Planning a Disney World trip for the first time can feel like you need to learn a whole new language.

There are so many words and phrases used within the Disney World gates that can seem really strange if you’ve never heard them before. While a lot of these phrases are fun snippets of ride audios, some of them refer to things that take place throughout your Disney day. We’re here to talk about some of the phrases that you’ll only ever hear at Disney World.

We’ll start off strong with one of our favorites.

“Bagging the fish.”

Of course, you might hear this in like, a fish market. But hearing it at Disney World might sound super strange. “Bagging the fish” refers to something that takes place during Fantasmic! in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

This one needs a bit of backstory. The show has fireworks after a ton of beloved Disney characters are merrily dancing on a boat. Each of the characters runs inside of the boat’s main cabin during the fireworks for safety reasons. Well, Ariel can’t run inside because she has a tail. You know — mermaid things. So, Prince Eric saves the day and keeps her protected from fire hazards by throwing a flame-retardant blanket over her.

Bagging the fish. That’s what they call it. It happens on the far left of the boat. See if you can spot it in action!

Click here for more on Fantasmic!

“The BacKSIDE OF WATERRRRRRR! O2H! O2H!”

The World Famous Jungle Cruise. Home to world famous puns and silly lil’ jokes that Disney Adults love to repeat over and over.

Aboard the Jungle Cruise ride in Magic Kingdom, there’s a ride scene where your bote (another Jungle Cruise joke) takes you underneath a waterfall.

Your Skipper will tell you that this is the 8th wonder of the world. The backside of water. And then, “O2H” instead of H2O. Get it? Chemistry? In reverse? Yeahhhh. Expect lots of jokes like that on this ride. We promise you’ll probably laugh at SOME point.

Click here for more on Jungle Cruise! 

“Bring your death certificate.”

You’re probably wondering why death certificates would be mentioned at Disney World. Well, there’s a hilariously morbid attraction called the Haunted Mansion. I actually used to work there. Yes, really!

Anyway, you’ll hear all sorts of jokes about death and dying and decaying throughout your journey through the mansion. At the very end of the ride, Madame Leota (a fortune teller/medium) encourages you to hurry back to the mansion but to bring your death certificate next time.

I was a Haunted Mansion Maid. Here’s what I need you to know. 

Don’t worry, the ride is really silly. It’s meant for children, we promise.

“Should we start in Canada or Mexico?”

You’re probably thinking that Canada and Mexico are pretty far away from each other. Well, in EPCOT, you can hop between the two in about 10 minutes. “Starting in Canada or Mexico” refers to drinking around the world at EPCOT. 

This is when folks make it a challenge to grab an alcoholic bevi from each of the 11 countries in World Showcase. It’s widely debated whether or not you should start in Canada, where you’ll start with a gentle helping of ciders or beers, or if you should start in Mexico, with a not-so-gentle helping of margaritas.

Rumor has it that if you start with Mexico’s drink of choice, you’ll have a wild day ahead of you.

Click here for more about drinking around the world!

“Thank the Phoenicians.”

If you’re wondering who the Phoenicians were, they ruled the Mediterranean before the Greeks and Romans, and they played a very significant role in creating the modern alphabet, which allows us to read, write, talk, and communicate the way we do today.

Of course, you’ll learn all this on Spaceship Earth in EPCOT! The ride transports you through the history of planet Earth, and there’s an iconic part that says, “If you can read this, Thank the Phoenicians.”

Click here for more on EPCOT’s rides! 

And there you have it! Hopefully, you now have a greater understanding of Disney World’s lingo. We’re in the parks every single day, and we make it our goal to bring you tips and tricks that make your vacation easier and more enjoyable. Make sure to follow along for more so that you never miss a thing.

Looking for more tips on how to have the BEST Disney World vacation? Click here! 

Are you headed to Disney World in 2024? Let us know in the comments!