Your Guide to Navigating Virtual Queues at Walt Disney World

by Leap on March 27, 2024 73 Orlando

Over the past few years at Walt Disney World, new attractions have opened with a virtual queue instead of a regular standby line. We frogs have gone through some trial-and-error to learn the virtual queue system and get some quick amphibian fingers to snag a Boarding Group.

Currently, both Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT and TRON Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom operate with a virtual queue. Virtual queues are also in place for TRON at both Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. And at the new Disney Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance operated using a virtual queue, as well.

Disney World virtual queues free up time to enjoy the rest of the park (no standing in a 3+ hour line!). The difficulty is that virtual queues have historically been known to fill up in seconds, so not all frogs will be able to experience these in-demand rides via the virtual queue.

We've gathered some tips and tricks on how to join a virtual queue to get you prepared and ready to give it a shot — crossing our froggy fingers for you!

All About Virtual Queues at Disney World

Disney World virtual queues act as a replacement for a regular standby line. Instead of waiting in a physical queue, you join a virtual queue on your phone via the My Disney Experience app (this is the same place where you link tickets and hotel reservations). Virtual queues allow you to spend the rest of the day enjoying rides and shows, rather than waiting in a line for half the day.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney's Hollywood Studios was the first to debut the new system in 2019, followed by Remy's Ratatouille Adventure at EPCOT (since then, these have transitioned to standby lines — though Rise of the Resistance went back to using a virtual queue only during Jollywood Nights in 2023). Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and TRON Lightcycle Run both are operating with a virtual queue at this time. While not confirmed yet, based on this pattern, we would expect Tiana's Bayou Adventure to debut with a virtual queue.

Virtual queues are available to anyone with valid tickets and admission, regardless of whether you're staying at an on-site hotel or not. The best way to find out which attractions are operating with a virtual queue is by using the My Disney Experience app. Any attractions utilizing the virtual queue system will have a module on the homepage with details (and of course, your froggy friends will keep this post up to date regularly!).

Pay to Ride with Genie+

For an additional cost, Disney Genie+ allows guests to use the Lightning Lane for most attractions. For certain popular attractions, you will pay per attraction — and this even includes rides with virtual queues, such as Guardians and TRON. This means you can pay to ride and not worry about getting your own Boarding Group (don't worry — the virtual queue still remains a free option as it always has!).

Guests can purchase these a la carte rides once per day, with a maximum of two different rides per day; you'd then use the Lightning Lane to skip the line. You can hop over to our Disney Genie post for our tips and tricks on navigating this service.

How to Navigate Disney World Virtual Queues

 

Virtual queue button in My Disney Experience

When Boarding Groups are in use, you’ll need the My Disney Experience app as part of the virtual queue. We recommend downloading the app from your smartphone's app store the night before so you can have it ready to go first thing in the morning. If you already have the app, update it to the latest version. You don’t want to lose any precious time before the virtual queue opens at 7 a.m.!

It’s also very important to add your entire party to your Family and Friends list within the app so that everyone can join the Boarding Group at the same time. Each member of your party must have a My Disney Experience account and be linked in your Family and Friends list, or be a guest (such as small children) that you already manage on your account. Only guests with valid admission can access the virtual queue system at 7 a.m.

As of Jan. 9, 2024, Disney Park Pass reservations are no longer required for date-based tickets, plus all-day park-hopping is back. So how does this affect the virtual queues? If you have a date-based ticket (the most common type), you may select any attraction virtual queue beginning at 7 a.m., without needing a park reservation. (Select admission types, such as annual passes, may still require a park reservation to join.) Guests still do not need to be inside a park to join the virtual queue at 7 a.m. Remember, you may only hold one virtual queue at a time. For the 1 p.m. drop, you must be inside the specific theme park to be eligible to join. Since park-hopping is available all day, this means you may be able to join a virtual queue at 7 a.m. for say Cosmic Rewind, ride the attraction, and then hop over to Magic Kingdom and get a virtual queue for TRON at 1 p.m. if the timing works in your favor.

To join a virtual queue, head to the Virtual Queue section on the Home Screen and tap "Join" at the designated times. For Guardians, you can try to join the virtual queue at 7 a.m. (from anywhere) and 1 p.m. (from EPCOT). For TRON, you can try to join the virtual queue at 7 a.m. (from anywhere) and 1 p.m. (from Magic Kingdom).

