How to Ride Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure w/ Virtual Queue & Boarding Groups

Now that Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in EPCOT is open, it’s important to know how to ride it. Knowing how to use the Virtual Queue along with boarding groups has been crucial for this ride, but it’s now moving to a traditional stand-by line instead.

Since its debut, using the virtual queue has been a difficult process at times, and one of the most frustrating experiences in a Disney park. Just the fact that you have to wake up early on your vacation to reserve an attraction is enough, let alone the mass chaos that ensues once the distribution window opens.

That is now changing and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is discontinuing the use of the virtual queue. Let’s take a look at the latest changes.

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(UPDATE) Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Now Using Standby Queue

Starting on January 10, 2022, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure will no longer use the virtual queue or boarding pass system and switch to a standby queue instead.

Much like when Rise of the Resistance switched to a standby queue, guests can get in line at any time during the day in order to ride the attraction. Guests also still have the possibility to buy an Individual Lightning Lane pass to skip the line.

Disney commented on the latest change to Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure:

“Now, guests may experience this incredible attraction using a standby queue instead of a virtual queue beginning Jan. 10, 2022. With this change, we will end the use of virtual queue for now for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. Guests also have the opportunity to purchase access to a Lightning Lane queue at this attraction.“

“Virtual queues continue to be helpful with the launch of popular attractions and the debut of new experiences and offerings, so we may use it again from time to time for select attractions in the future.”

With this latest change, it means that at this time no attractions at Walt Disney World are using the virtual queue system. That will likely change when new attractions open as it seems to be Disney’s way of handling the crowds when they first open.

It’s important to remember, this attraction is now using a standby line, but that could change overnight as Disney sees fit. They did say they are ending it “for now” which always leaves the door open for the future.

Make sure you check before you go to confirm which system it’s using. Whatever the case during your trip, we’ll give you the best strategy & tips to get you on the ride!

In the rest of this post, we are going to explain how to use the boarding groups for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, answer all your questions, and give you the best strategy to get into the Virtual Queue to make sure you experience this amazing new ride!

Should it go back to using boarding groups once again, consider this your Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Virtual Queue 101 class where you will learn everything you need to know. Since things are constantly changing at the Disney World parks, we will keep this article updated so you have the latest.

Why is Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Using the Virtual Queue?

If you’ve been to the Disney parks over the past couple of years, you’ll know that stand-by lines are not available for all the attractions, and some have started introducing the Disney Virtual Queue instead. This has been the case with Rise of the Resistance and WEB Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure.

Fans have been mixed about using the virtual queue and it has led to many moments where guests have wanted to throw their phone into the air when not getting a boarding group for their favorite ride.

Nevertheless, Disney has decided to use the virtual queue, especially for new attractions when they are most in demand. This system helps Disney keep these rides organized and stops the crowds from getting too big outside.

This is especially useful on a ride like Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure where space is limited in the back corner of the France pavilion.

While not quite as popular as Rise of the Resistance, keep in mind it’s one of the newest attractions in EPCOT and a favorite with families. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure has used the virtual queue system since opening day, and we foresee it staying that way for a while (more on that later).

How Does the Virtual Queue Work for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure?

The virtual queue allows guests to reserve a spot in line, without actually having to get in line physically. When the distribution time starts, guests log in to the My Disney Experience app where they receive a boarding pass telling them when it’s their turn to get in line.

Keep in mind that only guests with a valid theme park ticket and park pass reservations to EPCOT on the same day will be able to make boarding group reservations. Make sure to link your theme park tickets to your My Disney Experience account otherwise you will not be able to get a reservation.

• REMEMBER: When the Virtual Queue is running, it’s the only free way you can ride Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. The other option is paying to ride using the Individual Lightning Lanes which is part of the new Disney Genie system.

What are Boarding Groups?

In order to hold their place in the virtual queue, guests are assigned to a boarding group. They are numbered and can go as high as 150-200. These boarding groups are then called in numerical order to let guests know it’s time to get in line for the attraction.

When you are waiting to be called, you can see which numbers are currently being loaded on the attraction and it will also tell you the estimated time remaining until your group is called.

What Time Do Boarding Groups Open?

There are two daily boarding pass distribution times for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure:

• 7:00 am
• 1:00 pm

Having two boarding group distribution times means that guests have 2 opportunities to get into the virtual queue each day. If you can’t get a boarding pass in the first time slot, you still have another chance later in the day.

