Hi there Patricia, it's great to have you here at planDisney!
From the sounds of it, your previous Walt Disney World Resort visit was a few years ago at a time when
Remy's Ratatouille Adventure required guests to secure their spot using the
My Disney Experience App in order to be able to enter the queue. While thankfully this is currently no longer required for this particular attraction, you will still have to do this for both
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and
TRON Lightcycle / Run, and I'm happy to make the process clearer and easier for you so that you're better prepared:
- What you might consider to be "special reservations" is referred to by Cast Members as joining a Virtual Queue - just in case you seek a member of the Guest Experience Team in their distinctive blue shirts for assistance. (Sometimes when you inquire about having to make reservations, this can be confused with folks who have to make Theme Park Reservations depending on the type of theme park admission they have.) Rather, requesting to enter a Virtual Queue currently requires guests to be very vigilant about using their My Disney Experience app on their device during one of two daily opportunities - at 7:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. - in order to have a change to ride either of these attractions. From my observations and personal experiences these spots in either Virtual Queue do go pretty quickly and you'll currently need to be quick enough to make your request in order for greater chances at getting in; just last month I attempted even a minute or two beyond the scheduled time and the Virtual Queues had already closed.
- Some strategies that I've observed have helped folks and families be more successful have included synchronizing their time down to the second, and already familiarizing themselves with the process on the My Disney Experience app to know where to locate the Virtual Queues for these attractions and how to confirm their party for the smoothest and most efficient attempt.
- I must admit that in my opinion this can be stressful and disappointing - especially for guests who might not be as savvy nor a swift! An alternative option that you might want to look at is purchasing a Lightning Lane Single Pass for either of these attractions which will allow guests the opportunity to take advantage of being able to plan days in advance (which vary depending on whether you're staying at a Disney Resort Hotel or not) without having to worry about their chances on the day of their visit. This does come at an additional cost for the privilege, along with access to a shorter line so this make be handy for you this time around!
If you need any extra clarification or assistance with the process of using your device or the My Disney Experience app, I highly recommend taking the day before you head to either Magic Kingdom Park or EPCOT to ask a knowledgable Cast Member to show you in person. In the meantime, don't hesitate to come back over to us at planDisney for any other answers or advice!
Here's hoping you don't miss out on anything on your upcoming adventures!
Prince