  • A valid ticket is required to join the virtual queue. For select ticket types other than date-based tickets, you may still need a Disney Park Pass reservation. That means you would need an EPCOT reservation for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind or a Magic Kingdom reservation for TRON Lightcyle Run to join the virtual queue.
  • You can only join each ride's virtual queue once per day.
  • You cannot hold a Boarding Group for multiple attractions at the same time.
  • For the 7 a.m. drop, you can be anywhere and do not need to be in the park. For the 1 p.m. drop, you must have entered either EPCOT or Magic Kingdom to give it a whirl.
  • On the nights with Extended Evening Hours, guests staying at eligible deluxe hotels may attempt to join the virtual queue for either Cosmic Rewind or TRON at 6 p.m. from anywhere. You must have valid admission and if you have a non-dated ticket, you need either the correct park reservation or have park hopping abilities and already hopped to your first park.
  • Boarding Groups do not guarantee you will be able to ride (the attraction gets through a different number of boarding groups each day due to ride closures, technical difficulties, etc.)
  • If utilizing the Disability Access Service (DAS), all members of the party must join a Boarding Group first. Then speak to a cast member at the attraction for the rest of the process.

Disney recommends selecting one member of your party to access the virtual queue. If multiple people try simultaneously, that may complicate your ability to secure a Boarding Group. We personally have tried using different My Disney Experience accounts on different phones at the same time to increase the chances. There aren't any penalties that we've experienced, and usually, after the first person secures the Boarding Group, an error comes up and the second person will stop trying. But we wouldn't recommend using the same account on different phones so you don't risk any issues.

Guide to Virtual Queues at Disney World - Boarding Group for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

After Getting a Boarding Group

Your planning and speediness paid off  — you successfully joined the virtual queue! Note the assigned Boarding Group number — Boarding Groups are notified in chronological order when it’s time to return to the attraction and enter the queue. The app provides an estimated wait time but it is not an exact number and should only be used roughly when planning the rest of your day. Keep an eye on the My Disney Experience app to check the status of the Boarding Group progress. Once it’s your turn, you'll have one hour to return to the attraction’s entrance and check in with the cast members to enter the queue. When you arrive at the attraction, be ready to tap your park ticket RFID card, MagicBand or MagicMobile device at the touchpoints to enter the line.

You went through the process and got a backup Boarding Group — what does that mean? Backup Boarding Groups are only called if all of the initial groups have been called back and there is capacity for more riders. Don't get discouraged because backup Boarding Groups are still occasionally called! However, they also come with a higher possibility that your number might not be called (for instance, if the ride closes during the day for a significant amount of time).

Not Receiving a Boarding Group

If you don't get a Boarding Group at 7 a.m., you can try again later! Fewer people will be trying at the 1 p.m. distribution time so there are better odds. But even when following all of the steps correctly, there is always the possibility that you won't get a Boarding Group at either time, so setting realistic expectations is important. Now that Genie+ has debuted, you'll have an additional option to access the ride via an individual Lightning Lane selection if you aren't able to snag a spot in the virtual queue and it's a must-do for your frog squad.

How to Join a Virtual Queue for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Virtual Queues at Disney World - Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Galaxarium

As outlined above, you'll get a chance to enter the virtual queue at 7 a.m. (from anywhere) and 1 p.m. (must be inside EPCOT).

  • On the My Disney Experience app home screen, scroll down to the Virtual Queue section.
  • You can confirm your party one hour before the virtual queue opens. This is an improvement from the old process, which required you to confirm your party after the virtual queue opened and thus slowed down the rest of the process.
  • Be sure to click over to the "EPCOT" tab. The screen has a "Refresh" button at the bottom. Once 7 a.m. rolls around, pull the screen to refresh or tap the "Refresh" button to launch the joining process. (Psst ... we actually like to get set up and start refreshing the screen a few minutes before the queue officially opens. If you start opening the app and getting the process started on the hour, you may be too late.)
  • Tap Join Virtual Queue as soon as it appears.
  • You'll receive your Boarding Group number if you are successful.

Guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resort, Deluxe Villa Resort or other select hotels have the opportunity to join the virtual queue at 6 p.m. during Extended Evening Hours. Guests do not have to be inside the park to join at this time, but they will need valid admission and, if you have non-dated tickets, a theme park reservation for EPCOT on the same day (or park hopping abilities) to experience during Extended Evening Hours.

