Haunted Mansion and the Virtual Queue

[jriker1]

Not sure if this will be lucky or not. I will be in Disneyland/DCA the week HA is supposed to open on the 23rd. If it opens then and also if it doesn't open early. Technically that Friday I will be starting my day in DCA because I'm staying at the Grand so that's the early entry day. Anyone have a clue at Disneyland how the virtual queue works for rides? I know in Disney World you get like a number and your time to show up could vary based on how far into the queue you are and if the ride breaks down or whatever. Assuming things aren't flooded by content creators, does the app account at all for the fact that I wouldn't technically be able to get to DL until 11:00AM? Also does the queue work like my understanding at Disney World? Also do you have to be checked into the or a park to do the virtual queue?

Thanks

JR

 

[brightlined]

We don't know yet - they haven't said. I would quietly wager that it'll be different from Tron or Guardians (Epcot).

If it ends up like WDW (or like in the past at DLR) - you wouldn't be eligible for the 7am drop because your day starts at DCA. The 7am drop is only for people with a DL park reservation. However, if you have a parkhopper, and you enter DL before 1pm, you could participate in that drop.

 

[jriker1]

Thanks for the reply. I do have park hopper. Is it fair to say that Disneyland has never had a virtual queue other than for World of Color which isn't really the same as a ride?

I can switch my parks as not sure I will have things left to do in DCA (fingers crossed my current plan works out) so could go to DL. Just to clarify, you are saying or thinking if I have park hopper and still go to DCA that I could get into the queue right away? Or would have to switch parks and then get into the queue if available?

 

[brightlined]

They've used a queue like WDW when new rides have opened (ROTR, Webslingers, Runaway Railway). The latter two worked similarly to WDW. With ROTR, unlike WDW, you had to physically enter the park before the drop at park open. (Admittedly, in the days before park reservations.)

I may be misreading you, but just to clarify - you have to have a DCA park reservation to enter that park for Early Entry, even as a resort guest. If you do that, you can't enter DL until 11am as a parkhopper. If the 7am virtual queue is still available (which, honestly, would be insanely unlikely), you might be able to enter it, but I don't believe so. I think you'd would have to wait until 1pm for your first opportunity as a parkhopper.

But, again, that's if they do it like WDW. I'm still wondering if they might do it another way (ie, a rolling VQ that you can only enter once you enter DL).

 

[jriker1]

As a resort guest the 23rd would be Early Entry at DCA. So that's what I currently have planned. Though then this Haunted Mansion thing came up and questioning if I should change it to DL and skip Early Entry.

Maybe Disney can work a bit on the intelligence of their app. So if I'm in DCA that day and have park hopper, should be able to book a virtual queue for a later time slot since technically I can switch parks but guess virtual queues aren't based on a known time when you should return. Sounds like we are looking at two potential times. The initial sign up at 7:00AM and another at 1:00PM which depending if things are backed up, those reservations could be less likely to hit. That of course probably also depends if toward the end of August if they will still be open until midnight or have shorter hours.

 

[brightlined]

I'll be honest - tech intelligence isn't high on the list of priorities for DLR.

Yeah, the VQ is typically just the earliest available spot.

It's really hard to answer any of this until they announce how they're doing the VQ. This one will be unlike all the others since there won't be an ILL option - it's VQ only. Also, unlike Tron and Guardians (Epcot), HM is a high-capacity attraction - large enough that, on an average DL day, everyone in the park could theoretically ride once (baring a lengthy shutdown of some kind). It's easy to imagine that the 1pm drop for HM would take a long time to fill up (especially given how many DL guests arrive later in the day). But, again, we don't know - this is all new.

What I'm hoping they'll do is use a rolling VQ that you can enter once you physically enter DL. On quieter days during the Webslingers VQ, the 1pm drop would sometime be available into the evening - you would just hop in it when you wanted to - it was like a rolling VQ. And the system is definitely designed to do that.

 

[Lehuaann]

What I'm hoping they'll do is use a rolling VQ that you can enter once you physically enter DL. On quieter days during the Webslingers VQ, the 1pm drop would sometime be available into the evening - you would just hop in it when you wanted to - it was like a rolling VQ. And the system is definitely designed to do that.

I’m not familiar with a rolling VQ. Does that mean you have a shot at riding twice in one day?

 

[wallawallakids]

I’m not familiar with a rolling VQ. Does that mean you have a shot at riding twice in one day?

Usually you are only eligible once a day. So if you get it at 7am then you can't get a second at 1.

 

[jriker1]

Guess for me will be happy I even have the opportunity to ride it the first time I've been in the park for like 18 years. Even if it may not work or is complicated. If it opens earlier than the 23rd then I will be at that park on Tuesday and Thursday of the week so fingers crossed.

