Unlocking the magic: Understanding Walt Disney World lingo

Setting foot into Walt Disney World is like entering a whole new realm of enchantment and imagination with its own unique lingo and language.

Disney World has spawned a delightful assortment of lingo and acronyms, woven seamlessly into the fabric of the park’s culture. From planning your trip to conversing with fellow Disney enthusiasts, understanding this shorthand will not only enhance your adventure but will also allow you to navigate the wonders that await.

These linguistic codes are employed by Cast Members (Disney employees) and seasoned Disney-goers to convey information and streamline communication. Learning these essential Disney terms will unlock a world of insider knowledge, helping you make the most of your time in the park and become an honorary Disney linguist.

Here are some essential Disney World acronyms and lingo to know:

Disney World Location Lingo

WDW: This stands for Walt Disney Word, the entire 43-square-mile resort, which includes four theme parks, two water parks, more than 25 resort hotels, three golf courses and an entertainment/dining/shopping area.

MK: Magic Kingdom Park, the original theme park on property, where the iconic Cinderella Castle is located.

The Hub: The circular area in front of Cinderella Castle inside Magic Kingdom.

EPCOT: The second theme park built on property. The original acronym stood for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. It can also stand for other things—like Every Parent Carries Out a Toddler, or Every Pocketbook comes out Thinner. But now, EPCOT is the park’s official name.

DHS: Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the third theme park to open on property, which features areas like Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

DAK: Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the fourth theme park to open, which features a safari and Pandora – The World of Avatar.

DS: Disney Springs, a shopping, dining, and entertainment district at Walt Disney World with a wide range of restaurants, shops, and entertainment options.

BB: Blizzard Beach, one of two Disney water parks, themed to look like a ski resort that melted into a watery wonderland.

TL: Typhoon Lagoon, the second Disney Water park, which is designed to look like a tropical paradise transformed by a typhoon.

TTC: The Transportation and Ticket Center, the transportation hub between the parking lot and MK. When parking at MK, this is the first location, giving you options to get to the park by monorail or boat, as well as offering monorail service to EPCOT.

On-Property: On-property, or on-site, is anything within the 47 square miles of property owned by Disney.

Phrases to Know When Planning Your Visit

Face character: A character whose face is visible and can talk with guests, like one of the Princesses or Gaston.

Disney real: Something that is portrayed realistically or authentically, but was created by Disney. The rust around Pandora at DAK is “Disney real.”

MDE – My Disney Experience: This is an online vacation planning tool and free mobile app that allows you to link tickets, make park reservations, dining reservations and manage Disney Genie+.

Genie Service: The free service provides attraction and dining recommendations inspired by what you tell Disney Genie service you’re most interested in doing. It even suggests a good time to go to an experience and an idea of the forecasted wait.

Genie+: This is a paid add-on to Genie Service that provides access to Lightning Lanes.

LL or Lightning Lanes: Lightning Lanes are the express lines which are available at certain rides and attractions that you can access via the paid Genie+.

ILL or Individual Lightning Lanes: These provide access to Lightning Lanes at some of the most popular attractions that are not available through Disney Genie+. This option can be purchased by all guests—with or without the purchase of Disney Genie+ service—and lets you choose a time to arrive at the Lightning Lane entry at up to two attractions each day. These are purchsed one a time.

Standby Line: The standard queue for guests without Lightning Lane access.

Virual Queue: From time to time, a virtual queue—accessible via the My Disney Experience app—may be used for select attractions or experiences. When a virtual queue is in place, you request to that attraction or experience later in the day, so you can enjoy other experiences while you wait. When the virtual queue is in place, a standby queue will not be available, and Guests must use the My Disney Experience app to enter the attraction or experience. You will get a time to come back

MM or Memory Maker: If you pay for MM, you get unlimited downloads of your PhotoPass photos.

PhotoPass: Disney’s professional photography service captures magical moments throughout the parks. Photographers stationed at iconic locations can take pictures of you and your party, which you can view.

Magic Shot: Digital enhancement available when getting your picture taken by a Disney PhotoPass photographer, such as adding a Disney character’s image to the photo or capturing a moment from 360-degrees. (Always ask if the PhotoPass photographer has a Magic Shot!)

Park Hopper: This is a ticket add-on that allows guests to visit more than one park in a day.

Disney Dining Plan: A pre-paid meal package for your trip. This is returning to Walt Disney World in 2024.

Disney Park Pass System: The system where guests make park reservations. You now need both valid theme park admission and a park reservation in order to enter a WDW theme park.

Words To Know When On-Property

Attraction: The term used for any ride, show, meet-and-greet or other entertainment.

CM – Cast Members: This is what Disney calls its employees, who play a vital role in creating a magical experience for guests. They wear distinctive costumes (not uniforms) and are there to assist with any questions or concerns.

Guests – That’s you. It’s what Disney calls its customers.

Early Entry: The 30-minute head-start guests staying at Disney resorts get at the parks.

Extended Evening Hours: These are late evening hours on select days at select parks, only for guests of Deluxe resorts.

ADR – Advance Dining Reservation: These are reservations (highly suggested) for table service restaurants. These can be made up to 60 days in advance.

TS or Table Service: A restaurant where guests are seated at a table and a server comes to you.

QSR or Quick Service Restaurant: A restaurant where guests order at a window or kiosk, pick up their food and then seat themselves.

Character Dining: Any restaurant where Disney characters are present during meals.

Mobile Order: Using the My Disney Experience app on your smart device, you can order from Quick Service Restaurants, pay from your mobile device and then receive an alert when the food is ready.

Mobile Checkout: At select Walt Disney World Resort shops you scan and pay for merchandise items right on your phone using the My Disney Experience app.

DAS or Disability Access Service: This is a system to help guests with disabilities access attraction queues.

Rider Switch: This allows an adult Guest to wait with a child unable to ride an attraction and then board the attraction without waiting in line again.

Rope Drop: The official start time when Guests are allowed to start riding attractions. Most parks allow Guests to enter before opening time and then wait until the rope drop to head for their first attraction.

Nighttime Spectacular: At Disney World refers to a large-scale entertainment show that takes place after sunset, typically in the evening or night hours. These spectacles are usually in include, fireworks or other pyrotechnics, music, lighting special effects, projections and sometime water elements.

Backstage: The area behind the scenes in any Disney park.

Dark ride: This is a ride that takes place indoors and primarily in the dark. Think Haunted Mansion or Pirates of the Caribbean.

Queue: What the lines for attractions are called.

MagicBand: These are plastic bracelets that contain RFID chips. When connected to your My Disney Experience account, they can be used as tickets, for PhotoPass photos, or as the key to your resort hotel.

MagicBand+: This is the next generation of MagicBand which interacts with various things around Disney World.

MagicMobile: A contactless way to access MagicBand features, like theme park entry, through eligible iPhones, Apple Watch or Google Pay enabled Android phones.

Pixie Dust: A special moment or unexpected extra that takes place thanks to a Cast Member.