Confirmed: Universal Going All in on Virtual Lines Ahead of Epic Universe

Theme park fans who dread virtual queues won’t be thrilled about the latest update from Universal Orlando Resort.

Virtual queues may sound like a promising concept, but the reality for theme park fans hasn’t exactly been 100% positive. At Walt Disney World Resort, for example, rides that use virtual queues (which is fortunately none right now, since Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure dropped theirs in February), guests must secure a spot through an app at specific times, creating a stressful, high-stakes race.

Many theme park fans prefer traditional standby lines over the uncertainty of virtual queues. With limited spots filling up in seconds, those who don’t snag a reservation risk missing out entirely. The system also disrupts spontaneity, requiring guests to plan their entire day around a timed return window. While virtual queues reduce physical wait times, they introduce new stressors, leaving many questioning whether they’re truly an improvement over the classic first-come, first-served approach.

Is Epic Universe Using Mass Virtual Queues?

As Universal prepares to open its third Florida theme park, Epic Universe, in May, some degree of virtual queues seems inevitable.

Inside the Magic previously covered the fact that every land appeared to have virtual line symbols next to their names on the Epic Universe map. While this was later removed, it did suggest that Universal has plans in place to control crowding come May.

If that’s the case, that means guests would likely need to secure slots to ride all new attractions like Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment in Dark Universe. Whether that would be the case for all rides – or simply on a land-by-land basis – remains to be seen.

However, the latest news to emerge from the park ahead of its opening seems to double down on the prospect of some kind of virtual queue system.

Universal has reportedly filed to trademark Virtual Line – the phrase it currently uses to mark rides and attractions that utilize this system. Judging by the filing, it wants that term to become synonymous with the Universal experience. Disney notably uses the phrase “Virtual Queue” instead.

The filing reads as follows:

Entertainment services, namely, arranging for reservations for theme, amusement, and water park attractions rendered in-person or via smartphone; entertainment services, namely, offering computerized reservation services for amusement, theme and water park attractions through the use of an electronic computer system and for reducing and managing wait times; entertainment services, namely, providing virtual queuing services, namely, making reservations for others for theme, amusement, and water park attractions, to manage and reduce wait times; entertainment services, namely, ticketing services for theme, amusement, and water park attractions rendered in-person or via smartphone.

Universal’s History of Virtual Lines

Until now, Universal has primarily used Virtual Lines for the Mardi Gras Float Riding experience and Halloween Horror Nights houses. Its water park, Volcano Bay, has embraced the concept much more thoroughly, with a system known as TapuTapu (which has faced some interruptions lately) that involves a wearable wristband and means you don’t spend too long waiting out in the sun for your next slide.

SUPER NINTENDO WORLD also used a virtual queue at both Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Hollywood when the land first opened.

Epic Universe promises to be a game-changer for Universal Orlando Resort, however, both in terms of sheer accomplishment and attendance. With the park inevitably attracting high crowds for its first few months – if not first few years – of operation, introducing a much more regimented Virtual Lines system may not be the worst idea, as long as it’s openly accessible to all guests.