Order "chips" at Walt Disney World and a bag of crisps turns up instead. Ask for "the second floor" and you'll end up on what we'd call the first. Walt Disney World runs on American English, and a fair few everyday British words either mean something completely different or don't get understood at all. Below is the list of words and phrases most likely to catch you out, along with a few habits to know before you land.
Article Summary
- Crisps vs chips: ask for chips in Florida and a bag of crisps turns up, so ask for fries if you want chips.
- Ground floor confusion: what we call the ground floor is usually "the first floor" in America, so every floor above is numbered one higher than you'd expect.
- Sales tax isn't included: around 6.5% is added at the till, so the price on the label isn't the price you pay.
- Right turns on red: you can turn right at a red light after coming to a complete stop and giving way, unless a sign says "No Turn On Red".
- Pint sizes: most places pour a 16oz pint, roughly 473ml against the 568ml of a UK pint, but the Rose and Crown in EPCOT serves 20oz.
Compare Walt Disney World package prices here
Read on for the full British vs American word list, the driving terms to know before you pick up a hire car, and how tipping works when the "check" arrives.
What British Words Won't Make Sense At Walt Disney World?
This is the core list - the words and phrases most likely to come up during a normal day at the parks, in a restaurant, or wandering round a shopping centre (sorry, mall).
| British Words | American Words |
|---|---|
| Autumn | Fall |
| Car Park | Parking Lot |
| Driving Licence | Driver's License |
| Crisps | Chips |
| Chips | (French) Fries |
| Candy Floss | Cotton Candy |
| Fizzy Drink | Soda |
| Bum Bag | Fanny Pack |
| Holiday | Vacation |
| Toilets | Restroom |
| Bill | Check |
| Pavement | Sidewalk |
| Queue | Line |
| Shopping Centre | Mall |
| Lift | Elevator |
| Taxi | Cab |
| Ground Floor | First Floor |
| Mobile Phone | Cell Phone |
| Zebra Crossing | Crosswalk |
| Fancy Dress | Costume |
| Take Away | To Go |
Fancy comparing Disney World package prices before you fly? You can check current Walt Disney World package pricing here to see what a trip might cost with your flights and hotel bundled in alongside park tickets.
Food And Drink Terms That Catch Brits Out
Food seems to be where most of the confusion happens, probably because you're hungry and don't want to get it wrong in front of a queue of people.
| British Words | American Words |
|---|---|
| Gherkins | Pickles |
| Savoury Scone | Biscuit |
| Single Cream | Half And Half |
| Jelly | Jello |
| Jam | Jelly |
| Sweets | Candy |
| Squash | No Direct Equivalent |
| Aubergine | Eggplant |
| Courgette | Zucchini |
Ask for a pint of beer and most places will pour a 16oz glass, which works out at roughly 473ml against the 568ml of a UK pint. The exception is the Rose and Crown Pub in EPCOT's United Kingdom Pavilion, which serves 20oz beers that come close to a proper British pint, fittingly enough.
Eating out is one of the bigger costs of a Disney trip, so if you're still pricing things up, see what Walt Disney World packages cost for your dates and factor in your food budget from there.
What Do Americans Call Clothing, Baby And Everyday Items?
These ones rarely come up at the parks themselves, but they're handy if you end up nipping into a shop for something you'd forgotten.
| British Words | American Words |
|---|---|
| Trousers | Pants |
| Jumper | Sweater |
| Trainers | Sneakers |
| Nappy | Diaper |
| Dummy | Pacifier |
| Torch | Flashlight |
| Plaster | Band-Aid |
| Chemist | Pharmacy Or Drugstore |
| Fringe | Bangs |
| Rubbish | Trash |
| Bin | Trash Can |
Pants is the one to watch. In America it means trousers, so if a shop assistant sends you to the pants section, trousers are what you'll find, and nobody will blink if you mention packing spare pants for the kids.
None of this affects your booking, but if you're still finalising the trip itself, compare current Walt Disney World package prices here while you're at it.
