When you are at Disney, or planning out a Disney experience for the first time, you might hear some phrases you aren't familiar with. We've got a list of those phrases, along with an every day sort of person explanation! Once you remember that Disney is meant to be a "show" it makes a lot more sense how they talk! This is not a complete list, but has a lot of the common "Disney words" used. 

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Cast Member  -- A Disney employee
Guest -- Anyone visiting Disney
On Stage  -- Something that Guests can see, the roads and rides for example
Off Stage  -- Things the Guests cannot see, employee only areas
Face Character  -- Snow White, Rapunzel and Gaston are all examples of Face Characters 
Fur Character  -- Mickey, Donald and Minnie are all examples of Fur Characters 
Extra Magic Hours -- Resort Guest only Park times, either before the Parks open, or close
Attraction  -- A ride, or show
Costume  -- A Cast Member's uniform
Dark Ride  -- A ride like Peter Pan, all indoors
Rope Drop-  Getting to the Park and through security before the Park opens
Day Guest  -- Someone not staying at a Disney Resort
Hidden Mickey  -- Mickey's silhouette of his head hidden in an ordinary object
In Rehersal  -- Something that's coming soon, but it's ready for the Guests to see or ride
Pre Show  -- Something that happens before the main attraction. Jokes, lights, etc
Soft Opening  -- An attraction that might open intermittently before it's scheduled date
Resort -- A Disney hotel property, like Pop Century 


Hopefully those help you out a little next time you run across some unfamiliar Disney terms!

I might be in the minority, but I don't really mind going through Disney's security lines, maybe it's because we usually get through quickly. It CAN be stressful if you're late for a dining reservation, or the park just opened, or you are about to miss a parade, something like that, but with these 10 tips, you'll be breezing through the security lines faster than you can sing Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!


1. Give yourself plenty of time

You can't arrive at Disney security at 9 AM and expect to walk right in for your 9:05 Breakfast reservation. That's not going to happen. Always show up at least 30 - 45 minutes earlier than you need to be there, to give yourself time to get through security, show your ticket and make your way to your reservation, or fast pass. 


2. Don't bring a bag.

(Like that will EVER happen with me!) But the fastest way to get through security, is to go bagless. Those without bags have their own, much faster line. If that doesn't apply to you, and it never will, me, keep reading! 


3. Don't just follow the crowd

Have you ever noticed that when a crowd forms to get in somewhere, people just sort of fall into line and shuffle along? That's not the right way to approach the security lines at Disney! Scan the lines as you are walking up, and go to the one that looks shortest, or if they are all about the same, pick the one that doesn't have a family with a stroller, cooler and nineteen bags to be searched. 


4. Unzip and open your bags ahead of time

While you are waiting for your bag to be checked, make it easier, and faster for security! Unzip ALL areas, before you get to the security officer,  pull out anything bulky you've stuck inside like a jacket and a fast check may be all you need. 


5. Consider a bag without a lot of pockets

I love the backpacks with all the little areas to hold out different things, but those extra pockets do take extra time to search, because each area must be checked. Either do #3, and unzip all the areas ahead of time, or consider a bag with only one main area, and one or two smaller pouches. 


6. Don't bring in restricted items, or try to sneak them in! 

There's a big list of items you can't take to Disney Parks. If they are found while searching your stuff, they will be confiscated, and there's also a chance you'll be pulled aside for some extra security or even refused entrance to the Park! You can check that list by clicking here, and save yourself a LOT of time and hassle by reading it before you head to Disney! 


7.  Consider sending just one person through the bag check

If you've just got a cooler, and a backpack or two, maybe a stroller with a child who can walk, consider sending just one person through the bag check, and the others in the no bag security area, with a plan to meet at the park entrance. This works great when you've got smaller kids, or are a group who is able to share one bag for the 4 of you. (I tip my hat to those of you who can do that, because that won't ever be me!) 


8. Line up left AND right 

Just like the line forms on both sides of a quick service ordering area, it does at security too. If your whole family is on the left side, don't be surprised when one of your bags is checked, then the bag of the person on the right, then back to you. The bags go in order, so either push all yours up right away, or half of your party go on one side, and half on the other. 


9.  Step out of the way once you get through the bag check

It's so easy to stop, and wait for the rest of your party, or stand, zipping up your backpack, that's human nature, you know? But that actually causes the lines behind you to back up, or people to push past you, maybe knocking your unzipped bag all over the ground! Move forward, step to the side, or zip while walking! 


