Disney Acronyms & Other Important Lingo You Should Know

Can I get to MK from the TTC and then head to The Hub to rope drop? For Disney aficionados, this question makes complete sense. But, for others who aren’t entirely sure how Walt Disney World operates, you may find yourself seriously confused.

There’s a lot to remember when visiting WDW, including specific terms. If you’re not an avid visitor to the most magical place on earth, then there are a few Disney acronyms, abbreviations, and other lingo you should know.

The following are just a sampling of the words and phrases you should add to your Disney vocabulary.

We don’t think you need to commit them all to memory. But, you may want to familiarize yourself with this list before heading to the parks, so you don’t have to break out your dictionary of Disney terms before you even get down Main Street, U.S.A.

General Terms

TTC (Transportation & Ticket Center)

The TTC is the Transportation and Ticket Center at Walt Disney World and is essentially the transportation hub.

This is also where you park if you drive to Magic Kingdom, and it’s the only place you can board or transfer to the Epcot monorail line.

The TTC is also the official drop-off spot for anyone taking a taxi or Uber/Lyft to Magic Kingdom. Guests can even purchase tickets here and hop on the ferry to Magic Kingdom.

ADR (Advance Dining Reservation)

For most Table Service restaurants at WDW, you have to make an Advance Dining Reservation or ADR. Right now, reservations open up exactly 60 days in advance, instead of the previous 180 days.

Learn more about booking reservations, especially difficult ones, with our handy dining guide.

CM (Cast Member)

If you hear someone say, “Ask a CM,” they’re referring to a Cast Member. Cast Members are the employees who work at WDW. They can assist you with pretty much anything and are great at their jobs.

EP (Epcot)

Even though Epcot has the shortest name of any of the parks, it is still frequently abbreviated as “EP.”

DHS (Disney’s Hollywood Studios)

This is simply the abbreviation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

DAK (Disney’s Animal Kingdom)

Like Hollywood Studios, if you ever hear some say “DAK,” they mean Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

MK (Magic Kingdom)

And, yes, “MK” stands for Magic Kingdom.

BB (Blizzard Beach)

One of Disney’s 2 Water parks, Blizzard Beach, is the one with all the (fake) snow.

TL (Typhoon Lagoon)

Typhoon Lagoon is the Disney water park that looks like a tropical paradise.

MDE or MDX (My Disney Experience)

The My Disney Experience (MDE) app is a huge part of the WDW vacation process. Before your trip, you must download the app.

It’s essentially your lifeline while exploring the parks. From checking attraction wait times, to Mobile Ordering, to browsing park hours, MDE is a necessity.

DAS (Disability Access Service)

Disability Access Service, or DAS, is a system put in place across WDW to help guests with disabilities access attraction queues.

Typically, the tool can be used along with FastPass+, which currently isn’t being offered at the theme parks. But, DAS is still available for guests who need it.

Check out our guide to DAS for information on how it works.

Rider Switch

Rider Switch is a great system for families. Essentially, Rider Switch allows guests with small children to take turns riding bigger rides while the other person/people waits with the child.

Then, the switch happens, so the other individual(s) have a chance to ride, and the person who already rode will wait with the child.

Single Rider

Single Rider is pretty self-explanatory, but there are select attractions at WDW theme parks with a Single Rider line.

Rather than waiting in the standard queue, you can hop in the Single Rider Line, which can, depending, sometimes moves faster than the traditional line.

Rope Drop

Ever since WDW reopened during the ongoing pandemic, Rope Drop hasn’t been necessary or even a thing, but it will most likely return one day.

And, if or when it does, you’ll definitely want to know what it entails.

First, Rope Drop is not when people are allowed inside the park, because more often than not, guests are granted access to the parks before official opening time.

However, Rope Drop means the time guests are allowed to board attractions. If you want to get on a popular attraction, like Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and beat the crowds, you’ll want to Rope Drop said ride.

Park Hopper Option

The Park Hopper Option, also referred to as park hopping, is when WDW theme park visitors are allowed to hop from theme park to theme park. It’s nice to have the option of experience more than one park in a day.

But, keep in mind that park hopping has changed as of Jan. 1, 2021. You now have to make a park reservation via the Disney Park Pass System and enter that park before visiting another park. And, there are even Park Hopper Hours to follow.

Read all about park hopping in 2021.

Disney Park Pass System

As previously mentioned, this system is where guests make park reservations. You now need both valid theme park admission and a park reservation in order to enter a WDW theme park due to health and safety reasons.

Take note: The Disney Park Pass System has been extended through January 2022.

MagicBands

MagicBands are bands that you wear around your wrist and can be used to unlock your Disney Resort hotel room, scanned when entering theme parks, used to pay for food and retail items, and so much more.

