There’s a lot to learn about Walt Disney World, so here is a good place to start! Learn the terminology and acronyms for the Most Magical Place on Earth with this helpful Disney World Dictionary.
Advanced Dining Reservations (ADR) – Booked online 180 days out from your WDW vacation
Animal Kingdom Theme Park – The “nature” park, complete with a real safari and Pandora the World of Avatar
Annual Pass (AP) – Year long ticket to the parks with special perks and discounts (we’re passholders!)
Blizzard Beach – One of the two water parks that “emerged” from an old ski resort
BoardWalk – Located in the Epcot Resort area, guests can enjoy great restaurants, bars and entertainment here without a park ticket
Cast Members – Disney’s universal term for all of their employees
Characters – Either fur or face characters, guests can meet them for autographs and pictures around the Disney Parks and Resorts
Club 33 – Exclusive club with major perks originating at Disneyland from Walt Disney himself, now open at all 4 park at Walt Disney World
Dapper Dans – Popular musical quartet that can be found performing along Main Street USA
Disney After Hours – Special event at select parks (on certain nights only) where the park is open late to ticketed guests
Disney Buttons – Free buttons given to guests at the parks and resorts to celebrate special occasions
Disney College Program (DCP) – Opportunity for students to study and work at the Disney Parks and Resorts
Disney Dining Plan – Pre-paid meal plan available to Walt Disney World Resort guests
Disney Springs – Formerly known as Downtown Disney, this shopping, dining and entertainment area does not require a park ticket
Disney Transportation – Consists of the Monorail, Buses, Boats, Ferry and Skyliner at the Walt Disney World Resort
Disney Vacation Club (DVC) – Disney’s version of a flexible timeshare program (we’re members!)
Disneyland – The Happiest Place on Earth and the original Disney park created by Walt himself, located in Anaheim, CA
Dole Whip – Famous Disney treat that consists of pineapple flavored soft serve
Epcot (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow) – The park that contains World Showcase and the “golf ball,” also known as Spaceship Earth
ESPN Wide World of Sports – Location where RunDisney expos are held among other sporting events
Extra Magic Hours – Window of time (outside of regular park hours) where the parks are only open to Disney Resort guests
FastPass – Allows you to skip the line for an attraction by arriving during a scheduled one hour window of time, booked online or through the app 60 days out from your WDW vacation (if you’re staying on property)
Festival Season – Special events at Epcot that run for several months and do not require a separate ticket (i.e. Festival of the Arts, Flower and Garden Festival, and the Food and Wine Festival)
Hollywood Studios – Previously called MGM Studios, this is the “movie” inspired theme park where Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land are located
Imagineering – The research and development branch of The Walt Disney Company, responsible for the creation and design of the Parks and Resorts around the world
Magic Kingdom – The park with Cinderella Castle and tons of the classic Disney attractions such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, and It’s a Small World
Magical Express – Free bus transportation to/from the Orlando Airport and your Walt Disney World Resort
MagicBand – A customizable band worn during your WDW vacation that acts as your room key, park ticket, FastPass access and much more
Main Street USA – The area as you enter Magic Kingdom that leads you to Cinderella Castle, inspired by Walt Disney’s hometown of Marceline, Missouri
Memory Maker – Photo package for purchase that allows you unlimited downloads of your WDW photos for a discounted price
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) – Halloween themed special event at the Magic Kingdom requiring a separate ticket, on select nights only
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (MVMCP) – Christmas themed special event at the Magic Kingdom requiring a separate ticket, on select nights only
My Disney Experience – Your own Disney account that connects you to all of your reservations, FastPasses and other important information for your vacation
On Property (versus Off Property) – Any WDW Resort or affiliate resort; provides special Disney perks for its guests
Park Hopper – A park ticket that gives you the flexibility to visit more than one park in a day
PhotoPass – Disney’s photo service at the parks and resorts
Pin Trading – An activity at the parks and resorts where guests can swap pins with Cast Members
Resorts – Name for Disney hotels, offer various pricing levels: Value, Moderate, Deluxe and Villa
Rope Drop – Time when the park opens and the rope literally “drops” to let guests in
RunDisney – Race provider for Disney that hosts several themed race weekends throughout the year
Single Rider – Special line offered by certain attractions for a party of one, often with a shorter wait time
Tables in Wonderland – Discounted dining program available to Annual Passholders, Disney Vacation Club Members and Florida Residents
Typhoon Lagoon – The second of the two water parks that was “transformed” into a tropical paradise after a storm
Villains After Hours – Villain themed special event at the Magic Kingdom requiring a separate ticket, on select nights only
Walt Disney World – The Most Magical Place on Earth, located in Orlando, Florida
WDW Park Planners – Disney Concierge Vacation Planning Service to help you keep track of all of this vocabulary and information!
Have a magical day!