How to Join a Virtual Queue for TRON Lightcycle Run

Very similar to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, you have two daily opportunities to join the virtual queue for TRON Lightcycle Run. At 7 a.m., guests can join from anywhere. At 1 p.m., guests must be in Magic Kingdom to join.

TRON virtual queue

  • On the My Disney Experience app home screen, scroll down to the Virtual Queue section. Be sure you are on the "Magic Kingdom" tab.
  • You can confirm your party one hour before the virtual queue opens. This is an improvement from the old process, which required you to confirm your party after the virtual queue opened and thus slowed down the rest of the process.
  • The screen has a "Refresh" button at the bottom. Once 7 a.m. rolls around, pull the screen to refresh or tap the "Refresh" button to launch the joining process. (Psst ... we actually like to get set up and start refreshing the screen a few minutes before the queue officially opens. If you start opening the app and getting the process started on the hour, you may be too late.)
  • Tap Join Virtual Queue as soon as it appears.
  • You'll receive your Boarding Group number if you are successful.

Guests staying at a Disney Deluxe Resort, Deluxe Villa Resort or other select hotels have the additional opportunity to join the virtual queue at 6 p.m. during Extended Evening Hours. You do not have to be inside Magic Kingdom, but you will need valid admission and, if you have non-dated tickets, a theme park reservation for Magic Kingdom on the same day (or park hopping abilities) to experience during Extended Evening Hours.

Frogtastic Tips and Tricks for Disney World Virtual Queues

Guide to TRON Lightcycle Run — Guests on ride at night

  • Confirm your party, starting an hour before the virtual queue opens.
  • In the morning, set an alarm on your phone for 6:55 a.m. and 12:55 p.m. so you don't froget later in the day! We even suggest multiple alarms to remind you, so you can avoid being on a ride when it's time to join a Boarding Group.
  • Make sure you have a good signal. We recommend turning off Wi-Fi and using data if in the park.
  • If possible, have more than one person in your party try for a boarding group. Likewise, you can designate someone in your party to pull up the world clock on their phone so you know how close you are — those extra seconds can make the difference sometimes!
  • For the 1 p.m. timeframe, all party members must have entered the park to be eligible to join.
  • Move quickly once the Join Virtual Queue button appears!
  • Have your push notifications on and keep an eye on the app, as you only have a one-hour return window and may need to jump to the queue quickly.
  • Bring a portable charger to ensure your phone lasts all day.

Let us know if you have any questions about Disney World virtual queues in the comments below!

Related: Everything We Know About TRON Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom

Keep hopping!

Keep hopping, Leap!
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Mar 28, 2024 at 11:45 a.m. Christine Rondelet Says...

Do all family members have to pick the same virtual queue if they are all on the same account?

Reply
Mar 28, 2024 at 3:03 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Christine!

There's not a perfectly straightforward answer to this one, but we'll try to break it down for you as easily as possible! If you're trying to join both queues with separate parties at 7 a.m. and you're only working with one account, then in an ideal situation (it's rare, but more likely on a non-busy day), you could split the group by confirming the first party ahead of 7 a.m. and join the first virtual queue. Then if the second queue does not fill up, you should immediately go to join it with the second party. However, Boarding Groups can fill up quickly, so it may be a risky move to secure the second group (on the busiest of days, it's possible that the queue fills up within seconds and you might not even secure the first group). For that reason, we recommend sticking together under one group, if you only want to make plans under one account.

Alternatively, you could have someone in your party create a second My Disney Experience account. Make sure to link each other via your My Family and Friends list and share the ability to make plans with each other. Then, one person can be in charge of confirming the first party and joining Virtual Queue #1, while the second person can confirm the second party and join Virtual Queue #2.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Mar 15, 2024 at 11:01 p.m. Kate Says...

We are planning on getting to Disney and heading to magic kingdom only at 3-4pm one day. Is there a ways to virtual queue tron in the morning for a later in the day option? Or what’s the best strategy to ride tron if we can’t get to the park until 3-4pm (we are staying at the resort but it’s not an extended evening).

Reply
Mar 18, 2024 at 9:46 a.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Kate!

The best way to guarantee to ride at a certain time (especially for arrivals later in the day) is purchasing the individual Lightning Lane option at 7 a.m. as it sounds like you're staying on-site (would be at park open if staying off-site). The virtual queue may not be an option seeing that you could join at 7 a.m. but it depends on the Boarding Group you get (and you may get an early return time that does not fall in line with your arrival plans). And it does open again at 1 p.m. but you would need to be inside the park to join at that time. So, we would recommend going the individual Lightning Lane route to ensure that you ride that day.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Feb 28, 2024 at 2:16 p.m. Jeanine Says...

