Disney is full of extraordinary sights and attractions that you won’t find anywhere else, including their unique naming conventions. You may come across unfamiliar phrases and find your head spinning faster than the Mad Tea Party ride as you make reservations and secure your travel dates. Consider learning some Walt Disney World lingo to know before visiting to get the most out of your adventure.
Navigate Your Adventure With My Disney Experience
Staying organized on a Disney trip can feel magical when you use My Disney Experience, the digital hub that keeps all your plans in one place. My Disney Experience is a user-friendly app that acts as your virtual Disney guide. It allows guests to view park hours, check ride wait times, access maps, view photos taken by Disney photographers, and make dinner reservations and Genie+ selections.
How To Get the My Disney Experience on Your Phone
Download the app on your smartphone or access it through the website. Once you’ve created an account, connect your tickets and hotel reservations. After setting up your trip, use My Disney Experience as the ultimate planning tool for first-time travelers and seasoned guests alike.
Unlock Your Park Experience With the MagicBand
Disney introduced an immersive way to experience their parks by transforming convenience into a stylish wristband known as the MagicBand. The MagicBand is a brightly colored wristband integrated with RFID technology that connects all aspects of your Disney trip. The MagicBand handles it all, whether scanning into the park, accessing your FastPass reservations, paying for meals, or getting Disney gifts and toys at the souvenir shops.
How To Use a MagicBand for Your Family Trip
Using your MagicBand is simple: once you receive your band, link it to your My Disney Experience account. Tap your MagicBand on the Mickey Mouse reader to enter the park. The same process applies to redeeming Lightning Lane passes or making purchases.
MagicBands allow families to book group activities together. You can also use the MagicBands to unlock your hotel rooms if you’re staying on Disney property. It’s a hands-free way to manage keys and access throughout your stay.
Maximize Your Day With the Park Hopper
Why settle for one park per day when Disney offers the Park Hopper? Park Hoppers are an add-on to your Disney World ticket that lets you visit more than one park on the same day. It’s ideal for anyone wanting to catch a morning show at the Magic Kingdom and end the day with fireworks at Epcot’s World Showcase.
When To Book Your Disney Park Hopper
Start by adding a Park Hopper upgrade when you purchase your tickets. While the Park Hopper allows for more flexibility in your schedule, you’ll need to make a reservation for your first park of the day. After 2 PM, feel free to “hop” to any other park without additional reservations if there’s availability.
Skip the Lines With Lightning Lane
No one enjoys waiting in long lines, especially if you have little ones that need a break. The Lightning Lane is Disney’s paid, time-saving solution that gives guests access to shorter lines at popular attractions. Instead of waiting in the standard standby queue, guests with Lightning Lane access enter a separate line, often getting onto the ride in a fraction of the time.
Lightning Lane is available through Genie+ or as an individual selection for premium attractions. Simply reserve your time slot through My Disney Experience, head to the ride at your reserved time, and tap your MagicBand or ticket at the entrance.
What’s the Difference Between Lightning Lane and Genie+?
Lightning Lane is the actual express queue that lets guests skip the regular line at attractions, while Genie+ is the paid service that gives you access to Lightning Lane for a variety of rides across the park. However, some top-tier attractions offer Lightning Lane as an individual purchase, separate from Genie+.
Genie+ allows you to reserve access to multiple rides, while individual Lightning Lane purchases cater to high-demand experiences. You can differentiate which services work best for your family trip by learning this Walt Disney World lingo to know before visiting.
Start Bright and Early With Rope Drop
Rope drop refers to the official opening time of the park, where early guests have first access to attractions. The term originally came from the literal ropes that were dropped to allow guests into the rides and give early birds an advantage. If you hear someone say they’re rushing to Space Mountain when the rope drops, they’re heading to that attraction first thing in the morning.
Experiencing the Rope Drop
Arrive at the park before opening time to countdown with other travelers. Often, guests are allowed onto Main Street or into designated areas before the rides officially open. This experience gives you and your family a head start on popular attractions far from the rowdy crowds.
Meet the Magic With Character Dining
Character dining combines great food with magical encounters and is one of Disney’s most sought-after attractions. This unique experience allows guests to enjoy a meal while meeting and interacting with Disney characters. These special dining services add an enchanted touch to your Disney adventure, whether it’s breakfast with Mickey or dinner with princesses.
How To Book a Character Dining Experience
Reservations for character dining are in high demand, so book through My Disney Experience as early as possible. The app allows you to reserve a table up to 60 days in advance, making it easier to plan your itinerary. Be sure to check dining options at various parks and resorts to find the experience that appeals to your family the most.
Share the Fun With Rider Switch
Traveling with small children doesn’t mean you have to skip your favorite rides. Rider Switch allows everyone in the group to have a chance to experience the attractions.
Rider Switch, also known as Child Swap, is a service that allows one adult to wait with a child who doesn’t meet the ride height requirement while the other adult rides. Afterward, the waiting adult gets their chance without waiting in line again.
How To Use the Rider Switch Service
If you find an attraction your family wants to ride, simply inform a cast member at the entrance that you’d like to use Rider Switch. One adult waits while others ride, and then they swap roles. It’s a traveler-friendly option for families wanting to enjoy Disney together.
Understanding these phrases and services will make you look like a seasoned Disney professional. Now that you know what these unique experiences entail start using them during your next Disney visit! Take advantage of the services Disney provides and explore the parks without confusion or hassle by booking your reservations today.