Everything you need to know about using the Disney Virtual Queue at Walt Disney World!
For the past few years, Disney World has been using a free Virtual Queue system for its newest attraction.
It was first implemented for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and has now been used for several other attractions.
The Virtual Queue is a way for Disney to manage crowds and reduce time spent actually waiting in a line.
Read on to learn how to use the system to ride the newest attractions at Walt Disney World!
What Disney World Rides have a Virtual Queue?
Photo Credit: Disney Parks
The attractions that are currently using the Virtual Queue system at Walt Disney World are Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Epcot and TRON Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom.
The Disney Virtual Queue has previously been used for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.
How Much Does The Disney Virtual Queue Cost?
The Virtual Queue is one of the few things at Disney World that doesn’t have any additional cost!
It is different from other Disney systems such as Genie+ and the Individual Lightning Lanes in that it is free to use.
Click here for my super detailed guide on using Disney Genie Plus and the Lightning Lanes.
The free Virtual Queue is a nice alternative to paying for an Individual Lightning Lane pass which can cost up to $20 per person!
How do I join the Virtual Queue?
You access the Virtual Queue system in the My Disney Experience app.
Just scroll down until you see the blue Virtual Queue logo to find it.
Click on “Join Virtual Queue” to get started.
You can then pre-select your party for the attraction, which will save time and help increase your chances of getting a spot.
What time does the Disney World Virtual Queue open?
The first opportunity to join the Virtual Queue is at 7 am each day.
Just click on the “Join Virtual Queue” button from the app homepage and you’ll be able to pre-select your party for the queue.
As soon as the clock changes to 7 am, tap the Refresh button on this screen then tap “Join Virtual Queue” as quickly as you can!
It will require two very quick taps to join the queue so be ready!
Spots in the queue sometimes disappear within seconds, so you have to be fast on the draw!
You’ll get a notification like the one above if you get a spot.
If you get a spot in the Virtual Queue you’ll be assigned to a Boarding Group.
You can check what group is currently boarding in the app by clicking on “My Queues”.
That will also give you an estimate of how long until your Boarding Group is going to be called back.
There is another opportunity to join the Virtual Queue at 1 pm each day, however, you must be inside the park to join at this point (more on this below).
If there are Extended Evening Hours for guests of Disney Deluxe Resorts, typically on Monday for Epcot and Wednesday for Magic Kingdom, then the Virtual Queue will open for a third time at 6 pm just for eligible guests.
Do I have to have a Park Pass to join a Virtual Queue?
Disney World’s rules about Pass Pass reservations changed on January 9th, 2024.
From that point onward, only Annual Passholders will need to make a “Park Pass” reservation to visit the theme parks, and only on certain days.
Standard tickets are called “date-based” tickets, and as long as you have one you DON’T need to make a park pass any longer.
As long as you have a date-based ticket, you also don’t need a Park Pass reservation to join a VIrtual Queue.
However, if you are an Annual Passholder, you WILL need a Park Pass for the park in which the attraction is located to join a Virtual Queue.
For the 1 pm time, you don’t need a Park Pass but you DO need to be located in the park in which the attraction is located.
Do You Have To Be In The Park To Join?
You obviously don’t have to be inside of the park to join at 7 am since the park isn’t yet open.
However, there is a second chance to join the Virtual Queue at 1 pm each day – and you DO have to be inside of the park at that point in order to join!
So if you don’t get a spot at 7 am, I suggest setting a reminder on your phone to stop what you are doing and try to enroll in the Virtual Queue again at 1 pm.
How Do I Know When My Boarding Group is Ready?
You’ll get a push notification from the app when your Boarding Group is called.
Then you’ll have an hour to get to the attraction to ride it.
How long is the wait?
Disney is trying to limit the actual waiting in line to 30 minutes once you have checked in for your Boarding Group at the attraction.
That however may fluctuate since people have an hour window to get in line.
Can I be in more than one Disney Virtual Queue at a time?
At Walt Disney World, you can’t be in more than one Virtual Queue at a time.
If you want to use the Virtual Queue for both attractions, you will have to get a spot in the Virtual Queue for TRON at 7 am and then have your Boarding Group called and ride well before 1 pm.
You’ll then need to hop over the Epcot and try to get a spot in the Virtual Queue for Cosmic Rewind when the second window opens at 1 pm.
On low-crowd days there are still spots available in the Virtual Queue at 1 pm, but that’s never guaranteed.
Is Disney Still Doing Virtual Queue?
Yes, Disney World is currently using the Virtual Queue system for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in Epcot and now TRON Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom.
Periodically Disney has stopped using the Virtual Queue as it gears up for a new attraction to open.
I hope this post answered your questions about using the Disney Virtual Queue. Leave a comment below if there is anything else you want to know!
Phillip Gant
Tuesday 13th of February 2024
You mention several times that you need a park pass(ticket) for the park that the virtual que is in, so if i have a 5day park pass with hopper option i have to assign one of those tickets to that park before i can use the virtual que. Any help would be great....Thanks....PG
Leah
Wednesday 14th of February 2024
Hi Phillip and sorry for the confusion because the post was not up to date with changes made recently. Thanks for catching that and it is updated now! As long as you have a date-based ticket (which you do if you have a 5 day park hopper ticket) then you do NOT need a park pass to join the Virtual Queue. At this point, only Annual Passholders still need a park pass to join the Virtual Queue and only on certain days. It is somehow getting even more complicated lol.
Rachek
Saturday 6th of January 2024
Thanks for this! I'm still a little confused about how the virtual queue works. When you sign up for the virtual queue, do you choose the time you want to go on the ride? I thought I read somewhere else that that's how it works. I'm going to be spending a day at Magic Kingdom next week. I plan to log onto the virtual queue at 7 am. Will I be able to choose to go on the Tron ride at, say 2 pm? Or do I just sign up and they will assign me a time that could be anytime that day? Could it range from 9 am to 6 pm?
Leah
Sunday 7th of January 2024
It is definitely confusing. No, you can't pick a time per se. When you join the virtual queue you get assigned a "boarding group" and are given a rough estimate of what time that group will be called. Once the group is called you have an hour to show up and get in line. It could be any time during the day.
Karen
Wednesday 21st of June 2023
Can you use a rider switch option with the virtual queue? We have a little one that is not tall enough for Tron, but would still like to ride with our other kids and of course both parents would like to ride as well. Do you know if this is an option? Thank you!
Leah
Thursday 22nd of June 2023
Yes, Rider Switch is definitely an option with both ILL and the Virtual Queue. Just look for the Rider Switch sign which was about halfway up the hill towards the entrance when we went and talk to a cast member there.
Caitlin
Saturday 29th of April 2023
When your boarding group is called, which part of the entrance do you go to? Do you enter the lightning lane queue or elsewhere?
Leah
Saturday 29th of April 2023
Good question! You'll enter the "Standby Queue" entrance which is clearly marked. It is a different line from the Lightning Lane queue.
Ella
Wednesday 5th of April 2023
In a party of 2 people, can one person do virtual queue at 7am while the other does the Genie + Lightning Lane choice?
Margaret
Friday 7th of April 2023
@Leah, I see that there is virtual queue option as well as Individual Lightning Lane options for Tron and GoG...what is the best approach for these rides? To join the virtual queue or purchase the individual pass? Or are you saying try and do both at the same time since it'll sell out/fill up fast?
Leah
Wednesday 5th of April 2023
Yes definitely! I strongly recommend this approach. :)