Blowing bubbles? yes or no

[minnie mum]

Now if someone hates bubbles, all they have to do is come up to us and politely say, "I have a skin allergy - would you mind not blowing the bubbles near me?". Or "The bubbles are affecting my camera - would you mind blowing the bubbles in a different direction or a different location?" or else "The wind is blowing all the bubbles in my direction and I'm getting coated in bubble liquid. Would you mind doing this somewhere else?". We would stop, move, or monitor our use much more carefully.

Cast members blow bubble guns all over the place and few people are annoyed - don't see why we can't blow bubble guns ourselves.

I don't understand why the tiny minority of people who have problems with bubbles can't speak up politely. The vast majority of people will likely be happy to stop if spoken to nicely and politely. The tiny number of rude people that won't stop with a polite request.....won't care even if they are ranted against on a message board. there's nothing much at all you can do about those rude people other than avoid them.

Now, if someone yells at me about my bubble gun, it is quite possible I will ignore them and keep playing with it as there are no rules at Disney against them. Hey - they SELL them so they obviously WANT guests to use them.

So I guess it's safe to assume that you are one of the ones that aren't going to stop even though you are aware of the issues that these bubbles cause? And can you explain how we are to avoid you when we're trapped in a ride queue? Perhaps we should all just leave? 'Cause it's all about you right? You will continue with something that bothers others even though it would be the considerate thing, the respectful thing, the courteous thing to refrain from doing so? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this falls firmly under the heading of Self Entitlement.

Disney sells bubbles? Well they sell cameras too. Does that give me the right to shoot off the flash right in your eyes just because I want to? Hm?

 

[mom2rtk]

The CM's using the bubble blowers generally aren't 1) in line or 2) shoulder to shoulder with hundreds of people on the edge of a street waiting for a parade.

We sat next to a child with a bubble blower on Main Street waiting for a parade and it really was annoying. There was a breeze so there was no way for them to control where the bubble were going. The got all over us. The CM's cart is usually out in the street, so far enough away to do no harm, unlike the child inches away from us.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

IMHO, the guns won't go away til someone has a really bad reaction and files a lawsuit, then watch how fast they disappear.

I think its one thing to let your kid go off in the grass and play with them, but in a line around others ESPECIALLY indoors? I'd be very very unhappy. I suppose I think of it this way, would anyone go through any line splashing hand sanitizer on others? Would you sprinkle parsley on other folks? Would you gild others with glitter? No, you wouldn't. All those things are for the most part harmless but I can't imagine anyone would be happy if you were doing it, even accidentally.

 

[Bullseye]

No, I dont think so, no bubbles It's just another thing to deal with.

 

[kaligal]

I don't like bubble gunk on me.

They're pretty and fun, but I'd rather not have people doing this in line. I'd rather you smoked, honestly.

 

[Bullseye]

Sorry to burst your bubble...but yes, I use the bubble guns and we love it. We typically pull it out only when we're waiting for parades, fireworks, and in line at the opening of the park. Mine is a light up bubble gun so we typically only carry it around at night.

My guess is only a small percentage of people (higher here on the Dis) dislike them. Everytime we've brought ours out, we get smiles and the kids around us are thrilled. We also do nasty, annoying things like hand out glow in the dark bracelets.

One time we were waiting for MSEP and my son played with our bubble gun for about an hour. The vast majority of it was piled on one specific patch of ground where he was building bubble "towers". We engaged the kids next to us and kept them happily occupied during that hour too. I did monitor his use and we did our best to ensure he wasn't annoying folks next to us. We used it at Fantasmic where we went an hour and a half early. It was so much fun and we were joined by quite a number of kids.

Now if someone hates bubbles, all they have to do is come up to us and politely say, "I have a skin allergy - would you mind not blowing the bubbles near me?". Or "The bubbles are affecting my camera - would you mind blowing the bubbles in a different direction or a different location?" or else "The wind is blowing all the bubbles in my direction and I'm getting coated in bubble liquid. Would you mind doing this somewhere else?". We would stop, move, or monitor our use much more carefully.

Cast members blow bubble guns all over the place and few people are annoyed - don't see why we can't blow bubble guns ourselves.

