One of the biggest changes at Disneyland Paris in recent years is the introduction of virtual queues for some of the most popular character meet-and-greets. They’re a great idea in theory, as there is no standing around for hours in line – I am looking at you, Princess Pavilion. But after three days of trying my luck, I definitely have some thoughts to share!
Day 1: Disappointment in Disneyland
I had my alarm set bright and early to try for Jack Skellington and the Princess Pavilion. I was ready, phone in hand, the second the queue opened but within moments, both were full!
Darth Vader Virtual Queue
Luckily, Darth Vader still had availability. We grabbed a slot even though he wasn’t on our original list. It turned out to be one of our favourite interactions of the whole trip.
Day 2: A Win in the Studios
Virtual Queue at Disneyland Paris for SPiderman
We spent our second day in Walt Disney Studios Park, aiming to meet Spiderman and Olaf. To our delight and slight amazement, we managed to get both! After the chaos of day one, it felt like a victory, and the whole day ran much smoother.
Day 3: Disneyland Again
On our final day, we really wanted to meet Jack Skellington and the Princesses. Jack is only out at Halloween and Christmas, making him one of the park’s most popular meet-and-greets, along with the Princesses. We had a reservation at Royal Banquet to meet Mickey, so we didn’t have to worry about meeting him in the parks. We managed to get Jack in the morning, but the princess slots were full when we tried to grab a slot in the afternoon.
Virtual Queue for Jack Skellington and Sally at Disneyland Paris
At that point, we were happy with who we’d met overall but I have to admit, the whole process was a bit stressful.
The Reality of Virtual Queues
While virtual queues sound convenient, they definitely control your day more than you’d expect. Once you secure a slot, it dictates where you can be and what you can do. Rides, meals, and shows all have to fit around it.
You can join the physical line five minutes before your countdown hits zero, and you have a short window to get there once it opens. Miss it by too long, and your spot is gone. That adds pressure, especially when you’re across the park or stuck in another queue.
We also noticed that the estimated time countdown isn’t always accurate. Ours jumped up and down quite a bit, making it tricky to plan other rides or breaks around it.
One of the most stressful times for us was on Day 3. I was in the queue for Pirates of the Caribbean, thinking I’d have plenty of time to be out before the virtual queue opened. However, the queue ended up being longer than advertised. On top of that, the ride stopped briefly while we were riding. This meant it was going to be super tight to get put in time for the virtual queue opening. And anyone who has ridden Pirates will know that 5G is not available all the way around the ride. So instead of enjoying it, I spent the whole time worrying that we’d miss the virtual queue window. Not exactly the stress-free Disney magic I was hoping for.
My Top Tips for Disneyland Paris Virtual Queues
Olaf Virtual Queue Meet and Greet
If you’re planning to use the virtual queues at DLP, here are a few tips I found useful:
- Prepare for disappointment – slots go fast, and even with perfect timing, you might not get your first choice. This is especially important if you are travelling with toddlers or kids who have their heart set on a specific meet and greet.
- Set an alarm – be on the page at least five minutes before the queue opens. I stayed on the “Select Your Experience” page and refreshed the moment the clock turned.
- Use mobile data, not Wi-Fi – I found data connections much more reliable than the park’s Wi-Fi, which can be both patchy and slow.
- Check ride times carefully – if you’re joining a long queue before virtual times open or near to your meet and greet slot, make sure you’ll be able to access your phone and exit the ride in time. Otherwise, you may miss the opening.
Conclusion
Overall, I’m glad we got to meet everyone we did, and I can’t complain about the interactions themselves. They were fantastic, especially Darth Vader and Spiderman! But the virtual queue system definitely adds a layer of stress and restricts how freely you can move around the park.
If you’re planning your own trip, go in with realistic expectations, stay flexible, and prepare for some disappointment.
For more tips and information on Disneyland Paris virtual queues, be sure to check out my dedicated Virtual Queue posts.