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I will never forget the very first time I went to Walt Disney World I ordered a "Meatball Sub and Chips" from the menu. It sounded like a safe yet very "American" meal. What I wasn't expecting was a bag of ready salted CRISPS on my plate! I was so confused I couldn't even bring myself to ask if they made a mistake. To save you from any uncomfortable or confusing moments, we've complied a list of some of the general differences you'll run into at Walt Disney World (or America in general). We had some help from our lovely followers on Facebook with this list.
English Words
American Words
Autumn
Fall
Car Park
Parking lot
Driving license
Driver's license
Crisps
Chips
Chips
(French) Fries
Candy floss
Cotton candy
Pop/Coke etc
Soda
Bum Bag
Fanny pack
Holiday
Vacation
Toilets
Restroom
Bill
Cheque (but spelled check)
Pavement
Sidewalk
Motorway
Highway
Car boot
Trunk
Car bonnet
Hood
Hire a car
Rent a car
Motorway
Interstate
Toll-Free Roads
Freeway
Tolled Roads
Highway
Toll Gate
Turnpike
Indicators
Blinkers
Trousers
Pants
Jumpers
Sweaters
Rubbish
Trash
Bin
Trash Can
Panda eyes
Raccoon eyes
Queue
Line
Gherkins
Pickles
Savoury Scone
Biscuit
Single cream
Half and half
Jelly
Jello
Jam
Jelly
Sweets
Candy
Post a letter
Mail a letter
Lifts
Elevators
Taxi
Cabs
Shopping centre
Mall
Ground floor
First floor
Mobile phone
Cell phone
Closure date(E.G Jan 23rd)
The day before(E.G Jan 23rd)
Other Notable Differences
Americans don't tend to use words such as "fortnight". They say every 2 weeks (effort, right?).
Some Americans don't understand if you say the time is "Half 8". They would say "8:30".
Toilets don't seem to flush, they just suck all the water out (like a vortex), it's very bizarre.
Toilet cubicles aren't from floor to ceiling like here in the UK, you can see through, over, and under them easily for some reason.
There is no ground floor! The ground floor is always level 1.
Americans drive on the other (wrong) side of the road. Take's some getting used.
Driving isn't too bad as there isn't a lot of roundabouts in America, just a lot of traffic light junctions.
You can turn right on a red light (by giving way, oncoming traffic have priority) unless there are signs saying you can't.
If you ask for a pint of beer (other than at the Rose and Crown in Epcot) you'll get a 16oz size drink, not a 20oz pint.
A Holiday is called a vacation (they call days like Christmas "Holidays").
Disney call their staff members - Cast members.
There's a few words spelled the same (or similar) but pronounced differently - such as Caribbean and aluminium.
They add sales tax (around 6%) at the till. So every price sticker you see, you'll actually pay around 6% more for it. That sort of thing is illegal here in the UK!
About The Author
Ash Hales is a British Disney Parks writer and the voice behind Mickey From The UK. Based in the South of England, he's been visiting Disney Parks for over three decades and launched Mickey From The UK in 2017 to provide practical, straight-talking advice for British guests - without the American bias.
