Disney World, Disneyland apps hint of virtual queue system expansion
Updates to the My Disney Experience app for Disney World and the Disneyland app hint that the virtual queue system, known as boarding groups for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, might be expanding to other rides in the parks.
Granted these are subtle changes, but an expanded virtual queue system could be one tool Disney uses once it reopens the parks. Disneyland Disney World are now closed due to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Disney has said it plans to reopen the parks April 1, but that date will most likely change considering the spread of the disease and CDC recommendations to limit large gatherings for at least seven more weeks.
For those unfamiliar with virtual queues, it works like this, you apply to join a group to go on a ride. When capacity allows, you are called back to go on the ride and will have a limited time to return to the entrance and get in a physical queue.
This would allow Disney to better meter access into an area. Currently, people use FastPasses which give you an hour window to return. However, if there is an issue with the ride which delays boarding, there could be a backup in that line. In a virtual queue, Disney can hold back on calling people to board a ride until they are confident there is a smooth flow.
Now, back to the apps. The first update to the Disneyland app actually added a section called Virtual Queues (you can find this by tapping the hamburger icon on the lower right). This area appears to allow you to Join a Boarding Group. Notice the plural – queues.
This is separate from the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge button which allows you to join a boarding group for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.” Now, if you tap My Status, you do get to the Virtual Queues page.
Let’s move over to Disney World’s My Disney Experience app. Here, if you tap on the Star War’s Galaxy’s Edge app and then on My Status, you get page again with the plural My Queues.
Now, on both apps, if you tap the + on the My Queues page you get a Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance status area. This area looks as though it might be a location where other rides would be added.
Disney has not said whether or not it will be expanding virtual queues, but the subtle changes do hint something might be up.
What do you think?
