All Ears® Guest Blog

Star Wars fans will, of course, be in their element at Disney's Hollywood Studios during Star Wars Weekends. But even if your kids cannot tell Luke Skywalker from Anakin Skywalker, they still can have a great time celebrating The Force.

First, get in a Star Wars mindset by riding Star Tours -- The Adventures Continue. The re-imagined ride opened last year with a 3D experience that takes riders through one of 54 sequences -- and you never know which journey you'll get.

The Star Tours ride empties into the Tatooine Traders gift shop and it's impossible to miss the roped off line for the latest Star Wars toys. New this year is the Droid Factory in the center of the store. There, the young and the young-at-heart can build their own droids with multiple color combinations, in R2-D2's likeness, and topped with Disney Parks' signature mouse ears hat.

A complete droid consists of a body, a dome, a left leg, a middle leg, a right leg and a novelty hat. Single droids cost $11.95 plus tax and a double package is $18.95 plus tax. (Walt Disney World passholder discounts are honored at Tatooine Traders.) The packaging includes a sticker sheet of letters and symbols so guests can name their creations.

When I checked at various times on Saturday, the line for the Droid Factory remained steady at 30 minutes. That didn't deter my kids or seem to bother them much when we waited. The Droid Factory debuted this past weekend, the first of four Star Wars Weekends, and there is only the one location at Disney World.

Several cast members said that the standard R2-D2 look was the most popular for those making droids. A close second during the opening weekend were the clear domes with red and purple trim. Coming in August: different color body parts and Indiana Jones fedoras, a cast member said.

If your child enjoyed the concept of putting together a toy, the store also offers guests the opportunity to build their own ultimate lightsabers. And kids ages 4 to 12 can test their lightsaber skills next door at the Jedi Training Academy.

Jedi hopefuls have the opportunity to do battle against The Empire after a bit of training from a master Jedi. The young rebels are provided with brown robes and lightsabers for the show, and they set out to learn some signature moves before Darth Vader appears. (Read more about the story behind the show on Jack Spence's blog.)

Jedi Training Academy started out as an event offered only during Star Wars Weekends, but it was so popular that Disney built a permanent stage so young guests could do battle every day. There are limited spots each day, so registering first thing when you arrive at the Studios is necessary. Even with 16 shows each day, the slots fill up quickly. Sign-ups are in front of Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!

(Years ago, when my nephew was really into Star Wars, children were chosen to participate in the Jedi Training Academy from the audience. That meant camping out by the stage for parents of kids whose top priority was the interactive Star Wars experience. This registration format certainly is a welcome change.)

Young guests won't want to miss the Star Wars Celebrity Motorcade that travels down Hollywood Boulevard and concludes with a short show at the Sorcerer Hat stage. In addition to the weekend's famous actors and personalities, the parade includes Jedi Mickey and many, many characters from the George Lucas films. The parade route is packed, so find a spot early if you want to take photos or have a decent vantage point. If you're a casual observer, grab a seat in front of the American Idol Experience and you'll see most of the characters go by, though not the celebrities.

Want more time with the characters? Photo opportunities with Disney characters dressed in their Star Wars costumes can be a fun experience. Look for Jedi Mickey, Stormtrooper Donald, R2-MK and Darth Goofy near the ABC Commissary. Star Wars characters from the movies and other Star Wars spinoffs also are stationed around Hollywood Studios for meet-and-greets.

You also can visit Darth's Mall, the main location for event merchandise, where there is a backdrop set up for photos with Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and other perennial favorites. Just as my daughter walked up to meet Princess Leia, C-3PO stepped out to join them. She was thrilled with that surprise! And afterward R2-D2 joined the party behind us.

Finally, what child can resist a special Star Wars snack container for a themed treat? Most food locations sell a kids' power pack in a plastic R2-D2 container. It includes string cheese, carrots and ranch dip, yogurt, goldfish, a cookie and a drink for $10.99. If it's time for dessert, there are Darth Vader cupcakes for $4.99 or chocolate or strawberry mousse in a smaller R2-D2 container for $8.99. And may The Force be with you after all that yummy sugar!