 

[brightlined]

I’m not familiar with a rolling VQ. Does that mean you have a shot at riding twice in one day?

Not normally - I assume they'd still limit it to one VQ per day.

I'm probably overselling it as a "different" thing. Technically, the current VQ was designed to be rolling - ie, it's open all day and you join it when you're ready to ride. But they had to put the restrictions on it (ie, the 1pm drop) when it was clear that people would blow out an entire day of VQ in seconds (during the early ROTR era).

I'm not 100% convinced that letting everyone grab a spot at 7am is a smart idea. I think it'd work way better to have people join the queue when they arrive at the park. Unlike the big rides in those early days, I doubt people would go to DL at open just to ride HMH. If they do a 7am all-hands drop, I feel like there would be parts of the morning on slower days where the line would be non-existent - I think there would be a lot of MKers, for example, who would either no-show a morning VQ or try to ride it later in the day (depending on whether CMs would allow late arrivals).

 

[brightlined]

Here's how the Haunted Mansion Holiday VQ will work:
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/guest-services/virtual-queue/

Haunted Mansion Holiday – Beginning July 29, 2024
A virtual queue will be in place at Haunted Mansion Holiday. Guests will need to use the Disneyland app to request to enter this attraction. A standby queue will not be available at this time.

In preparation, make sure your MyDisney account is linked to your group's park tickets. Each Guest can request to enter this virtual queue no more than once per day during regular park hours. A theme park reservation will be needed. Learn more about theme park reservations.

There are 2 daily opportunities to request to join the virtual queue for Haunted Mansion Holiday:

• 7:00 AM – Guests must have a park reservation for Disneyland Park with a one-park ticket or a park reservation for Disneyland Park with a Park Hopper ticket to request to join the virtual queue.
  
  
• 12:00 PM (Noon) – Guests inside Disney California Adventure Park with a Park Hopper ticket or inside Disneyland Park can request to join the virtual queue.

 

[brightlined]

Per Scott Gustin: only VQ, no LL options.

 

[irlandaise]

Cute virtual queue info on the HM web page:

Haunted Mansion Holiday Reopens Soon—Available Only via a Virtual Queue

Even though New Orleans Square is currently being refurbished, you’ll be able to socialize with Santa Jack again soon when Haunted Mansion Holiday reopens—available via our virtual queue only, as our new stand-by queue experience hasn’t quite materialized yet. Using a virtual queue allows us to welcome back foolish mortals to this eerie estate once again, while we continue work on the surrounding area. Keep checking this page for updates.

 

[harleyquinn]

Here's how the Haunted Mansion Holiday VQ will work:
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/guest-services/virtual-queue/

Haunted Mansion Holiday – Beginning July 29, 2024
A virtual queue will be in place at Haunted Mansion Holiday. Guests will need to use the Disneyland app to request to enter this attraction. A standby queue will not be available at this time.

In preparation, make sure your MyDisney account is linked to your group's park tickets. Each Guest can request to enter this virtual queue no more than once per day during regular park hours. A theme park reservation will be needed. Learn more about theme park reservations.

There are 2 daily opportunities to request to join the virtual queue for Haunted Mansion Holiday:

• 7:00 AM – Guests must have a park reservation for Disneyland Park with a one-park ticket or a park reservation for Disneyland Park with a Park Hopper ticket to request to join the virtual queue.
  
  
• 12:00 PM (Noon) – Guests inside Disney California Adventure Park with a Park Hopper ticket or inside Disneyland Park can request to join the virtual queue.

Thanks for sharing this! We'll be there August 1-7 for our first trip. HM is my favorite ride at WDW and I'm beyond excited to get to see the NBC overlay!!

 

[joseph821]

Christmas in July!

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm really disappointed in this. We are taking short trips now, and am hoping to be able to ride it more than once in a day.

Does anyone think this is going to last all the way through the Christmas season? Or is it just for a short time after reopening?

 

[brightlined]

....

 

[irlandaise]

Does anyone think this is going to last all the way through the Christmas season? Or is it just for a short time after reopening?

Given their reference to construction in that area (which we had already guessed would affect how they handled HM traffic), I don't think the VQ will go away until they finish that construction.

 

[mom2rtk]

Given their reference to construction in that area (which we had already guessed would affect how they handled HM traffic), I don't think the VQ will go away until they finish that construction.

Has there been an estimate on how long they expect that to take?

 

[LKing]

Has there been an estimate on how long they expect that to take?

There are several construction projects happening at the same time. Off the top of my head:
1. HM queue
2. HM exit and gift shop
3. Tiana's Bayou Adventure
4. Hungry Bear
5. Critter Country

Will they open some before the other? Maybe, but it is unknown at this time. https://disneyland.disney.go.com/news/park-construction-updates/