Orlando, Tuesday, 30 September 2025.
On Monday Walt Disney World began testing a procedure for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT that splits pre‑show groups—Standby left, Lightning Lane right—and allows Lightning Lane guests to enter the final pre‑show exit and queue first. For operators this tweak signals a shift toward granular access controls that can change throughput, guest segmentation, and revenue capture tied to paid priority. The test aims to reduce right‑side crowding and surge‑induced bottlenecks but raises implications for virtual‑queue algorithms, standby capacity modeling, cycle‑time measurement, load/unload staffing and perceived equity among guests. Retail and park planners should monitor hourly throughput, cycle times, lift‑hill load factors, and any move from cast‑member directing to physical stanchions. Communication strategy will be crucial to manage guest satisfaction and brand risk as prioritisation becomes more explicit. Short‑term Lightning Lane gains may alter demand patterns and premium valuation; longer term, results could justify policy changes or tiers.