Disney Axes Virtual Queue: Equal Chances for Tiana’s Bayou & Guardians Coaster

Starting from February 25, 2025, Disney has decided to phase out the controversial Virtual Queue system for the attractions Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom. Instead, guests will have the option to join traditional standby lines. This shift signifies the conclusion of the Virtual Queue era in Walt Disney World parks (at least for now), a change that many fans have been advocating for over the years.

Ever since its launch in May 2022, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, EPCOT’s widely acclaimed indoor roller coaster, has been utilizing the Virtual Queue system on the My Disney Experience app. This system required families to secure a boarding group at precisely 7 a.m., a process that often caused stress and frustration as many missed out. Now, with the change to a traditional standby queue, every guest will have an equal opportunity to enjoy this attraction by simply waiting in line without needing to worry about missing their chance if they don’t secure a boarding group on time.

As a movie enthusiast, I’m excited to share that starting February 25th, Disney will open the queue for many of their attractions. However, if you’d rather skip the line, Disney will continue to sell Single Passes for an additional fee. Plus, during Extended Evening Hours, guests staying late will have the chance to join the regular queue for certain rides, making accessibility even more convenient.

Following the change made to TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom, where it moved to a standby queue system in September 2024, and now with Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind also adopting this method, EPCOT will no longer have any attractions utilizing Virtual Queues.

Starting February 25th, both the Virtual Queue system will be abolished for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and a regular standby line will be available instead. Since its debut in summer 2024, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure has been dealing with overcrowding due to its popularity. The reimagined Splash Mountain ride, themed after “The Princess and the Frog,” received criticism from the get-go. Numerous fans argued that the attraction didn’t deserve a Virtual Queue system given its lukewarm reception and recurring technical problems. Despite its fresh theme, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is frequently halted by downtime and mechanical malfunctions, causing guest inconvenience.

Some people viewed Disney’s move to introduce a Virtual Queue for the ride as an effort to artificially boost the ride’s popularity. Now, with over 240 days of operation under this system, switching back to a conventional waiting line has reignited discussions about the best approach.

For Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, similar to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Lightning Lane Multi Pass access will still be provided. On the other hand, visitors at Magic Kingdom now have the option to join the regular queue without the pressure of booking a virtual reservation early in the morning.

As a passionate cinephile, I’m thrilled about the recent park updates from Disney. They’ve done away with Virtual Queues, which has been a long-awaited relief for many guests like myself. This change streamlines and democratizes the experience, giving families more time to immerse themselves in the enchanting world of Disney rather than being tethered to their phones. It’s not entirely out of the question that Disney might reintroduce the virtual queue system when they unveil a new attraction in the future, but for now, we can fully embrace the magic without the hassle!

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2025-02-18 19:55