Disney is hoping that Tinker Bell--along with a collection of pirates and other Disney characters--can help breath life back into its mobile phone services for kids. Beginning in September, Disney plans to roll out a grab bag of goodies for young cell phone users, including a mobile storefront, instant-messaging chat system and virtual world widgets.

The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort said Monday it will randomly pick a guest for a gas rebate of $1 for every mile driven roundtrip. The offer will stand for each week through Labor Day and is only available to Florida residents. A guest driving to the resort from South Florida could potentially pocket up to $800, according to the company.

Walt Disney World officials are monitoring the approach of Tropical Storm Fay. At this time all parks and attractions are expected to be open, at least during the morning hours. As a convenience to guests all four parks will open at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 19.

Walt Disney World is revising its employee gun ban policy. With the change, some Disney employees will be allowed to keep a gun locked in a car as long as the employee has a concealed-weapons permit, the gun isn't visible, and the weapon isn't taken out of the car.

More than 30 picketers have been arrested outside Disneyland as they protested in a labor dispute between Disney and its hotel workers.The protesters were taken away in handcuffs Thursday after sitting in a busy intersection outside the park, many of them dressed as Disney characters such as Cinderella and Peter Pan.The arrests followed a march by hundreds of maids, cooks and dishwashers from three Disney hotels who are complaining about a contract dispute.

The Walt Disney Co. said Thursday a former Coca-Cola executive with 20 years of experience in China has been appointed head of Hong Kong Disneyland.Andrew Kam has been named managing director of the Hong Kong park, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts said in a statement.

A two-story tall dinosaur arrived on a flatbed truck at Walt Disney World's Downtown Disney district this week. The dinosaur will be featured inside a new restaurant, currently under construction, called "T-Rex: a Prehistoric Family Adventure." Developed by Schussler Creative, Inc. and operated by Landry's Restaurants, the 600-seat restaurant will feature dinosaurs, waterfalls, bubbling geysers and a fossil dig site. "T-Rex" will open mid October 2008.

Disney has released room-only discounts, at select resorts, for Annual Passholders vacationing between September 28 - December 23, 2008. For details contact INTERCOT's Official Travel Agency, Magical Journeys at 1-570-785-3283, or visit their web site and fill out a quote form.

Charter Communications, Inc. announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Disney-ABC Domestic Television to launch a subscription video on demand (SVOD) entertainment service featuring classic and contemporary movies and animated shorts from The Walt Disney Studios. Disney Family Movies can be added to Charter Digital Cable(R) for only $4.99 per month.

Wave 8 of the popular Walt Disney Treasures collector DVDs has been announced and are now available for pre-order via Amazon.com. Included in this year's set are The Chronological Donald Vol 4 (1951-1961), Dr. Syn: The Scarecrow Of Romney Marsh (1964), The Mickey Mouse Club Presents: Annette (1957-1958 Season).

Disney, experiencing one of the worst slumps at the box office in years, is counting on talking dogs and singing teens to turn things around. Among the movies it believes will put it back on top this fall are ''Beverly Hills Chihuahua,'' about a pampered pooch from the 90210 ZIP code lost in Mexico, and ''Bolt,'' an animated film overseen by Pixar Animation Studios guru John Lasseter about a showbiz dog. Disney is also releasing ''High School Musical 3: Senior Year,'' the third movie in the pubescent franchise and the first debuting on the big screen.

The Walt Disney World Resort has released the line-up of food and beverage kiosks that will be offered during the 2008 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Fitting with the "Great Food Cities" theme, most of this year's kiosks are named after specific cities rather than whole countries/states.

Disney.com today announced the launch of 'U Rock the Summer on Disney.com', a unique promotion that gives fans the opportunity to create their own music videos to song clips from popular Disney artists, post the original videos on the U Rock site (www.Disney.com/URock) and enter to win once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Adventures by Disney announced it will be adding eight new destinations to their list of trips, giving their guests a total of 23 destinations to choose from in 2009. The new destinations include an exotic African safari, an astonishing expedition to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, and an exploration of Alaska.

Walt Disney Co. announced today that it will not renew its lease for its World of Disney store at 711 Fifth Ave. when it expires in 2010 because of hefty rent increases.The entertainment conglomerate notified its 220 store employees, called 'cast members', Thursday and Friday that it will be leaving its current 36,000-square-foot space, Disney's only Manhattan location.

Walt Disney Co. is eliminating McDonald's Corp. fast-food restaurants at its Disneyland Resort. Three McDonald's locations at the Anaheim park will close Sept. 2 as part of planned refurbishments, Disneyland spokeswoman Lisa Haines said today.

Someday, Disney hopes its princes will come.The entertainment giant, which has made billions catering to the princess fantasies of young girls, plans to relaunch Toon Disney as Disney XD, a cable channel that will target boys. Disney XD, aiming at boys ages 6 to 14, will offer original action-adventure and comedy series, movies, animation and sports-themed shows developed with Walt Disney Co.-owned ESPN.

Originally scheduled to be introduced as three sets during a three-year period, the fifth and final debut for the Art of Disney series takes place Aug. 7, at 10 a.m. PDT in front of the Sleeping Beauty castle in Disneyland when the Postal Service dedicates the Art of Disney: Imagination stamps. The 42-cent first-class commemorative stamps go on sale nationwide that day.