WARNING: It’s About To Be HARDER To Get Virtual Queues and Individual Lightning Lanes in Disney World

Disney World is changing in some pretty major ways in 2024.

Park hopping is returning to normal, park passes are going away, and that means you need to rethink just how you’re going to get on your favorite Disney World rides. With the rules for Virtual Queues, Genie+, and Individual Lightning Lane changing, we’re helping you figure it all out.

Disney World announced that Virtual Queues would be changing in 2024, and along with that — so will Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes. But don’t worry — we’re breaking it all down for you.

Virtual Queues

Right now, two rides use virtual queues in Disney World — TRON: Lightcycle / Run and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, allowing guests to book a spot in a “virtual” line to come back and ride later that day. There are two drops for virtual queues, at 7AM and 1PM, but to book the 7AM slot currently you must have a park pass reservation for the park in which the ride is located.

But, Disney has stated that starting January 9th, guests will be able to join one attraction virtual queue at any theme park where they have a valid admission. A virtual queue is used for two rides currently at Disney World — Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and TRON Lightcycle / Run.

This only applies to guests with date-based tickets — meaning Annual Passholders and those with non-date-based tickets will still have to have a park pass reservation to book a virtual queue in that particular park.

Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes

Genie+ is a paid service that gives people the chance to skip standby lines at certain rides by booking a return time. With Genie+, you pay one price and are able to skip the line at multiple rides. Individual Lightning Lanes are pay-per-ride options reserved for the more popular rides.

For folks planning on park hopping during the day, there are time restrictions that impact how you can book rides. Right now, if you’re booking a Lightning Lane for a different park you’re hopping to after 2PM (the earliest you’re currently able to park hop), you have to wait until the next available window is 2PM or later.

As of January 9th, though, the 2PM restriction will no longer apply and you can book a selection in a different park as early as availability allows.

Here’s the thing, though — you might find that this doesn’t actually make booking virtual queues and Individual Lightning Lanes any easier on your trip! Because the restrictions are lifted, VQs and Lightning Lane selections may end up selling out earlier. Since more people are now able to join a VQ at 7AM, you might find that they sell out even faster.