Joe sits in Santa's chair over the holidays at the Shades of Green Resort, Walt Disney World.

D23 Member Joe Maceda grew up immersed in the mystery and fantasy of Walt Disney World. He’s a fan of the stories behind Disney park attractions and has many fond and funny memories from his Walt Disney World vacations; one in particular involves a very young Joe and his unofficial tours of the Magic Kingdom while on vacation with his parents. Now that Joe is all grown up, he escapes to the movie theater to get immersed in the Disney fantasy. From John Carter to Wreck-It Ralph, Joe reveals which 2012 Disney releases he’s most excited about.

Mission to Mars
“I heard about John Carter about 18 months ago, and I read the first two of the books in the series. The thing I love about the books is that it’s a completely new world that’s been created from scratch. There is obviously a deep, deep history in the story. And I’m a mythology fan as well, so I enjoy the story. I thought, what a cool story to tell from the people I love to hear stories from the most. I’ve been pretty excited about it for a while.”

Can’t Wait to See
“I’m pretty excited for Wreck-It Ralph. I was at the D23 Expo and I had no expectations, but the footage I saw there got me really excited. It’s a totally different type of story. It’s contemporary, but still has a strong heart to it as well.”

Store and More
“Living in New York, I can’t go to the parks regularly so I keep up on updates on the web. I work three or four blocks from the Disney Store in Times Square, so occasionally I get to pop over and check out some of the merchandise. My favorite collectibles are license plates I got from Walt Disney World. I have about three dozen of them from different destinations in the parks. I have a Blizzard Beach license plate with the logo from the water park on the plate, which is one of my more interesting ones.”

By D23′s Billy Stanek

"Come on, Tyrus! We know you love Disney twenty-three, but today is kite-flying day!" Disney Legend Tyrus Wong at Santa Monica Beach on the fourth Saturday in November 2011. He flies his marvelous kites, wind permitting, on the fourth Saturday of every month.

Even at the age of 101, Disney Legend Tyrus Wong still draws a crowd.

Tyrus routinely builds beautifully painted and elaborate flock kites, which consist of multiple kites connected to the same line---some longer than 100 feet. He assembles them in a quiet studio in his Sunland, California, home.

Tyrus looks out at the Pacific, a body of water that stretches all the way to China, where he was born in 1910.

Tyrus secures his line and prepares his kite to take flight.

Daughter Kim and several friends and fans help out.

Tyrus uses a white handkerchief to check the strength and direction of the wind.

Tyrus' floating artwork, like the mystical and utterly original concept art of forests, flora, and woodland creatures he created for Bambi (1942), is remarkably beautiful and unforgettable.

By D23′s Max Lark

The Oscars App is available for free from the App Store on iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, or at iTunes.com/AppStore.

This year’s official Oscars App is now live on the App Store for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, providing fans unparalleled access to the 84th Academy Awards®. Developed by the Academy and Disney/ABC Television Group’s Digital Media Team, the Oscars App is designed to be the ultimate complement to the live telecast, giving fans premier access to the most memorable moments of the night through exclusive live cameras strategically placed on the Red Carpet, throughout the Kodak Theatre, and even in the Governors Ball, which is the official Oscar party of the night. Special cameras include the Thank You Cam—offering winners an extended opportunity to thank their supporters; Backstage Cam—capturing sound bites, backstage action, short interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage; Control Room Cam— allowing users to watch the show’s director in action; and Press Room Cam—featuring moments of winners in the press area.

The app debuted last year as an integral part of the Oscar Digital Experience, which won an Emmy® for Creative Achievement in Interactive Arts. This year, the team has built on that success with a few key enhancements, including:

A much larger pre-show presence in a new magazine-style format. Fans who download the app between nominations and the live show will have access to original video from last year’s show, photos, and, utilizing new iOS 5 Twitter integration—the latest social media buzz.

All video views are tracked through iCloud, so viewers can keep track of what video they’ve watched regardless of the iOS device they are on.

Access to the hugely popular Oscar My Picks, an interactive play-along game that offers fans a chance to test their Oscar prediction skills. Once they fill out their ballot, they can share and view their friends’ picks on Facebook. On Oscar Sunday, users play along during the show and predict category winners ahead of the opening of the envelopes. The app will refresh and calculate your results as categories are won.

Viewers can watch the live experience in two different modes, Watch or Direct. In Watch mode, viewers will be guided through the live behind-the-scenes show. In the Direct mode, viewers can select the cameras they want to use.

This year’s app will have a live video grid so viewers can watch all available cameras at once, or zero in on one that looks the most interesting to them.