It's probably no surprise that many kids love to help their parents in the kitchen, but it's often with baking. Stirring and then sampling sweets is fun for all ages, right?

Levy Restaurants, however, is offering kids ages 6 to 12 the opportunity to make three delicious dishes at three different Downtown Disney restaurants at Walt Disney World. The kid-friendly cooking class takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 23, at Fulton's Crab House, Portobello Restaurant and Wolfgang Puck Café.

So, what will the budding chefs create? The professionals at each restaurant will help kids make Goin' Fishin' snack mix, ravioli gigante and dessert sushi, and then they will sample what they have created.

"Last year we had about 30 feet of fresh pasta dough spread out with kids elbow to elbow filling, forming and cutting ravioli to simulate what we do in our kitchen every day for one of our signature items, 'Ravioli Gigante'," said Steven Richard, area chef for Levy Restaurants and former executive chef at Portobello. "It was a huge hit, and we are doing it again this year."

This is the third year that Portobello, Fulton’s Crab House and Wolfgang Puck Café have teamed up to offer a spring cooking class for children. Richard said the young chefs have learned to prepare "variations of sushi ranging from the well-known, such as California rolls, to chicken finger rolls and this year’s dessert sushi at Wolfgang Puck’s. We’ve done pizza and homemade ravioli at Portobello. Fulton’s has also done a range of things from chocolate chip cookies to the “ Goin’ Fishin’ ” snack mix that we will do this year."

Parents who might be hesitant to drop off their younger children are welcome to observe and even participate in the class. Others might seize the four hours that they know their kids are well-supervised and having fun to enjoy their own lunch and shopping at Downtown Disney.

"What we try to do for adult, as well as kids’, cooking classes is to simplify and remove the mystery from things that people might not otherwise try at home. There is no reason why you can’t make sushi, homemade pizza or fresh pasta at home, yet many people are intimidated to try it," Richard said. "Exposing children to a culture of home cooking is a very positive thing, and it can broaden the way that they look at food and inspire a healthy curiosity."

"Last year I made sushi for 16 second-graders [in his wife's elementary-school class] who had never tried it before. Most had never heard of it. By the end of the class, every one of them tried it and loved it," he said. "We get much of the same reaction when we do the classes in the restaurants. Imagine having your six-year-old asking for sushi instead of a burger and fries."

The Levy cooking class is $36 per child. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis until the class is full. To sign up, call 407-828-8996.

Ever wonder how stars such as Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato got their start with Disney Channel? Like thousands of other hopeful child performers, they showed up for an open casting search the network was hosting.

These official auditions are rare, however, and may only occur once or twice a year in the United States. If you think you have what it takes to be the next star and you're ready to take your best shot, you're in luck. The next national casting call is right around the corner -- on May 26 in Kansas City, Missouri -- so it's time to talk the parents into a road trip.

Disney Channel is looking for boys and girls who can play characters between the ages of 10 to 18 and can act, dance or sing. If you can do all three, even better! (You don't have to be ages 10 to 18, but you have to look like you are.) Performers will be considered for upcoming original movies and series being produced for exhibition on Disney Channel and Disney XD.

Audition websites point out that most of Disney Channel's shows are comedic in nature, so having the timing to perform comedy bits is a plus.

Registration and auditions will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kansas City Convention Center, 301 West 13th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64105. An application and monologue will be provided upon arrival. (You can also download the application at http://tv.disney.go.com/disneychannel/opencasting/DCOpenCallForm2010_Final.pdf) Be sure to bring a current photo that Disney Channel representatives can keep. A parent or legal guardian must accompany you if you are a minor.

Both working child actors and those without experience are welcome and will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis. As such, be prepared for a wait and bring what you need to pass the time -- an ipod, drinks or snacks. A Disney Channel representative told me they have seen as many as 2,000 kids show up for an open call.

There is no fee to attend the tryout, but travel expenses and incidentals, such as parking fees, are your responsibility. Attending the auditions is not a guarantee of employment, and there will be no contracts to sign on May 26.