10. Be patient

This is one of the most important tips. Everyone wants to get inside of whatever Disney park they are queued up for, and sometimes you will get pushed, or someone will step on your foot. Just shrug it off, smile, and be polite to those around you, including the security officer who  might be taking a while to check your bag. It's important that they do their job to keep everyone safe, so that your day can be as magical as can be! 

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Do you have any tips for getting through Disney security quicker? Are you able to go bag-less, or do you carry it all but the kitchen sink? 

Do you love Ducktales? Woo-oo!

We do!! I think each episode is better than the last, and it's one of those that if the kids play over and over, I don't mind a bit because I catch new things each time, and the jokes NEVER get tiresome! I love how each of the triplet's has their own personality, and I love, love love Donald and Mr. McD! 

We've a special treat for you Ducktales fans, in the form of FREE Printable tags. Use them on your kid's lunch boxes, backpacks, (heck, yours too!) or when you are on your way to Disney! 

Print them, cut them out and then for longevity, laminate either with a lamination machine or self adhesive pouch, clear contact paper, or even packing tape! Punch a hole in them and attach with anything you like! Coordinating ribbons or yarn, rubber bands and zip ties are all things I've done in the past that have worked great. 

You can right click on the photo below and save, or if you have trouble that way, you could also click and download the file located just under the photo.

​Want more FREE printables? Click here, and go to the main Printables page. We've got lots of new ones in the works, and can't wait to share them! 

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Comment below with your favorite Triplet, (I love Louie!) or episode, and visit us on Facebook to show how you used your tags! 

A while back, I turned our downstairs hallway into a little Disney are area. We don't have the best of lighting in this area, but it looks awesome in person, and we all love to walk past and remember some of our favorite rides. The best part, is it looks so expensive, and difficult to do, but it hardly took any time at all! 

In addition to only a little time, I'm not lying when I tell you it was only around $20 to make this! Here's how YOU can make something like this for yourself or give as a gift later! 

Your supplies are simple if you want to make something like mine!  You can change it up with sizes and shapes easily, but this is what I used: 

12 x 12 blank canvas
(4) 8 x 8 blank canvas
Modge podge
paint brush
(4) 8x8 Word Arts
12 x 12 collage

The above items I got at a craft store, with sales or those 40% off coupons or already had on hand (like the paint brush and mod podge).

​The prints were made on Shutterfly. I used a coupon (you know they always have great ones) and got it mostly for free, just had to pay shipping. If you are impatient to wait for a free code, they often do 40-50% any one item. There are loads of shapes you can choose, and I'm really thinking of going back and making ones for previous trips. 

​The Word Clouds are from Tagul. You make them, any way that you want, and then you get to save your images. This is all FREE! If you want a higher quality, you can pay for a download of a higher quality, but I found the lower quality did just fine for the 8 x 8 prints. I honestly don't think we could have gone much bigger, or they might have been grainy.

A side note here, you can make these for ANY occasion! As a matter of fact, for last year's Christmas, I even did family gifts of these Word Clouds, typing in everyone's name, along with words like love, family and etc. I think everyone liked them! I printed those out just as 4x6 and 5x7 and mounted them on painted wooden cutouts I found at the craft store, that were fancy, and painted to match whatever word color I used. 

Back to the DIY! 
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You can go here, to WordArt.com to get started. It's very simple, and fun to play around with. In just minutes, you too will have all kinds of creativeness going, and make some amazing art for your walls, or to give others! 

These are what I made, you can copy to use them for yourself, or make your own! I don't have all of the attractions listed, I just wanted to do our favorites, or ones we want to experience or have a particular memory of.

Once you have your canvas, and your prints, you're going to brush mod podge on the canvas, all over, AND mod podge on the back of the print. Quickly lay the print on the canvas, glue to glue, and let it dry. I actually turned mine face down so that the edges wouldn't curl. 

Afterwards, they were hung on the wall with command hooks. Amazingly, they have only been knocked off once, (hence that bent corner on Hollywood Studios and the collage) but I have boys who love to run down that hall, so it's a miracle that it's not worse! They were also so easy to make, and inexpensive, it's not too big of a deal. 

I plan to fill in those gaps between my prints next summer with 5 x 7 canvas with character autographs! 

So there you have it, easy, inexpensive, and AWESOME!! It only LOOKS hard to do! Now go make some for yourself, or others and enjoy their delighted faces!

Did you have any favorite quotes from Walt Disney? Comment below, or visit our Facebook and share there! If you want to read more great Walt Disney quotes, these were taken from the book The Quotable Walt Disney. ​