Disney Lingo Decoded

If you haven’t noticed by now, Walt Disney World really is a world all its own. And with that comes its own language. When you’re planning your first trip, it’s easy to get caught up in (and confused by) some of the lingo thrown around, so here is an alphabetized glossary of some of the most commonly used phrases and words in the Disney bubble.

We’ll update this glossary from time to time, so be sure to check back if you hear a new phrase or word you’re not sure of!

ADR (Advance Dining Reservation) – Dining reservations for table-service restaurants. Can be made 60 days in advance of the first day of your trip.

Animal Kingdom (AK) – One of the four theme parks, themed around nature, animals, and adventure.

Audio-Animatronics – Robotic characters used in many attractions for lifelike motion and speech.

Boardwalk - Resort area located outside of Epcot and in walking distance of Hollywood Studios. Home to restaurants, nightlife, shopping, entertainment, and multiple resort options, including the Yacht and Beach Club.

Bus Transportation – Free Disney buses that run between parks, resorts, and Disney Springs.

Character Dining – A dining experience where Disney characters visit your table while you eat.

Dark Ride – Indoor ride using special effects and storytelling (e.g., Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan’s Flight).

Deluxe / Moderate / Value Resorts – Categories of Disney hotels based on price, size, and amenities.

Dining Plan – A prepaid meal plan option (offered periodically) for Disney resort guests.

Disney Springs (DS) – A shopping, dining, and entertainment district located on Disney property.

Early Entry – A perk for Disney resort guests allowing access to parks 30 minutes before official opening.

EPCOT (EP) – Park focused on technology, innovation, and world cultures.

EPCOT Festivals - Series of themed festivals held throughout the year at Epcot, featuring themed food booths, special decor, entertainment and more. Included in the park admission. Dates vary each year and are announced a few months in advance. Festivals Include:

• Festival of the Arts (usually runs from mid-January to late February)

• Flower and Garden Festival (usually runs from early March to late May/early June)

• International Food and Wine Festival (usually runs from late August to late November)

• Festival of the Holidays (usually starts after Thanksgiving, then runs through December 31)

E-Ticket Attraction – A term for a top-tier or most popular ride.

Extended Evening Hours – Certain Disney resorts offer guests the opportunity to stay in the parks for a few hours after they close. Contact me to learn more about this opportunity!

Good Neighbor Resorts - Hotels located on property but not owned/operated by Disney. They partner with Disney to offer many of the same perks as Disney Resorts, like park transportation and extended park hours, but also allow travelers to take advantage of rewards programs, etc.

Hollywood Studios (HS) – One of the four parks, themed around movies and TV (includes Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge).

Lightning Lane (LL) Multi Pass – Paid option for shorter/faster line access at multiple attractions in a single park. Can be purchased up to 7 days in advance if you’re staying on property.

Lightning Lane (LL) Single Pass - Paid option for shorter/faster line access at a single attraction, usually an E ticket attraction. Can be purchased up to 7 days in advance if you’re staying on property.

MagicBand/MagicBand+ – Wearable device used for park tickets, hotel access, ride photos, and more.

Magic Kingdom (MK) – The original WDW theme park, home to Cinderella Castle and classic attractions.

Memory Maker – A package that gives access to all PhotoPass photos and ride photos for one price.

Mobile Order – Feature in the app to pre-order food at Quick-Service locations.

Monorail – The iconic train system that loops through Magic Kingdom resorts and parks.

Monorail Resort - Three classic Disney World Resorts located on the Magic Kingdom Monorail loop: The Grand Floridian, The Polynesian, and The Contemporary. By far the most convenient location for MK fans!

My Disney Experience (MDE) – Disney's app for planning, park navigation, Genie+, dining, and more.

Nighttime Spectacular – Large-scale fireworks and projection shows at the parks (e.g., “Happily Ever After”).

Omnimover – A continuously moving ride vehicle system (used in Haunted Mansion, Spaceship Earth, etc.).

On Property - Located within the grounds of the Walt Disney World Resort - including Disney resort hotels, good neighbor hotels, the parks, ESPN Wide World of Sports, Disney Springs, water parks, mini golf courses, etc.

Park Hopper – A ticket add-on that allows you to visit more than one park in a single day.

Park Icon – The landmark representing each park (e.g., Spaceship Earth at EP, Tree of Life at AK, Cinderella Castle at MK, and Tower of Terror at HS).

Parade – A scheduled entertainment event featuring characters, floats, and music.

PhotoPass – Disney photographers stationed around the parks to take professional photos of guests.

Quick-Service – Counter-style dining, faster and more casual than table-service.

Resort – A Disney-owned hotel property.

Rope Drop – Arriving before a park opens so you can enter as soon as it does and experience shorter lines.

RunDisney - A series of official races held each year at Walt Disney World, Disney Land, and occasionally at one of the international parks.

Skyliner – A gondola-style transportation system connecting certain resorts to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios.

Table-Service – Full-service sit-down restaurant with waitstaff.

The “Bubble” – A nickname for the feeling of being fully immersed in the Disney World experience.

Walt Disney World (WDW) – The full resort located in Orlando, FL, including four theme parks, hotels, water parks, and more.

What did we miss? Leave your suggestions in the comments below!

Taylor