Talented teen actors who are interested in other Disney performance opportunities can apply to work in the Disney Parks. The minimum age to apply to be a Disney character performer in shows, parades and meet-and-greets at Walt Disney World is 16, though that requirement varies at other properties. There is an audition today (May 17) at 4 p.m. at Disney's Animal Kingdom Rehearsal Facility for dancers and actors to portray Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Snow White, Tinker Bell, and Rapunzel.

Actors 18 and older can attend an open call for comedic and improv actors at 9 a.m. Friday, May 18, at the same facility. Disney World is seeking to fill roles of a jedi master, Captain Jack Sparrow and his sidekick Mack.

Check out the upcoming calendar of auditions for Disney Parks and Disney Cruise Line at DisneyAuditions.com. You'll also find information about what to expect and how to prepare for Disney auditions.

Crocs were invented in 2002, the same year my first child was born, and they quickly became a staple for my kids. Once my son and daughter were steady on their feet, we invested in a pair for each.

Because we live in Orlando and have annual passes for Walt Disney World, I could not pass up the itsy-bitsy brightly colored shoes with the traditional Mickey icon cut-outs. Too cute!

For my Florida kids, they are the perfect casual shoe. With their foam resin material, Crocs are comfortable for our frequent trips to the theme parks. They are simple for the littlest hands to put on and take off by themselves. If they get wet or dirty, they are easy to clean. No need to spend the day wearing wet shoes because a child couldn't resist the lure of a splash pad!

That said, I do think there are places where kids shouldn't wear Crocs. Obviously, they're not made for sports, and are not the best choice for even casual recreation, such as playing at the playground. The lack of deep treads on the bottom and the strap on the back of the shoe do not offer enough support for running and jumping. Because of this, my kids do not wear their Crocs to school.

Still, their Crocs get a good workout, so I keep an eye out for new styles and deals. Crocs typically range from $25 for toddlers up to $50 for adult sizes. For kids' Crocs with Disney designs, there are a few options.

First, take a look at Crocs.com, where current children's Disney styles include pictures of Mickey Mouse and Pluto; Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story; Winnie the Pooh and Tigger; Tow Mater and Finn McMissile; and Lightning McQueen and Francisco clog styles. There is also a navy and red Croc with icon Mickey design. Be sure to sign up for email alerts for sales, coupon codes and free shipping.

You can add a touch of Disney Magic to any style of Crocs with air holes by adding Jibbitz, the charms that personalize the shoes. Crocs.com carries about 100 different Disney Jibbitz designs and many more, including popular characters such as The Avengers and Hello Kitty. The average price is $3 per Jibbitz.

Other websites sell Disney Crocs, as well. ShoeBuy.com has Disney Princess Crocs with free shipping and free returns. SurfandDirt.com sells the kids' icon Mickey design in a variety of colors. Zappos.com offers both styles.

These choices usually run through size 3 Junior. What do you do if your child has outgrown that size and still wants Mickey Crocs?

Your best best is to shop at one of the Disney theme parks because they carry adult sizes and styles. My 9-year-old son recently chose navy blue Crocs with a subtle Mickey icon design. They look a little more grown-up, but still have a touch of whimsy. World of Disney at Downtown Disney has many styles of Crocs in its new crop -- from the adorable pint-size shoes to the subtle adult designs. If you won't be visiting Disney World any time soon, you can order them through the mail order department by calling 1-877-560-6477 or emailing wdw.mail.order@disneyworld.com.

There has been lots reported about the Next Gen FastPass system. Recently, Walt Disney World performed a test for approximately 2 weeks to see how things were progressing.

In addition to our Report on AllEars, guest blogger John Leary writes in with his experience!

My family had an unexpected bit of magic added to our recent trip to Walt Disney World. Shortly after landing at MCO, we were greeted by a hostess at the front of the Disney Magical Express queue. She asked if we had a few minutes to take a brief survey and try out in a new Fastpass service. We hastily agreed, grinning ear-to-ear, and followed her over to one of the small tables in the nearby sitting area.

There, two cast members explained the testing process. They asked for our email address, and the best day and time bracket for us to use the new Fastpass system. We then picked four Magic Kingdom attractions we wanted to visit, two from each side of a survey card. The cast members explained that we'd receive an email confirming our schedule of selected attractions, spread throughout the day and time range we selected. Each attraction on the schedule had the typical one-hour window in which to use the Fastpass. Finally, each member of our party received their own Fastpass card, and we were off to our Resort.

