Today, Disney’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pam Hymel outlined a series of potential options they are exploring ahead of the parks reopening. At this time, only Shanghai Disneyland has announced a reopening date.
Disney is unsure at this time when their other parks will reopen. However, when the remaining parks do reopen, there may be many new measures in place to ensure guest and Cast Member safety. One of these measures is one we have previously talked about as a possibility once the parks resume business operations: Virtual Queues.
In addition to measures such as a phased reopening where restaurants and shops may reopen ahead of the parks, Hymel pointed out potential protocols on physical distancing and capacity.
In her letter, she states, “We’re also exploring ways to use technology to aid us in these efforts, like with our Play Disney Parks App and through virtual queues at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.”
Read about the possibility of shops and restaurants opening ahead of the theme parks here!
We’ve spoken on the possibility of virtual queues when the Disney parks reopen, and it seems as though Disney is strongly considering it as something they could implement once the parks do reopen. This would allow for easier physical distancing amongst guests.
While it is not clear yet exactly how a park-wide virtual queue system would work, there are a couple of examples we can point to as indicators. First, Disney’s FastPass+ system in Disney World and MaxPass in Disneyland may offer insight into how a larger-scale virtual queue system may be rolled out. Reservations for an attraction could potentially be made on a smart device on My Disney Experience or the Disneyland App, much like a digital FastPass.
Once a guest actually enters a queue area when their time is called, Disney may be able to better distance guests apart from one another, since there would be an overall lesser flow of people entering a ride at any given time. We may also see shorter return windows to allow for even more efficiency (right now, FastPass return windows are one hour long).
Another example we can look at is the virtual queue system implemented for the opening of Rise of the Resistance in Galaxy’s Edge. This system allows for guests to be assigned a return time to access the attraction, and only a certain, finite amount of return times are distributed each day. Again, this would give Disney more control over how many guests are entering a queue area at any given time.
Read more about how the virtual queue and boarding group system works on Rise of the Resistance
So, will we see a system that is more similar to FastPass+ at Disney World? Will these virtual queue reservations be made ahead of time, or same-day like MaxPass at Disneyland? Or will we see something more akin to the virtual queue experience for Rise of the Resistance?
It’s possible Disney will implement an entirely new system that is a hybrid of the two, or it can be like something we have yet to experience in the parks. One thing is certain: it appears as though Disney is taking the idea of virtual queues very seriously, and we are potentially looking at it being a part of our future theme park experiences, at least in the short term.
Read more about our case for virtual queues here!
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What do you think of this potential new distancing protocol in Disney Parks? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
Cheryl Bianco says
Virtual ques.. a smart approach which will allow for crowd control. All for it!!
Rae Lynn says
The problem with the virtual queue like the one for ROTR is that you had to be there before park opening to get into the park and then have all the anxiety about trying to get in at 8am to only get a queue number for 9 pm and by that time you just want to go home. How will that help the crowds? Disneyland should do what WDW does and let us do a fast pass beforehand. If we have to make a reservation to go, then let us make our fast passes also. And at this point, why be a high level AP if I have to make a reservation and probably not get in?
Joe says
Question what if your old school no cell and are with young children who want to ride Sorry don’t get a virtual que is their some one there to help
David Z says
I could see some sort of hybrid. Like others have said, a virtual queue can lead to major rope drop crowding. Maybe some rides will only turn to virtual queues once their queue space has hit capacity? That also could help lessen crowds in walkways, stores, etc.
I’m also ready for a fireworks show you can watch from anywhere in the park. Gimme projections in Frontierland!!
Chad Jarvis says
I have similar concerns about using a virtual queue like the current one being used for Rise of the Resistance. Having crowds form early in the morning at the park entrance makes no more sense than having crowds in a stand by line. Making Fastpass reservations ahead of time gives Disney the most control of when people show up for the ride and how many. It is also far less stressful for guests.
