Haunted Mansion and the Virtual Queue

[longtimedisneylurker]

Just be aware that this could change with or without notice at anytime. I expect they may become more "strict" about return times as we get into the holiday seasons and the crowds & demand increase.

This is a good point to keep in mind. But I have definitely noticed Disney tends to be less restrictive about virtual queue return times even in the face of high demand. I wonder if some of the reason for this might be that since it's kind of just a blind lottery, the guest has far less control over the selection of their return window than they do with a lightning lane selection.

 

[laugard]

Just be aware that this could change with or without notice at anytime. I expect they may become more "strict" about return times as we get into the holiday seasons and the crowds & demand increase.

Great reminder. And that allowing folks to use their VQ at any point throughout the day is not actually a stated policy. So technically any cast member is within their right to hold to the 1 hour return time. (Early on I did see a few comments in a different forum from people with a morning VQ not being able to use it after the afternoon one had happened. But those were definitely the exception compared to others who used it hours and hours later.)

I liken it to when the Inspire pass is blocked out during the December holidays. Last year they were letting (most) Inspire pass holders park using their free parking benefit. But according to the Magic Key rules, the free parking doesn't apply when we're blocked out. And some did report having to pay for parking. So always good to remember cast members can default to the official guidelines at any point should they need to or choose.

 

[dina444444]

What has been the wait time once your group is called you arrive at the attraction?

It took about 20-25 min for me but the ride had a short downtime after I got in line and before I taped in. If it hadn’t gone down it would have been about 10-15 min.

 

[DontSpamMe]

They don't care about the return time. We went 3 days in a row well after our boarding time. I would go during one of the fantasmic shows. There was no wait each time.

 

[LKing]

Looks like they are making progress on the HM retail store.

 

[ItsMEH]

Just got back from our trip and I joined the VQ 4 days of our trip. I never once returned on time and was allowed in every time. Sunday night, my daughter and I showed up about 10:30pm and I was pulling my phone out to bring up the code and they just waved us in, did not even scan our VQ code.

 

[Dust2]

I tried using a multiple experience pass on Sunday night during the 2nd Fantastic show at 10:30. The CM told me that they they weren’t scanning and to come right in. They weren’t filling the shrinking room and there were about half of the doom buggies empty when I got in the ride. I was so excited I got to ride HM twice in one day.

 

[StarlitNight05]

Any rumblings or rumors about how long the virtual queue will last?

 

[dina444444]

Any rumblings or rumors about how long the virtual queue will last?

Nope. It will be there until they are done with construction. There was still a crane in the construction zone when I was last at the park on 8/23.

 

[crystal1313]

I’m curious how it will work on Nov 15th when Tiana’s opens

 

[B3rlingirl]

I’m curious how it will work on Nov 15th when Tiana’s opens

I hope that they will open the regular queue by then…

 

[dina444444]

I’m curious how it will work on Nov 15th when Tiana’s opens

It could be like MK with tron and Tiana

 

[JerrodDragon89]

The Normal Q looks like it is still months from being done...if we are lucky when HM comes back in its normal version we hopefully will have the normal Q back a as well

 

[joseph821]

The Normal Q looks like it is still months from being done...if we are lucky when HM comes back in its normal version we hopefully will have the normal Q back a as well

Agreed. I do not think the regular queue comes back until 2025 when all of the construction is complete and the HMH holiday is removed. Late January/early Feb. 2025.

 

[Aspencreek]

I hope that they will open the regular queue by then…

I don't think there is any way they can possibly do a regular queue until the outside HM construction is finished. Just got back from DL and with only the VQ line going it was creating a choke-point/traffic-jam outside the HM as the VQ people had to line up along the construction walls and down along the HM toward Tiana's ride. No way physically to fit a standby line also. Thankfully the VQ line moved very fast, but they just don't have space to fit more people.

 

[B3rlingirl]

I don't think there is any way they can possibly do a regular queue until the outside HM construction is finished. Just got back from DL and with only the VQ line going it was creating a choke-point/traffic-jam outside the HM as the VQ people had to line up along the construction walls and down along the HM toward Tiana's ride. No way physically to fit a standby line also. Thankfully the VQ line moved very fast, but they just don't have space to fit more people.

Yes I know… but I had some hope left that they might finish the outside construction in time for this years Christmas season..

 

[dcfromva]

On Tuesday our group had boarding groups 1 & 4. HM was down to start with, we went over as soon as it opened. We had zero line and zero wait. A little while later HM went down again. When it came back up, the line was almost to POC.
Yesterday, we did the noon virtual queue. Our come back time was 3:30pm-4:30pm. The line to scan extended out the entire front of the HM attraction. It seemed daunting at first, but the CM estimated a 15 min wait. That turned out to be pretty accurate. (A real blessing in this heat!).

 

[LKing]

According to Thrill Data, it was down quite a bit on Tuesday.

When you say that it extended out of the front of the attraction, isn't that where the umbrellas with the CM scanning your tickets are located? I've been several times since it reopened and have never not been in a queue before the CM. It often extends out to Pirates in the mid afternoon. I used to think that it was the after parade rush, but there is no parade now and it is still happening.

 

[Porsche4]

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they will open up the queue area by the start of December. I have been watching lost of vlogs and I am hopeful. The dividing wall between HM and the square looks like it is getting close to being finished. I know that there is still a lot of work to be done on the elevator but I am hoping they could open up more of the queue area and just keep that bit hidden until it was finished. Still lots of landscaping etc to be done but there is still two and a bit months to go and I feel they can accomplish a lot in that time. Also I think Tiana's could open with a Virtual Queue and I'm not sure they would want two attractions on that system. Glass half full right.

 

[edwaffle]

I know that there is still a lot of work to be done on the elevator but I am hoping they could open up more of the queue area and just keep that bit hidden until it was finished

Me too. I know I'm being too hopeful and setting myself up to frustration, but if they could open just a little more of the queue and also place Jack on top of the gate, that'd be chef's kiss for me lmao