Being Disney Park veterans, we were familiar with the current Fastpass process. We arrived at the start to an attraction's Fastpass line, a cast member would place our card next to the new Fastpass reader (which look like a ball on a pole), and make sure we were scheduled for that attraction at that date and time. We noticed our Fastpass cards did not have a magnetic strip or bar code, so we assumed it used RFID (radio frequency) technology to identify each of us. Each cast member was also equipped with an iPad in a case, which displayed our first names when our card was scanned, or other information if needed.

If the Fastpass card was valid at that time and location, the Mickey icon on the card scanner glowed a bright green. If you arrived at the wrong date/time, the icon glows blue, and alerts the cast member via their iPad to your correct Fastpass schedule. We also witnessed the icon glow red, when it seemed the cast member was having technical issues scanning another guest's card.

Continuing down the Fastpass line, the second cast member (who typically takes your paper Fastpass ticket) also scanned our card, and we joined the main ride queue as usual.

Throughout our day, we noticed different card reader devices. The most typical Fastpass card reader was the "ball on a pole" version. But at our visit with Mickey at the Town Square Theatre, the cast member read our cards through a sensor on the back of her iPad. And when passing Stitch's Great Escape, we noticed a card reader that looked more like the current Fastpass ticket distribution kiosks.

Admittedly, we had the most fun using both our paper ticket Fastpasses and our Fastpass card at the same time throughout the day. Between Fastpasses and short morning lines, we rode Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin to our heart's content. We unfortunately missed one of our scheduled Fastpass card reservations due to an unexpected nap for our toddler, but the cards worked without any problems throughout our testing experience.

Imagining how Disney could use this new system for our future visits, I have mixed feelings. The organizer in me loves the idea that we can potentially plan a day's worth of Fastpasses before our vacation begins. But part of my disappointment has to do with their need to now enforce valid return times on Fastpass tickets because of this new system. I know, I know - this was always their policy - I just got used to the convenience of the rule being bent.

Being an avid ParkHopper ticket user, I would find less value in park hopping if we were locked to one or multiple day's Fastpass schedule if we were restricted to one park. Being near-obsessive with planning table-service meals, I'd be worried that the Fastpass system would assign us a Fastpass attraction that conflicts with a previously-booked restaurant reservation. And though it's of little consequence, having cast members scan my card twice at each attraction felt a little redundant to me.

As a whole, we found the new Fastpass system as easy to use as it was fun, and we have great hopes for how Disney uses this new technology to make our future trip planning that much more enjoyable.

My family and I recently had the great pleasure of being able to see Disney’s Newsies, The Musical on Broadway recently. We had a blast! (Newsies has been nominated for eight Tony Awards, including Best New Musical.)

I purchased the tickets back in January as part of a preorder discount special. Not only did I manage to nab good tickets at a discounted price (although still pricey, this IS New York, after all), but we were also promised a free Newsies messenger bag -- the same bag received by cast members on opening night!

Luckily, I was able to get good seats for a Sunday matinee the weekend before Daughter #2’s 15th birthday. I managed to keep this a secret from both of my girls until the morning that we piled in the car to head to New York. It is not so easy to keep secrets from teenage girls, particularly when it is very difficult to explain why they may not schedule any extracurricular activities for an entire weekend.

The show is an adaptation of the 1992 movie starring Christian Bale that dramatizes an 1899 strike by New York City’s news boys. The stage version features songs from the movie, plus additional songs, with music by Disney legend Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldmand, another Disney alum, and book by Tony Award-Winner writer and Actor Harvey Fierstein. Jack, the lead Newsie, is played by Jeremy Jordan, who recently starred with Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton in the movie “Joyful Noise.” The musical made its debut at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey, last fall and opened on Broadway in March of this year. The current cast of the Broadway show debuted the show at the Paper Mill playhouse.

Newsies is playing at the Nederlander Theatre, which is located one block away from the New Amsterdam Theatre, where Mary Poppins continues to enjoy its successful run.

