Disneyland Resort Lingo for Newbies

[HydroGuy]

Disneyland opened in 1955. In 2001 it became part of Disneyland Resort. It is common to see people excited about "going to Disneyland" when they really mean they are going to "Disneyland Resort".

To say one is "going to DL" is sort of like saying one is "going to MK" in Orlando. Most WDW people would say, "You are only going to MK? Aren't you going anywhere else at WDW?".

So here is a quick lingo summary for newbies:

DL - Disneyland, a theme park at Disneyland Resort. DL is the equivalent of MK at WDW.

DLR - Disneyland Resort, a Disney resort like WDW

DLR consists of:

o Disneyland theme park
o Disney's California Adventure (DCA) theme park
o Downtown Disney (DTD)
o Three Disney hotels: Disneyland Hotel (DLH), Paradise Pier Hotel (PPH) and the Grand Californian Hotel (GCH)

For other DLR-specific abbreviations see: DLR Abbreviations List - www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520784

 

[bumbershoot]

Bump!

Because my very own brother insists on calling Disneyland "Magic Kingdom".

And we grew up in California!!!!!!!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I think it's nice knowing all of the abbreviations, but when people say DL, I can pretty much tell what they are referring to. At home we always say we're going to Disneyland when we mean the Disneyland Resort.

I also remember when Disneyland was called the Magic Kingdom - before WDW came about. That's why I like to say it's the ORIGINAL Magic Kingdom.

 

[Grumpy'sWife4Ever]

I am guilty of saying "Disneyland" - that's what it was for all my growing up years and what it was the first half-dozen times I visited....To me DCA is still kind of that "new" addition (how old is it? LOL!) I think the way to cure my erroneous ways is to continue to revisit the Disneyland Resort as many times as I can....they say it takes 18-30 repetitions to change a habit, so I'd better get cracking!

 

[bumbershoot]

I also remember when Disneyland was called the Magic Kingdom - before WDW came about. That's why I like to say it's the ORIGINAL Magic Kingdom.

See, we never called it that while in CA. Ever. It was Disneyland always and forever, so either San Jose just named things differently, or things had changed by the 70s when we started going (only a few times during our childhoods).

My brother, however, was moved to FL by 10th grade, so I think he got indoctrinated to the Orlando stuff. I just never knew it until well into our 30s b/c we hadn't been to Disney together since preteen years or so.

 

[darph nader]

We/I always say Disneyland. DTD and DCA are just side attractions for us.
Of course I can always get a 'cold' one in DTD.($$) I sure miss the Neon Cactus. (not cheap either)

 

[dnamertz]

We/I always say Disneyland. DTD and DCA are just side attractions for us.

Same here. I referred to it as Disneyland before DTD and DCA came along and I still do. In preparation for our recent trip, we kept telling our daughter "we're going to Disneyland", even though we also spent time at DCA.

On the flip side, when I first found this website I found it irritating that most of the forum titles just refer to Disney (Disney Trip Planning, Disney Restaurants, etc), but upon further reading they are about Walt Disney World.

 

[disneychrista]

I think more people than not say they are going to Disneyland they mean Disneyland Park, DCA & DTD...

 

[Califgirl]

I always say Disneyland.
I will always say Disneyland.
To me, people who say "Disneyland Resort" are either newbies or pretentious. It's just Disneyland. When you say "I'm going to Disneyland", we all know what you mean.

 

[LavenderPeach]

I agree that if you say you're going to Disneyland, most people would understand you mean the whole resort and not just that park. That's what I say too because I just think it would sound funny in to say "I'm going to the Disneyland Resort!" instead of just saying "I'm going to Disneyland!".

But it could get confusing for some questions and discussions on these boards if you only say DL and not DLR if you mean the whole place and not just disneyland park since there is some info that needs to be more specific. So I think it's a good idea to try to use the "correct" abbreviations to keep the confusion at a minimum and so you can get the info you need.

 

[bumbershoot]

In real life I say "Disney" or "Anaheim", just to get around that whole thing. Because truly I would not be able to say just "disneyland" if I were also going to DCA, but no one else in my life would understand.

Here though, I'm specific...DLR, DL, DCA...I rarely try to go to DTD so I don't really include that unless I have to.


But see, my brother...he was telling his wife where we were going (we were going specifically to DCA), and he said that it's the CA themed park across from Magic Kingdom, and I just had to sigh inwardly.

 

[HydroGuy]

I agree that if you say you're going to Disneyland, most people would understand you mean the whole resort and not just that park. That's what I say too because I just think it would sound funny in to say "I'm going to the Disneyland Resort!" instead of just saying "I'm going to Disneyland!".

But it could get confusing for some questions and discussions on these boards if you only say DL and not DLR if you mean the whole place and not just disneyland park since there is some info that needs to be more specific. So I think it's a good idea to try to use the "correct" abbreviations to keep the confusion at a minimum and so you can get the info you need.

I agree with everyone here. I confess that in casual conversation I often just say I am "going to Disneyland" because it is easier. But around here it can get confusing whether someone means DL or DLR. Lavendar got my point.