7:00 am Distribution Time – Reservations for boarding passes in the morning can be made from anywhere outside the theme park. This means you can get into the virtual queue from your hotel or your home.

1:00 pm Distribution Time – Boarding passes during the second distribution time must be made from INSIDE EPCOT.

Getting a Boarding Pass Step-by-Step

Now we are going to explain step-by-step how to get into the virtual queue for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure:

STEP 1: How to Prepare

Before you ever attempt to get into the virtual queue, you need to download the My Disney Experience app on your mobile device. It’s simple to set up and can be done on both iPhone and Android devices.

Once the app is installed, create an account and make sure your park tickets are linked to your account. You also need to make sure all the members of your party are connected to each other in My Disney Experience, otherwise, you won’t be able to ride together.

Once that is done, you need to make park pass reservations for everyone in your group for EPCOT on the day you plan on visiting.

STEP 2: Pre-Selecting Your Party

Pre-selecting your party for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure will save you time once the distribution window opens. This should be automatically done for you if you are all properly linked in My Disney Experience and you each have a park pass for the day.

If you are not all pre-selected into the same party before the distribution window opens, you will have to do it then and it will only slow you down. Trust us, you don’t want to waste those valuable seconds as it could make the difference between getting a boarding pass or not.

You can check as early as 6:00 am on the morning of your booking, though it’s sufficient to check 5-10 minutes before 7:00 am.

STEP 3: Make Reservations

1. Get to a spot where you have a good Wi-Fi signal or cellular data signal on your phone. The fastest guests win, so you don’t want to have a weak signal. Test your connection by loading some pages on your internet browser.
2. At 6:50 am, open up My Disney Experience. This will give you at least 10 minutes before the distribution window opens to get ready (open it at 12:55 pm if going for the 1:00 pm window.
3. Make sure your account is properly logged into My Disney Experience as it sometimes logs you out automatically. You don’t want to lose those valuable seconds doing this at 7:00 am.
4. Go to the Virtual Queue page in the app and tap on the button “Join Virtual Queue.” At 3 seconds before 7:00 am, start tapping the “REFRESH” button on the page as quickly as you can. Keep doing this until you see the “JOIN” button and press it immediately!
5. Your party should already be pre-selected so on the next page just click “JOIN” once again and you are in! If you are successful, you will then be given a boarding group number which lets you know your approximate return time.
6. When your number is called, proceed to the entrance of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure to ride.

If a Distribution Time Has Filled Try Again in the Afternoon

Getting into the virtual queue during the 7:00 am slot has been almost impossible, and boarding passes end to sell out within seconds.

If you can’t get a boarding pass during the 7:00 am window, try again at 1:00 pm. This gives you another chance to enter the virtual queue. The only downside is that there are fewer slots distributed then and you will have to wait until the evening to ride.

• REMEMBER: You need to be inside the park to get a boarding group during the 1:00 pm distribution.

If there is no more room in the Virtual Queue for either distribution time, a message will show on the “Join Virtual Queue” screen saying that distribution time is complete. This happens first at the 7:00 am window, then again at 1:00 pm.

Once distribution for the 1:00 pm window is complete, capacity for the attraction that day is finished.

How Do I Know When My Boarding Group is Ready?

There are two ways to check if your boarding group is ready for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.

1. First, you can check your My Disney Experience app under the section “Virtual Queues.” There it will show you any queues you are currently in and how much time is left until you are called.
2. You can also check the status of the virtual queue by looking at the information boards located throughout the park.

When checking the virtual queue you can see which groups are currently boarding and your “Estimated Return” time. This number counts down the minutes until your group is called. This is helpful so you can do other attractions or get something to eat while you are waiting to ride.

You can also enable “Push Notifications” for the My Disney Experience Mobile App which will send you a message automatically to your mobile screen when your boarding group is ready. This is a reliable way to be notified, but just to be safe we still recommend going into the app and manually checking from time to time.

Once your boarding group is ready there will be a message in the “My Queues” section of the app:  “It’s Time, Head to the experience by: (insert time).”  Once you see this message it’s time to ride.

When you show up at the entrance of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, a Cast Member will scan your MagicBand and allow you to enter the ride.

How Many Times Can I Ride Per Day?

At this time guests are limited to one ride per day on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. This is the same as any attraction that uses the virtual queue and will continue to be like this until they open it up to a stand-by line.

This will eventually change in the future but for now, you can only ride once per day.