Driving Terms For UK Drivers In Florida
If you're hiring a car for your trip, a handful of these are worth knowing rather than just being fun facts.
| British Words | American Words |
|---|---|
| Hire A Car | Rent A Car |
| Motorway | Highway Or Interstate |
| Dual Carriageway | Divided Highway |
| Tolled Road | Toll Road |
| Multi-Storey Car Park | Parking Garage |
| Indicators | Turn Signals Or Blinkers |
| Car Boot | Trunk |
| Car Bonnet | Hood |
| Petrol | Gas |
| Roundabout | Traffic Circle |
| Return Ticket | Round Trip Ticket |
Roundabouts are far less common in Florida than in the UK, with most junctions run by traffic lights instead. Several of the main roads around Orlando are tolled expressways, including the 408, 417 and 528, so check how your hire company charges for tolls before you drive away from the airport. You can also turn right at a red light after coming to a complete stop and giving way to pedestrians and other traffic, unless a sign says "No Turn On Red". Driving on the right takes a bit of adjusting to, but it's less of a shock than you'd think once you're a day or two in.
If you haven't booked your flights and hotel yet, check current Walt Disney World package prices here before you start comparing hire cars.
Other US Differences UK Visitors Should Know
A few final ones that don't fit neatly into a table but are worth adding to the list.
- Americans generally don't use "fortnight" - they'll say "two weeks" instead.
- Saying the time as "half 8" often won't land - stick with "8.30".
- American toilets tend to have far more water in the bowl and flush with more of a vortex than a UK toilet.
- Toilet cubicles in the US are rarely floor-to-ceiling, so there's usually a gap you can see through at the top and bottom.
- What we'd call the ground floor is usually "the first floor", and some lifts label it L for Lobby rather than G, so every floor above is numbered one higher than you'd expect.
- Disney refers to its staff as "cast members" rather than employees.
- Some words are spelled differently as well as said differently, with aluminium becoming "aluminum" in America, while Caribbean keeps the same spelling but is often pronounced differently.
- Sales tax of around 6.5% gets added at the till rather than included in the price on the label, so what you see isn't quite what you'll pay. Tickets and packages bought from UK sellers in pounds already have tax included, so this mostly affects your spending money once you're there. We've covered why sales tax isn't included in the price like VAT in more detail.
- Tipping is expected for table service, with 18-20% of the bill the usual range, and some restaurants add a gratuity automatically for larger groups, so check the bill before adding another one on top.
If you're buying park tickets separately rather than as part of a package, compare Walt Disney World ticket prices at FloridaTix. Our Walt Disney World tickets guide for UK guests explains the different ticket types, and our Walt Disney World deals and offers guide covers the current discounts for UK bookings.
Check current Walt Disney World ticket prices here before you go, so at least the ticket booth won't be the thing that catches you out.
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British Vs American Words: Your Questions Answered
Why do Americans call crisps "chips"?
It's simply a different naming convention that developed separately in American English, where "chips" refers to what the UK calls crisps, and "fries" covers what the UK calls chips.
Is sales tax included in Walt Disney World prices?
No. Sales tax of around 6.5% is added at the till rather than built into the displayed price, so budget for a bit extra on top of what you see on the label or menu.
Can you turn right on a red light in Florida?
Yes, after coming to a complete stop and giving way to pedestrians and other traffic, unless a sign at that junction says "No Turn On Red".
Do Americans use the term "fortnight"?
No, it's not commonly used in American English. You'll more often hear "two weeks" instead.
What do Americans call the ground floor?
The ground floor is usually called "the first floor" in America, and some lifts label it L for Lobby, so every floor above is numbered one higher than UK visitors would expect.
Is a pint of beer smaller in America?
Yes, at most places. A standard American pint is 16oz, roughly 473ml, against the 568ml of a UK pint. The Rose and Crown Pub in EPCOT is an exception, serving 20oz beers that come close to a UK pint.
