Why 7:00 AM Is About to Matter in Disney World Again

Get the coffee ready and set those alarms, because you *may* need to start waking up bright and early at Walt Disney World once again soon.

Cinderella Castle

Disney is in the midst of a massive transformation with major, game-changing projects coming to the Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom over the next several years. However, all of the new attractions and IP coming to the parks may lead to a return that some fans will likely dread: Virtual Queues.

First introduced in the late 2010s, the virtual queue system was introduced as a way to manage crowds on high-demand new attractions. Instead of standing in line for hours, guests would snag a boarding pass through the My Disney Experience app at specific times (usually 7:00 AM and 1:00 PM) and be called back to ride at a designated time later in the day. In theory, the system helped control congestion and allowed Disney to test new crowd-management strategies.

©Disney

High-profile attractions that featured virtual queues when they opened at Walt Disney World included Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and Rise of the Resistance. However, Disney World transitioned its final virtual queues to traditional queues in February of 2025, leaving no VQs currently operating at the resort.

Cosmic Rewind loading area

However, that may change with some of the blockbuster attractions coming as part of Disney World’s expansion. After all, the Magic Kingdom’s Piston Peak is going to include a technologically advanced off-road-inspired ride, while concept art of its neighbor Villains Land indicates a massive coaster will be one of that area’s attractions.

Coming Coming to Frontierland at Magic Kingdom, a new area themed to Pixar Animation Studios’ “Cars” will leave Radiator Springs and head to the wilderness with two new attractions including an off-road race.

Major rides that may feature virtual queues aren’t limited to Disney World’s original park, however. Hollywood Studios’ Monstropolis-inspired Monsters, Inc. land is going to be headlined by the LONG-awaited suspended “door” coaster inspired by the Pixar film’s climax…

©Disney

… while Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom will be anchored by attractions inspired by Encanto and Indiana Jones, with the former being more likely to potentially feature a virtual queue.

©Disney

While all of these rides are still years away, there is a ride opening in 2026 that *may* warrant the return of a virtual queue to Disney World: The new Muppet-infused Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster. While this refurbished attraction wouldn’t demand a VQ for as long as, say, Cosmic Rewind did, initial demand may make one necessary.

©Disney

With massive and in-demand expansions coming to Walt Disney World in the coming years, waking up at 7:00 AM for virtual queues may become the norm once again, at least for a while. Stay tuned to DFB for more on the resort’s evolution.

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