FAQs

Since getting a boarding pass is no small matter you likely have even more questions about the process. Here are the answers to some of the most common FAQs:

Can I Be in the Virtual Queue for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Another Attraction at the Same Time?

No, you can’t. Guests cannot be in the virtual queue for both Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and another attraction that uses the virtual queue at the same time.

This means if you are deciding between going to two parks on the same day which each has an attraction that uses the virtual queue, you will have to pick which one is more important to ride that day.

Thankfully, right now there are no other rides in Walt Disney World that are using the virtual queue system. Recently, Disney suspended the boarding groups for Rise of the Resistance and went back to a stand-by queue, so there is no competition for the Ratatouille ride at this time.

Does Everyone Have to Be in the Park to Join a Boarding Group?

This depends on which distribution time you are trying to get a boarding group for. If you are trying during the 7:00 am window, you are not required to be in EPCOT (it’s closed anyway) and you can make your reservation from anywhere.

If you are trying to get into the virtual queue at 1:00 pm, however, all members of your group must be present inside EPCOT or it won’t work.

Do All Guests Need to Have the My Disney Experience Mobile App?

No, they don’t. If everyone in your group has the My Disney Experience app it makes things easier, but it’s not necessary to ride Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.

Whoever does not have My Disney Experience in your group, their tickets must be linked to the account of the person making boarding pass reservations.

Disney Wi-Fi or Cellular Data When Getting a Boarding Pass?

One of the most popular questions we get is whether to use the Disney Wi-Fi network or cellular data when getting into the virtual queue.

From our experience, using your own cellular data when getting a boarding group gets much better results than using Disney’s park Wi-Fi network. The Wi-Fi connection in any of the Disney parks is unreliable at best which you absolutely don’t want when going through the reservation process.

Get to a place inside EPCOT where your mobile phone has a good cellular signal and make your reservations from there.

When Should I Return to the Queue to Ride?

When your boarding group is called for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure you have 1 hour to return to the ride before your spot in the virtual queue expires. For example, if your group is called at 12:00 pm, you have until 1:00 pm to show up and get in line.

Guests are usually given a grace period of about 15 minutes more so if you are running late for some reason you can still make it in time.

You should monitor what groups are currently being called and how far away you are to determine which attractions you have time for before your boarding group is called.

Even though you have an hour, we recommend returning immediately when your group is called. The ride can sometimes go down and if it’s later in the day you may not get a chance to ride at all so better safe than sorry!

What if the Ride is Down When My Group is Called?

Don’t worry, this happens from time to time. If your group is called and when you show up the attraction is down, you will be able to come back at a later time in the day.

Just take a screenshot of your boarding group number and then monitor My Disney Experience to see when the attraction is back up and running. Disney will not automatically notify you so you need to keep checking. Once it’s back up, head to the ride and show your boarding group and you will get right on.

What Time Do Boarding Passes Run Out?

During the 7:00 am distribution time, the virtual queue typically fills up in 5-10 seconds max. During the 1:00 pm, boarding passes last a little longer and you can sometimes get them 30 minutes or more after opening.

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure has been a very popular ride since opening and the virtual queue fills up extremely fast each day. That plus the fact that it doesn’t have a massive hourly capacity means a limited number of boarding passes each day.

Boarding Groups Strategy & Tips

Getting into the virtual queue for any ride at the Disney parks is a nerve-wracking experience and maybe the most stressful thing you will do on your vacation. People actually cheer in the parks when they get one, and we’ve heard a few crying too.

Not only do you want to get a boarding pass, but it would also be nice to get a low number if possible. That could be the difference between doing the ride at 12:00 pm or having to wait until later in the evening when you might have dinner reservations.

Here are our best tips to keep in mind:

Have Multiple People Getting Boarding Groups

This is one of the best tips I can give you. You will exponentially increase your chances of getting into the virtual queue if you have everyone in your group all attempt to get boarding passes at the same time.

The reason for this is that when the distribution window opens, you will be competing against thousands of other guests at the same time. Having a limited number of reservations available makes this an issue.

The more people you have trying to get boarding passes for everyone, the higher the odds you will get them. Whoever is the first to get into the virtual queue will get a confirmation message for the group saying it was a success. Everyone else will then get a message also confirming they are in a group.

Just make sure everyone capable of using a cell phone has the My Disney Experience app downloaded well before attempting to get a boarding group.

