The infrared Galactic disk: What have we learned?

A brief overview is given of some of the new insights we have achieved from the Spitzer/GLIMPSE/MIPSGAL surveys of the Galactic plane. Particular emphasis is given to infrared bubbles, rapidly accreting protostars, infrared dark clouds, and diffuse PAH emission. Large scale galactic structure based on the distribution of red clump giants will be discussed by Robert Benjamin in this volume.