Why We’re Worried This Dreaded Ride Rule Is Coming to Animal Kingdom

We’ve got a bad feeling about this. Virtual Queues might be coming to Animal Kingdom — and we are not thrilled about it.

With a brand-new land on the way in 2027 and two major headliner attractions confirmed, it’s looking more and more likely that Disney will roll out the dreaded Virtual Queue system for both. We’re talking about that shiny new Encanto ride and a fresh Indiana Jones adventure. Let’s talk about why that has us nervously clutching our MagicBands.

Virtual Queue at Animal Kingdom?

If you’ve spent time in Disney World over the last few years, you’ve probably had a run-in with Virtual Queues (VQs). This system lets you request a boarding group via the app, typically at 7AM or 1PM, and then you’re given a return window later in the day. It’s meant to keep lines physically shorter, but it also means you can’t just walk up and ride like you used to.

Until now, Animal Kingdom has been blissfully free from the Virtual Queue shuffle. You could rope drop Flight of Passage or wait standby later in the day — the choice was yours. But that flexibility might be going extinct with the upcoming debut of Pueblo Esperanza, Animal Kingdom’s new Tropical Americas-themed land.

What’s Coming to Pueblo Esperanza

Disney is reimagining what’s currently DinoLand, U.S.A., into a lush, story-driven area inspired by regions of Central and South America. Pueblo Esperanza will showcase vibrant architecture, biodiverse landscapes, and culturally rich storytelling — all centered around two MAJOR new attractions.

First up, we’ve got a brand-new Encanto ride, where guests will enter the enchanted Casita and explore Antonio’s magical rainforest. It’s shaping up to be a boat-style dark ride, filled with surprise encounters from the Madrigal family.

Then there’s the Indiana Jones attraction — not a copy-paste of the Disneyland version. This one sends guests into a newly discovered Maya temple alongside Indy himself in search of a mythical creature. Based on Disney’s descriptions, it sounds like a high-intensity thrill ride with a completely original story.

Both of these rides are likely to be massive crowd magnets, especially at launch. And that’s exactly why we’re bracing for Virtual Queue to make its Animal Kingdom debut.

Why We’re Dreading Virtual Queues in This Park

Let’s be clear — we get why Disney uses Virtual Queues. High-demand rides like Rise of the Resistance and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind needed some kind of crowd control at opening. And yes, VQ has its pros: it prevents the chaos of 4-hour standby lines and gives Disney more control over flow and pacing.

But Animal Kingdom just hits different. This park is all about exploration. It’s slower-paced, more immersive. You can wander through trails, stumble upon Kevin from UP, or catch a live music performance in Harambe. It doesn’t have the same ride density as Magic Kingdom or EPCOT, so every attraction feels a bit more intentional.

Bringing Virtual Queues into this space adds a layer of stress that doesn’t fit the park’s vibe. Suddenly, you’ll need to:

• Wake up before 7AM to snag a boarding group.
• Cross your fingers it doesn’t fill in 30 seconds.
• Check your app constantly to see when you can ride.
• Plan your day around the return window instead of letting the park guide you.

It’s less spontaneous, more screen time. And that just doesn’t feel like Animal Kingdom.

Two Big Attractions = Virtual Queue Almost Guaranteed

Here’s the real kicker: there’s pretty much no scenario where Disney opens two headliner rides like Encanto and Indiana Jones without implementing Virtual Queues, at least during the opening period. Both rides are tied to hugely popular IPs, they’ll be brand-new experiences, and the surrounding land is getting a full-blown glow-up. The demand is going to be sky-high.

Even if Disney decides to eventually offer standby access (like they’ve done for some other VQ rides), the early months — and possibly the first year or more — will almost certainly be VQ-only. That means if you miss the window… you’re out of luck.

We wouldn’t be surprised if both rides launch with Virtual Queues and the option to purchase Lightning Lane separately. And while Genie+ is no longer part of the equation, that paid Lightning Lane will likely be the “insurance” option for folks who miss out on boarding groups.

What You Can Do Now

We’re still a couple of years away from Pueblo Esperanza opening, so you’ve got time to prepare — but it’s never too early to start thinking strategy.

Here’s what we recommend:

• Practice using VQ if you haven’t before — try it for TRON or Cosmic Rewind to get the hang of it.
• Follow construction updates closely. Disney tends to give subtle clues about operations, and we’ll be watching like hawks.
• Adjust your Animal Kingdom mindset. Spontaneity might need to take a back seat when these rides open, at least for a while.

We’re excited for what’s coming to Animal Kingdom — truly. Pueblo Esperanza looks stunning, and we’re always here for new attractions. But if Virtual Queue is on the horizon for this park, just know we’re right there with you…groaning at 6:59AM, hoping we get lucky.

As always, be sure to keep following AllEars for more Disney news.

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Would you be bummed to see Virtual Queue come to Animal Kingdom? Tell us in the comments! 

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