Whether this is your first Disney World as a couple trip or you’re heading back for the umpteenth time, figuring out the nuances of the Virtual Queue vs. Lightning Lane is tricky, even for us pros. Throw in Individual Lightning Lane, and you probably need a refresher before every vacation. 🙄

In this article, we’re going to explain the ins and outs of the Virtual Queue vs. Lightning Lane options at Disney World. Not only will you learn how to use any and all of the VIP Disney ride options available to you, but you’ll also decide whether or not it’s worth it for your next park day.

You may also like:

• 4 Disney Genie Plus Tips You Should Try
• Is Genie Plus Worth It When You’re in Disney World as a Couple? (Not Always)
• Quick Tips: How to Avoid Ride Lines at Disney World

What Is a Virtual Queue at Disney World?

When Disney World opens a new ride, particularly one they expect to be popular, like TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom or Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Epcot, they set up a Virtual Queue.

This is a temporary replacement for a regular queue, which means you can’t simply head to the ride and then wait on a traditional line. According to the Disney World website, when a Virtual Queue is in place for a ride, a regular standby queue won’t be available.

Not every Disney theme park will have a Virtual Queue ride because it’s only used for the newest, most popular rides. At the time of writing, only Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and TRON Lightcycle / Run had Virtual Queues, so you don’t need to worry about it if you’re at Animal Kingdom or Hollywood Studios during your Disney World as a couple trip.

How Do I Join a Virtual Queue at Disney World?

You join a Virtual Queue via the My Disney Experience app. Open the app, then click on Virtual Queues on the left.

On the next page, click Join Virtual Queue. This is also a good time to turn on your notifications so you don’t miss app notifications.

Next, pick the park and ride you want a VQ for and select Confirm Your Party. You have to do this before actually joining the VQ, and you can do it at any point, as long as you have park tickets for that day.

💡 It’s best if you and whoever you’re traveling with are added to one My Disney Experience account so you can make reservations for everyone at the same time. If you’re on a Disney World as a couple trip, this is easy because there are just two of you. 💕

Once that’s done, you’re set up to join the Virtual Queue during the next distribution time.

When Can I Join a Disney World Virtual Queue?

There are usually two distribution times a day when you can join a VQ — 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. These slots go fast, so you want to be ready the second the clock strikes the hour.

⏰ For the 7 a.m. time, you can join from your hotel.

⏰ For the 1 p.m. time, though, you have to be in the theme park where the ride is located to join.

After joining the VQ, you can go about your day until your boarding group is called. It can be unclear when that time will be, though, so if you’ll be park hopping or you have dining reservations, you could miss it. You’ll need to keep a close eye on your phone.

Once your boarding group is called, make your way back to the ride.

Insider Advice: You won’t walk right onto the ride. You’ll join a line with the rest of your boarding group, and the wait time can be high. We waited for TRON Lightcycle / Run for about 90 minutes. 😳 (Read our TRON Lightcycle / Run ride review here.)

What Is a Lightning Lane at Disney World?

Lightning Lane at Disney World is the paid service that replaced the free FastPass service. (I know, we’re all still mad about it. 😡) It’s a way to get on shorter lines for some of the rides at the four Disney theme parks — Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom.

What Is the Difference Between Lightning Lane and Genie?

Lightning Lane is the paid part of the basic Disney Genie service. Here’s how it works:

🧞‍♂️ Disney Genie is a free service offered through the My Disney Experience app that helps you plan out your Disney World as a couple park day based on your interests.

🧞‍♂️ Disney Genie+ (or Disney Genie Plus) is a paid add-on that gives you access to Lightning Lane booking, among a few other less-essential perks, like downloading your attraction photos and using PhotoPass lenses.

🧞‍♂️ Lightning Lane provides access to shorter lines on certain Disney rides. Rides that participate in Lightning Lane will have a separate queue just for LL holders. You have to make a LL reservation using the My Disney Experience app.

How Does Lightning Lane at Disney World Work?

You can buy Genie Plus via the My Disney Experience app. The easiest way to do this is by going to the Tip Board first, then selecting Purchase for Today to Save Time Waiting in Line next to the picture of the Genie from Aladdin.

It’s best if everyone in your party is added to your app so you can order Genie+ for everyone at the same time. (We love how easy this is when traveling to Disney World as a couple.)

After you purchase the Genie+ service, you’ll be able to reserve Lightning Lanes at select rides.

Here are a few Lightning Lane guidelines you need to know:

• At the time of writing, you can only buy Genie+ the same day you’ll use it, so you’ll need a park ticket for that day.
• Pricing for Genie+ varies, and the Magic Kingdom and Multiple Parks options are typically the most expensive. The cost is per person, not per party.
• Only some rides have Lightning Lanes. Others may have a regular standby queue, a Virtual Queue and/or an Individual Lightning Lane.
• You can only book one Lightning Lane per participating ride per day. For example, you can’t get two Lightning Lanes for The Haunted Mansion on the same day.
• You’re eligible to book your next Lightning Lane two hours after you made your last booking or sometimes after you use an existing reservation, so it pays to check the app after each Lightning Lane ride.
• Your Lightning Lane return window is one hour long, and there’s usually a grace period of a few minutes on either side.
• When you get to the ride during your return window, look for the Lightning Lane entrance. You’ll need to scan in at least once.

We have a complete guide to buying Genie Plus for Disney World, including tons of tips, that you can find here. Don’t wait until you’re in Disney World as a couple to start figuring this all out!

What Is an Individual Lightning Lane at Disney World?

An Individual Lightning Lane works similarly to a regular Lightning Lane in that there’s a separate Lightning Lane entrance with a (usually) shorter line than the standby queue.

However, each Individual Lightning Lane is priced separately from each other and from the Genie+ upgrade. If you plan on using these services, you’ll need to factor that into your Disney World as a couple vacation budget.

Here’s what you should know about Individual Lightning Lanes:

• You don’t need to purchase Genie+ to purchase an Individual Lightning Lane.
• Individual Lightning Lane prices fluctuate based on the ride and other factors.
• You purchase Individual Lightning Lanes separately. Purchasing an ILL for one ride doesn’t give you access to the ILL for another ride.
• Sometimes, a Virtual Queue ride will also have an Individual Lightning Lane.

Very few rides have an Individual Lightning Lane. For example, these are the rides that have an ILL at the time of writing:

• Magic Kingdom: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, TRON Lightcycle / Run
• Epcot: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• Hollywood Studios: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
• Animal Kingdom: Avatar Flight of Passage

The rides with the ILL option are the most popular ones in the parks.

Final Thoughts About Disney Virtual Queue vs. Lightning Lane

Figuring out the Virtual Queue vs. Lighting Lane vs. Individual Lightning Lane at Disney World can be confusing, but it pays to learn about it all before your trip. You can play with the My Disney Experience app a lot, too, to see where certain services can be accessed.

Also, keep this in mind: You don’t have to get a Virtual Queue or Lightning Lane at all! We’ve been to Disney parks plenty of times and skipped those options because we don’t want to be glued to our phones all or day or have to keep such a close eye on the time. 🙌

When you really want to go on the most popular rides at Disney, the Lighting Lane options can be a help because you won’t spend most of your time waiting in long lines. Otherwise, though, enjoy your surroundings, ride anything you come across with a short wait, and relish all that phone-free, Disney World as a couple vacation time.

When we’re traveling to Disney World as a couple, we do not want to wake up early. Here’s how and why we head to the parks late in the day. (It’s seriously the best.)

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FAQ About Virtual Queue vs. Lightning Lane for Your Disney World as a Couple Trip

What’s the difference between Lightning Lane and Virtual Queue at Disney World?

The Disney World Lightning Lane is a separate entrance offered at some rides for people who have paid for the Disney Genie Plus service and have booked a reservation. The Disney World Virtual Queue is a free service for Disney’s newest, most popular rides. It lets you join the queue via the My Disney Experience app and then get on line during a specific time window.

Can you do Virtual Queue and Lightning Lane at the same time?

Yes, some rides have the Virtual Queue and a Lightning Lane or Individual Lightning Lane available at the same time.

Do you need a separate app for Lightning Lane vs. Virtual Queue?

No, you’ll book your Lightning Lanes and join Virtual Queues through the same My Disney Experience app. If you have everyone you’re traveling with added to your app, you can make reservations for everyone at once. (Pretty easy when it’s just two of you on a Disney World as a couple vacation!)

Is there a standby line for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind?

Right now, there’s not a standby line for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Rides that have a Virtual Queue don’t simultaneously have a regular standby line. However, you can get a Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Lightning Lane right now by purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane for the ride.