I have a ticket that still requires a park reservation (non dated ticket). It is a park hopper. I made a park reservation to start at AK. Because its a non dated ticket and I need a park reservation am I correct that I can not join the virtual queue for GotG at 7am? If this is true, can I change my park reservation to Epcot join the queue and then change back to AK? Trying to do the 4 park challenge. TIA!!

Reply
Mar 1, 2024 at 2:42 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Jeanine!

In order to join the virtual queue, you would need an EPCOT reservation with a non-dated ticket. While we do not have first-hand experience, a PlanDisney panelist has said that if you cancel the EPCOT reservation, it also cancels the Boarding Group reservation. Also, because the Boarding Group is assigned randomly, you could get an early call-back and may risk not being able to get to EPCOT within your return window. We recommend either joining at the 1 p.m. distribution time or purchasing an individual Lightning Lane (so you can plan around the exact time).

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Jan 12, 2024 at 3:45 p.m. Jamie K Says...

Did you test joining BOTH virtual queues (TRON and GOTG) in the same day?

Let us know how that worked out! Hoping to do the same in two weeks when we’re there :)

Reply
Jan 17, 2024 at 10:33 a.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Jamie!

It is toadally possible to join both in one day, but part of the strategy may still depend on luck with timing. Now that all-day park hopping has returned, it actually allows for a much higher chance to get both (since you need to be in the second park before 1 p.m. — before this change, it could've been possible on slower days if the second virtual queue distribution period stayed open beyond 2 p.m.), but ultimately, it comes down to when your first Boarding Group is called. If you get a lower Boarding Group number, you'd get to ride earlier in the morning, making it easier to hop over to the second park by 1 p.m. But if you get a higher Boarding Group number, then you'll get a later return time, which could conflict with the timing of the 1 p.m. drop at the other park. Let us know how it goes for you!

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Dec 27, 2023 at 3:09 a.m. Bri Says...

can i book for our group of 15 people?

Reply
Dec 27, 2023 at 8:17 a.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Bri!

The party size limit for virtual queues is 10 people. We'd suggest splitting up your group into two groups of five and then you can see Guest Relations about merging your times if they don't align so you can all ride together.

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

Reply
Nov 5, 2023 at 12:41 a.m. Jo Ann Cavanaugh Says...

If a ride has a virtual queue, is there also a line where you can just wait and get on the ride?

Reply
Nov 6, 2023 at 10:25 a.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Jo Ann!

If a virtual line is in place, then there isn't a standard standby line. However, you could purchase individual Lightning Lane access to a ride with a virtual queue, and you would be able to enter the Lightning Lane queue.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Sep 29, 2023 at 7:03 p.m. Mary Ann Says...

I am managing all of the reservations for my husband and adult daughter. They are both on my Family & Friends list. Will I be able to join a virtual queue for all of us if they don’t have the app?

Reply
Sep 29, 2023 at 4:20 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Mary Ann!

Yes! As long as they're connected in your Family & Friends list, they should pop up in your party. Just before the virtual queue opens (we'd recommend about 10 minutes or so to give you some time in case there is an issue), you can double-check and confirm your party so you're ready to join as soon as it turns 7 a.m.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Sep 29, 2023 at 5:54 p.m. Nancy Johnson Says...

This is too much trouble to bother with. I'm older and do not want to waste my time playing with my phone. I usually don't carry it into the parks with me. I do miss the old system, it was so much easier.

Reply
Sep 29, 2023 at 5:28 p.m. Sandra Says...

My gosh! This makes it hard for us older people who don't live on our cell phone or computers. I've been going twice a year since 1976 (honeymoon). I'm coming again the end of Nov and am disabled, (walking, standing). I know I'm not able to do some of the newer stuff. But I would like to do what I can. It seems like that might not be possible.

Reply
Sep 19, 2023 at 3:06 a.m. Fatima Says...

If I have a park reservation for Magic Kingdom on the same day as Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and I join the virtual queue at 7am or 1pm for Tron, will I be able to join it for a second time for the 6pm party? Or is it limited to once a day even with the party virtual queue?

Reply
Sep 26, 2023 at 1:48 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Fatima!