Your Timing is Crucial

If it wasn’t clear by now, every second counts when trying to get into the virtual queue and a delay of any kind could cost you a spot on the attraction. Every advantage counts and when you open the My Disney Experience app or when you refresh the page will make all the difference.

We recommend opening the app at least 5 minutes before the distribution window opens. This will help you to get your bearings before the big moment. Look at the page and get everything lined up and ready to go so you aren’t fumbling at the last second.

Also, having a newer phone is going to make a huge difference as the pages will load faster. The latest model of whatever phone you use will have an advantage over the previous model.

Check the Settings on Your Phone

First, check the time settings on your phone to make sure it is displaying properly. Disney’s clocks are synchronized with the site time.gov so make sure your clock is set correctly.

Second, test the speed of your phone ahead of time. This is important and could make the difference between riding or not. A score of around 50-60 Mbps should be fast enough.

Before it’s time to make your reservations, close out any other apps on your phone and make sure the My Disney Experience Mobile App is the only one running. You don’t want other programs or memory conflicts to slow you down.

Get Familiar with the Virtual Queue

We recommend getting familiar with the app and the virtual queue page at home or in the days leading up to the day you need to get a boarding pass.

Even though you won’t actually be able to join a boarding group unless you have a park pass reservation for that day, practicing ahead of time will get you familiar with the app and how the whole process works, which will be invaluable to your success in scoring a low boarding group.

Refresh Your Page

Once you are about 5 seconds from the distribution time, start refreshing the virtual queue reservations page continuously to give you the best chance of getting in.

There are two ways to do this:

1. Swipe down on the page to refresh. Do this every second until the “JOIN” button appears and then proceed to make your reservation.
2. Continuously tap the “Refresh” button at the bottom of the page until the “JOIN” button appears. Then continue making the reservation.

Both of these ways work, but the second option of tapping the “Refresh” button is quicker and gives you the best chance. Start this a few seconds before the window opens up and click it repeatedly until it shows up.

Speed is the key here so don’t hesitate or you might not get in. Again, the 7:00 am is much more difficult and you shouldn’t have an issue getting in during the 1:00 pm time slot.

What Time Do I Need to Arrive at the Park?

If you get a boarding pass during the first distribution window at 7:00 am, you can arrive at EPCOT any time you want, as long as you are there in time when your boarding group is called.

If you are trying to get into the Virtual Queue during the second distribution time at 1:00 pm, you need to be in EPCOT park before 1:00 pm. This means tapping into the park entrance and walking through the turnstiles. If you are not there in time you will likely miss your opportunity.

Set Your Alarm

You may have everything down perfectly and be ready to go, but if you oversleep you can kiss your boarding pass goodbye.

The morning distribution time starts at 7:00 am. Set your alarm for at least 10 minutes before that at 6:50 am. This will give you a few minutes to wake up, open your phone, and get ready to score a boarding pass.

Even if you are trying during the second distribution window at 1:00 pm, set your alarm on your phone for 5-10 minutes before that. You may be eating or on a ride, and it’s easy to forget you need to make reservations so set that alarm as a reminder.

Can I Leave EPCOT and Go Back?

Guests with a boarding pass for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure are allowed to leave EPCOT and come back later in the day. The only thing to keep in mind is you will need to be back in time when your boarding group is called.

Make sure you keep an eye on the boarding groups in My Disney Experience and give yourself plenty of time to get back since you only have 1 hour to ride from when your group is called.

What If I Make a Mistake?

It’s ok, mistakes happen and most of the time they can be fixed. The most common mistakes with the virtual queue are not including everyone in your party or adding additional guests.

The most important thing to remember is: Do NOT delete your boarding group and try to create a new one! If you do this you will lose your reservation and will likely not get it back, ruining your chance to ride.

If you have a mistake to fix, go to a Disney Cast Member and either they will help you fix the issue, or they will direct you to someone who can. Of course, always use manners and understand the Cast Member wants to help you resolve the problem as much as you so kind words and patience go a long way.

If You Can’t Get a Boarding Group Use Lightning Lane

So if after doing everything right that we talked about in this post, and you still couldn’t get a boarding pass, what now? Don’t worry, all hope is not lost, you can also pay to get on the ride.

That’s right. As a last resort, you could use the Individual Lightning Lane and purchase a ride on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. It costs approximately $9 per person to ride (price can fluctuate depending on the day).

