Big changes are coming to the Walt Disney World Theme Parks. Yes, it’s sad, but true: the virtual queue system is coming to an end for 2 Popular Rides. What does this mean for your upcoming trip? . Starting February 25th, 2025, you can rest easy and get in those little extra magical hours of sleep. No more waking up before 7 am to try and snag a virtual queue for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom or Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Epcot.
Virtual Queue
A virtual queue will no longer be offered at these attractions. Honestly, It is a who can swipe faster game in an attempt to join a virtual queue. Currently, you have to continually refresh your My Disney Experience App to try and land in a boarding group to enjoy these two rides. Beginning February 25th, all guests can experience these attractions via a standby queue or through lightning lane passes. This will give you a chance to be more flexible in planning your park day instead of planning it around your virtual queue boarding time. Although, some guests like knowing when they can board a ride vs. having to endure longer wait times.
A lightning lane single pass can guarantee a ride on these attractions, but it comes at a cost. Single lightning lane passes cost $16 to $27 dollars per person depending on the park or attraction. You can purchase lightning lane passes on your My Disney Experience App.
Have a Plan
If you don’t plan to purchase the lightning lane pass, have a strategy in place to make the best use of your time. You can plan an early visit to Magic Kingdom or Epcot for rope drop and head straight to these attractions, but more than likely others will be planning to do the same. Rope drop is the official park opening time. You can enter a park 30 minutes early, but can not head to attractions until cast members remove the rope and welcome guest into the park’s lands.
If your family is ready to hit the road running, then getting to a park for rope drop is not a bad idea. This gives you the chance to get in line early for some of your favorite rides. Sometimes the earlier, the better chance of less wait times.
My Disney Experience App
But for these two attractions, it might be best to check the wait times throughout the day on your My Disney Experience App. That way, you can hop in line when you see the wait times have dropped. What’s another way to guarantee, you get on one of these popular rides? Jump in the standby line right before the park closure time. If you are physically in line before the park shuts down, you can stay in line to experience the ride.
Follow Budget the Magic for more insider tips to navigating the parks and leave us a comment below to give us your thoughts on the the upcoming changes to virtual queues.