We don't have personal experience with this, but we've heard that others have been able to join the virtual queue twice, once during regular park hours and once during Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (which we imagine would be similar for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party). Under Virtual Queues in the app, there are, in fact, two separate sections for TRON (the one for the party is listed as a special event), which leads us to be believe this is true since there are two different tickets linked.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Aug 28, 2023 at 3:49 a.m. Samuel Trocio Says...

If you're attending a special event party (Like Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Party), what time would you be able to join a VQ to snag a boarding time for Tron?

Reply
Aug 28, 2023 at 8:41 a.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Samuel!

The virtual queue opens at 6 p.m. for those attending a special event (including holiday parties and Extended Evening Hours).

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Aug 20, 2023 at 5:20 p.m. Vee Bee Says...

Hello, I've asked Disney via their website if you need to be in the particular park (ie in Epcot during 6pm VQ drop) in order to join the queue. Has it been tested outside said park? I feel like the cast member that replied my be mistaken, but want to be sure.

Reply
Aug 21, 2023 at 8:18 a.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Vee Bee!

It depends on the time drop. For 7 a.m., you do not have to be inside the park. For the 1 p.m., you must have scanned into the park to join. And for the 6 p.m. one for Deluxe Resort and Deluxe Villa guests during Extended Evening Hours, you do not have to be inside the park.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Jun 19, 2023 at 4:09 p.m. Daisy Says...

If party goers are able to get into the park as early as 4 pm can we purchase and use Genie plus prior to the party starting? Can it be beneficial? Also, will instructions on how to enter the virtual queue for Tron during Mickey's Christmas Party be published

Reply
Jun 28, 2023 at 10:11 a.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Daisy!

We don't have personal experience with this, though we've heard from others that they've been able to purchase Genie+ with just a party ticket for the in-between time. (This will be something we'll test out this year at the special parties!) We think that perhaps if a certain ride is a must-do, namely Seven Dwarfs or Tron, purchasing an individual Lightning Lane could be beneficial. Otherwise, purchasing Genie+ means you'd really have to stack attractions strategically to get enough use out of the two-hour timeframe. If it's your only day at Magic Kingdom, it could be worth it, but if not, we think the time is too short to fully take advantage of it.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
May 23, 2023 at 6:18 p.m. Steve Says...

I would like to know if instead of starting at Epcot, I can start at Animal kingdom, but take advantage of the fact that at 7 am I can join from anywhere, and if I'm lucky I'll get a group after 2 pm

Reply
May 23, 2023 at 3:38 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Steve!

At this time, in order to join the virtual queue, you will need to have a Disney Park Pass reservation for EPCOT. (Note: This may change once Disney Park Pass reservations are no longer needed for dated tickets starting Jan. 9, 2024. And it may not apply to the 4-Park Magic Tickets, which do not require Disney Park Pass reservations.)

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
May 2, 2023 at 3:31 p.m. Jamie Nicholls Says...

Hi, When our boarding group is called, which entrance do we enter through at the ride? Does virtual queue have its own entrance to the rides?

Reply
May 2, 2023 at 4:07 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Jamie!

There will be signs to direct you to the correct queue! Essentially, there's the faster Lightning Lane and a traditional line that the virtual queue uses (since there is no standby line at the moment).

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Apr 18, 2023 at 1:23 a.m. Sarah Says...

Roughly when do boarding times for the 1pm distribution times start to get called back? As you can only hold one boarding pass per ride per day I want to make sure I can obtain a boarding time for a time I realistically can make it back in time.

Reply
Apr 18, 2023 at 2:05 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Sarah!

It's tough to give a rough estimate — the 7 a.m. distribution time generally covers Boarding Groups in the morning, while the 1 p.m. Boarding Groups will more than likely get called back anytime in the afternoon through park close. If you join a Boarding Group, you'll see your assigned number and the current status of which Boarding Groups are being called in the My Disney Experience app that you can keep track of.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Apr 16, 2023 at 7:20 p.m. Nick Says...

Per the rules, you can only get one Virtual Queue per ride per day. If I snag a VQ for Tron, but can't make it to the ride -- maybe I have a lunch reservation, or my car breaks down -- and I don't tap in, can I try for the VQ at the 1pm or 6pm (for extended hours) queue event? Or am I locked out for the day?

Reply
May 17, 2023 at 8:16 a.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Nick!

If it looks like you won't be able to make it on time, we would recommend canceling the Boarding Group (before 1 p.m.) and trying again at the 1 p.m. distribution time. If you don't cancel and no-show, you would not be able to try again at a later distribution time.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Apr 15, 2023 at 11:52 a.m. Janine Devonshire Says...

