A quiet but significant shift has taken place at Disneyland Paris—one that could reshape how guests interact with some of the resort’s most beloved characters. While the move hasn’t garnered major fanfare from Disney itself, parkgoers are already feeling the ripple effects.
The Disney experience is increasingly one that lives in your pocket. Between mobile dining orders, ride reservations, and entertainment schedules, a day in the park often plays out on a smartphone screen. And as of this week, that screen will be even more central—especially if you’re hoping to meet a certain blue alien or a snow-loving sidekick.
Virtual Queues Expand at Disney Park
Effective immediately, guests who want to meet Stitch at Disneyland Paris must now reserve a time slot using the official Disneyland Paris app. According to DLP Report, this is only the beginning. Similar virtual queues will soon be required for meet-and-greet experiences with Olaf, Mickey Mouse, Disney Princesses at the Princess Pavilion, and Star Wars characters at Starport in Discoveryland.
📍Starting today, Guests are required to book their meet and greet with Stitch in the app in the same way as the Hero Training Center. In the coming weeks the system will extend to:
– Meet Mickey
– Olaf
– Princess Pavilion
– Starport
📍Starting today, Guests are required to book their meet and greet with Stitch in the app in the same way as the Hero Training Center. In the coming weeks the system will extend to:
– Meet Mickey
– Olaf
– Princess Pavilion
– Starport pic.twitter.com/iSKv2zDMVn— DLP Report (@DLPReport) April 18, 2025
Some of these experiences are notorious for their queue times. The Princess Pavilion, in particular, has become synonymous with multi-hour waits—often with no signage indicating which princess guests will meet at the end. This uncertainty, combined with the long lines, has driven some guests toward paid dining experiences instead, where character interactions are guaranteed.
This isn’t Disneyland Paris’ first foray into virtual character bookings. The Hero Training Center at Walt Disney Studios Park’s Avengers Campus already requires advance reservations to meet Marvel characters. In practice, the system streamlines wait times and helps regulate crowd flow—but it also adds another layer of logistical planning to a park visit.
Fans Divided Over Planning vs. Spontaneity
Reactions to the move have been predictably polarized. Some guests are welcoming the update with open arms, pointing out that hours-long queues for a character meet-and-greet can derail a day’s itinerary.
“If it stops a 3 hour wait for a princess it’s worth it just for that!!” one user wrote on X. “Frees up so much more time in the parks to do other things.”
Another guest echoed that sentiment: “This is amazing if it works! When I see those queues at hours long there is just no way most children will handle that, this just makes the day so much better and for Disney’s sake keeps feet in the parks potentially spending money in shops and on food rather than just stood in [a queue].”
But others say the magic is getting lost in the process. Some are critical of what they see as Disney’s push toward over-structured visits, comparing the experience to a hectic workday. “When people just want a fun, relaxed [spontaneous] day in a theme park they have to plan organise and stress to keep booking appointments,” one user posted. “And keep on the phone all day to see when the booking is for them. Not much [different] from a work day.”
Still, Disneyland Paris appears committed to the shift. As demand continues to spike and crowd control remains a central challenge, virtual queues may prove more rule than exception—especially for character interactions that once relied on physical lines alone.