We arrived about half an hour early, and joined the rain-soaked queue to enter the theater once I had picked up our tickets from the Will Call window.

The girls went to find our seats while I found the Ladies Room (very well laid-out for a theater in New York, if I may say so myself), and my husband went to trade the voucher I picked up with our tickets for the promised messenger bag. Very cool!

We were lucky enough to be seated next to a very cool couple of Disney fanatics, who had come to the Big Apple from Oklahoma to see the show. They had preordered their tickets, as well, so we oohed and ahhed over the messenger bags until the lights went down and the show started.

Wow! What a show! I’m not really sure what my expectations were for this production, as I had seen the Newsies movie before, but had not watched it multiple times as I had the movies that preceded the other shows that Disney had produced on Broadway. The tunes were catchy (I am now humming “The King of New York”), the acting was solid, and the story was compelling. But this show is really about the dancing! These guys (and they are mostly guys) can dance! And leap, and spin, and jump, and kick and flip . . . And for anyone who is a sucker for a good old-fashioned tap number, this show has a great one, and I highly recommend it!

A note about souvenirs:

While a number of souvenirs (t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, CDs and programs) are available at stands in the theater,

many of them can be purchased more cheaply just up Broadway at the Times Square Disney Store. For instance, at the Disney Store we purchased a shirt for $5 less than the price that was being charged at the stands in the theater.

The Disney Store also carries merchandise from several other Disney on Broadway shows, including Mary Poppins and The Lion King.

The nation's top 224 middle school students who have excelled at math are competing in the MATHCOUNTS National Competition at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort this weekend. These students have earned their spots after winning school, local and state competitions. Now, they are vying for the titles of 2012 National Champion and National Championship Team.

Raytheon Company is hosting the event. If you're not familiar with the defense company, perhaps you'll recognize the name from its sponsorship of the Sum of all Thrills experience at Epcot's Innoventions. The exhibit gives students the opportunity to put their math skills to the test as they design and experience their own thrill rides. (Read all about the Sum of all Thrills on Jack Spence's blog http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2009/10/sum_of_all_thrills.html)

These Mathletes will solve problems using critical-thinking skills in both written and oral rounds in individual and team components. The competition problems focus on the 6th through 8th grade standards of the National Council of Teachers in Mathematics. Want to see if you're smarter than a middle school student? The championship will be broadcast live on ESPN3.com, with the Countdown Round at 2 p.m. EDT on Friday, May 11.

Check out these MATHCOUNTS questions from a previous year and see what lies ahead:

Team Round (calculator permitted; 10 problems in 20 minutes; students work with three other team
members)
Problem: A four-digit perfect square integer is created by placing two positive two-digit perfect square
integers next to each other. What is the four-digit square integer?
Answer: 1681

Countdown Round (no calculator; head-to-head challenge between two students; first-to-answer; no
more than 45 seconds permitted)
Problem: When Bob exercises, he does jumping jacks for 5 minutes and then walks the track at 4 minutes
per lap. If he exercised for 73 minutes on Monday, how many laps did he walk?
Answer: 17 laps
Problem: What number is 17 less than its negative? Express your answer as a decimal to the nearest tenth.
Answer: −8.5

If you're up for the challenge, try your hand at other real MATHCOUNTS competition questions on the MathMovesU Facebook page. Users will be able to answer questions, earn and share badges, advance to higher playing levels and challenge their friends.

This year MATHCOUNTS also has introduced a new element to the competition, the Reel Math Challenge video competition. Middle school students across the country were invited to create tutorial videos about math problems and their concepts that were based on the MATHCOUNTS School Handbook. Four finalist videos have been selected by a panel of MATHCOUNTS judges. The Mathletes will watch them and vote for the winner Saturday.

The individual Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition Champion will receive the $8,000 Donald G. Weinert Scholarship to the college of his or her choice along with a trip to U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala. Runners-up, as well as members of the winning team, also will receive college scholarships and trips to attend space camp. Each member of the winning video's team also will also receive a $1,000 college scholarship.

