Like Disney's built-in parental controls, AT&T lets parents' own numbers remain immune from the limitations, and 911 calling is always permitted of course.

Websites can also be blocked on many phones, but not on the iPhone, because of the way its Safari browser uses the AT&T network connection. (Basically, the only phone that doesn't have browser limitations is the only phone that has a decent enough browser for actually surfing the good, I mean illicit, sites.) [AP/Yahoo]

Disney mobile offers phones for the family, which allow a parent to restrict calls by time, phone numbers, and minutes. I would never have considered a cell phone for my children except in a case where I could restrict whom and when they called. The problem I have run into with Disney Mobile stems from roaming charges and overage minutes. In order for any of the parental controlled features to work the phone must only connect to a Disney Mobile Network. The problem is when the phones were shipped, they are automatically configured to allow for roaming, which allows the phones to connect to whatever network happens to be available. In addition, the feature to lock roaming and only allow calls on the Disney network can only be changed on the phone handset. This is NEVER told to the consumer.

His displeasure continues.

We purchased a plan for 450 family minutes, nights and weekends free. We restricted the phones to limit the calling ability to anyone, except immediate family. What we did not know was that the phones will pick up any network that answers first (roaming charges are then applied, and all parental control restrictions are no longer applicable). We currently have a bill for one month of use of over 2900 minutes of roaming charges. By the admission of Disney Mobile, the majority of the calls where made nights and weekends. According to Disney Representative, Nikki, since our daily calls to clarify and rectify this problem, they have since changed their contract to reflect this glitch in their plan.

The selling point for us was the ability to restrict the calls our children could make, which you cannot do if the phone roams. Mind you the phones were never out of town. These roaming charges occurred from our home. We are opting out of the plan, but the problem was discovered the day after our 30 day return policy expired (is that ironic)? Our on-line invoice showed a balance of $140 until the 20th of August (one months bill plus activation fees). Now with the roaming and call charges we are expected to pay $175 per phone to terminate the contract and still incur the original cost of $65 for the purchase of the phones.

This plan does not work as advertised and the sales people are either extremely deceptive, or not very knowledgeable about the service they are selling. Until Disney corrects this roaming problem these phones do not live up to their advertised function or ability and are extremely expensive. THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT A FAMILY FRIENDLY MOBILE PLAN

The phone also has a 262k display with a smaller display on the outside. The new phone will no doubt support all of Disney Mobile's key features, like Family Monitor, Family Locator and Call Control. We'll update you when the it's actually launched. – Jason Chen

FCC Documents [FCC via Mobile Whack]

The mobile service has special family oriented features that allows parents to keep track of their children.

• Family Monitor^TM: Assign allowances for phone calls, text messaging and picture messaging. Keep track of how much downloadable content your kids have purchased and limit their spending.
• Family Locator^TM: Know exactly where your kids are by using the Disney Mobile website combined with GPS in their phones.
• Family Alert^TM: Send a message to all your family's phones that appears on the phone's top screen so it's not missed.
• Call Control^TM: Lets parents schedule when kids can call what numbers.
• Disney Zone^TM: Get access to various Disney entertainment.
• Unlimited Mobile to Mobile family calls, night and weekends.
• Free long distance, caller ID, call waiting, 411 ($1.40 a call), and roaming ($.40 a minute).

Unfortunately there's only one phone available on the service, the Pantech DM-P100. Not the coolest looking phones for your kids to carry around, but they'll live. – Jason Chen

Disney Mobile [Disney Online]

This is well and good, except the handsets will not have Walt Disney characters on it and will "have a sober design". The only benefit will be Disney ringtones and video clips. Call us goofy, but can't people download these for themselves already?

Walt Disney to expand cell-phone service [Seattle PI]

We almost can't believe the news that after two long years of saying "we'll launch it later this summer" and our favorite, "we'll launch it next year", it looks like Disney will actually be launching their Disney Mobile phone service this summer. Only Pumbaa truly understands how we feel.

Disney Mobile
Disney Phone Service Has Parents in Mind [NY Times]
Disney unveils MVNO plans, parents the target [Mobiletracker]