The Rise of the Immersive Queue
Growing up in a small town outside of Pittsburgh, PA, my home park was Kennywood. It’s a charming, family-friendly park—but when it came to ride queues, it was all metal railings and endless zig-zags. Even when I got the chance to visit larger parks like Cedar Point or Busch Gardens, the formula was the same: the thrill came at the end of a long, uneventful wait.
That all changed when I experienced Disney and Universal.
These two giants have completely raised the bar when it comes to what a queue can be. They’ve taken the boring wait time before a ride and turned it into part of the attraction itself—sometimes so well that you forget you’re even in line. Whether the goal was to immerse guests in the story or just keep us entertained during long waits, it works. And we absolutely love it.
In fact, the queue is now a major part of how we review rides. Did it tell a story? Was it engaging? Did it make us forget we were in line?
Let’s take a look at a few standouts that have nailed the immersive queue—and even redefined the concept entirely.
Disney: The Masters of Storytelling
Disney was the first park where I realized the queue could be an experience of its own. Suddenly, I wasn’t just standing in line. I was being drawn into a story. In the olden days (Early 1990’s) I thought Disney did it well—but now? WOW. They’ve truly perfected the art of storytelling through their parks, rides, and especially their queues.
Rise of the Resistance is the ultimate example. The story starts the moment you enter the line. You begin in tunnels—pretty standard—but the theming sets the tone. Then, a pre-show begins. I remember being blown away the first time I saw the Haunted Mansion pre-show as a kid, but this takes it to another level. You’re briefed on your mission, step into a transport vehicle (which I assumed was the ride), get taken hostage by the First Order (still thought I was on the ride), and eventually end up in a jail cell. When the real ride vehicles finally appear, it hits you—you were in the queue the entire time. Absolute brilliance. All rides should be like this.
Disney has always been strong in storytelling, but with lands like Pandora and Galaxy’s Edge, they’ve reached a whole new level. And we expect nothing less from upcoming additions like Villains Land and Monstropolis – the world of Monsters, Inc.
Universal: Immersion with an Edge
Universal has some iconic immersive queues, rides, and worlds of their own. For example, Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade are amazing lands with some over-the-top attractions. The Escape from Gringotts “bank tour” and the walk through Hogwarts Castle on Forbidden Journey are incredible. They make you feel like you’ve stepped into the Wizarding World itself—with grand sets, character interactions, and tons of hidden details for Harry Potter fans.
Universal has long impressed with its storytelling—whether it’s the bold, comic book chaos of Marvel Super Hero Island or the colorful whimsy of Seuss Landing. But now, something new is on the horizon, ready to raise the bar once again.
Enter Epic Universe: Universal’s most ambitious leap into full-scale world building yet!
Epic Universe: The New Standard
These aren’t just immersive queues and rides—they’re entire worlds brought to life. In Super Nintendo World, Bowser’s Challenge features one of the most impressive queues yet, placing you right inside Bowser’s Castle before launching you into a Mario Kart race. How to Train Your Dragon is a stunning recreation of the Isle of Berk, capturing every detail. But one ride stands out to us above the rest…
The latest ride to top our immersive queue list is Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment in Dark Universe. This queue is a detailed walkthrough of Frankenstein’s Manor—complete with eerie experiments, creepy portraits, and lifelike animatronics. It’s genuinely unsettling in the best way and sets the perfect tone for what’s to come.
Coasters Are Getting In On It, Too
It’s not just dark rides pulling off immersive queues and story-telling anymore. Coasters are jumping in, too.
- Velocicoaster is one of our all-time favorites. The queue perfectly captures the feel of Jurassic World, complete with animatronic raptors and high-stakes vibes.
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind pulls you right into the Marvel universe.
- Stardust Racers comes with an epic backstory—a high-speed race on a comet—brought to life through stunning music and dynamic lighting effects.
- Even older coasters like The Maverick at Cedar Point and The Incredible Hulk Coaster have immersive elements in their queues that build anticipation before the ride.
We’re loving this new age of themed queues. It’s not just about the thrill at the end anymore—it’s about the whole experience from the moment you step in line.
What’s Your Favorite Queue?
Do you have a favorite immersive queue? Did any of them make you forget you were even waiting? Let us know in the comments or tag us in your theme park adventures!
Queue Chronicles 
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