Last week, Disneyland Haunted Mansion fans got a long-awaited update. Since January 22, Haunted Mansion has been closed for updates to the queue and surrounding areas. While the new refurbishments to the queue and surrounding area haven’t quite materialized yet, as of August 23, Gracey Manor will reopen with the Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay featuring The Nightmare Before Christmas, but with one small catch.
You will now be required to obtain a virtual queue to board the Doom Buggies.
While Walt Disney World goers are quite familiar with virtual queues (VQ) at this point, Disneyland hasn’t had one for a ride since Rise of the Resistance went to walk up and Genie+ only. Currently, only World of Color has a virtual queue at California Adventure and that one is pretty low stakes. Since getting a virtual queue can feel like a stressful experience, here’s a quick overview of what a VQ is, how to get one, and a few tips to increase your odds of success.
Virtual queues are a system that Disney uses to manage crowds. Certain rides require the visitor to log into the Disneyland App and reserve a spot (boarding group) for extremely popular attractions and experiences. Without a boarding group, you won’t be able to simply walk up and get in line. While this system is fairly straightforward, it is also significantly time-limited. Boarding groups fill up in seconds.
Tip: If you have a dining reservation at the same time as your boarding group, save that receipt and screenshot your boarding group when it says “board now”. Once you are done eating, head directly to the ride and show the CM the receipt and screenshot. They will let you board the ride even though you missed your window. Don’t put this off though, if you are hours late, they may turn you away.
If Disneyland follows the same rules they did for Rise, there will be two opportunities to obtain a boarding group for Haunted Mansion, 7 am and 12 pm. You will need to have a park reservation for Disneyland for the 7 am drop but for 12 pm, as long as you have a park hopper and have entered a park or were not successful at 7 am in Disneyland, you can attempt your luck at a boarding group.
Make sure you have downloaded the app and all your tickets are linked, then you can confirm your party. Select the members of your group that would like to enter the ride. This should become available at 6 am on the day of your park reservation. The app will save this information and it will make getting a virtual queue faster.
Tip: If you have a DAS pass, you will still need a boarding group. When your group is called, let the Cast Member know you have a DAS, and they will direct you to the Genie+ line, thus limiting some of the wait time that can be so hard for neurodiverse guests. Keep in mind, you may miss a significant portion of the pre-ride theming.
At 6:55 begin refreshing your screen. Make sure all other apps are closed and that the Disneyland app is the only one open. A couple of seconds before 7 am, pull down the screen or use the refresh button until you see the “Join Virtual Queue” button appear. Press the “Join” button as fast as you can.
If you were successful, you should now have a boarding group number. Enable notifications on the app so you will be notified as soon as your boarding group is called. You will have a limited amount of time to return, so don’t miss it! While this process can feel stressful in the moment, it’s nice to know that you now have a guaranteed seat on the Doom Buggies.
Jill Romine is a Travel Advisor for Touring and Cruises (formerly TouringPlans Travel). To get a complimentary quote for Disney or any other vacation destination click: https://www.touringandcruises.com/jill-romine
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