Theme park purists, brace yourselves—Universal Orlando Resort may be going all-in on virtual queues.
For years, theme parks have experimented with ways to keep guests from standing in long, winding lines. FastPass, Lightning Lane, Genie+—Disney has thrown every name imaginable at its crowd control systems, while Universal’s own Virtual Line system has quietly existed in the background.
But now, with the opening of Epic Universe just around the corner, it looks like Universal is about to put virtual queues front and center.
Not to be dramatic, but it’s a move that could change the Universal theme park experience as we know it. While some fans embrace virtual queues as a way to minimize wait times, others argue they introduce a different kind of chaos. Universal has already flirted with virtual-only access for certain attractions. If Epic Universe takes that approach across the board, guests may find themselves in a high-stakes digital battle just to experience the park’s biggest rides.
Epic Universe and the Virtual Queue Question
When Universal unveiled its official map for Epic Universe, eagle-eyed fans noticed something interesting. Each of the park’s lands had an icon that seemed to indicate a virtual queue system would be in place. While those symbols were later removed, the speculation didn’t stop. Now, new evidence suggests Universal is indeed doubling down on digital reservation systems.
According to recent trademark filings, Universal is officially staking its claim on the term “Virtual Line.”
The description is strikingly detailed, outlining a system designed to manage wait times through a smartphone-based reservation process. While Universal has used this term before, the new filing suggests it’s about to become a core part of the guest experience at Epic Universe.
If that’s the case, visitors might need to secure a virtual spot for major 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 Universal will require virtual reservations for every ride or just the most in-demand ones remains to be seen.
Universal’s Virtual Line History—and What’s Next
Universal has experimented with Virtual Line for years, but until now, it’s mostly been a side feature. Halloween Horror Nights houses have used the system to control crowds, and Mardi Gras float riders have relied on it to reserve their spots. Meanwhile, Volcano Bay’s TapuTapu system—where guests use a wristband to hold their place in line—offered a more comprehensive take on virtual queuing.
However, Universal has never attempted anything on the scale of what Epic Universe might bring. If the new park does lean heavily on Virtual Line for every single land, it could be the biggest shift in how guests experience attractions since Disney introduced FastPass.
The good news? Virtual queues can eliminate long physical waits and keep pathways clear. The bad news? If spots disappear within seconds—something Disney fans know all too well—it could turn a dream vacation into a digital scramble.
With Epic Universe promising to be one of the biggest theme park openings in decades, the stakes are high. Universal will need to strike the right balance between efficiency and accessibility. A well-run virtual queue system could redefine theme park visits for the better. A chaotic rollout, on the other hand, could spark major frustration.
So, is this the future of theme park lines, or just another headache in the making? Only time—and the first wave of guests in May—will tell.
Are you for or against virtual queues in theme parks?