I don't understand why the tiny minority of people who have problems with bubbles can't speak up politely. The vast majority of people will likely be happy to stop if spoken to nicely and politely. The tiny number of rude people that won't stop with a polite request.....won't care even if they are ranted against on a message board. there's nothing much at all you can do about those rude people other than avoid them.

Now, if someone yells at me about my bubble gun, it is quite possible I will ignore them and keep playing with it as there are no rules at Disney against them. Hey - they SELL them so they obviously WANT guests to use them.

Why should we have to say anything? It's not normal to start blowing bubbles in a crowd! What, it's up to everyone else to confront you about it? Playing with your kids in line shouldn't infringe upon people next to you.

 

[elaine amj]

So I guess it's safe to assume that you are one of the ones that aren't going to stop even though you are aware of the issues that these bubbles cause? And can you explain how we are to avoid you when we're trapped in a ride queue? Perhaps we should all just leave? 'Cause it's all about you right? You will continue with something that bothers others even though it would be the considerate thing, the respectful thing, the courteous thing to refrain from doing so? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this falls firmly under the heading of Self Entitlement.

Disney sells bubbles? Well they sell cameras too. Does that give me the right to shoot off the flash right in your eyes just because I want to? Hm?

I figured I would end up with a comment like that, As I said, I would be happy to stop or modify what I do if it is bothering someone else. All you would have to do is ask me nicely. Frankly, I consider your views self-entitled. On the off-chance that a small percentage of people around me will be bothered, I'm supposed to completely curtail our enjoyment of something as innocent as bubbles? A more reasonable view is that I should stop if someone is bothered. And I will happily stop if asked politely to do so. If your kid or yourself has an allergy, is it really so hard to speak up? The Bubble Police attitude irritates me though.

Also, who said anything about blowing bubbles in a crowd? When we did it, we did it facing an empty street as we sat on the curb waiting for the parade. The people "bothered" by it were next to us enjoying them. Then my son built bubble towers, which bothered nobody but the small patch of ground in front of us. Other times we used it like at Fantasmic, there was enough open space (we were at the front row) than few were bothered except those that wanted to be. Of course, we competed a little with the CM blowing his bubble gun right in front of us. I wouldn't do it in a crowded lineup with no room around.

I guess there wouldn't be a problem if you restricted your use to the Designated Bubbling Areas (DBA).

 

[maxiesmom]

I loved blowing bubbles as a kid. And remember back in the day when those bubble necklaces were all the rage? I had one. I just want to show first that I am not some anti-bubble fun-sucking monster.

However, I would not blow bubbles anyplace that is crowded. Just as I wouldn't shoot a water gun anyplace that is crowded. First off, you can't control where the bubbles go, or who they land on. And second, it shouldn't be up to someone to have to tell you the bubbles are bothering them. In this day and age you never know what saying "Hey, could you please not blow those bubbles by me?" might get you. People go crazy at the drop of a hat, you never know when a polite request will be met with a "Oh yeah, and who is going to make me stop?" and someone all in your face angry.

 

[girlsmom]

wow, when i read original post, i thought "what a fantastic idea!"
glad i read further to see that it bothers people so much -i never would have guessed.
OP: thanks for asking about this!

 

[RMulieri]

NO.Definitely not in lines for attractions or near alot of people.They can stain ,get all over glass lenses and yes there are people allergic.

 

[goofy4tink]

I figured I would end up with a comment like that, As I said, I would be happy to stop or modify what I do if it is bothering someone else. All you would have to do is ask me nicely. Frankly, I consider your views self-entitled. On the off-chance that a small percentage of people around me will be bothered, I'm supposed to completely curtail our enjoyment of something as innocent as bubbles? A more reasonable view is that I should stop if someone is bothered. And I will happily stop if asked politely to do so. If your kid or yourself has an allergy, is it really so hard to speak up? The Bubble Police attitude irritates me though.

Also, who said anything about blowing bubbles in a crowd? When we did it, we did it facing an empty street as we sat on the curb waiting for the parade. The people "bothered" by it were next to us enjoying them. Then my son built bubble towers, which bothered nobody but the small patch of ground in front of us. Other times we used it like at Fantasmic, there was enough open space (we were at the front row) than few were bothered except those that wanted to be. Of course, we competed a little with the CM blowing his bubble gun right in front of us. I wouldn't do it in a crowded lineup with no room around.

