Disney cashing in on Tinker Bell's fame

BURBANK, Calif., Aug. 18 (UPI) -- The Walt Disney Co. is attempting to make everything it can from the growing fame of its Tinker Bell character, including an animated Hollywood film.

With Tinker Bell quickly becoming one of the company's most popular creations, second only to Mickey Mouse and Cinderella in many ways, Walt Disney officials are doing all they can do market the fairy character, the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel said Saturday.

"Our guests love Tinker Bell," Walt Disney merchandising official Dara Trujillo said.

The theme park official said that while a feature film starring the pixie-like character has been delayed, the company is offering new T-shirts and other product lines to take advantage of that popularity.

The Sentinel said Tinker Bell has even branched onto the Internet, thanks to the creation of DisneyFairies.com.

The increased marketing of Tinker Bell comes decades after the fictional character initially appeared in the 1953 film "Peter Pan" based on the curvaceous body of actress Margaret Kerry.