For those in the know, Disney lingo rolls off the tongue like a second language, which it basically is. However, for all the Disney newbies out there, Disney lingo can be overwhelming and make planning a Disney vacation confusing.
I’ve compiled my years (we won’t go into how many because it makes me feel old) of Disney lingo experience into this blog post to welcome you into the Disney family!
Need to Know Disney Lingo
Disney Abbreviations and Acronyms
I’ve been a Disney person my entire life, and while I know all the Disney abbreviations and acronyms I rarely use them. However, with all the Disney Facebook groups and blogs out there it’s best to know them as so many people use these.
Once you know your Disney lingo it’ll make it easier for you to plan your next Disney vacation.
Note: If you don’t know what some of these terms mean I’ll explain them in the next section.
Abbreviations and Acronyms A-M
ADR
Advance Dining Reservation
AH
After Hours
AK
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
AP
Annual Pass
BB
Blizzard Beach water park
BOG
Be Our Guest Restaurant
BW
Disney’s BoardWalk
DAH
Disney After Hours
DAS
Disability Access Service
DCA
Disney’s California Adventure
DCL
Disney Cruise Line
DD
Disney Dollars
DDP
Disney Dining Plan
DHS
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
DL
Disneyland
Pin this Disney Lingo Blog Post for later!
DLP
Disneyland Paris
DME
Disney’s Magical Express
DS
Disney Springs
DVC
Disney Vacation Club
EP
Epcot
ECV
Electric Convenience Vehicle (aka; scooter)
EE
Early Entry
F&G
Epcot Flower and Garden Festival
F&W
Epcot Food & Wine Festival
FP
FastPass *This service has been retired
FoA
Festival of the Arts
FW
Future World
G+
Genie+ Service *This service has been retired
GR
Guest Relations
GS
Guest Services
HKD
Hong Kong Disney
HM
Hidden Mickey
HS
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
IG
International Gateway
LL
Lightning Lane
LLMP
Lightning Lane Multi Pass
LLSP
Lightning Lane Single Pass
LBV
Lake Buena Vista
M&G
Meet and Greet
MB
Magic Band
MB+
Mage Band Plus
MDE
My Disney Experience App
MK
Magic Kingdom
MM
Memory Maker
MNSSHP
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
MVMCP
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Abbreviations and Acronyms N-Z
OBB
Oogie Boogie Bash
PH
Park Hopper
QS
Quick Service
RD
RunDisney
SD
Shanghai Disney
SP
Seasonal Pass
SW
Small World
SWW
Star Wars Weekend
TD
Tokyo Disney
TDS
The Disney Store
TL
Typhoon Lagoon water park
TS
Table Service
TTC
Transportation and Ticket Center
V&A
Victoria & Albert’s
WDTC
Walt Disney Travel Company
WDW
Walt Disney World Resort
WWS
Disney’s Wide World of Sports
Disney Common Terms and Phrases
Now that you have the basics of acronyms and abbreviations let’s break down even more Disney lingo. The following list goes over the terms and phrases used in the Disney-sphere. Knowing these terms will help with the planning process of your next Disney vacation.
Terms and Phrases A-M
Advance Dining Reservations (ADR)
A table service dining reservation that can be made up to 180 days before your Disney vacation depending on where you’re staying (on-property or off)
Attraction
Disney’s term for any ride, show, character interaction, or other entertainment.
Backstage
The area behind the scenes in any Disney park or resort.
Cast Member
All Disney employees are called Cast Members no matter where in parks or resorts they work, except for Imagineers.
Character Dining
Character dining, which you should get a Advance Dining Reservations (ADR) for, is a restaurant where Disney characters come to visit. At some, they walk from to greet guests and at others they located in an area where guests que to meet them. Either way you can take photos with them and get autographs.
Child Swap
Also called “Rider Swap” or “Rider Switch.” This service allows a guest to go on a ride while another guest stays to supervise a non-rider who is usually a child. Then the guest who waited gets to ride while the other guest supervises. The second guest doesn’t have to wait in line again. Child swap isn’t available for all rides. Ask at guest services for more information.
Dark ride
A dark ride is any ride that takes place indoors where guests ride a vehicle, but it does not specifically mean the ride is dark or scary.