"The Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition is the ultimate stage for our nation's rising young math stars to demonstrate their talents and achieve more in mathematics," said Lou DiGioia, executive director of MATHCOUNTS. "Our partnership with Raytheon enables us to continue to inspire excellence, curiosity and confidence in mathematics in U.S. middle school students and to help provide today's students with the foundation for successful careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics."

Celebrating Mother's Day at Walt Disney World is, of course, a wonderful treat in and of itself. But if husbands and children want to make the day perfect for the women in their lives, there is one simple thing they can do to make the day a success -- plan ahead.

If they're like me, what's important to most mothers is spending the day with family doing something fun. It doesn't have to be an expensive or unique experience, but it does have to be planned by our families. The gift -- besides spending time with our favorite people -- is that we don't have to make any decisions or pack the bags. For one day, we don't have to think ahead and plan for every eventuality. We get to just show up and enjoy the day.

To make this happen for the mother in your family, it's important to know what she enjoys. Are Mickey waffles the perfect way to start the day? Or is sleeping in and then lounging by the pool while the kids play even better? Does being the first one in line for Expedition Everest make her excited?

Here are a few suggestions that are sure to bring a smile to any Disney mom's face on Sunday:

1. Visit the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. It's beautiful with all the flowers and topiaries, and there are fun seminars and demonstrations for guests who like to garden. Herman's Hermit's, starring Peter Noone, will be performing. Plus, there are special activities and playgrounds for kids. If the little ones are happy, chances are, mom will be, too. (Florida residents still can purchase a three-day Walt Disney World ticket for $99 plus tax.)

2. If brunch is on the agenda, why not make it a character meal and let her feel like a kid again? Two of the most popular are Chef Mickey's at The Contemporary Resort and Cinderella's Royal Table in her Magic Kingdom castle. At this late date, you can try for a reservation cancellation by calling WDW-DINE. Another great character brunch is located at Disney's Beach Club in the Cape May Cafe, which has just reopened after renovations.

3. For shopping aficionados, give her a Disney gift card and the time to shop. Try a gift-shop crawl on the monorail loop. It's fun to see the beautiful hotels while she's browsing for souvenirs. Or, if she's more of a boutique shopper, plan a visit to Downtown Disney and stores such as D Street, Something Silver, Apricot Lane, PoP Gallery and TrenD.

4. Who doesn't like to visit the spa? There are many locations and services to choose from at Walt Disney World. Full-service spas, which include massages, facials, aromatherapy, salon services and exercise facilities, are available at the Walt Disney World Dolphin and Saratoga Springs Resort. (The Grand Floridian spa is closed for refurbishment.) There also are massage and fitness services at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Boardwalk Inn, Contemporary Resort, Coronado Springs, Wilderness Lodge and the Yacht Club. Disney World passholders receive 10 percent off one regularly priced service at the Saratoga Springs spa.

5. Wrap up Mother's Day with dessert and fireworks at one of the Disney World parks, resorts or restaurants. This can be as simple as grabbing a casual treat and a table outside one of Epcot's World Showcase restaurants or as formal as paying for a ticket to the Wishes Dessert Party at Magic Kingdom. One of my favorite resort spots for viewing the fireworks is the beach at the Polynesian resort. A bonus there is being able to see the Electrical Water Pageant.

What ideas do YOU have for celebrating Mother's Day at Walt Disney World? Leave a comment below!

Evidently, The Hulk isn’t the only one who can smash things.

Joss Whedon’s film version of Marvel’s “The Avengers’ pulverized the former record for a domestic opening weekend. With more than $200 million taken in for its U.S. debut, the blockbuster film ushered in the summer movie season and showed just how popular Captain America, Thor, Iron Man and Co. remain for fans of all ages.

Whether you caught the film this weekend or not, Disney Publishing has several stories in different formats for fans who want to continue the action at home. Narrated by comic legend Stan Lee, two new Disney storybook apps take readers into the world of The Avengers.

"Avengers Origins: Assemble!" has a lot to offer for its $5.99 price tag. The in-depth story follows Atlantis' Namor, who seeks revenge by attempting to conquer the entire human race, and The Avengers, who vow to stop him. In this version, the super heroes also include Ant-Man and The Wasp in the mix. (They weren't in the movie.)

