Learning the Disney Lingo

There are a lot of acronyms and abbreviations when it comes to Disney.  Learning the Disney lingo can help with your planning.  Thankfully most of the lingo is consistent across Disney sites so once you learn it, you should be set.  And it’ll help you save space when you’re making notes for your trip.

Dining

Quick Service (QS) meals – these are also known as Counter Service (CS) meals and can most easily be described as a location where you walk up to place your order and take the food to your seat.  Compare them to a fast food type location in the real world.

Table Service (TS) meals – restaurants that require an Advanced Dining Reservation (ADR) can be classified as Table Service.  Here a hostess will seat you and a server will take your orders and bring your food or direct you to the buffet. These locations can be compared to a local sit down place outside the parks.

Snacks – tasty treats found all over Disney property! Some classic examples are Dole Whips and Mickey Ice Cream Bars.  Compare this to the pretzels or chips you’d grab out of your pantry.

Advanced Dining Reservation (ADR) – similar to a reservation you’d make at a local place.  Before your trip, you can make ADRs either online or by phone for your preferred location and meal time.  These reservations can also be made in the parks at Guest Services if there’s availability.

Resorts

Value Resort – this group of Disney resorts is the most inexpensive offered.  There’s still plenty of theming and guests are able to enjoy all the benefits of the resorts.  Each resort offers a quick service dining option at the resort’s main building.

Moderate Resort – this is the middle level of Disney resorts.  You’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of staying at a Walt Disney World resort.  Many of these resorts have a few more amenities offered than the value resorts.   Moderate resorts have a quick service dining option as well as a table service option.

Deluxe Resort – deluxe resorts are the most expensive level of resort options at Walt Disney World.  These resorts often include additional amenities like spa services, fine dining, and slides at the resort pool.

On Site – on site refers to staying on Disney property.  

Extra Magic Hours (EMH) – for guests staying on Disney property, select theme parks open an hour early in the morning or stay open up to three hours later for your enjoyment.  

Tickets and Packages

Ticket – this is what gets you into one of the Walt Disney World Resort theme parks.  Tickets can be purchased in advance as part of your Magic Your Way package or when you arrive on site.  You can extend your ticket if you decide to extend your stay or time in the parks.

Park Hopper – option that can be added on to a ticket purchase during your stay.  The cost to add this feature is a flat fee, not based on the length of stay like a park ticket.

Magic Your Way Package – booking your resort room and tickets together; could also include the Disney Dining Plan.  Packages can be a great way to budget for a trip as they are paid in full six weeks before you’re scheduled to arrive at Walt Disney World.  

Magic Bands – you’ll receive these bands if you’re staying on site at a Walt Disney World Resort.  They’ll serve as your room key, park ticket and purchasing method during your visit. Don’t worry if you don’t receive them before you arrive – they can be picked up when you check in as well.

FastPass+ (FP+) – this is a huge time saver for Disney guests and is included in your park admission! You can select up to three attractions in the same park to “reserve” a time for you.  When your time comes, you’ll return to the line and bypass the standby line and wait in a shorter line.  

My Disney Experience (MDE) – use MDE to help plan your Disney vacation.  Using this app, you’ll make your ADRs, FP+ selections, and you can even check in to your resort online if you’re staying on property.  Take some time to get familiar with it because you’ll also be able to use it in the parks to help with wait times and things.

Times Guide – Use this in the parks to help you plan your day.

Transportation

Disney Transportation – when someone talks about Disney transportation, it’s complementary transportation available to all resort guests.  This includes buses, boats, monorails, and 

Magical Express (ME) – guests flying into Orlando International Airport (MCO) and staying at a Disney resort can use ME to get from the airport 

Popular Acronyms

Parks and Locations

• WDW – Walt Disney World
• MK – Magic Kingdom
• E – EPCOT (bonus points if you know what that stands for too…. Experimental Prototype City of Tomorrow)
• DHS – Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• AK – Animal Kingdom
• DS – Disney Springs
• TTC – Ticket and Transportation Center

Attractions

MK

• BTMRR – Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Buzz – Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin
• CoP – Carousel of Progress
• HoP – Hall of Presidents
• HM – Haunted Mansion
• PP – Peter Pan’s Flight
• PoC – Pirates of the Caribbean
• Mine Train – Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• TTA – Tomorrowland Transit Authority