nintendo World in the past. When a virtual line is in place, you can join it via the Universal Studios Hollywood app (or through kiosks in the park).
That means you are going to want to download the Universal Studios Hollywood app before your visit. It's also super hopful in accessing restaurant menus and pricing, wait times and the park map. Don't froget — you'll need the app to link your Power-Up Band and keep track of the points and keys you earn for participating in games and challenges inside Super Nintendo World. You can even use the app to set Wait Time Alerts for rides without a virtual line. We'll get into that below!
We do not know if Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift will open with a virtual line. Hop over to that post for the most updated information. During a preview in March, we did see that the ride has a Single Rider line and a Universal Express line as well as a stand-by line. We do not yet know which lines will operate when it first opens. When Mario Kart opened, the Express line was limited to select guests, including those on a VIP Tour. Universal Express later opened to all Express ticket holders.
For a limited time, Buy a Day, Get a 2nd Day FREE for General Admission Tickets at Universal Studios Hollywood! Valid for visits through Dec. 16, 2026
How to Use a Virtual Line
To join the virtual line in the app, you'll need to be inside the park. You can check if the virtual line is open by tapping the Virtual Lines box on the home page of the app and then tapping Virtual Line Venues. Most days, you don't need to use a virtual line. If the ride has a wait time showing, you can head straight there without a spot in the virtual queue. However, if the line gets too long, you might see the virtual line become a requirement later in the day. People who have a Universal Express ticket, or are on a VIP Experience tour, do not need to join the virtual line.
If you don't see this box in the app, no attractions are using a virtual line at that time.
Rides with Virtual Lines at Universal Studios Hollywood
No rides currently utilize a virtual line, but that could change when a new ride opens. Here'a a look at past attractions that used a virtual line
The newest ride in the Upper Lot is Secret Life of Pets. It no longer implements a virtual queue. The old kiosks looked like subway ticket machines and were located to the left of the ride entrance. We love how in-theme they were!
Lands with Virtual Lines at Universal Studios Hollywood
Super Nintendo World in the Lower Lot was the newest land at Universal. When it first opened, it was very popular. Since the land could become crowded, entry to the land was sometimes determined by a virtual line. It no longer utilizes a virtual line.
The ride located inside the park, Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge, did not offer a virtual line when it first opened because entrance to the land was controlled by the virtual line. Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge has a standby line and a Single Riders line, plus it now accepts Universal Express.
You'll need to have a reservation or join a waitlist in order to enter Toadstool Cafe. We have a whole post about getting into Toadstool Cafe with a link to join the waitlist on the same day of your visit, as well as how to make a reservation in the app or online up to 60 days in advance. We definitely recommend making a dining reservation ahead of time.
The virtual line to enter Super Nintendo World could be joined via the Universal Studios Hollywood app as soon as one entered the park. For guests without a smartphone, there were Area Timed Entry Kiosks to the right of Transformers: The Ride-3D.We recommend using the app.
To do this, locate the home screen of the app and scroll to the bottom. There, you will find a Super Nintendo World Virtual Line Reservation box. Tap it and join the virtual line. Another method you can use is going to the Virtual Lines box first, then tapping Virtual Line Venues and selecting Super Nintendo World. Reservations are not required most of the time. If the land does not appear as an option for Virtual Line reservations, joining a virtual line is not required to enter the land. With that being said, go have fun and smash some question blocks!
How to Get Around the Virtual Line
If you have a Universal Express ticket, you could access the land once per day without joining a virtual line (platinum passholders with Express benefits could access the land once per day after 3 p.m.). If you're an early bird, you could also access Super Nintendo World one hour before the park opens with an early access ticket add-on. You can purchase Early Access directly from the Universal Studios Hollywood website. The early access ticket costs about $20-30 per person, per day.
Another way to gain one-time access to Super Nintendo World and skip the line for Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge was to book a VIP Experience. VIP Experience lanyards provide guests with access to the land and the ride, even if a virtual line is in place. While Express passes and VIP Experiences are on the pricier side, you can save a lot of money (up to $178 dollars per ticket on VIP and up to $146 on Express) when you book them through Undercover Tourist.
Single Rider is a free way to shorten the wait as well. Single Rider was in use even when the ride first opened.
Shows with Virtual Lines at Universal Studios Hollywood
In the past, the WaterWorld show offered a virtual queue for audience seating. It is not in play lately, but it could come back, especially during peak seasons. If the show does not have a virtual line during the time of your visit, you can set reminders before the show starts so you don't miss it.
Tap your desired time to set the reminder and choose how far in advance you'd like to be reminded. We recommend setting a reminder in the app to alert you 60 minutes before a WaterWorld showtime. That allows enough time to walk there, get a drink or take a bathroom break and find a seat before the show.
Set Wait Time Alerts
For other rides and attractions without a virtual line, you can set wait time alerts. This way, if the line for a certain attraction reaches a wait time that you consider manageable or doable, the app will alert you. When the wait time dips to your desired wait time, you’ll receive a notification and can go hop in line. To do this, go to the Wait Times section of the app. Tap the ride, then tap Wait Time Alert. Select a wait time that appeals to you — if and when the wait time drops, you'll get a notification. You can test out this feature at home before you visit (we'd recommend it!).
You never know if you will need to join virtual lines at Universal Studios Hollywood. That's why you want to prepare just in case. Two ways to bypass the virtual line are with discounted Universal Express tickets or VIP Tours for unlimited access. We also sell general admission tickets at a discount. For those, we recommend hopping in a Single Riders line, which is offered at select attractions for parties willing to split up to fill in empty seats in exchange for a shorter wait.
Related: How to Maximize Your Time at Universal Studios Hollywood
Related: How to Manage Summer Crowds and Heat at Universal Studios Hollywood 2026
Stay cool!
