Florida

Walt Disney World cast members were busy earlier this month with a back-to-school supply drive to raise supplies for low-income families in central Florida. Their efforts were a success with over 3 million items, including some 13,000 backpacks, collected. In fact, the amount of pencils, erasers, crayons, rulers and the like collected by the cast members over a three-week period was enough to fill five school buses.

The school supplies will help fill a growing need, acording to Orange County superintendent Barbara Jenkins:

Disney, often known for their charitable needs and giving, is gearing up to give $1.5 million in grants throughout central Florida to benefit children. The "Helping Kids Shine" grants will go to fifty-nine charities and organizations throughout the Orlando area; estimates say the money will benefit some 70,000 children in the region.

It's a familiar and beloved sight of the Magic Kingdom, and now the Florida Association of the America Institute of Architects (AIA Florida) has named Cinderella Castle as one of the Top 100 Buildings in Florida and the Top Building in the Recreational Agriculture Category. The honors come as part of the AIA Florida's "100 Years. 100 Places." celebration of its 100 year anniversary.

Even though January isn't even half over yet, plans are in full swing for this year's upcoming International Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot. Concerts, displays and special activities are all on tap for the festival, and Disney has planned some themed weekends to take place during the event. Here are those weekends' dates and highlights:

• March 23 - 25, 2012: Art in the Garden Weekend. This weekend promises to combine nature and art, including "plein air" artists and their works. Check it out at the World Showcase.