Do WDW fans use "Walt Disney World" and "Disney" interchangeably?

[TipsyTraveler]

This thread has me wondering if it's an East coast/West coast thing. I always just say "Disney", as long as the person I'm speaking with knows which location I'm referring to. I have a trip to Japan coming up and if I'm talking about it I'll say something like "We'll spend a few days at Disney". If Japan hadn't already been brought up for context, I would say "I'm going to Tokyo Disney". The default Disney, where location doesn't have to be specified, is WDW.

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

The whole "DLR" thing actually annoys me to as it sounds kind of contrived in its own way. However, I grew up before that era, and the "Resort" moniker is officially used by the Walt Disney Company.

Our first trip to DLR was in 2007. California Adventure was open at that time so it was DLR then and not just DL. I see that you specify it's the Walt Disney Company, as it should be

 

[Handbag Lady]

It seems to me that most Disers use WDW and Disney as one and the same. I've never encountered it anyplace else on the internet.

I totally disagree with them as they are wrong. Disney is a last name and can mean so MANY things related to the Disney company as a whole.

When someone says they are going to Disney, I always ask, "Disney what, exactly?"

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I say Disneyworld when referring to Florida.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

As I said earlier, I will sometimes say "Disney" when referring to Disney World. It's really more of an abbreviation, though. I use it when people know which park I am referring to. So, if I'm talking to friends who know we are planning a trip, I might say something like, "We only have 3 weeks until Disney." In my opinion, it's no different than calling this place "the dis" rather than "the disboards" or any other shortening.

 

[bcla]

This was the commercial I was referring to. It was probably the first time I'd ever heard of "Disney" used by itself as a place name.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKSQjNP2QIs

 

[KristaTX]

I don't, but it doesn't really bother me if people do. I know what they mean, or I'll ask if they mean DL or WDW. When I'm typing about it, I type WDW since most people know what I'm talking about. If I'm typing about another Disney park on Facebook or something, I type out the whole name since the usual abbreviations for those are less known outside of Disney fan circles.

I'm actually more bothered when "Walt" is left off of Walt Disney World, especially in any kind of print or website's official postings. When speaking about it, I always call it Walt Disney World as I sign of respect for Walt and also for Roy's wishes.

 

[KaLyn]

Though I am one who calls it "Disney", now that I think about it, if my family created something similar to Disney World and people starting calling it "Lauer" instead of "Lauer World" I think it would be really silly.

 

[nooneshome]

Absolutely. When talking with other Disney World enthusiasts we all say Disney instead of Disney World.

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

I'm actually more bothered when "Walt" is left off of Walt Disney World, especially in any kind of print or website's official postings. When speaking about it, I always call it Walt Disney World as I sign of respect for Walt and also for Roy's wishes.

ITA! And this might differentiate the fans of Walt Disney from the fans of WDW or DLR. I'd say there are many people visiting the parks who know practically nothing about Walt Disney. That is one of the reasons I prefer to say or type WDW. Heck I have heard people who have been to WDW refer to it as Disneyland, lol! Some people don't even know where they have been

 

[jahber]

Here in Orlando I've rarely heard WDW called anything but Disney. It would be really strange and formal sounding to say "I'm going to Walt Disney World." It would be unusual even to say "Disney World," although I do occasionally hear that from people who didn't grow up here. It would be like if I lived outside Paris in Texas and always specified that I was going "to Paris, TX" so people didn't think I meant Paris, France. Here in Orlando, for most people, WDW *IS* Disney. I'm not saying it's right, just what I've experienced over 30+ years of living near Disney. See, even I say it

 

[Andtototoo]

I never say WALT Disney World. I almost always do say Disney World to differentiate it from Disneyland.

However, everyone I know just says Disney and they mean WDW.

 

[Southernmiss]

Disney equals Disney world here. Our area is much closer to Florida than California and I don't know if I even know anyone who has been to Disney Land.

I often know families going to Disney World and have run into someone we know on every trip.

 

[minnie mum]

We always say Disney World when referring to WDW. Helps us distinguish it from the other Disney Parks that we have visited and will visit in the future. To me, Disney is the corporation. I know a lot of people who just refer to WDW as "Disney". Usually I'll ask "Do you mean WDW?" I wonder if Californians, or those living closer to the left coast refer to Disneyland as Disney, too.

 

[bcla]

We always say Disney World when referring to WDW. Helps us distinguish it from the other Disney Parks that we have visited and will visit in the future. To me, Disney is the corporation. I know a lot of people who just refer to WDW as "Disney". Usually I'll ask "Do you mean WDW?" I wonder if Californians, or those living closer to the left coast refer to Disneyland as Disney, too.

As I hinted in my original post, there are a host of entities of the Walt Disney Company empire that carry the Disney name in California. Company headquarters and Walt Disney Studios are in Burbank. Disney Store is based in Pasadena. Walt Disney Imagineering is in Glendale. The Walt Disney Family Museum is in San Francisco. And there's that certain theme park in Anaheim.

If anything, "Disney" as a proper noun would either refer to Walt or to the company as a whole. At least around here.

 

[North of Mouse]

I use the term 'Disney' and WDW interchangeably as going to the same place. Everyone I have ever met does the same. We have gone to DL but it was several years ago, and really not on our 'radar' here so much in the southeastern USA. If someone means the park in CA, they say DL, not Disney.

 

[jdb in AZ]

We always say Disney World when referring to WDW. Helps us distinguish it from the other Disney Parks that we have visited and will visit in the future. To me, Disney is the corporation. I know a lot of people who just refer to WDW as "Disney". Usually I'll ask "Do you mean WDW?" I wonder if Californians, or those living closer to the left coast refer to Disneyland as Disney, too.

I've never heard anyone on the west coast refer to DLR as just "Disney." Sometimes we call it Mecca of the Mouse, but not just Disney.

 

[Poohforyou]

I respect Walt by giving my hard earned money to the corporate empire he started. If I want to call it all Disney I will. I wonder what the energy people put into being bothered by such trivial things could be used towards.

 

[bcla]

I respect Walt by giving my hard earned money to the corporate empire he started. If I want to call it all Disney I will. I wonder what the energy people put into being bothered by such trivial things could be used towards.

I'm just noting that it's a different language. Perhaps a different cultural construct. Seriously if anyone were to come here and refer to going to a theme park as "going to Disney" it would illicit a lot of puzzled looks and perhaps a request for clarification.

This board is practically dedicated to the trivial, which makes it an almost endless source of useless entertainment.

 

[MatoMany]

For me it depends on what Im talking about.. I use Disneyland for the parks in CA, Disney World for the parks in Florida. If Im talking about the cooperation in general I use Disney. I use the geographical location (ie Tokyo) if Im talking about an overseas park.