Photo from Mickey Visit

Originally Posted On: https://mickeyvisit.com/mickey-and-minnie-runaway-railway-virtual-queue/

 

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is a brand new attraction at Disneyland that will require a virtual queue or individual lighting lane to access. The attraction will open to the public on January 27, 2023. Both the individual lightning lane and virtual queue are obtained through the Disneyland app.

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is a new trackless dark ride that is already a hit at Walt Disney World and promises to be in high demand at Disneyland Park. The attraction brings guests into the cartoon story of Mickey and Minnie Mouse as they head out for a perfect picnic. There’s a mishap and Goofy drives your train down the wrong path and you end up on unexpected adventures.

Disney has utilized virtual queues and boarding groups for the launch of their most popular attractions in recent years. Guests get a number and are then notified when its their turn to ride. Disney wants to prevent guests from spending their entire day in line.

You’ll have both the option to purchase an individual lightning lane for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway or utilize the virtual queue. This guide will focus on what you need to know to avoid having to purchase individual access to the attraction.

Planning a Disneyland vacation? You’ll find all the best tips for your trip in our Disneyland planning guide.

Planning a Disneyland Vacation?

Get exclusive access to prices on hotel & tickets just for Mickey Visit subscribers. Don’t miss our travel hacks newsletter!

In this planning guide:

Disneyland Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway Virtual Queue

Photo from Mickey Visit

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway does not offer a standby queue (the standby sign above is where the virtual queue line enters) at this point and only offers either a virtual queue or the option to purchase an individual lightning lane. The individual lightning lane is not included with the purchase of the general Disneyland Genie Plus offering and must be purchased “a la carte” for specific attractions.

We don’t yet know the specifics of how much individual lightning lanes for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway will cost. This section will be updated once we have seen the ride in operation.

Here’s a look at how the Guardians attraction at Walt Disney World displays their individual lightning lane and virtual queue within the Disney Genie Plus section of the app.

Photo from Mickey Visit

Previously both the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and WEB Slingers – A Spider-Man Adventure attraction utilized virtual queues. Currently, no other attractions at Disneyland use a virtual queue. There is a virtual queue in place for World of Color though the return function works differently as guests are securing tickets for one of the two shows. For guests familiar with experiencing these other attractions, the below tips will largely be the same.

For those who are completely new to virtual queues, I recommend you read our how-to section below and our frequently asked questions section.

Let’s dive into what we know about how the virtual queue will function for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway attraction, but first a quick word to help you with planning your Disneyland trip…

Discount Disneyland Tickets

Photo from Mickey Visit

There is no better place to find discounts on Disneyland tickets than through our favorite Disney-approved ticket reseller, Get Away Today. They exclusively offer the lowest prices on Disneyland tickets for Mickey Visit readers. In addition to finding the lowest prices, they have great customer service and have an entire team making sure you have a wonderful experience. Get your discount Disneyland tickets here through our exclusive link>

When you buy your tickets you’ll get them sent electronically so you can immediately make your park reservations. They also offer layaway plans so you can lock in the current low discounts with just $200 down.

How to Use the Virtual Queue for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Photo from Mickey Visit

Each day there will be two releases of boarding groups for the Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway via the virtual queue in the Disneyland app. The virtual queue will open at 7 am and 1 pm each day. The group parameters will differ between the two release times. The first release time will require guests to have a valid ticket and reservation for Disneyland Park for that day and the second release time will require guests to have either entered Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park that day.

Guests are only able to enjoy Mickey’s and Minnie’s Runaway Railway via the virtual queue once per day.

Translated – the first virtual queue release time is just for guests starting their day in Disneyland Park and the second virtual queue release time is for guests in either Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park. Unlike the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind virtual queue in use at Walt Disney World, the second virtual queue will allow park hopping guests to access the attraction.

Steps to get a virtual queue for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disneyland

Photo from Mickey Visit

The below steps are based on our previous experience with Walt Disney World and Disneyland virtual queues. We expect that these steps will be the same for the new Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway attraction. We will update this guide with anything that is different.

• The night before – Ensure that have the Disneyland app downloaded and that you are logged in. Also, confirm that all tickets from your group are connected to your app and have a Disneyland Resort reservation (note the different reservation requirements shared above for the two different release times). Also confirm that you phone is fully updated.
• A few minutes before the official release times (7 am or 1 pm) log into the app and click on the ‘join’ button listed for “Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway Virtual Queue”. The page should say that the queue is not yet open. Click out of the queue and refresh. This is just to see what the process will be. You may also consider logging out of the Disneyland app and then back in again. Also, force close the app and then open it again. You really don’t need to awake more than a couple of minutes before the virtual queue to successfully execute on this.
• I almost always opt to go for the virtual queue using my cellular service instead of WiFi. In cases where your hotel near Disneyland is in a dead zone, consider using hotel WiFi. If you are aiming for the 1 pm virtual queue, make sure you are away from people when inside the parks.
• Now, it is time to join the queue at exactly the 7 am or 1 pm mark. We like to have one person in the phone and another person holding up their iPhone watching the seconds hand countdown on the button for the clock. Right when it hits 6:59:57 am I usually refresh one more time and then click ‘join’. Disney uses time.gov to determine the times for their virtual queues.

Photo from Mickey Visit

• If the process is following the typical processes of Disney virtual queues, you’ll click ‘join’ and then click ‘join’ again. A screen will then pop up confirming your parties. You shouldn’t have to do anything on this screen as linked guests with the proper tickets and park reservations should be pre-selected.
• All of this process should take literally 1-2 seconds. Groups go quickly and will be sold out within the first 15-30 seconds of the virtual queue opening.
• Check your settings to make sure you have your push notifications on for the Disneyland app to be alerted when your group is called to return.
• Disney makes sure to say that joining the virtual queue for an attraction does not guarantee that you’ll be able to ride that attraction, but we do not expect Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway to breakdown often. The ride is far less complex than the Rise of the Resistance attraction. That said, new attractions are always fickle and you never know when a ride could go down for the entire day.

