Haven’t been to the Florida parks in a few years? Here’s a cheat sheet to get you up to speed.
If you haven’t been to Walt Disney World in the past few years, brace yourself. Even if you’re a Disneyland regular, visiting the Florida parks is a whole different game. Do your Disney World memories include waiting in an endless line for Splash Mountain, handing over cash for popcorn, or misplacing a hotel room key? Get ready, because the landscape has changed so dramatically, that believe it or not, those practices are all stuck in the past.
These days, guests reserve a time for a ride in advance, pay for cotton candy with the swipe of a bracelet, and enter their hotel room courtesy of a nifty text message, all without having to ever pick up a key. The new ways of Walt Disney World can make a vacation more enjoyable. However, it’s all too easy for first-timers or former visitors to get completely overwhelmed. That’s why we’re here with explanations on everything you need to know, even if you have no clue what “Frozen” is about, can’t remember which parks are in California, or simply haven’t visited EPCOT since the days of Horizons.
Spend less time getting lost in the details, and more time whizzing through the single rider line for Test Track and collecting Hidden Mickey pins. Not sure what either of those are? Read on:
FastPass+
Many popular Walt Disney World attractions operate two separate lines: a standby line for guests simply entering and waiting, and a FastPass+ line, which allows guests with a “reservation” to enter the attraction more quickly. To utilize the FastPass+ line, each member of a party needs to have a time-specific reservation for the individual ride. Up to three advance reservations can be made per day for each Walt Disney World ticket holder, regardless of ticket type. FastPass+ reservations are free, and only select rides offer FastPass+. Walt Disney World’s ticketing system allows guests to reserve a FastPass+ 60 days in advance of a check-in date if staying at a Walt Disney World resort hotel or participating hotel and 30 days in advance with general park admission. Consequently, once all three reservations have been used, guests can make additional selections one at a time (when available) in the My Disney Experience mobile app or by using the FastPass+ kiosks on site at all four parks.
My Disney Experience
The all-in-one web portal that allows Walt Disney World guests to manage their trip efficiently. When logged in, guests can make FastPass+ selections, set Advance Dining Reservations, check the times of individual shows and entertainment, and find answers to most questions. My Disney Experience can also be utilized through a reliable mobile app, allowing guests to change FastPass+ reservations, locate character meet-and-greets, and monitor ride wait times on the go.
Magic Bands
If Walt Disney World is your home, the Magic Band is your key. Literally—your Magic Band is not only your credit card, park ticket, FastPass+ reservation, and in-park photo album rolled into one, but it also acts as your hotel room key. Each of these items must be linked to be accessed through your Magic Band, which can easily be done through My Disney Experience or with the assistance of a cast member at the hotel front desk. While Magic Bands are not necessary—shops and restaurants accept cash and credit cards, room keys can be provided, and FastPasses can be scanned from your park ticket—they have made visiting Walt Disney World parks more seamless than ever before. Complimentary Magic Bands are given to Walt Disney World resort hotel guests either upon arrival or are mailed in advance when customized through My Disney Experience, but park guests can purchase them for $14.95.
MyMagic+
The umbrella term for Walt Disney World’s technologically enhanced booking options which include FastPass+, MagicBands, and My Disney Experience.
Disney Springs
The area formerly known as Downtown Disney has gone through a multi-year transformation to become an entertainment, shopping, and dining district with four “neighborhoods” offering live music, interactive experiences, nightlife, and kid-friendly activities. West Side hosts entertainment options like House of Blues and Splitsville Luxury Lanes. Marketplace boasts a range of Disney-affiliated stores, Town Center contains a collection of shops from popular designers and brands, and The Landing’s upscale waterfront area is the place to find many of Disney’s newest restaurants and signature nightlife.
Disney Vacation Club (DVC)
Disney’s popular timeshare-style membership program that offers apartment-style lodging and operates familiar kiosks inside parks and at hotel lobbies throughout Walt Disney World.
Times Guide
A rectangular billfold available at the front of the park upon entering that provides park hours, entertainment times, ride closures, and parade details on a weekly basis.
Early Morning Magic
Ticketed morning events that give guests early and private access to attractions within Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland or Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios before park guests arrive, with a hot breakfast included.
Extra Magic Hours (EMH)
Additional park entrance hours added in the morning or evening that are exclusively for use by guests of Walt Disney World resort hotels and select partner hotels. Extra Magic Hours change daily—check times guides for details—but in general, morning EMH allow early park admission and ride access, while evening EMH restrict ride access to resort guests, allowing non-resort guests to exit the park at their leisure. To enter an attraction during Extra Magic Hours, park guests must scan their MagicBand or display an Extra Magic Hours voucher from participating hotels to prove eligibility.
Disney After Hours
Ticketed late-night events that give guests unparalleled access to rides and experiences with minimal wait times once a park has closed to the public, accompanied by complimentary ice cream, popcorn, and bottled drinks.
Cast Member
The preferred and proper term for Walt Disney World park employees, regardless of job specification.
Magic Moments
Denotes an unofficial and surprise gesture or gift bestowed upon a guest from a cast member completely at random. A Magic Moment could be as small as receiving a ride photograph for free or as memorable as Alice and the Mad Hatter joining a guest for a spin on the Mad Tea Party.
