Hi Shelby! Welcome to planDisney! That is a great question that you brought to us! I’m happy to help explain the difference!
Lightning Lane is the brand new option that is available through the My Disney Experience app! Guests wishing to skip the traditional queue can either purchase Lightning Lane access for some of the most popular individual rides and attractions or purchase
Disney Genie+ which will allow access to the Lightning Lane for over 40 attractions throughout the four Disney Parks!
Virtual queues, on the other hand, are currently a more limited method of accessing attractions in the Disney Parks. A virtual queue allows Guests to use their My Disney Experience app to secure a “virtual” place in line for an attraction. Typically, a Guest has to access the virtual queue at a designated time (or times) of the day to be assigned a group number. Guests then receive a notification on their mobile device when the time comes for your group to board the attraction! Until recently, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance was accessible through a virtual queue. However, the only attraction that is currently utilizing a virtual queue is
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in EPCOT!
Shelby, I hope that explanation helps to clear up the difference between virtual queues and Lightning Lane!
Hakuna Matata! Jonathan