Curious how a virtual queue at Disney World works? We’re sharing everything to know about a Disney World Virtual Queue at the parks.
When Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance first debuted at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, it did so with a new way to ride. The attraction introduced the Disney World Virtual Queue, a way that guests can sign up for a spot in line digitally and wait for a return time to come back.
Since that initial debut, Virtual Queues have become commonplace for new Disney World attractions. In this article, we’ll be sharing how they work, who can use them, and what to expect.
Virtual Queues at Disney World: An Overview
Virtual Queues at Disney World are just exactly what they sound like – replacements for a normal standby line. Disney uses them to regulate the flow of guests to the newest and therefore most desirable attractions and prevent guests from forming hopelessly long standby queues that fill social media with sad, sweaty stories of fans spending their entire park days waiting without any chance of reaching a ride.
This was the case in 2019 when it seemed that Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ smash-hit Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance was the most attractive attraction in the entire Galaxy, far, far away or otherwise. The debut of the Virtual Queue system was a tremendous success. Try as they might, Disney couldn’t guarantee that everyone could get on the ride, but with Virtual Queues, they could manage expectations and keep the actual line to a reasonable size. When EPCOT debuted Remy’s Rattatouille Adventure a virtual queue was used once again, as it was when TRON Lightcycle / Run came to the Magic Kingdom.
All three of those attractions have had their moment in the Virtual Queue spotlight and moved on to a regular standby line, meaning you need nothing to ride them except patience. Lots and lots of patience.
Which Disney World Rides Use Virtual Queues?
As of February 25, 2025, no Disney World attractions currently use a Virtual Queue. Both Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom switched to a standby queue as of that date (though you can still pay for a Lightning Lane Single Pass or Multi Pass for the rides, respectively).
How to Use a Disney World Virtual Queue
The ins and outs of the virtual queue system are much simpler than they seem. Here’s a rundown of everything you need to know:
- Who can use the Virtual Queue? – The Disney World Virtual Queue is available to everyone with valid tickets and admission. The first Virtual Queue of the day is typically formed at 7 AM, and you do not need to be in the park to participate. A second attempt may be made at 1 PM, and at that time you must be inside the park where the attraction you wish to queue for is found. On nights when Extended Evening Hours are available, guests staying in Deluxe Resorts get an extra swing at 6 PM to feed the Queue into the late hours.
- Using the My Disney Experience App – You will absolutely need to have the My Disney Experience App on your mobile device in order to book and manage your Virtual Queue. (If you don’t already have it installed, there are about a gazillion other reasons why you want and need it, so go do that. I’ll wait.) Back? Excellent. Finding the virtual queues could not be easier. Just open the app to the main page and scroll down to “Virtual Queues”.
- How and when to join a virtual queue: Your first opportunity to join a Boarding Group via the Virtual Queue is a 7 AM SHARP. Seriously, this will probably be over in seconds, so stay on your toes. Beginning an hour before, you may select your park and confirm your boarding party. There is no advantage to doing this a whole hour early, but get it done before the queue opens. This is also a good moment to remove yourself from park wi-fi, which is about to get slammed and may be slower than you’d like. Stand at the ready and start refreshing that screen at the stroke of 7 AM. Tap Join Virtual Queue as soon as it appears and you just might be rewarded with a boarding group that bears a number in sequence of the order in which you will be permitted to report to the attraction. If you did not succeed on your first try,you may try again at 1pm, but only within the park in which the attraction is located.
- How to know when it’s your turn to ride: Your boarding group number is not a guarantee that you will get to ride, just an indication of the sequence you will ride in if all goes according to plan. That is why it just comes with an estimated wait time. Check back with your Boarding Group throughout your day and get an idea of how quickly things are moving today. If it seems to be getting close, consider moving towards the attraction. Once your group is called, you have 1 hour to check in at the ride or you risk losing your spot!
Frequently Asked Questions About Disney World’s Virtual Queues
How are Virtual Queues different from Lightning Lane Multi Pass?
Lightning Lane Multi Pass is a paid option that allows you to book a time for a charge that varies with demand.
Do Virtual Queues cost money at Disney World?
They do not. Isn’t that delightful?
Can you join both the 7 AM and 1 PM Virtual Queues?
You can not. If you did not succeed with your attempt at 7 AM, you are welcome to try again at 1 PM, but the goal is to welcome as many guests as possible to experience the attraction.
How long do you have to wait to ride after joining a Virtual Queue?
That will depend upon the number of your Boarding Group and how smoothly the attraction is operating on this particular day. Keep checking on your group on the My Disney Experience app, they will keep you updated and let you know when you are getting close!
The Disney World Virtual Queue is an easy-to-use tool that lets Disney welcome as many guests as possible to some of its newest and most exciting attractions. With just a few minutes of setup, some fast fingers and a little luck, you have a chance to spend more of your day having family fun instead of standing in line!
Are Virtual Queues just for rides?
They are not! Disney also uses the Virtual Queue process for exciting merchandise launches or opportunities. One example of this would be for popular popcorn buckets that debut for the EPCOT festivals, which you can usually sign up for a spot with.
