Waiting in line is usually looked at as a necessary hassle before you can get to the main attraction. However, Walt Disney World has put a great deal of time and effort into making its queues nearly as interesting at the rides themselves. Some rides even feature new interactive queues with games, riddles, and entertaining audioanimatronics to keep you entertained along the way.
These queues are so much fun, they’re worth a visit in and of themselves…
1. Jungle Cruise
Jungle Cruise Orangutan CrateSomething’s escaped from the orangutan crate
The Jungle Cruise queue is filled with fun gags that actually make it an interesting place to stand around for awhile. Stop and read the warnings and labels on the crates and boxes that fill the queue area. Nearly all of them feature a joke of some kind, though some are more subtle than others. If you’ve exhausted your reading options in the immediate vicinity, stop and simply listen. This queue has excellent audio that’s as joke-laden as the attraction itself.
2. Toy Story Midway Mania
Waiting in line for Toy Story Midway Mania is like travelling through a set from the movie. You’re suddenly the size of a toy and everything around you is larger than life as you explore Andy’s bedroom. Feast your eyes on classic toys and games in their oversized glory as you head toward the midway. The highlight of the queue is the interactive Mr. Potato Head. This impressive audioanimatronic leads guests in cheers and songs, tells jokes, and provides ample entertainment.
3. Expedition Everest
The queue for Expedition Everest sets the scene for your trek up the mountain perfectly. You begin at the Himalayan Escapes travel agency, where you’re presumably booking your trip. As you progress, you move through beautiful landscapes taken right from Asia, including a tea garden and temple. The queue culminates in the Yeti Museum, where you start to see hints that your trip up the mountain may be fraught with more dangers than the travel agency let on. Photos, footprints, and artifacts hint at something sinister waiting up the mountain.
4. Haunted Mansion
Haunted Mansion’s interactive queue extends the well-loved theming of this attraction far beyond the mansion’s doors. You have the option to skip this part of the queue, but if you have a few extra minutes to spare, it really does offer a fun distraction. A family of busts offers a challenging puzzle to solve as you pass, various instruments play a ghostly tune when you touch them, and there’s something off about that bookshelf. Don’t hesitate to poke around as you wander through this cryptic garden.
5. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Children will love the new interactive queue area outside the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. In fact, this outdoor play area may be so appealing that you can’t get them back in line. From drumming on watermelons to playing with a busy bunch of bees, there’s something to enjoy every step of the way. Don’t miss the honey wall, which reveals a hidden picture when you sweep the sweet golden ooze away.
6. Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid
The queue for Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid is incredibly detailed, taking you on a journey through Ariel’s favorite haunts. You can play interactive games with sea crabs, get to know a lively audioanimatronic of Scuttle, and check out some of Ariel’s many treasures from the human world. The final room takes you through Prince Eric’s beautiful castle, though you may miss this last part if the line isn’t long enough.
7. Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
If you’ve ever watched the Twilight Zone, you can’t miss the queue for the Tower of Terror. It’s worth checking out the little details here even if you step out of line before you actually board the ride. The queue and pre-show area both feature memorabilia from various episodes of the show. Traveling through the decrepit hotel, you can’t help but feel a little uneasy. Everything is frozen in time, right down to an unfinished game of Mah Jong. Layers of dust and cobwebs cover the lobby, and the decaying gardens make it obvious that this hotel hasn’t seen living occupants in a long time.
8. Dumbo the Flying Elephant
The twin versions of Dumbo the Flying Elephant in the New Fantasyland have the most ingenious queue feature ever for a ride that’s designed for the smallest of visitors. Inside the queue, you’re dropped into a massive indoor playground, predictably themed around the circus. A play car and puzzle walls sit in the center, surrounded by benches so parents can relax and keep an eye on small tots. A larger playscape behind it offers room for bigger kids to climb and explore. There’s no better way to pass the time in line, and this air conditioned playground is worth a stop even if you exit before you get to the ride.
No matter where you are in the parks, keep your eyes open when you’re in line. These aren’t the only queues with something interesting to offer, and with new interactive queues popping up all over the park, you never know what you’ll find.
