FREE ULTIMATE PACKING LIST
ADR, EMH, WDW, DVC – WHAT THEY ALL MEAN
So you are going to Walt Disney World! How exciting!!!! There are so many acronyms and unknown terminology, with more being created daily. Even seasoned park goers sometimes have to pause to remember what MDE, ADR, and FP+ all mean. To help out, I have made a shortlist of the most important acronyms.
I have also created an Ultimate Packing list that you will have the opportunity to snag. As long-time visitors to the Disney World Theme Parks, we have had trips where we forgot essentials. So we created this list for ourselves, but also for you. NO more forgetting important documents and more at home!
As there are so many acronyms, I have only included the most important ones for you to know!
WDW – Walt Disney World Resort
AK – Animal Kingdom
HS – Hollywood Studios – previously known as MGM
MK – Magic Kingdom
ADR: Advanced Dining Reservations
BOG: Be Our Guest (Castle at Magic Kingdom modeled after Beauty and the Beast – Picture opportunity with the Beast)
CM: Cast Member – there are no employees at Disney because everything is a show!
CS: Counter Service meal
DS: Disney Springs – The shopping center owned by Disney – previously known as DD – Downtown Disney – previously known as Disney World Marketplace and Walt Disney World Village
DDP: Disney Dining Plan
DVC: Disney Vacation Club
EMH: Extra Magic Hours – the hours before and after general park hours when the parks are open for resort guests only.
F&G: Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival held in the spring.
F&W: Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival held in the fall.
FP+: Fast Pass Plus – special passes available to all guests to ride key attractions at pre-determined times. Each guest can select their FP+ through My Disney Experience at either 60 or 30 days prior to stay. You need a registered park ticket to select your FP+.
GR: Guest Relations
MB: Magic Bands
MDE: My Disney Experience – this Disney app will be your key to everything – Dining Reservations, Tickets, Resort Reservations, tracking FP+, wait times and more.
MNSSHP: Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
MVMCP: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
QS: Quick Service (counter service) restaurants
SDMT: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train – roller coaster in MK
ToT: Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios
TTC: Ticket and Transportation Center – the major transportation hub between boats, buses and monorail.
Before 180 days – research park hours of operation, any special events happening in the parks, and restaurants. Plan and schedule your calendar for your trip. This way you will be prepared for the Advanced Dining Reservations (ADR).
180 days before your check-in day – Make ADR for your entire trip if staying at WDW. If trying to score a hard to get reservation, look at days toward the end of your trip. If you are staying offsite, you can only make a reservation at 180 days for each day of your trip.
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique reservations can be made at this time.
Between 180 days and 60 days – Read, watch videos and make plans for “must-do” rides and attractions. If you haven’t been to Disney before, it is wise to see which rides and attractions your children are able to ride. Some rides have height restrictions, and some rides may be too rough or scary for young children. YouTube videos are great to preview the attractions with your children.
60 Days before – If staying onsite at WDW – Make FP+ selections
30 Days before – if staying offsite – Make FP+ selections
10 Days (or more) before your trip – Customize your magic bands. If you wait, you can still customize them, but they will be shipped to your resort. If you don’t customize them at least 6 days prior to your trip, you will receive a standard gray Magic Band.
3 Days prior – Purchase Memory Maker at a discount. Memory Maker works in conjunction with Photo Pass. You can have photos taken throughout the park by Disney Photographers, and purchase those photos later. Memory Maker gives you a free download of all photos.
Thank you for visiting! We look forward to hearing about your magical visit soon.
Reviewing movies for parents from a Christian perspective since 2005. Know Before You Go!
Christian Homeschooling mom – 30 years and counting
Autism Mom & Disney enthusiast
