Disney World Commonly Used Words and Phrases – Go Informed Podcast Episode 010

January 30, 2018
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Disney World Have a Magical Day sign in Magic Kingdom

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Episode 10: Learning the Language of Disney World

Disney World and the Disney parks have their own specific jargon. Taking a few minutes to learn the Disney lexicon will make your search for information and your days in the parks a lot easier. Here are the definitions of some of Disney World’s most commonly used words and phrases.

Since I wrote this post, a lot has changed in the language of Disney. Click here to read an updated glossary of the most commonly used Disney Parks words and phrases, as of 2024.

These are the show notes for episode 10. Click the Play button to listen to the episode for more detailed descriptions of these key terms.

Or listen on your favorite podcast app! Just search for the Go Informed Podcast.

This is day 2 of the Go Informed podcast series 10 Days to a Better Disney World Vacation.

Check out my April 2022 newsletter here for an update to this Disney dictionary.

Definitions of Disney World Commonly Used Words and Phrases

Walt Disney World – The official name for Disney World. Often abbreviated to WDW.
Cast Member – All Disney World employees are called Cast Members.
Guest – Visitors to Disney World are always referred to as Guests.
Attraction – Disney’s term for any ride, show, or other park entertainment.
Backstage – Behind the scenes in the Disney parks.
Dark ride – A classic Disney-style ride, where guests ride a vehicle through a series of scenes in darkened rooms.
Queue – A waiting line for an attraction. Also refers to the area the line passes through.
Interactive Queue – A queue with interactive elements to entertain guests while they wait in line.
FastPass+ – The online reservation system that allows guests to reserve an attraction ride time in advance. Reservations can be made on the My Disney Experience app or on the Disney World website. On day 4 of this series I talk all about FastPass+ reservations.
Standby line – Attraction waiting line for guests without FastPass+. Also called the “regular” line.
My Disney Experience app – The official app for Walt Disney World. Features include: keep track of hotel, dining, and FastPass+ reservations; view current ride wait times; complete schedule of shows and parades; interactive map; and even pre-order food at many park restaurants.

Booking.com

ADR – Advanced Dining Reservation. Guests can make dining reservations up to 180 days before the start of their trip. On day 4 of this series I talk all about dining reservations.
Disney Dining Plan – A prepaid meal package guests can add to a hotel reservation.
Magic Band – Electronic wristband that contains your park ticket, room key, fastpass reservations, and more. You can even use it for purchases in the parks and hotels. I talk about using your Magic Band on day 10 of this series.
Park Hopper – A ticket that allows a guest admission to more than one park in the same day.
Park Hopping – Visiting more than one park in the same day.
Extra Magic Hour/EMH – Extended park hours exclusively for guests staying in Disney World hotels. EMH can be before official park opening or after official park closing time. Read about my experience with early EMH here.
Rope Drop – The moment when guests are allowed into the park. Often guests are admitted through the main gate prior to park opening, then held behind a rope until the park officially opens. Learn all about rope drop on Go Informed Podcast episode 44.
Touring Plan – Plan for visiting a theme park. Usually includes a priority list of attractions, sometimes in an exact order, and dining plans for the day.
APH/AP – Annual pass holder/Annual pass. Many shops and some restaurants in Disney World offer APH discounts to passholders.
PhotoPass – Disney’s photo service. Photographers are located throughout the parks to take photos which are available for purchase. An all-inclusive PhotoPass package is called Memory Maker.
Memory Maker – Pre-paid photo package that includes most all photos taken in Disney World parks. Includes ride photos and photos taken by PhotoPass photographers. Here’s a link to the Disney World page about Memory Maker.
TTC/Ticket and Transportation Center – This is the location of the parking lot for the Magic Kingdom Park, and is the transportation hub for Magic Kingdom. Transport arriving/departing from here includes the Disney World monorail, ferry to Magic Kingdom, taxis and Uber.
Magical Express – Disney bus service between Disney World and Orlando airport. Complementary for all guests staying in a Disney hotel. At the end of the trip, it’s the “Tragical Express”.
Classic Characters – The original Disney characters. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto, and Goofy.
IP/Intellectual Property – The movie, book, or show that inspires an attraction. IP in Disney Parks includes Star Wars, the Muppets, and Disney/Pixar.
Pixie Dust – A random act of kindness or extra special moment.
Magical Day – A day in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.

More Disney World Jargon

Imagineer/Imagineering – Imagineers are the designers of everything in the theme parks. Imagineering is the arm of the Disney company responsible for the design and construction of the theme parks.
Guest Service/Guest Relations – Customer service
Disney Bubble – The theme park magic that extends throughout Disney World.
4-D Movie – A 3-D movie with the added dimension of effects like wind, scent, moving seats, or other surprise embellishments that make the experience seem real.
DVC – Disney Vacation Club. This is Disney’s time-share program. Many Disney World resorts have DVC units.
Single Rider line – A separate attraction entrance that allows riders, willing to ride with strangers, to bypass the standby queue. Learn all about the single rider line here.