How to EASILY Navigate Gideon’s Virtual Queue to Your Advantage!
Since it’s soft opening, Gideon’s Bakehouse at Disney Springs has seen a consistently steady flow of hungry customers willing to queue up and wait for one of their famous half-pound cookies…no matter how long it will take!
Although much calmer than this past week (opening day lines soared upwards of the 10-hour mark!), Gideon’s has seen 2-3 hour lines nearly every day since its opening.
With that kind of guest volume, we expect the virtual queue system isn’t going anywhere anytime soon…and we’re here to help you navigate it easily! Because once you know how it works, you can certainly use their newly-developed virtual queue system to your advantage!
Head STRAIGHT to Gideon’s
If you’re hoping to get your hands on one of their massive cookies or giant cake slices on the day of your visit, head straight to Gideon’s when you arrive at Disney Springs. If the virtual queue is being used (and it more than likely will be), there will be a Cast Member outside of Gideon’s with an iPad ready to help you check in. You’ll give he or she your phone number, and just like that you’re entered into the virtual queue!
Gideon’s system is NOT like the boarding group system at Rise of the Resistance nor the quick serve mobile ordering option in the Parks where you can order food or snag a Boarding Group from off-property or a nearby location. You cannot enter the Gideon’s queue unless you check-in at their physical storefront location.
Now What?
First, You’ll receive a text to let you know about how long you have to wait. Once you’re entered into that virtual queue and received your confirmation text though, you’re free to head just about anywhere you like! I preferred to stay at Disney Springs and do some exploring, but if you so choose, you can go so far as to head back to your hotel room to wait for your chance to enter Gideon’s!
Basically, you are free to spend your time however you’d like. Leaving the immediate area, or even Disney Springs, won’t make you lose your spot in line!
TIP: I recommend grabbing a menu from a Cast Member before jetting off though, because you can use a portion of your wait time to decide what you’re going to get once you get in there! A word of warning: the cookies and cake slices are truly, undeniably, incredibly massive! Unless you’re planning to take some home, I recommend sharing with a buddy.
When it’s Your Turn to Enter…
HOORAY! Once you get that text letting you know you’re next, you can head straight back to Gideon’s to get that treat you’ve likely been craving quite some time. Or not!
I specifically asked a few Cast Members what would happen if, for example, I was in the middle of dinner and couldn’t just up and abandon my meal to immediately go back to Gideon’s for my return time. Would I have waited all that time just to be told I was too late to enter?
They both assured me that you can return ANYTIME after you’ve received that return text! If you are just sitting down for a meal, are next in line to enter World of Disney, or even if you’re back in your Resort room, you’ll be able to enter Gideon’s whenever you make it back. Just make sure to head back that same day, virtual line passes expire at the end of each night.
And if you happen to arrive at a time when the virtual queue ins’t being used, just jump in line like you see these folks doing, and you’ll have your cookie in hand before you know it!
Is Gideon’s a must-try on your next Disney Vacation? It certainly is the hottest spot at Disney Springs right now! Leave me a comment and let me know!
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