Hello,

If I was able to get into a 7am virtual queue boarding group but now realize the time to return may be too early for the party members, can I remove all of them? Would they be able to then try at 1pm to join that virtual queue?

Thanks!

Reply
May 17, 2023 at 8:13 a.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Janine!

Yes, party members can be removed from the Boarding Group and they would be able to try again at 1 p.m. TRON is more strict with needing to be on time within your return window, but Guardians tends to be more relaxed and accommodating if you're late.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Mar 29, 2023 at 6:41 a.m. Ken Says...

Do I have to stay at one of the Disneyworld hotels in order to join the virtual queue at 7am? Also for the individual lightning lane purchases, if I am not staying at any of the Disneyworld hotels, I won't be able to purchase the individual lightning lane attraction until the park opens?

Reply
Mar 29, 2023 at 8:53 a.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Ken!

No! Anyone can join the virtual queue at 7 a.m. regardless of where they're staying. And that's correct — since you're staying off-site, you wouldn't be able to purchase an individual Lightning Lane selection until the park opens.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Mar 28, 2023 at 11:31 a.m. Lauren Says...

Hi! Trying to figure this out- What would be the advantage to purchasing an individual lightning lane for either of these rides? Could the lines still be long even with a virtual queue boarding group?

Would you recommend trying for a virtual queue and then if that doesn’t work, to try for the lightning lane? Or will it be too late at that point?

Reply
Mar 28, 2023 at 11:07 a.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Lauren!

We'd say the main advantage is all about convenience. While the virtual queue/Boarding Group line tends to vary in length, the Lightning Lane line should always be shorter than however long the VQ line is. You'll also be able to choose your timeframe (depending on availability) when purchasing ILL access, so knowing an exact return time allows you to plan your day better. Meanwhile, you won't know for certain when your Boarding Group will be called (the app does provide return time estimates that you can monitor throughout the day, but you don't have control over the exact timing).

We recommend trying to join the virtual queue at 7 a.m. first because those spots can fill up within seconds. Depending on crowds, ILLs can sell out quickly, but usually not as quickly as virtual queue spots. If you don't get a Boarding Group at 7 a.m., then you could opt for an ILL — either right then, if you're a Disney hotel guest, or at park opening if you're not staying on Disney property (note: ILLs can potentially sell out prior to park opening, depending on crowds and/or the attraction). You could also wait to join the virtual queue at the second distribution time at 1 p.m. but by then, ILLs are typically sold out.

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Mar 26, 2023 at 3:57 p.m. Bonnie Says...

I live about 2 hours away and If I get in a boarding group @ 7am but can’t make it by the time(including the hour) will it be possible to still ride?

Reply
Mar 27, 2023 at 9:31 a.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Bonnie!

There's no guarantee that you'd be able to ride if you are late to your Boarding Group window. Usually, there is a short grace period (~15 minutes), but if you're hours late and the touchpoint turns blue when you check in, it's more likely that you'd be turned away. Though the rules have been a bit lax (depending on cast members' discretion) in the past, Disney could become more strict on lateness, particularly for TRON so people do not try to wait hours beyond their return window for a nighttime ride.

That said, if you don't want to risk missing your window, we'd recommend waiting until you're inside the park for the 1 p.m. distribution time (or purchasing it as an individual Lightning Lane selection - though if you're not staying on-site, you can purchase at park open and for the most in-demand rides, ILLs can be sold out before park open due to hotel guests being able to purchase at 7 a.m.).

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Mar 21, 2023 at 8:48 a.m. Zoe Says...

If we are staying in a deluxe - we can do the 6pm virtual queue.

We won’t have a park reservation for MK as we will be hopping there. Can we still join the virtual queue prior to entering MK if we do not have a reservation.

Whilst staying at AKL last year we tried to snag a deluxe Guardians virtual queue from our resort but it said we had no park reservation so we couldn’t.

Your article implies from anywhere - so not sure if this has changed or something went wrong last time.

Reply
Mar 21, 2023 at 10:45 a.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Zoe!

You can join the virtual queue for Extended Evening hours from anywhere, but you have to have scanned into a park that day (with valid admission and a theme park reservation for that first park if you are hopping). Hope this helps!

Keep hopping!

Leap

Reply
Feb 27, 2023 at 10:28 p.m. Donna Talain Says...

