In Disney News...

...D23 made some major announcements today about plans for 2012.

The next Destination D event will be held at the Disneyland Resort August 11th and 12th, 2012, and the theme will be 75 Years of Disney Animation. Destination D will feature "many renowned Disney animation legends along with top Disney animators, voice talent (past and present), and composers—plus interesting demonstrations, fascinating presentations, autograph sessions, and the chance to see entertaining animation rarities from the Disney vaults."

I had a great time at Destination D in 2010 and plan to attend next summer.

D23 member screenings on the studio lot in 2012 will include a 50th anniversary screening of IN SEARCH OF THE CASTAWAYS (1962), starring Hayley Mills, George Sanders, and Maurice Chevalier. I've never seen that one and would definitely like to attend!

D23 will also be hosting an event at Smoke Tree Ranch in Palm Springs, where Walt Disney had a vacation home.

...TANGLED EVER AFTER, a short cartoon continuing the story from TANGLED (2010), will play before the 3D version of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, coming to theaters on January 13, 2012. (Here's a preview of the BEAUTY AND THE BEAST poster.)

...A new TOY STORY short, SMALL FRY, will be playing with the new MUPPETS film, which hits theaters Thanksgiving weekend. I love the idea of Buzz Lightyear finding himself in a support group for discarded Happy Meal toys!

...The Disney Food Blog has the calendar for the days Disneyland's Candy Palace will be making candy canes this Christmas season.

...The Winter Issue of Disney Twenty-three magazine is currently available, featuring a cover story on the Muppets. Other stories include Pixar's 25th anniversary and the making of DUMBO.

...The grandson of Disney animator and Imagineering legend Ward Kimball is a Disneyland Railroad engineer; he often works on the train named for his grandfather.

...There's a new holiday intro for the World of Color show at Disney's California Adventure.

...MiceChat interviewed a cast member who once worked in Disneyland's extra-magical "secret" restaurant, Club 33. I've been privileged to eat at Club 33 on several occasions, most recently last June.

...This week Disneyland Paris welcomed its 250 millionth guest.

...I plan to attend this weekend's 50th anniversary screening of BABES IN TOYLAND (1961) at the Disney Studios theatre, and I'll share the details here! (Update: More on BABES IN TOYLAND has been posted here.)