Hiya, Emily! It sounds like you are in the middle of the magic but having a less-than-magical time joining a Virtual Queue. Let's see if we can get this sorted before the second chance at 1 p.m.
I have had experiences trying to add a friend to a Boarding Group and getting the message that the Guest was already in a group. This happened when several of us were trying at the same time. That person had only tried for herself, and I was trying to add her. She had gotten a spot in the queue, so the system would not allow me to add her. That was before they changed the
My Disney Experience app, which now allows you to create your Boarding Group before the
Virtual Queue opens. I'm unsure what would have happened for you this morning to get a "Guest
not already in a group message." Unless the message said that you
are already in a group, meaning you had a friend who successfully got you in a Virtual Queue. I hope that is the case, but if not, let's talk about the second chance.
The Virtual Queues can fill in a fraction of a second, so it is as much a game of luck as skill. There is a second opening for Guests inside the park with the attraction at 1 p.m. So, if you are in
Magic Kingdom Park, you will get a second chance for
Tiana's Bayou Adventure this afternoon. Same for
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind for Guests at
EPCOT.
To get ready for the second chance, make sure you are all connected as
Family & Friends. Set an alarm on your phone for 12:55 p.m. As the time approaches, make sure you plan your attractions so you can focus and are not doing things like racing through a restaurant on
Remy's Ratatouille Adventure at 1 p.m.
Disney recommends only one person try to get the Virtual Queue. If you want to have multiple people try at the same time, make sure each of you has everyone in your Boarding Group.
Close to 1 p.m., open the My Disney Experience app and go to the main menu page (the "≡" at the bottom of the screen). Scroll to "My Visit" and select "Virtual Queue." Tap to join a Virtual Queue and select the attraction you want to experience. Confirm your party and keep refreshing as close to 1:00:00 p.m. as possible.
If you have questions while in the theme parks, you can stop by and ask the
Guest Experiences Team. They are under the giant blue umbrellas throughout the parks.
I'm crossing my fingers for a little Pixie Dust and luck to add some magic to your afternoon!
Jana