The Language of Orlando: Some Terms You'll Hear around Walt Disney World

Though good old-fashioned English is all you need to know in order to have a blast in Orlando, the theme parks do have a language all their own. Knowing the right word or phrase may help ease your way as you navigate the maze of the city's rides and attractions. Here's a rundown of common terms you'll likely come across while in Orlando:

• FASTPASS: FASTPASS is Disney's legal line-jumping pass, and it's available at most of WDW's primo park rides. You insert your park ticket into a machine, which spits out a pass with a time window (usually of about an hour) stamped on it. You come back within the window indicated, and you can access the ride via a special line that offers little or no wait.

• Universal Express Plus Pass: Universal's answer to Disney's FASTPASS, you have to pay extra for the privilege of skipping the lines here.

Ride-share: Most of Orlando's theme parks operate a ride-share program (also known as a parent-swap or child-swap) at their major attractions for parents with small children. With this option, one parent can ride an attraction with the kids who are able to ride, while the other parent stays with the kids too young to partake; then the adults can switch places without the second one having to stand in line again. Notify one of the ride staff when you get in line if you want to participate.

• Cast member: In its ever-present attempt to keep up the illusion that WDW is some kind of giant ongoing production, Disney refers to its staff as cast members. Whatever you call them, they are almost always knowledgeable and well trained.

• Advanced Dining Reservations: This concept is the Disney version of a restaurant reservation (and it's being used increasingly at other Orlando restaurants as well). Instead of reserving an exact time at a restaurant, you reserve the right to arrive at a specific time and get the next available table (which can sometimes — though not often — take up to 30 minutes).

Many locals commonly shorten or abbreviate the major theme-park names, as do a number of the region's highway signs. Universal Orlando is often just referred to as Universal and Universal Studios Florida is shortened to Universal Studios or abbreviated USF, while Islands of Adventure is either Islands or IOA. Walt Disney World is usually known merely as Disney World, Disney, or WDW.