Virtual Queuing and Park Reservations Here to Stay at Disneyland
Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, took time Thursday to update Disneyland fans on which pandemic protocols may become permanent fixtures at “the happiest place on Earth.”
“I don’t want to say we are going to go back to the way it was,” said D’Amaro in statements published by the L.A. Times. ” I want to be really smart in the way we do this.”
Two Permanent New Processes
A couple of things definitely here to stay: The park reservation system and the virtual queuing system.
Both modifications certainly help the Disneyland resort to control the huge number of guests that visit the parks annually. Hopefully, they will also help to manage the incredible waits experienced at both Disneyland and California Adventure Park, especially during the summer months.
Currently, park reservations for the summer continue to fill up quickly, with entry to both theme parks limited over the next few weeks. The reservation system does allow Disneyland to not only control capacity but also to best plan for visitor numbers each day.
Introduced in 2019 with the opening of “Rise of the Resistance” at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the virtual queuing system certainly adds a touch of morning excitement as park goers try to get a boarding group for incredibly popular attractions like “Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure” and the super popular Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge attraction.
A Replacement for Annual Passes
Much to the chagrin of thousands of loyal Disneyland life-long fans, annual passes did not return yet to the Disneyland ticket offerings. Long blamed for the overcrowding problems that occur often at the parks, D’Amaro did say that a replacement would be availble in the future.
A new membership-based program will replace the annual pass system, which was canceled in January. The new offering “will reflect the behavior of our superfans,” said D’Amaro in the Times article. He added that guests can expect more information “relatively soon.”
The program will certainly be a welcome addition to ticket offerings for so many who became accustomed to visiting the parks often. Ticket prices for a one-day park hopper ticket on the weekend currently top $200 per person, so frequent trips are limited for many.
Pre-Pandemic Entertainment Returns
Yesterday, the Disneyland Band finally made their spirited return to Main Street U.S.A., and fireworks will light they sky on July 4th. It will be the first pyrotechnic celebration since the pandemic shut down the parks in March 2020.
Also this week, guests from out-of-state made their long-awaited return to the Disneyland resort. Park goers learned that, as of Tuesday, they no longer needed to wear masks inside or outside. Other pandemic requirements including temperature checks and social distancing seem to be a thing of the past too.
Feature Image Credit: Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort