'I couldn't get an ADR for BOG at MK so now I might have to park hop to HS and try to get one there before our boarding party for ROTR. How can I get there from TTC?'
When planning a trip to Walt Disney World more often than not you will come across abbreviations, acronyms and slang that can leave you baffled! But fear not! All the most common terms are about to be revealed here!
MK, HS, AK,TL, BB
These abbreviations reference the Disney Parks: Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. EPCOT may be shortened to EP. You may also see DHS for Disney's Hollywood Studios and DAK for Disney's Animal Kingdom, as well as DS for Disney Springs.
Guests
Visitors to Disney are known as Guests.
Cast Member
A Cast Member is a member of Disney staff.
Onstage
Onstage is any part of the parks and resorts that Guests are allowed in.
Backstage
Backstage is any part of the parks and resorts off limits to Guests and only accessed by Cast Members. One of the exciting things about taking select tours at Disney World is you get access to some of the backstage areas, including the utilidors!
Utilidors
The Utilidors are the much talked about tunnels that run underneath Magic Kingdom, connecting the park for Cast Members to get around without being seen by Guests.
Photo Pass
Photo Pass locations can be found around the parks where official Disney photographers will take your photo in front of iconic Disney locations, such as Cinderella Caste in Magic Kingdom and the Tree of Life in Animal Kingdom or with your favourite characters!
Memory Maker
Memory Maker is the photography package you can purchase which enables you to get all your ride photos and Photo Pass images sent to your My Disney Experience account for you to download and enjoy.
TTC
This is an abbreviation of the Transportation and Ticket Center which can be found at Magic Kingdom. If travelling to Magic Kingdom by car, bus or taxi you will arrive first at the TTC, where you can then catch the ferryboat or monorail to Magic Kingdom. You can also get the monorail to EPCOT from the Transportation and Ticket Center.
DVC
This abbreviation stands for Disney Vacation Club. This is a point based system that you pay into which allows you to build up nights to stay at Disney Vacation Club properties.
On-Site
To stay on-site at Disney World is to stay in one of the Disney Resorts.
Off-Site
To stay off-site at Disney World is to stay in a hotel or resort in Orlando that is not a Disney Resort on property at Walt Disney World.
Resort Hopping
Resort hopping is when you visit multiple Disney Resorts during your stay. You don't need to be a Guest staying at a resort to visit it. Presently you may need a confirmed dining reservation to enter a resort, due to measures put in place because of covid-19. But in the future when measures are relaxed resort hopping is a wonderful way to experience another side of Disney World.
The BoardWalk
The BoardWalk is an area of resorts, restaurants and shops between EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. The BoardWalk Resorts are the Beach Club Resort, Yacht Club Resort and the BoardWalk Inn and Villas. This area is great for everyone to visit to stroll between the two parks and enjoy bars, restaurants and to resort hop.
Monorail Resorts
The monorail resorts are the three hotels that have stops on the monorail to Magic Kingdom. These resorts are the Polynesian Village Resort, the Grand Floridian Resort and the Contemporary Resort.
The Skyliner
The Skyliner is Disney's newest method of transport. Enjoy a ride in a gondola on this cable car system that links Hollywood Studios and EPCOT via a number of Disney Resorts: Caribbean Beach Resort, the Riviera Resort, Art of Animation Resort and Pop Century Resort.
FastPass+
The FastPass+ system allowed Guests to pre-book allotted timeslots to ride attractions. This service is temporarily suspended but I hope to see it's return in the future!
EMH
This is an abbreviation for Extra Magic Hours. This was a benefit offered to people staying on-site at Disney World, as those Guests staying in a Disney World Resort could visit the parks in these bonus hours before or after the parks are available to the general public. Extra Magic Hours have temporarily been suspended but I hope they will return in the future as they are an amazing benefit to staying on-site!
Magic Band
Magic Bands are the wrist bands you will see people wearing around Disney World. If you are staying on-site at a Disney Resort you will receive a complimentary Magic Band for your stay. You are also able to buy Magic Bands in the park. This handy wrist bands enable you to do so much, from opening your resort room door to paying for purchases. The Magic Band also enables lots of features that are temporarily suspended, such as paying for your meals on the Disney Dining Plan, checking in to your FastPass+ reservations and they were also you also used it to enter the parks. It is so handy having one nifty wristband that enables you to do everything you would need when visiting Disney!
