Disney has made a notable change to how guests experience one of Disneyland Paris's most popular Star Wars offerings. Effective this week, the virtual queue for Starport in Discoveryland has been removed, and guests can once again join a traditional standby line to secure their spot.
What Is Starport?
Starport offers, in Disney's own words, "an out-of-this-world Character Encounter with a famous face from across the galaxy" — and that famous face is typically none other than Darth Vader himself. The experience is tucked inside Discoveryland at Disneyland Paris, making it a must-visit for Star Wars fans exploring the park.
A Queue That Has Come and Gone
The virtual queue at Starport has had quite the on-again, off-again history. Disney introduced it for Starport in June 2025, later removed it in November of that year, then brought it back again in January — only to drop it once more this week. The change was first flagged by the fan account Pixie Dust DLP on July 10, 2026:
"The Star Wars meet and greet location in Discoveryland has been removed from the Virtual Queue on the official Disneyland Paris app. You can now join the classic queue again for Starport." — @PixiedustDLP
Other Meet-and-Greets Still Use Virtual Queues
Starport may have returned to a classic queue, but several other character experiences at Disneyland Paris continue to use the virtual queue system. These include:
- Woody (Toy Story)
- Meet Mickey Mouse
- Princess Pavilion
- Hero Training Center
- Rencontre Royale with Anna & Elsa
Guests can access those virtual queues through the official Disneyland Paris app.
Why Virtual Queues Can Be Frustrating
Virtual queues have long been a source of frustration for Disney guests. When attractions like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, TRON Lightcycle / Run, and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind used boarding groups at Walt Disney World Resort, available slots could vanish within seconds — leaving some guests unable to experience the attraction at all that day.
The system also requires visitors to plan around fixed release times and unpredictable return windows. Guests have set alarms for 7 a.m. drops for attractions such as Tiana's Bayou Adventure, then spent the rest of their day repeatedly checking the app. Missing a release could mean rearranging an entire itinerary — or paying for Lightning Lane access instead.
Star Wars at Disney Parks
Star Wars has grown into a cornerstone of Disney's theme park experience. From Star Tours, which first opened at Disneyland in 1987, to the fully immersive Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge lands now found at both Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios, the franchise's footprint continues to expand. Galaxy's Edge brought with it Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Rise of the Resistance, along with lightsaber workshops, droid-building, and themed food and drink. Earlier this year, Disneyland also expanded Galaxy's Edge's timeline to include original trilogy characters such as Darth Vader, Leia Organa, and Han Solo.
For now, the return of a simple standby line at Starport is a small but welcome bit of spontaneity for Disneyland Paris guests. What do you think of virtual queues — love them or loathe them? Let us know!