5 Defunct Disney World Terms We REFUSE To Stop Using

There are a lot of things we’re willing to change about how we do Disney, but the vocabulary? Not one of them.

We know Disney World is constantly evolving, and with that comes new systems, new names, new ways to plan your trip. But there are just some phrases and terms we cannot let go of, no matter how long it’s been. So today we’re calling ourselves out — and probably a lot of you too — for still using these outdated Disney World terms like they never left

Calling It MGM Studios

We don’t care what the maps say — to us, it’s still MGM Studios.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is technically the name and has been for over a decade, but “MGM” is deeply ingrained in our Disney core memories. If you ever watched The Great Movie Ride close with a dramatic montage and felt something spiritual when the Casablanca scene hit — yeah, you’re with us. We will keep calling it MGM until the Tower of Terror falls down (and let’s all hope that never happens).

FastPass Will Always Be FastPass

Lightning Lane? Genie+? No thanks, we’re still out here saying FastPass.

It might not exist anymore, but it’s the term that makes the most sense to our Disney brains. “Did you get a FastPass for Space?” just rolls off the tongue. Try saying, “Did you get a Lightning Lane reservation for Space Mountain?” and tell us that doesn’t feel like corporate jargon. You can pry FastPass from our cold, churro-holding hands.

Still Referring to Genie+ Even Though It’s Dead

And while we’re on the subject — even though Genie+ is technically gone, it’s going to take a while for our vocabulary to catch up.

Disney has already rolled out its new pre-paid Lightning Lane system, but guess what we’re still calling it when we’re planning a trip? Genie+. It’s messy. It’s clunky. But it’s what we know. And let’s be honest, Disney has changed this system so many times that it can feel like even THEY can’t keep the terminology straight. So we’re just going to keep calling it Genie+ until the next thing gets a catchy name we can latch onto.

It’s Downtown Disney Forever

Disney Springs is great. We love the restaurants. We love the shopping. We love the vibe. But it will always be Downtown Disney in our hearts.

There was just something about saying, “We’re heading to Downtown Disney tonight,” that made it feel like you were hitting the town. “Disney Springs” sounds like a luxury resort. “Downtown Disney” sounds like you’re about to get Ghirardelli and maybe see a movie at the AMC. Which we did. A lot.

The EPCOT Neighborhoods Are Still What They’ve Always Been

Okay, we get that EPCOT is divided into “neighborhoods” now. But you know what’s easier than remembering “World Celebration,” “World Discovery,” and “World Nature”? Just saying Future World.

That’s what we grew up with, and frankly, it still makes more sense. The old names told you what you were getting — innovation and tech on one side, land and sea on the other, and then the countries around the lagoon. Now it’s all vibes and vibes alone. We will continue to say “Let’s go to Future World” like it’s 2005 and no one can stop us.

We Know It’s Technically Wrong, But We’re Not Changing

It’s not that we don’t appreciate the changes. Some of them are amazing. But for those of us who’ve been going to the parks for years (or decades), these terms are stitched into how we think and talk about Disney. And if you’ve ever confused a new guest by casually saying “Meet me in Downtown Disney by the old Virgin Megastore,” then you are very much in the right place.

Check back with AllEars again soon for more.

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Let us know — which of these Disney World terms do YOU still use even though they’re technically not a thing anymore? Let us know in the comments!

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