Dark Ride
A dark ride refers to any attraction that is mostly in the dark. Examples of dark rides include Space Mountain, Peter Pan's Flight, Rock n Roller Coaster and Frozen Ever After.
7DMT
An acronym for the Magic Kingdom attraction 7 Dwarfs Mine Train.
Dole Whip
Dole Whip is the infamous fruit flavoured soft serve sweet treat you can find in a variety of locations at Walt Disney World Resort. The most famous flavour is the pineapple dole whip, which has become simply known as Dole Whip. Now a whole range of flavours are available including lime and strawberry. Dole Whip flavours are also vegan and gluten-free so are a treat for everyone to enjoy!
Rope Drop
To rope drop the park is the arrive before the park opens and be there for the moment when the 'rope drops' and Guests are allowed to enter the park.
Park Close
Park Close is a term to reference the moment the park actually closes. If a park is listed as closing at 9pm the shops in that park will stay open for another hour. You can also get into a ride queue at 8.59pm. So park close is the actual time the park closes to Guests. If you stay till park close you will be some of the last people in the park, which means amazing photo opportunities!
The Kiss Goodnight
If you stay until park close at Magic Kingdom then you will get to enjoy The Kiss Goodnight. This is a light show projected onto Cinderella Castle with a beautiful message accompanying it. A definite must-do at least once!
Eat Around The World / Drink Around The World
To eat or drink around the world is to enjoy one item from each pavilion at EPCOT. There are 11 different pavilions in World Showcase: Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, the United States, Japan, Morocco, France, the United Kingdom and Canada. That is a lot of eating or drinking to do so this past time has become an EPCOT challenge!
Hard Ticket Event
These are extra events held at Disney that require a further ticket to be purchased to attend. An example of a hard ticketed event would be Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party.
QS or Quick Service
Quick Service is a way to describe a dining location or meal. Quick service locations offer fast food style dining. Meals often comes to $15 or below.
TS or Table Service
Table Service is the next level up from quick service dining and is a traditional, sit-down meal in a restaurant. Reservations are recommended as these locations can get popular!
Signature Dining
Signature dining, also known as fine dining, is a restaurant serving gourmet foods served with the highest level of service. These are restaurants to splash out some cash on and enjoy a special meal. Some of the signature dining locations at Disney World include California Grill at the Contemporary Resort, Narcoossee's at the Grand Floridan Resort and Cinderella's Royal Table inside Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom.
Character Dining
Character dining is your opportunity to enjoy meeting characters whilst you dine at specific character dining locations! Currently you can enjoy a modified character dining experience at Garden Grill in EPCOT, Hollywood & Vine in Hollywood Studios, Topolino's Terrace at the Riviera Resort and from the 16th December at Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary Resort.
Magical Express
The Magical Express is the coach service provided by Disney that collects Guests from the airport and takes them to their Disney Resort.
Tragical Express
The Tragical Express is the nickname given to the Magical Express which takes you away from Disney World and back to the airport. It is always so sad to leave Disney hence why this journey has garnered it's own name!
MNSSHP
This is an acronym for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party.
MVMCP
This is an acronym for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.
Park Hopper / Park Hopping
Park hopping refers to visiting more than one park in a day, so you hop between parks. A park hopper is a type of ticket that enables you to visit more than one park in a day.
Rider Switch
This is a great feature that Disney offer which help everyone get to enjoy the rides they wish to experience. If a group is travelling with children that don't meet the height requirement, or with a person who doesn't want to ride an attraction, one person is able to stay with them whilst their party rides the attraction. Once they have enjoyed their turn the person who waited can then ride without having to wait in the regular queue. An added bonus is the person who waited can also bring two people with them that have already ridden so they don't have to ride alone! This is a really great feature for families with young children as one parent can ride whilst the other waits and then they can swap so everyone get to enjoy!
DDP
DDP stands for the Disney Dining Plan. This feature allowed people to pre-purchase dining packages for meals whilst at Disney. This service has temporarily been suspended but many people hope that this will be restored in the future.
