Virtual queues are a common practice now by Disney to cut down on massive lines for popular new attractions, events, and even merchandise. The upcoming D23 fan convention in Anaheim is utilizing advance reservations and virtual queues for many of their panels and shopping opportunities.
This year D23 is utilizing a NEW virtual queue policy that would actually work great for the virtual queues for the most popular rides at Walt Disney World! Keep reading to see why we think Disney should make this change and how it would greatly improve Walt Disney World!
D23 Implements Virtual Queue for Merchandise
The upcoming Disney fan convention takes place on August 9, 10, and 11th at the Anaheim Convention Center. This event always includes a lineup of exclusive event merchandise from popular retailers which results in long lines each morning as fans try to get their hands on these coveted items.
This year Disney is changing the policy to a virtual queue to prevent these long morning lines, although I am sure we will still see fans lining up, and make access easier for everyone.
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This new virtual queue will be used for the following merchandise locations:
- D23 Marketplace
- The Walt Disney Company Store
- The Walt Disney Company Pin Store
- Mickey’s of Glendale (Friday only)
- Mickey’s of Glendale Pin Store
- Disney Studio Store Hollywood (Friday and Saturday only)
The virtual queue will be REQUIRED to shop at these locations each day when the event opens at 9AM. There will be NO stand-by queues available in the mornings.
Traditional queuing is available at locations that are not utilizing a virtual queue and items per purchase will be limited.
However, there will be opportunities for stand-by lines later in the afternoon each day if all virtual queue boarding groups have been called. This means once all virtual queue reservations have been called for the day then guests will be allowed to form stand-by queues to access these in demand stores.
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Why Disney World Needs to Implement This Policy
This is a great way to navigate a virtual queue option as it prevents the stores sitting empty in the afternoon or end of the day when everyone has accessed the virtual queue already.
This is a common problem at Walt Disney World with TRON Lightcycle / Run and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Both of these popular attractions both utilize a virtual queue and it is not uncommon for these attractions to sit empty at the end of the night.
This happens way too often at Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. We have purchased a Lightning Lane for this attraction many times at the end of the night and walked into the attraction to see the line for the virtual queue (which could be the regular stand-by line) completely empty.
Walt Disney World should implement this policy and make a stand-by available for guests once all the virtual queue options have been used for the day. These two popular rides should never be sitting completely empty at any point in the day!
⭐See our best guide for using Lightning Lanes at EPCOT here!
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