Once your boarding group is called you’ll have an hour to make it back to the attraction to ride. This may interrupt your Disneyland morning strategy, but you will want to ride the attraction as soon as you are called as new attractions are always fickle and may end up closing down at any moment. If this is a priority for you during the day, get to Toontown to ride. The above information is all extrapolated from the somewhat technical language on the Disneyland site and our previous experience with Disneyland virtual queues.

General virtual queue tip: The newest, most up-to-date, cell phone usually wins. Use the newest phone in your group.

Frequently Asked Questions Boarding Groups & Virtual Queue

Photo from Mickey Visit

What is a Disneyland virtual queue?

A virtual queue is a way to join a the line for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway without actually getting in a physical line. You join the queue and then are notified when your boarding group is called.

What is a Disneyland boarding group?

Once you have successfully joined the virtual queue you will be assigned a boarding group. This group number is then how you know if you are being called to ride the attraction. You will be notified in the Disneyland app.

The boarding group numbers start at 1 and go up from there. The lower your number the earlier you’ll be called to ride Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Think of the deli counter numbers. They call your number and then you get to ride.

What does a backup boarding group mean at Disneyland?

After going through the above Disneyland virtual queue process you may receive a backup boarding group for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. This means you are a virtual waitlist and are less likely to be called to ride. Your boarding group number will be higher than those on the regular virtual queue list and you will be called later.

Photo from Mickey Visit

How much will the individual lightning lane for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway cost?

The pricing for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway individual lightning lane has not yet been released and will vary based on the day of the year.

What time are the Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway virtual queue drops?

The Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway boarding groups are available via the virtual queue at 7 am and 1 pm each day.

Photo from Mickey Visit

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway concept artwork.

What if I am doing something else like eating or riding another attraction when my boarding group is called?

You have one hour to return to the attraction once your boarding group has been called. If you are not able to make this hour due to other Disneyland plans, alert a nearby Cast Member and they will be able to advise you. We have not had issues with returning late to our boarding group spot previously but do not yet have a sense of the policy for the Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway attraction. Do you best to make it to the time of your boarding group, but if you are late definitely still go and talk with the Cast Member.

How long will my wait be at the attraction once my boarding group is called?

We will have more details once we experience the attraction in operation.

How long will the virtual queue and individual lightning lane be in place for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway?

While we don’t have any sense of how long the virtual queue and individual lightning lane will be utilized instead of the traditional standby queue, I would expect that the attraction will be more in line with the WEB Slingers – A Spider-Man Adventure attraction than with Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Though popular, WEB Slingers was more quickly and easily transitioned to a regular standby queue while Rise of the Resistance is still one of the headlining attractions at the Disneyland Resort. We can also look to Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios Park where the Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway attraction is popular but does not maintain the long wait that other attractions at that park do. In summary, we expect that while initial demand for the attraction will be high a standby queue will eventually make sense. The virtual queue is typically utilized until demand is low enough that offering a regular standby queue makes sense.

How does the Disney Disability Access Service (DAS) pass work with the virtual queue?

For guests with a DAS pass, a virtual queue or Individual Lightning Lane is still required to experience the new attraction. After you have received your virtual queue you are able to see a Cast Member about the necessary accommodations.

Photo from Mickey Visit

Does Walt Disney World’s Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway require a virtual queue?

No, the Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway attraction at Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World does not require a virtual queue. That attraction is part of the Walt Disney World Genie Plus offering and also has a regular standby queue.

Can you hold both an individual lightning lane and boarding group for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway?

Yes, you can both join a boarding group for the new attraction and purchase an individual lightning lane for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. You could choose to ride the new attraction twice in one day if you go through both the free and paid method.

How could you get both an individual lightning lane and boarding group through the virtual queue for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway?

The best way to secure both a boarding group and individual lightning lane would be to have one person in your group focus on the lightning lane purchase and the other on the boarding group. If there is only one person with the Disneyland app your best chance of getting both is to start with the boarding group (these sell out in seconds) and then move on to the individual lightning lane purchase.

Will the individual lightning lane or virtual queue line have the faster line once you arrive at the attraction?

Typically the individual lightning lane queue is much faster than the boarding group line.

Will Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway close during the Disneyland fireworks?

Yes, the new attraction will close on nights when the Disneyland fireworks show features fireworks and not just projections. On nights when the park closes at 11 pm or later, the attraction will reopen after the fireworks. On nights when the park closes at 10 pm or earlier, the attraction will not reopen after the fireworks. Disneyland fireworks typically only happen on weekend nights (Friday-Sunday) and the busiest days of the year. Confirmed by Scott Gustin on Twitter.

Planning a Disneyland Vacation? Must-Read Disneyland Tips

For more helpful Disneyland planning tips, be sure to join our FREE Mickey Visit planning newsletter. Our over 100K free subscribers receive the latest news and planning tips. You don’t want to miss important news for planning your trip.

Here are some of our other helpful planning guides.

• Disneyland in February 2023 – What You Need to Know
• Disneyland Spring 2023
• Disneyland Height Requirements Guide and Tips
• Disneyland Hotel Review
• Discount Disneyland Tickets 2023 Guide

Disclosure: We have used all the products recommended on Mickey Visit. We may receive compensation when you click on links to some products featured.