What makes this storybook app stand out are all the interactive features. You don’t even have to turn the page to follow along. Not only do the pages fade in and out with the action, but little hands can help with the plot. For example, readers are able to put on each super hero's mask and give him his weapon, move their fingers to help melt the ice that imprisons Captain America, and drag shields over the enemies to free The Avengers.

In addition, "Avengers Origins: Assemble!" offers three separate games each with three difficulty levels. The app is available for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.

A great deal: Through May 11, Disney Stores and Apple are teaming up to give away 100,000 coupon codes for a free download of "Avengers Origins: Assemble!" when a consumer purchases at least $20 worth of merchandise at all Disney Store locations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Also new in Disney Publishing apps is a story about my daughter's favorite smashing character, The Hulk. In "Avengers Origins: Hulk," readers learn how Dr. Bruce Banner is transformed into The Hulk. This storybook app offers several positive messages about the importance of education, explaining that Banner loved to read and science was his favorite subject. Along the way, readers are invited to help toss a car, contain gamma radiation and punch a wall as The Hulk. It also has a seek-and-find feature, in which readers can try to collect six symbols in the course of the story.

"Advengers Origins: Hulk" is also available for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch and sells for $3.99 at the iTunes store. For that price, it's too bad there are not a few separate games included with the app.

For those that like their comics in a paper, instead of digital, format, Disney Publishing recently unveiled its Marvel Super Heroes Magazine. The new 36-page publication is written and drawn for boys ages 8 to 10 and features brain teasing puzzles, cool activities and cut-outs in addition to the story. The May 2012 issue also includes an exclusive poster of Iron Man. Marvel Super Heroes Magazine is sold on newsstands for $4.99 per issue, and an 8-month subscription costs $29.92.

Guests who visit Walt Disney World this summer will find that Monorail Red has been wrapped in an Avengers movie promo starring The Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, Hawkeye and Thor. It's eye-catching, for sure. Look for the Avengers monorail on the loop that leads to the Magic Kingdom and the resorts. Fans will not find any meet-and-greets with the Super Heroes on Disney property, however, a Disney spokeswoman confirmed. Although the company acquired Marvel in 2009, Universal Orlando still has an agreement that allows the characters to appear at Islands of Adventure.

One of the highlights of Carol’s pin-trading year is the trip to New Jersey each April for the “Trade ‘Til You Fade” pin trading weekend hosted by Central Jersey Disney Pin Traders. She just loves getting together with other traders and CJDPT always puts on a first class event!

The group was founded by John Rick in January 2002 and since then they have held regular pin trading meets. The schedule of events is accessible on their web site at: http://www.cjdpt.com All of their meets are held at the Hampton Inn 255 Davidson Avenue, Somerset, NJ. There are Friday evening events, Saturday afternoon events and two week-end-long events in April and October. John’s wife Sheila and their good friends Janis Lavender of Travel Dreams and her husband David are actively involved in all aspects of the group’s activities.

We normally travel to New Jersey with a group of Canadian pin traders, most of them from the Toronto area. Even though I am not a pin trader, I have joined in a few times. The trip is an adventure for us. Our travel day is Thursday and we always stop at the Syracuse NY Disney Store on the way; many of the Disney Stores in Canada have closed and we sure miss them! The store is conveniently located about two hours into our trek so we can stop and stretch our legs. It’s a 364 mile trip from our home to the Hampton Inn but we have a bit of a head-start on our companions from the Toronto area who have to drive an extra 160 miles, making it a 524 mile trip for them.

You might expect that we Canadians, since we are foreigners, travelled furthest to get to New Jersey but that’s actually not the case. Folks drive from as far away as Miami FL - 1,270 miles but I think this year the distance award has to go to the dedicated trader from Seattle WA who flew 2,800 miles to trade pins!

Even though trading activities don’t officially start until Friday evening there are already some pin traders set up at the tables in the breakfast area adjacent to the lobby by the time we arrive Thursday evening. We always stop and renew acquaintances but it’s normally a short night for us. It has been a long drive and Carol needs a good night’s rest to get herself ready for a gruelling week end!

