Walt Disney World's Big Change: Virtual Queues Are Going Away for Two Major Attractions

Starting February 25, 2025, Disney is shaking things up with its virtual queue system. Two of Walt Disney World’s hottest rides, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, will no longer use virtual queues. Instead, they’re bringing back the traditional standby lines!

This change means you can now join the line for these attractions at any time during the day, instead of scrambling to secure a spot at 7:00 AM or 1:00 PM through the My Disney Experience app. While this will make the experience less stressful for some guests, it also means longer wait times in the early weeks, as people adjust to the new system.

Walt Disney World Virtual Queue Logo on My Disney Experience App.

Front entrance to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT at WDW. Photo by Fox 5 NY.

Ride vehicles for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT at WDW. Photo by people.com.

Scene from Tiana's Bayou Adventure attraction at MK at WDW. Photo by wdwmagic.com

Exterior of Tiana's Bayou Adventure attraction at night-time.

Overall, while the elimination of virtual queues might lead to a few longer waits in the short term, it should make things more straightforward for guests who prefer a more traditional theme park experience. It’s all about flexibility—and less time spent staring at your phone hoping for a boarding group!

Trivia question.

What attraction did Tiana's Bayou Adventure replace? And what attraction did Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind replace?

Answer. Tiana's Bayou Adventure has taken the place of Splash Mountain in Magic Kingdom, while Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind now occupies the former Universe of Energy pavilion at EPCOT.

Splash Mountain originally opened at Magic Kingdom in 1992, inspired by the controversial 1946 film Song of the South. The ride was beloved for its catchy theme song, "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah," and its combination of storytelling and thrilling drop. However, due to growing criticism of the film's outdated and offensive themes, Disney decided to reimagine the attraction. In 2023, the ride closed to make way for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, a new attraction centered around The Princess and the Frog and its iconic character, Princess Tiana.

Universe of Energy opened at EPCOT in 1982 as one of the park’s original pavilions. The ride explored the theme of energy, showcasing its past, present, and future through a mix of animatronics and a moving theater. The attraction underwent significant changes over the years, with its most notable update being in 1996 when it replaced its original format with a shorter, more educational version. After a long run, Universe of Energy closed in 2017 and was replaced by Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, a thrilling, high-tech roller coaster blending the Marvel franchise with a futuristic energy theme.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind—Disney’s first backward-launch roller coaster—has relied on a virtual queue since it opened, helping to manage its crowd levels. Similarly, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (which replaces Splash Mountain) was expected to follow suit. But now, Disney is simplifying things by letting visitors get in line the old-fashioned way.

Of course, if you’re looking to skip the wait entirely, there are still paid options like the Lightning Lane Multi Pass or the Lightning Lane Premier Pass, which allow you to bypass the standby line.

Splash Mountain attraction at MK at WDW. Photo by reddit.com

Universe of Energy attraction at EPCOT at WDW. Photo by dlib.info