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

[BrinkofSunshine]

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.

I find that really interesting, because just "Disney" is the norm here in Orlando. Maybe because Walt Disney World is such a huge entity here there's nothing else you'd be referring to geographically.

It's not out of disrespect, it's just that when something is a part of everyday life you tend not to use full, proper names!

This is kind of off topic, but I also call Universal Orlando Resort just Universal, or USF and IOA. The abbreviations are spoken a lot here.

 

[Poohforyou]

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.

Really, someone in California says they're going to Disney and you can't figure out what they mean?

 

[Diznotyzed]

I wonder if Californians, or those living closer to the left coast refer to Disneyland as Disney, too.

Everyone we know up and down the west coast says Disneyland or (Walt) Disney World. We had fun teasing back and forth about this with our family in Vermont.

 

[DisneyDreamer2504]

When referring to WDW I will just say Disney, but often just say Florida too, bc that's the only place I usually go and most people I talk to will know that about me. I will usually clarify in conversation, especially if referring to parks other than WDW. I don't mind if someone just says Disney, but I hate when they refer to a park by the wrong name. 'Im going to Disneyland!' 'Oh that's great, I've never been to California!' 'No, in Florida.' No, you are mistaken and just plain wrong....

 

[bcla]

Really, someone in California says they're going to Disney and you can't figure out what they mean?

Really it would be confusing.

This place?

This place?

Maybe here?

Perhaps this place:

I just think of this as an interesting use of a name. If someone said that I'd ask to clarify. I have never, ever heard anyone personally say that they wanted to "go to Disney". Those combinations of words just don't compute when they're not used like that around here.

 

[allison443]

I differentiate as well. It is a bit of a pet peeve of mine. Disney is a person and a family, not a place. Out of respect I write WDW in my posts and I refer to it as Walt Disney World. We also visit the CA parks and I refer to them as their names, DLR, DL, and CA. Reading or hearing, "We are going down to Disney." is annoying to me. I don't say anything about though, except on this thread

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

Isn't the park called Disney California Adventure, not just California Adventure as you called it? So it should also be abbreviated as DCA, not just CA as you wrote? To show proper "respect" and all....

 

[max'sdad]

Are you people for reals? Guess what, I'm going to DISNEY this summer and I can't wait to be in DISNEY. I always have so much fun in DISNEY that I make sure to tell all my friends all about DISNEY!

 

[EMode]

I say Disney when I'm talking about WDW. I use WDW on message boards so people know I'm talking about WDW instead of DL.

I think some people get too caught up in anything related to Disney including how other's refer to it.

 

[phamton]

Here in Orlando I've rarely heard WDW called anything but 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

I find that really interesting, because just "Disney" is the norm here in Orlando. Maybe because Walt Disney World is such a huge entity here there's nothing else you'd be referring to geographically.

It's not out of disrespect, it's just that when something is a part of everyday life you tend not to use full, proper names!

This is kind of off topic, but I also call Universal Orlando Resort just Universal, or USF and IOA. The abbreviations are spoken a lot here.

Yep and yep. Those of us who live in the Orlando area refer to it as just Disney. Sometime the park is mentioned like Magic Kingdom or Epcot, if we are going there for the day. Also Universal Orlando resort is called Universal or Islands, depending on which park you are going to.

 

[kmb584]

I use Disney interchangeably.

 

[nym4588]

I call it Disney or Disney World unless I'm referring to a specific park. A lot of people confuse DL with DW, especially if it's someone who hasn't visited. I don't see any reason to get my knickers in a twist over it.

 

[Diznygrl]

Generally speaking, here on the west coast we do not use the term "Disney" when we are talking about either Disneyland or Walt Disney World. If we are going to Disneyland, we say Disneyland. If we are going to WDW, we say Disney World. I've never known anyone around here to say "We're going to Disney." I was not even aware that people did this until I came to The DIS, which is primarily Midwestern and east coasters.


All of that being said, I have started to use the term Disney when I'm not talking about a specific resort, but just Disney theme parks in general. Such as, "I always have to have a Dole Whip whenever I'm at Disney." Disneyland, Disney World, doesn't matter! I'm getting my Dole Whip!!