Without a sample PDF file that displays the problem, we have no definitive way of assisting you.
Does the PDF file display without a problem?
Note that Internet Explorer 11 is a WPF application that generates XPS that is then converted to GDI that is then converted to PostScript via the PostScript driver to feed into Distiller using the Adobe PDF PostScript printer driver instance.
One thing you might check are the Advanced=>Printing Defaults=>Adobe PDF Settings. Make sure the option Rely on system fonts only; do not use document fonts is left unchecked (i.e., off). It may be possible that Distiller is replacing the obfuscated fonts from IE11's WPF's XPS with something that yields the “alphabet soup mashup” that you describe. If the option isn't set correctly, please do so, then let us know if the problem is resolved.
- Dov