We try to plan some other “Disney” activities for Friday morning. This often involves a train ride to The Big Apple and a trip to the Disney Store at Times Square. This time the ladies kept it simple; they took a short 30 minute drive to Staten Island. There are three Disney Stores along that 23 mile route and they covered them all in a shopping frenzy! I hung out at the hotel and my buddy John who lives about 45 minutes away came to join me for lunch.

The event kicks off Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. when the registration desk opens and folks line up to check-in, pick up their name-tags, goody bags and tickets for several random draws. There are three trading areas, two hotel meeting rooms fill with traders first and once breakfast is over the trading activity spills over into the room where the complimentary breakfast is served each morning. The Hampton Inn and their staff are extremely accommodating. The hotel staff all join in the fun by wearing Disney themed clothing and they allow the group to post Disney posters and signs throughout the common areas of the hotel. It is a very festive and fun filled place! They even allow the group to bring in coolers filled with their own drinks on ice. Most traders bring bottled water, sodas or juices to add to the communal drink coolers and there are also plenty of traders who contribute “snack-food” items which soon fill the counters in the breakfast area. It quickly transforms from a complimentary breakfast into a veritable junk-food buffet!

Carol always does her best trading on Friday nights. This year she traded from 7:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. and was delighted with the 39 pins and 2 vinylmations she was able to pick up. Yes, pin traders are an oddly nocturnal group! I have no idea what time things actually wound down but a friend reported that the crowd was thin when he left at 3:00 a.m.

Saturday morning we headed down for breakfast at 8:15. Many of the night-owls had returned, looking remarkably fresh and eager. The two meeting rooms were open and trading was in full swing again but, of course, the breakfast room was set aside for breakfast. Traders who want to set up in the breakfast room once the meal is done simply park their pin cases and pin bags along the wall in the corridor and establish their order in the line. Then at 10:20 or 10:30, when the area has been cleaned up after breakfast, they are given the “all-clear” to file in. Once they settle and get set up they are established for the day and trading resumes in earnest.

The traders who come to these events are not at all like some of the ones you used to meet at those tables outside Pin Central at Downtown Disney. Many of them made their living trading pins and they could be very aggressive, sometimes ruthless. Not so at CJDPT events. The traders here are nice people who are anxious to help you complete your collection. Trading is easy, fun and free of stress. Carol really enjoys this week end; she looks forward to it every year.

This is the 19th “overnight event” CJDPT has hosted and there were 105 overnight guests in the hotel, occupying 51 rooms. The organizers always negotiate a flat rate with the hotel; all rooms were available at a cost of $68.00 per night which includes taxes and breakfast. We had a two-room suite with a king bed for a mere $68.00 per night! Wow! Registration fees for the pin trading event are quite reasonable as well. Guests registered at the hotel pay a fee of $3.00 to register for all three days. If you are not a hotel guest your fees for all three days will not be more than $13.00. The local people who “drop in” for a few hours swelled the total registration number to 122 people.

There are special games, activities, quizzes and raffles throughout each day and night with prizes for all the winners. It’s non-stop trading and there is always a fun-filled diversion of some kind. It’s not always about pins; people are also trading vinylmations and other Disney collectibles!

One of the highlights is the Saturday night gift exchange. It’s purely voluntary and not everyone participates but it’s always fun for those who do get involved. It’s one of those exchanges where gifts can be “stolen” and folks can get quite aggressive and quite entertaining as they seek out their favourite gift!

Sunday morning is generally very quiet; those who have travelled a distance are packing up and checking out to start the trip home. We always have breakfast and yak a bit before saying our goodbyes. We strive to be on the road by 10:30 so that we arrive home by about 6:00 p.m. Many folks stay and continue trading until the event officially closes at noon. Every year we see the plenty of familiar faces and several new ones. Carol has always found the group to be easy to trade with and she always completes a few sets and comes home with some new treasures!

If you are a pin trader and you want experience a fun filled week end with your peers, New Jersey is the place for you. Check out their web site at: http://www.cjdpt.com and make plans to join in a pin week end soon.