Do you think Disney would keep Guardians of the Galaxy on virtual queue when Tron opens? Or would they get rid of GOG virtual queue and only have Tron on virtual queue?

Reply
Feb 27, 2023 at 4:56 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Donna!

Disney has not announced any changes to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind's virtual queue just yet (but if we're looking at what's happened in the past, it's certainly a possibility). We'll update this post as soon as we hear such news, so keep hopping back.

Keep hopping!

Leap

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Feb 12, 2023 at 7:06 p.m. Shannon Says...

Hi...just wondering. We have 14 people in our party. Is there a maximum to number of people in our group for a virtual queue? I know there is one for lightning lane reservations.

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Feb 13, 2023 at 2:17 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Shannon!

There is a maximum limit of 10 people for a virtual queue reservation, so you will also need to split the party to join. If you get wildly different boarding groups that wouldn't likely have overlapping callback times (for example, boarding groups 16 and 71), we would suggest going to the cast members outside of the attraction and asking if they can combine the two groups so you can ride together.

Keep hopping!

Leap

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Feb 16, 2023 at 7:22 p.m. Shannon Says...

Thank You Very Much for the info and the tip

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Feb 16, 2023 at 1:54 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

You're toadally welcome, Shannon! Have a great trip!

Keep hopping!

Leap

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Feb 7, 2023 at 4:45 a.m. Juliana Says...

I'm going with my sister and my 5 yr old niece. My niece is managed on my sister's Disney Experience account. I'm not able to see my niece on my friends list cause she is under 18. Will I be able to join the queue for all three of us or will my sister have to join from her account? Like is it smart enough to know that plans for my sister include my niece?

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Feb 8, 2023 at 3:24 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Juliana!

The person who creates a child’s profile should manage the profile and all the plans for that child. So in your case, you wouldn't be able to add your niece if trying for all three. However, if you're linked to your sister, then she could attempt to join for all three of you — or you could log into the app using your sister's profile as a workaround - if you want to join all together. Alternatively, you each could try to join the virtual queue, but you could end up in different boarding groups (though in that case, we'd recommend hopping by a Guest Relations kiosk stand or talk to the cast members outside of the ride, and they can usually combine groups).

Keep hopping!

Leap

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Jan 23, 2023 at 4:27 p.m. Bernie Says...

Hi you’ve probably answered this many times. To use lightning lanes, do you have to be in the specific park? Can I be in Epcot and do a lightning lane for Magic Kingdom for later in the day?

Thank you very much

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Jan 23, 2023 at 1:19 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Bernie!

No worries! If you are park hopping, you can make Genie+ reservations at a different park for later in the day, as long as the next available time window is after 2 p.m. (which is when park hopping can begin).

Keep hopping!

Leap

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Nov 14, 2022 at 8:06 p.m. Derek Carpenter Says...

My wife and I have a baby and will need to go separately so we can watch the little one. Is there a way to have us join the cues individually and go at different times?

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Nov 15, 2022 at 2:24 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Derek!

Yes! Disney World offers Rider Switch, which would allow one party to go on the ride while a second party stays behind to watch the tadpole. You can find more information here.

Keep hopping!

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Aug 30, 2022 at 8:46 p.m. Chaya Says...

I am going to MK while the rest of my party is going to Epcot; however I am the early riser of the group. Am I able to get them on the virtual queue for Guardians without including myself? They have park reservations for Epcot, but my park reservation is for MK

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Aug 30, 2022 at 4:05 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Chaya!

As long as your accounts are all linked together on the My Family and Friends list, they should pop up and you'd be able to make it for them, even though you have a different park reservation (you just won't be able to include yourself).

Keep hopping!

Leap

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Aug 9, 2022 at 8:41 a.m. John G Says...

If we are a party of two staying at a WDW resort, at 7am can one of us buy an ILL on one phone while the other tries for a virtual queue on a second phone? If we get both can we cancel the ILL? Thanks

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Aug 9, 2022 at 2:37 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi John G!

You are able to hold both a virtual queue boarding group and an individual Lightning Lane selection for the same ride. Unfortunately, there are no refunds for individual lightning lanes, so we recommend trying for the virtual queue first, and if unsuccessful, you could either purchase the Lightning Lane then or try for the 1 p.m. virtual queue “drop” in the park.

Hoppy planning!

Mommy Frog

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Jul 25, 2022 at 3:19 p.m. Jillian Says...