We know what you are thinking, “I don’t want to pay to ride, why can’t I do it for free?” Trust me, I’m with you. It goes against every fiber of being to pay for attractions on top of my park admission. However, I’m just laying this out as an option for you if you are desperate.

If you tried and failed during the first 2 distribution windows but you absolutely must ride Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, paying for it is an option. I probably wouldn’t personally, but it’s there if you want to.

Park Hopping and the Virtual Queue

Even though park hopping is back at Walt Disney World, you won’t be able to take advantage of it at this time with Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.

The first distribution time starts at 7:00 am, but you can’t make a reservation for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure unless you have EPCOT a park pass reservation for it as your first park of the day. That means you can’t go to another park before EPCOT that day.

The second distribution time is at 1:00 pm and reservations can be made from inside the park. The only problem is that park hopping doesn’t start until 2:00 pm. That means you can’t get into EPCOT in time for the start of the virtual queue booking.

The only chance you might have is if you arrive at 2:00 pm and the virtual queue is not yet full for the day. Technically this could happen, but I wouldn’t count on it.

Virtual Queue with DAS

With Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure using the virtual queue, you may be wondering how that affects guests that use the Disability Access System (DAS). Using DAS with the virtual queue doesn’t change much, however, there are a few things to keep in mind.

• Guests using DAS still must use the virtual queue to get a boarding pass for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. There is no skipping the virtual queue just because you are using DAS.

You can join the virtual queue at 7:00 am or 1:00 pm, just like all other guests. Make sure you and your entire party are connected in My Disney Experience otherwise you can’t ride together.

When your boarding group is called, everyone in your party should proceed to the entrance of the attraction. Instead of getting into the normal queue, you will go to the Lightning Lane entrance and tell a cast member there you are using DAS.

The person with DAS will first scan their MagicBand, card, or phone, and then the rest of the members in the party will follow.

The attraction is fully accessible so if you are driving an ECV you can take it with you into the queue and a cast member will direct you the rest of the way. Wheelchairs can be loaded directly into a special ride vehicle so there is no need to transfer.

One thing to keep in mind is by using DAS and the Lightning Lane, you will miss the best parts of the ride queue. You won’t get to see the nighttime rooftop scene for example, but this is a tradeoff for getting through the line quicker.

How Long Will Disney Use Virtual Queue for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure?

At this point in time, Disney is no longer planning on using the virtual queue for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, at least not on a regular basis. Anything is possible, but there are a few things to consider…

First, Disney decided to use the virtual queue for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure because it was a new attraction and they anticipated it being very popular with guests. Disney has made using the virtual queue a precedent in recent years for new rides, using for Rise of the Resistance on both coasts and WEB Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure at DCA.

The only ride that didn’t adopt the virtual queue was Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, but that attraction is able to handle a larger number of guests per hour than the others making the virtual queue not as useful.

RRA on the other hand can handle a much smaller number of guests per hour and is located in the back corner of the France pavilion where space is at a premium. As crowds start getting lower for the ride, there isn’t as much of a need anymore.

Also, moving later into the year, it will no longer be the most popular attraction in EPCOT, reducing the need for the virtual queue.

Looking further down the line into EPCOT’s expansion plan for the park, there is another attraction under construction that might have had an influence on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. When Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opens in 2022, that will instantly become the park’s most popular ride and will likely also use the virtual queue.

At this point, it makes sense that Disney is removing it from Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure as we don’t think they would use the virtual queue on two attractions in the same park at the exact same time.

Of course, they decided to remove it much sooner which is probably connected to fewer expected guests in the coming months. Rise of the Resistance used it for almost two years, but that was because of maintenance issues and its extreme popularity. That isn’t the case here in EPCOT and they probably will not need to bring it back anytime in 2022.

Ultimately, we’ll have to wait and see what Disney decides to do. We’ll keep you updated with any changes to the system and let you know when it starts using the standby queue.

That brings to a conclusion our look at riding Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure with the virtual queue. We hope this guide will be helpful in getting a boarding pass on your next visit to EPCOT.

For more information on planning your vacation to Walt Disney World here are some of our most useful posts:

• Disney World Crowd Calendar
• When Is the Best Time to Visit Disney World?
• New Attractions Coming to Walt Disney World in the Next 3 Years

Your Thoughts

I want to know what you think about using the virtual queue for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in EPCOT…

• Do you like using boarding groups?
• What changes would you make to the virtual queue for this ride?

Let us know in the comments section below!

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