Hiya, Torri, and welcome to planDisney!
A late January trip to The Most Magical Place on Earth will be perfect for experiencing the
EPCOT Festival of the Arts (a must-do in my book!) and enjoying the cooler Florida weather. And I like the way you think, Torri. Prioritizing the more thrilling attractions is my go-to strategy when visiting the theme parks because of the
Virtual Queue system. Buckle up; let’s get into your best plan of action to check these attractions off your list.
The short answer: Yes, you will need to have a theme park reservation as an
Annual Passholder even after January 9, 2023 (when date-based ticket holders no longer need them). You will also want to make a park reservation for the theme park that is home to the attraction that you desire to ride. For example, if you want to ride the fully immersive, totally rad
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, make a theme park reservation for EPCOT.
When you go into the Virtual Queues section of the
My Disney Experience App and click “Join Virtual Queue,” the eligible members of your party will be listed there on the day of your visit. I like to check this a few minutes before the 7 a.m. Virtual Queue release to ensure that everyone is listed. If you don’t get a spot, no worries! There is another opportunity at 1 p.m., but you’ll have to be already scanned into the theme park to grab a spot.
AN EXTRA GEM: There are two upcoming changes for Annual Passholders that may alter this plan. The first is that starting on January 11, 2023, there will be some days listed on the theme park availability calendar as
“Good-To-Go Days.” No theme park reservations will be required for those days and specified theme parks. Also, by the time of your visit, Guests with annual passes or tickets with the Park Hopper Option can park hop all day long. This means that technically you could make a theme park reservation for another theme park, then park hop to Magic Kingdom Park or EPCOT in time for the second Virtual Queue opportunity for
TRON Lightcycle / Run and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind by 1 p.m. Once this change starts, we’ll know for sure if this is how that park hopping and Virtual Queue process will work.
Torri, let the countdown begin! You’ll be saving the galaxy and entering the Grid before you know it. If you need any last-minute suggestions or questions about maximizing your time at Walt Disney World Resort,
ask us here at planDisney.
Magic always,
LeAndra