Disney Virtual Queues and Accessibility

Disney World has three rides that use virtual queues that you may have accessibility questions about: TRON Lightcycle / Run and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT. Standby lines are not available for these attractions. You’ll need a good internet connection and an alarm clock if you want to ride one without purchasing a Lightning Lane Individual Pass.

Set your alarm for 6:55 AM and log in to your My Disney Experience app. Tap the “Join Virtual Queue” button on the app’s homepage. The next screen will have two tabs, one for Magic Kingdom and the other for EPCOT. Select your preferred ride and confirm the members of your party.

Then simply tap the refresh button at exactly 7 AM (we use a clock with a second hand on a separate device to keep track of the time). You should be successful if you have a good internet connection, but if you’re not, you can try again at 1 PM. Just make sure you’re in the correct park for the ride you want.

I’ve seen and heard many people express frustration with the virtual queue system online and in the parks. If you or a member of your party have physical or invisible disabilities (including autism, ADHD, and anxiety), the virtual queue system can be overwhelming.

Challenge: Uncertain ride return times

The single biggest accessibility problem with the virtual queue is the lack of a specific return time. Instead, you receive a boarding group number. Monitoring the virtual queue status regularly is the only way to get a sense of when you may be called. It’s a little stressful.

Cast Members (CMs) don’t know when your group will be called, and they don’t want to give you the wrong information by guessing. Be nice and don’t ask. Once your group is called, you have one hour to join the virtual queue line. We have never been turned away for being late, but I wouldn’t plan on that as a strategy.

Why does my family need to plan? Noah has autism, on the profound end of the spectrum. He needs to know our schedule and our routine to be comfortable and have a magical day. The same is true of many other individuals with invisible disabilities.

Some individuals use visual schedules organized by time or a sequence of events to organize their day into a predictable routine. Others may only need to know a specific time range for one ride to be comfortable. Many individuals also need to have meals, medications, and toileting needs taken care of at specific times.

Solution: Build the day around the experience

If you’re overwhelmed by the thought of navigating the virtual queues, build your park day around the one experience and avoid rides with longer queues. You can enjoy shows and exhibits that you might otherwise overlook. It’s a good chance to pin trade if you or your party members like that activity.

I also recommend eating at quick-service restaurants that day. I’ve seen posts from individuals who needed to decide between planned dining reservations and a ride. The cancellation policies and fees vary between restaurants. Be sure to check before visiting.

Read more: Book Before You Arrive: Big Lightning Lane Updates Coming

Virtual Queues and DAS

The procedure for using the Disability Access Service (DAS) with virtual queues has evolved since virtual queues were first introduced at Disney World. One thing that hasn’t changed is that you can’t ride without having a virtual queue boarding group number or a Lightning Lane Individual Pass.

The initial system had DAS passholders using the virtual queue lines. For a long time, we chose not to ride TRON because long lines in a crowded queue don’t work for Noah. But we had a lucky day on a recent trip. Noah was in a great mood, and the TRON wait wasn’t 120 minutes. We tried it, fully expecting to abandon the line at any point. It worked!

The procedure for DAS and virtual queues has recently changed for the better. DAS users now enter attractions via the Lightning Lane. A Lightning Lane CM will verify your DAS status by scanning in the individual with the pass. They will then remove the virtual queue and replace it with a Lightning Lane Individual Pass. All MagicBands or tickets will be scanned at least twice. From there, you’ll join the much shorter Lightning Lane queue, which makes the ride much more accessible.

Navigating the virtual queue process (with or without DAS) is complicated. It has absolutely been worth the effort for my friends and family. I hope it is for yours, too.

Need help knowing when you can schedule a DAS Pass eligibility call? Our reservation date calculator will ensure you’re ready when your booking date arrives.