TRON Lightcycle Run may drop its virtual queue for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
This summer will see the grand opening of Tiana's Bayou Adventure, an "enchanting musical adventure" inspired by the Disney animated film The Princess and the Frog.
It takes the place of what was formerly known as Splash Mountain, which came under fire for its Song of the South theme. And honestly, it was a long time coming.
Even though the track and its signature 50-foot drop will likely be the same (or very similar) as it was to Splash Mountain, the new character animatronics and general re-theme should make Tiana's Bayou Advnture feel like a brand new attraction. And based on recent attraction openings, that likely means a virtual queue.
Disney hasn't officially announced its plans for the opening of Tiana's Bayou Adventure, but in all likelihood, the theme parks will rely on the much-maligned virtual queue. But there's just one problem with that: Magic Kingdom is already home to another ride that utilizes the virtual queue to manage guest demand: Tron Lightcycle Run.
One park, two virtual queues?
As of right now, two rides in all of Disney World utilize the virtual queue system: TRON Lightcycle Run in Magic Kingdom and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in EPCOT.
We've never seen a single park host two attractions with virtual queues. And there's probably good reason for this.
The virtual queue for an attraction opens up at 7:00 a.m. EST. At that time, park guests are forced to log into the My Disney Experience App and join the virtual queue for the ride they wish to go on. If the queue isn't already full, you'll be given a boarding group number and an estimated return time for when you get can in the queue to ride.
If you miss out on the initial virtual queue, you have a second chance at 1:00 p.m. EST (as long as you are in the park of the ride you wish to join the virtual queue for). Or you can purchase a Lightning Lane.
For many -- especially those who are not used to the virtual queue system -- it's an annoying process. But it's one that Disney has relied on for a few years now to help manage the flow of park guests and to keep the wait for a new attraction generally low (or at least tolerable).
But here's the problem: the virtual queue tends to fill up fast. Like, within 15 seconds sometimes.
If you are registering for Tiana's Bayout Adventure, then you will almost certainly miss out on the virtual queue forTRON Lightcycle Run. This means you'll need to hope to snag a spot at the 1:00 p.m. opening, buy a Lightning Lane, or simply not ride.
Obviously, that third option is not an ideal one, especially if this would be your first or only time attending Disney World. And I highly doubt Disney wants to make guests choose between one ride or the other (although, I'm sure they'd love to have people pay Lightning Lane!).
The only reasonable path forward here is to remove the virtual queue for Tron Lightcycle Run. This ultimately may raise the wait times for the new-ish coaster, which opened in April of last year. But it's better than the backlash Disney would receive by frustrating park guests who couldn't ride both of these highly anticipated attractions.
Disney faced this similar predicament before at EPCOT when Remy's Ratatouille Adventure and Cosmic Rewind opened in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Ultimately, Disney dropped the virtual queue for Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, and I suspect they will do the same thing with TRON Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom. That is, unless Disney throws a complete curveball and opens Tiana's Bayout Adventure without a virtual queue.