Icons are small images that appear on your computer screen after you turn it on. These images are usually thirty-two pixels (dots) square, and they represent your computer files and programs. By simply clicking on an icon, you can play your favorite game or open that letter to Grandma you've been working on.
The two most common icons that most computers have are labeled "My Computer" and "Recycle Bin," but you may have more or less on your screen since icons can be added and removed at whim. That aside, the most widely known attribute of icons is that they can be changed; that is, you can change the image that represents a file or program. So, instead of starting your computer and seeing the same boring icons that came with your computer, you can be greeted by images of Tinker Bell, Mickey Mouse, or any number of characters.
One of the main features of the Disney Experience are the Disney icons. So, now you know that those dinky little images on your screen can be changed, and you have many icons at your disposal here (with more always on the way). You're on your way to customizing the look of your computer.
A mouse cursor is that little white arrow that moves around your computer screen when you move the mouse. If you haven't read the piece above about icons, you should know that mouse cursors have something in common with them. Cursors, like icons, can be changed. You don't have to watch the same boring white arrow zip across the monitor; change it to Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse. But the fun doesn't stop there. Mouse cursors can be animated, unlike icons; see Tinker Bell flap her wings, watch Princess Aurora's dress change back and forth between pink and blue, awe as the Main Street Electrical Parade floats by. There are several different cursors that your computer uses, depending on what task is being carried out. And they're all changeable!
A wallpaper is the image that sits right behind your icons and fills your entire screen. Wallpaper images are actually referred to by several names such as: "desktop wallpaper," "desktop backgrounds," "backgrounds," and "background images." I have even seen them referred to as "desktops," but this is an incorrect term. A desktop is related to wallpaper, but is actually something different— we won't go into it. Whatever they're called, on whatever Web site, they're all the same thing. I'm telling you this now because it confused the heck out of me for a long time (and I'm a smart guy). Oh, and one more thing: wallpapers are NOT screen savers. I don't know how anyone can confuse wallpaper with screen savers, but it happens more often than you think.
Most computers will usually have a plain, single color or a manufacturer's logo as wallpaper. They can be changed! I can't begin to count how many times I have gone over to a friend of family member's house and seen that gosh-darn blue screen. Wallpapers come in different sizes to fit different computer screens. Choosing a wallpaper that is the same size as your screen is typically the best way to go. Wallpapers can be stretched to fit, but that causes the image to look poor.
There are NO desktop themes available. The purpose of the Disney Experience is to encourage you to customize the way your computer looks. A desktop theme usually contains icons (TDE has those here), mouse cursors (TDE has those), wallpaper (TDE has those), fonts (TDE even has those), and sounds (a resource is available). Everything you need is at your disposal, right here in one Web site. But that's not to say that you can't combine the material here with materials from other sites.
No! Don't do it—even if you think you're helping! I put a TON of time and effort into creating material for the Disney Experience.
The paper models are fully supported by Disney, so redistributing them (or derivatives) is illegal, and you WILL be reported. You definitely don't want Disney knocking on your door!
The only material that you may freely redistribute are the fonts and any wallpaper that DOES NOT have the Disney Experience logo in the lower left-hand corner. You MAY NOT link directly to any files, only to this Web site. You MAY display images of wallpapers, so long as you only provide a link to this site or the page that the wallpaper can be found. Do not download and redistribute wallpapers unless they conform to the conditions mentioned above.
There is no guarantee that your request(s) will ever be fulfilled or how soon it will be fulfilled. You could see your request(s) appear in the next edition or a year from now. Requests are filled at random, and when time permits, so it's hard to say.
Every request is reviewed personally. Those that meet the prerequisites are added to an ever-growing list. Once there, the request stays until it is filled. Requests that fail to meet the prerequisites are simply deleted. It's amazing how many people fail to follow instructions.
Generally, there are two rules that guests fail to follow the most. First, please send in requests with a DISNEY theme. Pleas for Bugs Bunny, Garfield, and Betty Boop icons/cursors do not make the cut. Second, do not submit requests for "Monsters, Inc. characters" or "Alice in Wonderland cast." Be specific! If you really want the entire cast of Alice in Wonderland, submit the name of EVERY character in that film. I have to log every request, and I don't have time to look up every character.
Almost everything is designed with PCs in mind—running Windows '95 through Windows Vista. Since I do not have access to a Macintosh, I cannot accommodate both formats all of the time.
If you missed it, instructions on installing icons, mouse cursors, fonts, XP user images, and wallpapers can be found at the very bottom of their pages.
Missing files cannot and will not be sent to you if your computer crashes or you accidentally delete them. To prevent this from happening, I strongly recommend keeping a copy of icons and mouse cursors on floppy disks or CD-Rs.
The Disney Experience usually updates at random intervals. You should keep yourself up-to-date by reading the Site News or using the Site News' RSS/ATOM feed.
The Disney Experience is all designed and maintained by one person . . . me, Trader Sam.
If you contribute something for the Fan Board, it may not appear right away. There may be other submissions that need to be posted first, or more display time is needed for the ones already posted. All submissions are saved, so you don't have to resubmit unless requested.
Link exchanges and advertisements are not accepted. The Disney Experience is not a tool for boosting other sites' traffic, and I prefer to have links to my site because other people believe it merits mention. Likewise, I place site links to other sites that warrant attention based on their content.
"Awesome. I do appreciate the work and detail you provide."
--Anonymous