That said, Disney is phasing out MagicBands. They revealed in June 2020 they would be introducing an “innovative new offering” as part of the My Disney Experience app. Features of the MagicBand will be brought to smart devices, building on the app’s existing digital key feature.

This also means that complimentary MagicBand distribution to Disney Resort hotel guests has been retired. MagicBands that were once free are now priced at a special pre-order price of $5.

You can still reuse an existing MagicBand or purchase one at retail locations and on shopDisney.com. If you choose not to use a MagicBand, the Front Desk can give you a Key to the World card.

PhotoPass

PhotoPass is the photo service available at WDW. There are Disney photographers stationed around the park that will take your photo in front of park icons and more.

PhotoPass is free and extremely easy to use, but you must purchase digital downloads or prints if you want to keep your photos.

Learn more about PhotoPass and purchasing prints.

The Hub

The Hub can be found inside Magic Kingdom. It is the main area in front of Cinderella Castle.

There are different areas to relax and enjoy the castle views, especially the grassy hub areas that are perfect for taking a break, eating a snack, or sipping on some Joffrey’s or Starbucks.

AP (Annual Pass or Annual Passholder)

This acronym pops up a lot when people discuss discounts, as in “I got a great deal at the Poly with my AP discount.”.

TS (Table Service Restaurant) & QS or QSR (Quick Service Restaurant)

Restaurants at Walt Disney World are typically divided into 2 categories: Quick Service and Table Service.

Quick Service restaurants are ones where you typically order at a window or kiosk, pick up your own food, and seat yourself.

Table Service restaurants are ones where you are seated at a table and a waiter or waitress serves you.

Resorts, Restaurants, & Attractions

Resorts

We have always found the resort acronyms and abbreviations to be some of the easiest to learn:

AKL – Animal Kingdom Lodge
AKV – Animal Kingdom Villas
AoA – Art of Animation
ASMo – All-Star Movies
ASMu – All-Star Music
ASSp – All-Star Sports
BC – Beach Club
BCV – Beach Club Villas
BLT – Bay Lake Tower
BW or BWI – Boardwalk Inn
BWV – Boardwalk Villas
CBR – Caribbean Beach Resort
CSR – Coronado Springs Resort
CR – Contemporary Resort
FW – Fort Wilderness
GF – Grand Floridian
GFV – Grand Floridian Villas
OKW – Old Key West
POFQ – Port Orleans – French Quarter
POLY – Polynesian Village Resort
POP – Pop Century
POR – Port Orleans – Riverside
PVB – Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
RR – Riviera Resort
SSR – Saratoga Springs Resort
WL – Wilderness Lodge
YC – Yacht Club

Now that you’ve mastered all of those, hold onto your hat because the truth is that nearly every attraction and many restaurants are also commonly known by acronyms and abbreviations in the Disney community.

Restaurants

Not a complete list, but here are some of the most common restaurants represented by acronyms:

B&C – Beaches and Cream
BOG – Be Our Guest
CG – California Grill
CM – Chef Mickey’s
CRT – Cinderella’s Royal Table
LTT – Liberty Tree Tavern
V&A – Victoria & Alberts

Attractions

Again, not a complete list, but here are some of the most frequent abbreviations and acronyms you’re likely to see:

7DMT or SDMT – Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
BTM or BTMR or BTMRR – Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
CBJ – Country Bear Jamboree
CoP – Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
EE – Expedition Everest
FEA – Frozen Ever After
FoP – Avatar Flight of Passage
HM – The Haunted Mansion
HoP – The Hall of Presidents
IASW – “it’s a small world”
JC – Jungle Cruise
PotC or PoC – Pirates of the Caribbean
RnRC – Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
SDD – Slinky Dog Dash
SM – Splash Mountain or Space Mountain
SSE or SE – Spaceship Earth
ToT – “The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror”
TSM or TSMM– Toy Story Mania
TT – Test Track
TTA – Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover

Alphabetical List of Disney Acronyms and Terms

Looking for an alphabetical list? Check out the table below!

Category:

wdt_ID	Abbreviation	Name	Category
1	7DMT or SDMT	Seven Dwarfs Mine Train	Attraction
2	ADR	Advance Dining Reservation	Other
3	AK	Disney’s Animal Kingdom	Park
4	AKL	Animal Kingdom Lodge	Resort
5	AKV	Animal Kingdom Villas	Resort
6	AoA	Art of Animation	Resort
7	AP	Annual Pass or Annual Passholder	Other
8	ASMu	All-Star Music	Resort
9	ASMo	All-Star Movies	Resort
10	ASSp	All-Star Sports	Resort
			Category

**********

Again, these are only just a few of the Disney acronyms and lingo to keep in mind. If you need more help when it comes to planning a WDW vacation, be sure to check out our trip planner and our Crowd Calendar, which can assist you with park hours and tips on the best times to visit.

And if you need any help when it comes to booking a WDW trip, Small World Vacations is a great resource.