Disney Dining Plan (DDP)
A Disney Dining Plan is a vacation package option where guests can prepay for a certain number of meals each day. There are different plans to choose from at a range of pricing options at restaurants across Disney properties.
Disney Vacation Club (DVC)
Disney’s time-share program that can be found across the WDW resort and used a various Disney resorts world wide.
Early Entry
Extended operating hours exclusively for Disney resort guests. Early Entry is a perk for staying at a Disney Resort Hotel.
Genie+ Service (G+)
*This service is no longer available. See Lightning Lane Mutli Pass and Lightning Single Pass for similar services.
Genie+ is a paid service replacing FastPass giving quicker access to the front of attraction lines via the Lightning Lane at WDW and DL/DCA. Check out my full run down of Genie+. Plus, I have all Genie plus info for each WDW Park: Magic, Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom.
Guest
All Disney visitors.
Imagineer
Imagineers are the designers of all the themeing across the Disney Parks and Resorts. Imagineering is the arm of the Disney Company responsible for the design and construction of all theme parks and hotels.
Lightning Lane
Lightning Lanes are the “express” lanes that are available for select attractions at WDW and DL/DCA. You can access Lightning Lanes via a paid services called Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass
Lightning Lane Multi Pass
Lighting Lane Multi Pass is a paid service where guests gain access to rides and attractions that have a Lightning Lane. Not all rides and attractions are included in this, as newer and more popular rides and attractions are only available via a Lightning Lane Single Pass.
Like the old FastPass+, guests can choose up to 3 rides or attractions in advance of arrival to the parks. Click here learn more about the new Lightning Lane system.
Lightning Lane Single Pass
A Lightning Lane Single Pass is a paid service where riders get access to specific attractions through a Lightning Lane, but these attractions are not included when they purchase the Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
Magic Band/Magic Band+
Magic Band/Magic Band+ is a wearable watch-shaped device.
You can use your Magic Band to:
- Enter Disney Parks (once you link your account)
- Access your Disney Resort Hotel
- Purchase goods and services
- Access your DDP
Magic Band+ interacts with nighttime spectaculars bringing you closer to the magic!
Memory Maker (MM)
Memory Maker in a paid service that gives you access to unlimited downloads of your PhotoPass photos.
Monorail
The monorail is the original transportation system around both WDW and DL/DCA. WDW has a multiple monorail lines allowing guests access to both the Magic Kingdom and Epcot.
My Disney Experience App (MDE)
My Disney Experience app is where you organize all the details of your Disney vacation. You will be able to view all your vacation plans in one place like hotel and dining reservations, as well as park hours and attraction wait times. Dining reservations and Genie+ Lightning Lane selections can also be made in the app.
Terms and Phrases N-Z
Park Hopper (PH)
A Park Hopper a specific type of ticket that allows you to visit more than one park a day.
PhotoPass (PP)
Scattered throughout the parks are Disney photographers there to take photos of guests. Photos are also available on select rides as well. Some of these photos have enhancements like overlays and Disney characters added in for effect. All PhotoPass photos can be seen in your My Disney Experience app.
Quick Service Meal (QS)
A quick service meal is a type of dining where you place your order at a register (or through the My Disney Experience App) and collect your own food. There are no servers taking orders at these restaurants.
Rope Drop
Rope drop takes place at all Disney parks and is when they “drop the rope” to let guests in when the park officially opens each morning.
Standby line
The standard line for guests without Lightning Lane access.
Skyliner
The Skyliner is Disney’s newest transportation system at WDW. It is a gondola that connects Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios (from select Disney Resort hotels).
Table Service Meal (TS)
A table service meal is a full-service, sit-down restaurant where a server takes your order. Buffets are included in tables service meals as well.
Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC)
The central transportation hub at WDW as well as the parking lot location for the Magic Kingdom Park. It includes Uber, bus pick up/drop, and a monorail stop.
Disney Lingo
If you didn’t get all this the first time through, no worries. It takes time to get up on all the Disney lingo. Don’t worry, you’ll get it!
Did I miss any Disney lingo that you know of? If I did, let me know in the comments.