Hidden Mickey
An homage to Mickey Mouse often in the circular shape of his head with ears that are slightly obscured and incorporated into the construction of buildings, facades, and attractions. They are widespread, hidden everywhere from hotel carpeting patterns and sidewalk imprints to ride signs.
Magic Your Way
A Disney vacation package that allows guests to reserve hotel stays, purchase park tickets, and choose a Disney Dining Plan as one reservation.
PhotoPass
A property-wide service offering official photographers throughout the parks, at Disney Springs and at select Disney events. PhotoPass photographers can be spotted in beige vests and will scan guests’ MagicBands after taking photographs so images can be easily accessed on Disney’s PhotoPass website or on the My Disney Experience mobile app instantly. Certain photo locations allow for enhanced Magic Shots, which insert Disney characters and effects into images automatically.
Memory Maker
A digital package that allows the download of every PhotoPass photo, attraction photo or video, and any photos on the account of friends and family traveling with the guest for one set price. As of early 2019, Memory Maker costs $169 when purchased in advance and $199 when purchased during vacation.
Pin Trading
The activity of park guests trading official Disney pins with cast members across Walt Disney World property. Disney pins are enamel and colorful, often referencing a character, attraction, or experience within the parks, and typically come in small collectible sets.
Guests can trade any official Disney pin for another official Disney pin that is on a cast member’s lanyard or inside a Disney Pin Trading book, which are located at various shops, guest services counters, and hotel desks. Cast members will not refuse a trade based on the rarity or style of a pin; they will only decline a trade if the pin is not an official Disney pin design or when the guest has completed the maximum of two trades per cast member for that day.
Rider Switch
If some members of a group want to ride an attraction and others do not, Rider Switch gives everyone a turn while preventing younger guests from waiting unsupervised. When entering the line, guests must inquire with a cast member about Rider Switch. Some of the group will enter the line while the rest of the party waits in a designated area. Once the first group finishes, they take over supervision, and any party members who waited and would like to ride can board without waiting in line. Rider Switch is available on many but not all attractions at Walt Disney World.
Shop Disney Parks
A standalone mobile app that makes navigating on-site shops much easier. By utilizing the app, guests can locate clothing sizes, check stock of items at different gift shops, and find necessary toiletries, making the search for sundries more seamless.
Single Rider Line
A separate and somewhat under-the-radar line offered on multiple attractions at Walt Disney World for individual guests. Single Rider Lines are available on rides such as Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Test Track at Epcot.
Standby Line
The general admittance line for all rides at Walt Disney World parks, with estimated wait times listed at the point of entrance.
Split Stay
The process of booking a trip to Walt Disney World with two different hotel stays, allowing guests to experience more of the expansive property.
Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs)
Reservations can be made at WDW restaurants up to 180 days in advance before arrival. In-demand locations like character breakfasts at Cinderella’s Royal Table and the wildly popular Be Our Guest restaurant in Magic Kingdom tend to fill up quickly, so booking well in advance is necessary. Additionally, if you are staying in a WDW resort hotel, you have a slight advantage: you can book 180 days from the beginning of your trip, providing up to a nine-day head start on prime seating times.
Tables In Wonderland
A dining discount program that offers 20% off food and drinks (including alcohol) at over 100 restaurants throughout the Walt Disney World Resort, as well as complimentary parking for dining purposes. Membership is limited to Florida residents, annual and seasonal passholders, and Disney Vacation Club members.
Disney Dining Plan (DDP)
The Disney Dining Plan allows guests booking Walt Disney World vacations to pre-pay for their meals in exchange for credits redeemable at various restaurants and most food service locations across the WDW property. The DDP provides each guest a certain number of quick-service meals and/or table-service meals, along with beverages and snacks each day.
Mobile Ordering
The process by which guests can pre-select meals at dining locations throughout Walt Disney World. Food is not prepared in advance.
Walt Disney World Transportation
The complimentary system of buses, monorails, and boats transporting guests from all Walt Disney World hotel resorts to the four parks, as well as two water parks. Each Walt Disney World hotel resort operates at least one bus station, which serves as the primary form of transportation to the parks. Buses arrive approximately every 20 minutes, and only select properties offer boat and monorail access.
Disney’s Magical Express (DME)
A complimentary coach bus service offered to Walt Disney World resort hotel guests between Orlando International Airport and their lodging location. DME must be booked in advance for all parties traveling together, and pick-up time for departing flights can be up to four hours before actual flight time.
Minnie Vans
A fleet of polka-dotted minivans operated by Disney cast members and bookable through the Lyft rideshare app. Minnie Vans can travel between areas within Walt Disney World for a variable fee or between the resort and Orlando International Airport, which can be booked in advance for a flat rate.
Play Disney Parks
An app that utilizes ride queues and locations within Walt Disney World for family-friendly multi-person gameplay, as well as collectible location badges and matching playlists.
DisneyBounding
Made popular by a blog of the same name, this concept refers to park guests dressing like Disney characters by utilizing colors instead of costumes. For example, a guest DisneyBounding as Snow White would likely wear a combination of colors that evoke the character’s look, creating a fun sense of familiarity in the parks.
RunDisney
Refers to Disney-operated distance events that are hosted at multiple parks. Walt Disney World currently hosts various events throughout the year. It’s important to plan ahead, as RunDisney events often cause parks to become crowded and can limit hotel availability.
