Mobile app tracking leverages the number of people with the park's app installed on their devices (the install base) to collect wait times. Bluetooth beacons are strategically placed within a queue, and as users of the app walk past, the app picks up these beacons and reports the users.

Disney uses a sophisticated blend of real-time tracking, historical data, and predictive algorithms to calculate wait times. While the "red card" (a lanyard given to a guest to track their journey through the line) is the most visible method, it is now only a tiny part of the process. Most data comes from MagicBand and app tracking, which use Bluetooth and RFID to monitor guest flow anonymously. Additionally, thermal imaging and computer vision cameras count the number of people in a queue automatically. These inputs are fed into an algorithm that considers the ride's "throughput" (capacity per hour) and the ratio of Lightning Lane vs. Standby entries. Interestingly, Disney often inflates posted wait times by 10% to 20% to manage guest expectations and provide a "surprise" when the actual wait is shorter.