Once in a camera view, a ticker will display over the video to tell viewers what is happening on other cameras. That way, if a fan’s favorite actor enters another view, he or she can jump to it quickly and easily.

The 84rd Academy Awards will be presented on Sunday, February 26, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood and Highland Center, and televised live by the ABC Television Network.

To commemorate the first Disney Store opening 25 years ago, Guests will be invited to join the Magical celebration by participating in various in-store events and taking advantage of special anniversary promotions, discounts, and sweepstakes.

D23 members will be able to take advantage of an exclusive offer of 10 percent off your entire purchase at Disney Store and DisneyStore.com from February 21, 2012 to April 1, 2012. Come help us celebrate and share in 25 years of magic and memories!

To redeem your offer in-store, please click here to download and print coupon.

To redeem your offer online, please follow the instructions below:
1—Please log-in using your D23 user name
2—Place one or more eligible items in your Shopping Cart.
3—Type 25YEARS into the Special Offers and Discounts field, then click Submit.
4—The Promotion will be applied, if eligible.
5—Continue Shopping or Begin Checkout.
6—Use your Promotion Code between February 21, 2012 and April 1, 2012.

Disney Store and DisneyStore.com are The Walt Disney Company’s premier retail destination. With more than 200 Disney Store locations in the US complemented by DisneyStore.com, an enchanting Disney shopping experience is available 24 hours a day. When a family visits Disney Store or DisneyStore.com they will find unique, high quality Disney products and enjoy a magical shopping experience.

Note: Offer begins on February 21, 2012 and expires 11:59 pm PT, April 1, 2012 or while supplies last, whichever is earlier. Offer valid only on a single eligible purchase at Disney Store retail locations in North America, on a Disney Store phone order, or online at DisneyStore.com. Limit one coupon or promotion code per Guest. Qualifying purchase based on pre-tax, post-discount amount and excludes Shipping & Handling charges, gift cards, gift wrap and gift boxes, Publications & Memberships, Media & Electronics, Disney Theme Parks passes, Exclusive Limited Edition merchandise, Duffy – The Disney Bear Collection, Club Penguin items, personalization and items not in stock. For online purchases, offer can be combined with shipping offer, but cannot be combined with other offers. For in-store purchases, offer cannot be combined with other offers. No adjustments to prior purchases. Prices subject to change without notice. Products subject to availability. For online purchases, merchandise must be exchanged for identical item or returned at discounted price with valid packing slip. For in-store purchases, returns and exchanges subject to discount taken at time of redemption. Not valid at Employee Centers. Employees of The Walt Disney Company, and their respective subsidiaries and their immediate families are NOT eligible. Coupon or Promotion Code may not be redeemed for cash. Coupon or Promotion Code may not be sold, altered, duplicated or copied and will not be replaced if lost, stolen or corrupted. In-store coupon must be relinquished at time of purchase. Use of Coupon or Promotion Code is acceptance of its terms. Offer may be canceled or modified at any time. Void where prohibited.

It was late October 1959, still more than a year from the election that would catapult John F. Kennedy into the White House, when the then-Massachusetts senator met up with Ahmed Sékou Touré at Disneyland. Touré had become the first president of the Republic of Guinea just a year earlier and would remain in that role until his death in 1984. The two men came from very different backgrounds: Touré was born to a struggling family in central Guinea; Kennedy, five years Touré’s senior, was the son of a Harvard-educated businessman and diplomat. But the pair hit it off, as is apparent in this picture of the two leaders walking out of City Hall in Town Square, tickled by something off in the distance. Their relationship continued after JFK became the 35th President, and the African leader considered him an ally. After JFK’s death in November 1963, there was a thaw in Guinea’s connection with Washington. And, as it turned out, this would be President Kennedy’s only trip to Disneyland.

By D23′s David Sokol

Fan favorite Debby Ryan (Jessie) stars as a teen who secretly breaks free from her painfully shy self and into the persona of a bold podcast host who rocks her Seattle high school with music and the message to ‘be yourself,’ in Radio Rebel, a Disney Channel Original Movie based on the novel Shrinking Violet. Check out the trailer for the movie, which premieres tonight at 8 p.m. on Disney Channel.

Seventy different spell cards are part of this trading card game, and guests will receive five complimentary cards every day they play. Each of the cards features a different Disney character that offers a spell unique to his or her personality. Individually created by Disney artists and trading card game experts, these beautiful cards will become a new Disney collectible and trading opportunity.