Further, some folks who pop in here and have never been to DLR just do not know that DL is part of DLR. So they talk like DCA and DTD are part of "DL", if they even know DCA and DTD exist. I point out to people the difference so they grasp the whole thing. When a newbie says DL I know they mean DLR. Even so, I know they are a newbie because they think the whole resort is just called DL. So IMO it is worthwhile getting them to think of the difference between DL and DLR.

 

[Sherry E]

Honestly, truthfully, I only am mindful of abbreviations on this board to be courteous to those who prefer them, but I always say "going to Disneyland" when talking to anyone else in my life. And honestly, truthfully - it does not matter to me at all if someone who posts here says DL when they mean DLR, or any other configuration thereof. I have not been confused by what anyone was saying so far. I suppose it could happen, but generally, you can pay attention to the context of what someone is saying and be able to tell what they mean, and if they hang around on the board long enough they will pick up the lingo and get comfortable with it, but sometimes they just want to pop in and ask a question or two and leave. I think it is nice to have the list of abbreviations for reference for those who want to use them, but I really am not bothered if anyone just says, "I'm going to Disney," "Disneyland," "Disney parks," whatever - as long as they don't say DL/DLR when they really mean MK/WDW, it is fine with me. If I get confused, I will ask what they mean.

Heck, we all knew what one poster meant when referring to DCA as "California Dream Park" on more than one occasion! Does anyone remember that? I mean, if we can understand that, we can figure out the difference between DL/DLR/DCA/DTD, etc.

And I, too, remember when Disneyland was called the Magic Kingdom. In fact, there was a 'Magic Kingdom card' at one point, which preceded the Disney Club card, which is now gone forever!

 

[LuLusApple]

I think it's nice knowing all of the abbreviations, but when people say DL, I can pretty much tell what they are referring to. At home we always say we're going to Disneyland when we mean the Disneyland Resort.

I also remember when Disneyland was called the Magic Kingdom - before WDW came about. That's why I like to say it's the ORIGINAL Magic Kingdom.

I agree
When you ride the train you are told you are taking a trip around Walt Disneys "magic kingdom". It's been the Original Magic Kingdom my whole life LOL
I know what everyone means when they say Disneyland as opposed to DLR
Likewise to me if they just said "Disneyland Florida" I would get it, they mean WDW
oh the blasphemy of it LOL it's all good

 

[Diva of Dragons]

I have never lived more than 20 miles from Disneyland and everyone I know calls the whole thing Disneyland unless there is a reason to be specific (ie DCA, DTD). No one cares about the "resort" thing. LOL!

The only thing that ever bothers me is when we're in DCA and someone says, "Let's go over to Disney". It's ALL Disney! LOL!!


However, I do think it's good for people to aware of the abbreviations used around here.

 

[HydroGuy]

This is an interesting thread and going in a direction I did not really anticipate. Here are some more thoughts...

I think we all agree that we all know what someone means when they say "Disneyland". And we are all OK with that and often do it ourselves. However, some of us, including me, think confusion starts to creep in when someone uses the abbreviation "DL". Do they mean the theme park or the resort?

A couple years ago I went to Disneyland Resort Paris and spent time on the DIS forum. That is even more confusing. Initially the park was called EuroDisney. It had financial and other problems, there was some change in ownership, and the name was changed to Disneyland Paris. Or DLP for short. A second park was later added "Walt Disney Studios" or WDS, and a DTD-like place outside parks. Can't remember the name. Disney Village maybe?

In any case the whole thing became Disneyland Resort Paris at some point. Or DLRP for short. However, people are constantly calling the resort both DLP and DLRP, while the theme park is called DLP. It is similar to what we are doing here but it seemed like people were more confused on DIS DLRP than on this forum about what to call things.

I wonder how long the memory is of anyone around here regarding Florida?When Florida's Magic Kingdom was opened in 1971 it seems like everyone just called the park "DisneyWorld" as a parallel name to Disneyland.

Epcot was opened in 1981 I believe. When did the MK park start being called MK there? When was the resort dubbed "Walt Disneyworld" or WDW?

It sounds like the reason the lingo is not so confusing there is that the theme park became known as MK. If the park had continued to be known as Disneyworld then it would be similarly confusing lingo in Florida. I never went to MK/Disneyworld back then and have no idea how they got to the current names for things. Anyone?

 

[Corpsebride]

We always say, in referring to Disneyland , the park:
DL
D-Land
The Mouse
Since we never go to DCA, to novices I always say Disneyland's California Adventure, but between Dfi and myself, I just say DCA.
And since we really never venture into Downtown Disney, it is just more of a big busy pathway to the bar at the Grand Californian Hotel, instead of saying either of those, we just say, lets go to "the bar".
Yay Magic Blue Tinis! MMMMM.
But in speaking for formalities, like on the board, I will now try to refer to it all as Disneyland Resort and when specifically speaking about such things, as the Original Magic Kingdom, DCA and DTD, I will do my best.

 

[liesel]

While we were there earlier this month, my DD3 referred to the two parks as the "two Disneys." When we would park hop she would say, "we're going to the other disney!"