I'm spending half a day at Hollywood Studios and hope to ride Rise of Resistance in the afternoon. How can I accomplish this, or would that not be possible? Would I be able to purchase the ILL in the morning and ride later in the afternoon?

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Jul 25, 2022 at 12:02 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Jillian!

Individual Lightning Lane selections can be purchased in the morning once the park opens (or at 7 a.m. if you're staying at a Disney World hotel). While you have the ability to select the timeframe, Rise of the Resistance does sell out quickly and you may not have much of a selection (often it's easier to snag whatever is available). Standby is still an option if you're unable to grab an ILL.

Keep hopping!

Leap

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Jun 17, 2022 at 1:43 p.m. Lorraine Says...

Hi there

I am trying to get my head around the new disney system and have a few questions:

1) For Guardians I can see that this is a pay per ride and virtual queue. How does this work? Do you enter the virtual queue and if you are successful, you then pay for the Lightening Lane?

2) Or does this mean you can pay per ride Lightening Lane OR join the virtual queue.

If 2 is correct, then can you ride twice. Ie. pay to ride and join the virtual queue?

Thanks

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Jun 17, 2022 at 9:01 a.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Lorraine!

#2 is correct — you can join the free virtual queue or pay for individual Lightning Lane access. It is possible to do both, if available, but each one tends to fill quickly.

Keep hopping!

Leap

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Jun 17, 2022 at 12:46 p.m. Amy Says...

It says you have an hour to get to the ride after your boarding group is called, but I’ve heard people say you can pretty much arrive any time after your boarding group is called. Curious is that is true?

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May 11, 2022 at 1:08 p.m. Renee Says...

If you have a park hopper ticket, do you need to have a park reservation to request a boarding pass? And at the beginning, Remy was available through the ILL and the Virtual Queue?

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May 11, 2022 at 10 a.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Renee!

We still don't know the exact distribution times for the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind virtual queue. But if it's the same as it has been in the past, then typically, the virtual queue opened up at 7 a.m. (can join anywhere) and 1 p.m. (must have entered EPCOT to join). Because park hoppers cannot hop until 2 p.m., you would need to start your day there and have a park reservation for EPCOT. Yes, Remy's was initially only available through a virtual queue and an individual Lightning Lane selection, but currently uses a standby line (and is still offered as an individual Lightning Lane selection). The same will hoppen with Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind — initially, it will only offer a virtual queue (no standby) and individual Lightning Lane access.

Keep hopping!

Leap

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May 10, 2022 at 4:30 p.m. Jack Says...

When Epcot is open for extra hours after the park closes for guests staying at certain hotels, is there be a separate virtual queue available for that?

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May 10, 2022 at 1:53 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Jack!

Not all attractions are available during Extended Evening Hours, and it has not been confirmed just yet if Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be a participating attraction (currently, it is not on the list, and it took a couple of months before Remy's Ratatouille Adventure was added to the Extended Evening Hours lineup of available attractions). In general though, virtual queues do not operate during Early Theme Park Hours, Extended Evening Hours or special After Hours events.

Keep hopping!

Leap

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May 6, 2022 at 5:18 p.m. Trevor Says...

My family is staying at a Disney resort is there a different time for resort guests then general public?

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May 10, 2022 at 1:15 p.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi Trevor!

While we don't know exact details about the virtual queue for Guardians of the Galaxy just yet, we'd expect it would follow the previous set-up, which was a 7 a.m. distribution time available to everyone (from anywhere) and a 1 p.m. distribution time available to everyone (must have entered EPCOT). We'll confirm once we know more, so keep hopping back!

Keep hopping!

Leap

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May 6, 2022 at 2:29 a.m. McKenna Says...

Can you do the virtual queue and buy a lightning lane so you can ride a ride (like Guardians) twice in one day?

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May 6, 2022 at 8:26 a.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi McKenna!

Previously, upon Genie+ launching while the virtual queue system was in place for Remy's, guests could do both to ride twice in a day. So we'd anticipate that it would be possible again, but we won't be able to test it ourselves and confirm that's still the case until the ride launches.

Keep hopping!

Leap

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Dec 21, 2021 at 1:06 p.m. John Martos Says...

How often are boarding groups called? I joined at 7 am and I’m in group 20. When should I arrive at the park / ride?

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Dec 21, 2021 at 8:13 a.m. FrogBlog Says...

Hi John!

Groups are called in batches, so you'll likely be called within the first hour.

Keep hopping!

Leap

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