Disney Makes a Change to Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

When you’re a Disney Fanatic, the small things matter. What does that mean? When Disney announces that Guests can enjoy After Hours at new Theme Parks when it updates shows like “Fantasmic!,” or when a fan-favorite (albeit controversial) attraction closes for a retheme. In this vein, there’s one change that Disney just announced for the recently reopened Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and it has to do with the Guest experience for the attraction—specifically, it has to do with how the queue system for the attraction will work.

One attraction that has been the talk of the town is Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway in Mickey’s Toontown, Disneyland Resort. The attraction opened prior to the rest of the land in honor of the centennial celebrations of the Walt Disney Company—the Disney100 celebration. And, when it opened, it was given a virtual queue: one that filled up almost instantaneously. But no more.

Journalist Scott Gustin took to Twitter to share that the attraction will no longer use a virtual queue; rather, it will switch to a regular standby queue beginning February 22, 2023.

NEW: Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disneyland will use a regular standby queue starting tomorrow (Feb. 22). A virtual queue will not be used.

Individual Lightning Lane will continue to be offered. pic.twitter.com/XK6c58Htxm

— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) February 21, 2023

Gustin clarified in a later tweet about Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway that “Disneyland may resume using the virtual queue in the future if needed (based on crowds, demand, etc.). Disneyland used similar language when virtual queue was paused/ended for WEB SLINGERS.”

You can check the attraction's status on any given day by going to Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway in the Disneyland app. Here's what it looks like today when a virtual queue is being used: pic.twitter.com/Yd9hyqmwEc

— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) February 21, 2023

However, the attraction will continue to use an Individual Lightning Lane, with no change announced to the paid service for fans to experience lower wait times. This is not so surprising a move considering that the whole Disney Genie suite and related products are ones that Disney has time and again reiterated its belief in. It’s necessity (though arguably not popularity) is one that was reinforced over President’s Day weekend at Walt Disney World Resort.

Read More: Disney Genie+ Proves To Be As Necessary As Ever, Despite Guest Complaints

While, for the moment, it looks like Guests will have to purchase an Individual Lightning Lane or use the regular standby queue for this ride, we will continue to report on these operational changes that impact Guests’ Disney experience.