Plant-Based
Plant-Based is any dish that is free from meat, fish, dairy, eggs and honey. All plant-based dishes at Disney World now have the leaf symbol next to them so they are easy to identify. Perfect for vegans, anyone on a plant-based diet or people with certain allergies or intolerances (such as dairy).
Disney Check
This yellow Mickey symbol with a green check through it indicates dishes on children's menus that are healthier options.
MDE
MDE stands for My Disney Experience. This is the official website and app to help you plan out your Disney World trip. Here you can manage your booking, book your Park Pass reservations, make and modify dining reservations and see ride wait times. The app is super handy for anyone visiting Disney World!
ADRs
ADRs stands for Advanced Dining Reservations. You can book your ADRs via My Disney Experience. It is recommended that for table service and signature dining restaurants that you book dining reservations in advance as they can be very popular and this will guarantee you entry.
Walk Up Check In
The Walk Up Check In feature is new to My Disney Experience and is perfect if you haven't pre-booked any dining reservations. Simply open the MDE app and select the restaurant you wish to dine in. You will see the current wait time for walk up diners. Simply tap to join the virtual queue and you will receive a notification when your table is ready for you!
BOG
This is an acronym for Be Our Guest Restaurant, the beautiful Beauty and the Beast themed dining location in Magic Kingdom
Dapper Day
Dapper Day is an unofficial event held twice a year where Guests wear their best finery to the parks! Held in Spring and Fall, each event takes place in a different park. If you are lucky enough to be at Disney during Dapper Day you will see people dressed in beautiful vintage clothing. If everything retro is your thing Dapper Day is the perfect time of year to visit and be sure to bring your vintage wares with you and take part!
Disneybounding
Disneybounding is when a person themes their outfit to represent a character without wearing a costume. For example to Disneybound as Snow White you would wear a blue top, a yellow skirt and a red headband. You would distinctively have a Snow White look without wearing a costume. Disneybounding was created as a way for people to show off their love of a character as adults are not allowed to wear costumes in the parks.
AP
AP is short of Annual Pass. You may see this abbreviation in the parks on merchandise that is only available to annual passholders or in Disney forums and blogs.
Passholder
A passholder is anyone who has an annual pass.
Face Character
A face character is any character you meet that shows their face and is not covered by a costume. For example all the Princesses you see are face characters. Mickey and his pals are all costume characters. Below is a Memory Maker photo taken by a Photo Pass photographer of Gaston, a face character, and myself.
ROTR
This is an acronym for Rise of the Resistance, the latest Star Wars ride that you can find in Galaxy's Edge in Hollywood Studios.
Bright Suns
This is the greeting you will hear when you visit Batuu, the planet you will be on when in Galaxy's Edge in Hollywood Studios.
Hidden Mickeys
All around Walt Disney World Resort there are Mickey shapes to be found! Whether it be in the pattern on a carpet or the way a railing is shaped there is plenty of hidden Mickey's to be found all around Walt Disney World Resort.
The Mountains
This refers to the three mountains in Magic Kingdom: Splash Mountain, Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain. Expedition Everest in Animal Kingdom Park is considered to be an honourary mountain. Some people take part in the six mountain challenge and ride the three Magic Kingdom mountains, Expedition Everest, Mount Gushmore at Blizzard Beach and Mount Mayday at Typhoon Lagoon during their trip. It has been know that some consider 7 Dwarfs Mine Train to be the fourth mountain of Magic Kingdom. What do you think? Does it make the grade?
Disney Hangover
A Disney hangover is what you may experience the day after having a full day in the parks. Rope drop till park close is a loooong time so you may feel quite tired and your feet a bit sore the next day. But it is always worth it!
I hope you have enjoyed this rundown of the most common Disney slang! Now you know all the inside information planning your next Disney World trip should be a lot easier!
If you are planning your next Disney trip be sure to check out the full range of Most Magical Guides! Covering everything from budget planning, itinerary planning, what to pack, what snacks to try and all the important guide that tells you all about how Walt Disney World Resort is now operating with the new covid-19 updates in place. Buy yours today by clicking here!