According to Jonathan Ackley, Project Producer & Creative Director, Walt Disney Imagineering, one of the most exciting aspects of Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom is how guests become active players in the game, interacting with Disney characters at an entirely new level. “Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom gives our guests a whole new way to become the hero of the Disney story, taking Disney innovation to a new level,” he says. “It’s a great game of discovery and excitement that plays off our wonderful theme park and incredible family of Disney animated characters.”

Imagineers spent more than four years creating and perfecting this unique experience, which can be played in 15- to 20-minute segments throughout guests’ visits to the Magic kingdom, or continuously for up to three to four hours. More than 95 minutes of original animation was created for Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom—the equivalent of a full-length animated film.

While trading card games are popular with about 60 million people in the U.S., this is the first time players can experience the challenge at a Disney theme park. Guests of all ages will love the storytelling, the engagement with Disney characters and the discovery of hidden details at the Magic Kingdom.

Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom is included in the price of theme park admission.

Let’s face it: It’s fun to wear Disney! Disney fans know how they can elicit smiles and laughs when they show their Disney clothing, and now LittleMissMatched adds to the excitement with a special offer for members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club.

D23 Members will get 15 percent off Disney merchandise purchased online at LittleMissMatched.com or at LittleMissMatched store locations, including Downtown Disney stores at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

Online, enter code D23LMM12 at checkout. In store, show your valid D23 membership card (photo ID may be required) to receive your discount. This special offer from LittleMissMatched to D23 Members is valid at all LittleMissMatched locations through December 31, 2012.

LittleMissMatched is an innovative fashion and lifestyle brand that launched with the simple mission of encouraging creativity and celebrating individual style, always thinking “outside the socks.” At LittleMissMatched, socks don’t match: Matching is mundane—mixing is monumental, color is cool… And D23 Members will be able to select from a wide array of clothing choices featuring Disney characters!

Matthew and Hillary celebrate their engagement at Disney's BoardWalk Resort.

It’s Valentine’s Day, and couples everywhere are celebrating with romantic dinners and gestures of affection. As this day of bliss is celebrated, it couldn’t be a better time to introduce D23 Member Matthew Levesley and the romantic story about how he met his fiancée, Hillary. Matthew, from Sheffield, England, and Hillary, from Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, first crossed paths while working together at the Magic Kingdom’s Emporium as part of Walt Disney World’s internship program. This kismet meeting led to dates, long phone calls, and eventually Hillary spending time in England to be closer to Matthew. Now, as the two lovebirds plan their Up-themed wedding and a honeymoon on Disney Cruise Line, as well as a trip to Disneyland in Anaheim, California, D23 celebrates Valentine’s Day with a very twitterpated Disney Geek of the Week.

The Disney Connection
“We [Matthew and Hillary] met when we both worked at the Emporium in 2008. I worked at the Emporium with the International College Program, and Hillary was there with the domestic College Program. If it weren’t for Walt Disney World, we would have never met. Then Hillary studied for a semester over here in the United Kingdom at the end of 2011, and it was the best autumn/winter I have ever had.”

Matthew and Hillary in York, England.

The Magic, The Memories, and Marriage
“I was visiting Hillary at Walt Disney World—she was on her second College Program internship—and it was my last night there—May 21, 2011. We had spent the night at the Magic Kingdom watching Wishes and The Magic, The Memories and You! shows. Afterward, we spent a good hour just talking about the future, and how hard it was to leave each other. It was then I reached into my pocket, pulled out a box, got down on one knee and asked Hillary to marry me. She thankfully said yes! I proposed to her after The Magic, The Memories and You! because she was a photographer for Disney’s PhotoPass service at Disney’s Animal Kingdom at the time, and I knew how much that show meant to her.”

Up for Marriage
“We chose the theme of Up because we love the idea of growing old together and marriage being the greatest adventure we will ever have. The wedding will be on September 1, 2012 in Wisconsin. The groomsmen will wear grape soda badges, the ring bearer is dressing up as Russell, and there will be a balloon release after the ceremony. The cake will be in the shape of the house from Up, and our invitations will be heavily themed to the movie. Our “save the dates” were in the style of the adventure book from the film and read, ‘Our Adventure Book’ instead of ‘My Adventure book’ like in the movie. Also we’ll include songs from the film in our ceremony and reception.”

By D23′s Billy Stanek

From concept art to the final film frames, the Disney Animation Research Library houses more than 65 million pieces of original artwork that contributed to the rich history of Walt Disney Animation Studios. Find out more in this episode when Armchair Archivist visits the ARL! Listen to exclusive interviews from members of the Animation Research Library team as they talk about their roles and show some beautiful and iconic pieces from the collection.