NC-Dad says
So if you don’t get to the park before open I g time, you don’t get to ride any rides? Yeah, no thanks. I’m not paying all that money to go to Disney, stay at a resort, only to not be able to go on any rides because I didn’t rope drop the park.
bill says
yeah I see this as a big problem, we will demand to have our passes canceled if virtual queue becomes the only way and required to go on a ride. I understand there has to be measures due to everything going on, but this is nothing but a giant hassle and headache, it was a mess for star wars land alone. And its getting to the point where everything is too legalistic and inching towards no freedom or fun. We just dont want any part of it anymore, I hope if we complain to them they will let us just give up our passes.
Linda says
Disney has a huge job to plan and be fair. In early March I called and CXL’d reservations for May. Then had the 3 day pass special applied to seasonal passes for my husband and I and they are sitting in My Disney Experience app waiting to be activated . My phone has no data plan it works with WiFi only. What happens if their ‘s is down or really weak , unable to do virtual .
Also ,if limits on park entry in place what happens if we come , stay on grounds as usual but park is full and not allowed in? Anyone who buys a ticket should be guaranteed entry no matter where they are staying. Our day in the parks end around 4:00 due to our new normal from colon CA. We eat dinner and then have to stay near by to use facilities. This is ok with us ,just new adjustments ,but rules out getting a late time for an attraction or going back in the evening. We are not looking to go now until 2022 since it will take that long to make it worth our while and for Disney to work out all the kinks and also good vaccine . Discrimination is not fair. Just bcuz older or disabled doesn’t equate with sickness, smart phones also not a prerequisite as already stated . Transportation with social distancing…how without using a chunk of time? They have their work cut out . Someone better be checking DFB a lot for all the comments and ideas. Thank you AJ and family‼️
Andrew Baxter says
The VQ is a bad idea. You have to look at a few things. Like people will line up early to get ride times similar to when ROTR opened. You can be there early but not ride certain rides until late afternoon. Will they do that for every ride and attraction? The My Disney Experience app might work for booking times but I’m in IT and can see a lot of issues with that. Peoples data usage going over in one day. The parks WiFi slow or even crashing. The app crashing. I also agree with a lot of what’s been said here. A vacation is suppose to be stress free and fun. This wouldn’t be fun. I mean what about the shops. Are we to wait in line to get in similar to what we do now for groceries? I want the parks to open but am OK waiting until things are back to normal
Cheryl Bacon says
Less crowds is a huge plus for me. I actually miss when the parks were less crowded, also when you didn’t need reservations to eat unless it was a character meal or dinner show. I’m all for bringing about closing the parks for a short period of a time when the attendance gets to a certain number. I would hope that would be noted on the My Disney app so you can see that before getting to the gate. Disney World especially isn’t just rides. A digital counter saying the percentage it is full would be nice too. As far as the virtual queue I would be ok with that, as long as they allowed more than 3 fast passes per person per day in advance. and you can make them without being there as well as when you were in the park. I can also see the Disney property hotels having a staggered Magic Hour time slots. I’m willing to give Disney the benefit of doubt till they find their way through this new lifestyle we all are going to have to get used to. Our lifestyles change all the time. Remember when we didn’t have a security check point to go through before entering? I do think Disney should let Pass Holders that don’t like the changes to opt out of the remainder of their annual pass as well as those that have current reservations for Disney property hotels and those that bought park tickets ahead of time.
Ann says
You all are overthinking the VC. It can be implemented like the DAS where you get a return time for one ride at a time. They will just stagger people to get into line, leaving a gap between people. They are not going to have a guest load up on their days worth of VCs in the morning and say “too bad” to everyone else. You pick a ride, get in “line”(your VC), come back when they tell you to, just like you are waiting in that line, and then after you are done with that ride you get in “line” for your next ride. The problem with VC is that now all of these people are milling about, in the stores, in the restaurants, etc so will still be in close proximity to others.