I'm sorry...I wasn't going to reply to specific posters but....when you say that someone else's views are 'self-entitled'??? And your's aren't???
Here's the thing....no body was asking about blowing bubbles out in the open. No one was asking about CMs using the bubble guns in front of stores or out on the street.
They were asking, at least if I remember correctly, about using bubble guns in lines. And no, that's just not okay. It's also not okay to just squirt away with your mister either. There are simply too many others in the immediate area. And quite honestly??? I don't think I need to be the 'bubble police' in order to politely ask someone, in a crowded que, to please not use a bubble gun due to an allergy...or just the mere painful eye!!!
No one expects a bubble gun to come out in a crowded que. Sitting on a curb? Maybe. In front of shops?? Maybe. And since you can see what is going on, before you get to that point, you can detour around it. But, if someone starts with the bubble gun, 2 people behind me in a crowded que, then no, I have no way of knowing it's happening and can not take defensive action. And I have to say, right or wrong, if that bubble stuff gets in my eyes, I am going to take offensive action. I have had that stuff on my glasses before and it had to stay there until I could get to some water to clean them off. Now??? After having cataract surgery, I am not going to be happy to have that crap in my surgically repaired eyes.
Nor is my dd going to want it in her eyes with her contacts.

So, sure, feel free to have your bubble fun out in the open. But please don't start with it in the que's. That's just plain rude.

 

[shoney]

We were there in Feb and ds10 just had to have a bubble gun...why??? because everywhere we went there were CM's blowing bubbles! Apparently, Disney has no problem with it!

He didn't use it on line, but did through the crowded parks! The small thing of bubbles that came with it didn't last long, since his brother spilled them! We didn't buy a refill...the novelty wore off quickly!

He did buy this crazy string thing...you'll see them at the carts. It was sooo worth it...It kept him very entertained on the lines!!!! Well worth the $$$!

 

[bytheblood]

In open spaces it is fine. Using them in lines/rides/indoor attractions would be in poor taste. If you teach your kids some etiquette on using the bubbles, and I am certain you will, it should be fine. I hope you really enjoy your vacation.

 

[Kate and Family]

The problem as I see it, is that typically the bubbles are blown at child eye level (it would also be at adult level when sitting on a curb waiting for a parade). If a gun is used, then it is a full blast of bubbles. I would be very annoyed if bubbles were being blown from a gun at my grandchildren's face level. (BTW, I think pointing a gun, umbrella or any other object toward a person is an accident waiting to happen - again this is often at child level that these objects are being wielded ). I could deal with bubbles from wands, within reason.

 

[kaligal]

Sorry to burst your bubble...but yes, I use the bubble guns and we love it. We typically pull it out only when we're waiting for parades, fireworks, and in line at the opening of the park. Mine is a light up bubble gun so we typically only carry it around at night.

My guess is only a small percentage of people (higher here on the Dis) dislike them. Everytime we've brought ours out, we get smiles and the kids around us are thrilled. We also do nasty, annoying things like hand out glow in the dark bracelets.

One time we were waiting for MSEP and my son played with our bubble gun for about an hour. The vast majority of it was piled on one specific patch of ground where he was building bubble "towers". We engaged the kids next to us and kept them happily occupied during that hour too. I did monitor his use and we did our best to ensure he wasn't annoying folks next to us. We used it at Fantasmic where we went an hour and a half early. It was so much fun and we were joined by quite a number of kids.

Now if someone hates bubbles, all they have to do is come up to us and politely say, "I have a skin allergy - would you mind not blowing the bubbles near me?". Or "The bubbles are affecting my camera - would you mind blowing the bubbles in a different direction or a different location?" or else "The wind is blowing all the bubbles in my direction and I'm getting coated in bubble liquid. Would you mind doing this somewhere else?". We would stop, move, or monitor our use much more carefully.

Cast members blow bubble guns all over the place and few people are annoyed - don't see why we can't blow bubble guns ourselves.

I don't understand why the tiny minority of people who have problems with bubbles can't speak up politely. The vast majority of people will likely be happy to stop if spoken to nicely and politely. The tiny number of rude people that won't stop with a polite request.....won't care even if they are ranted against on a message board. there's nothing much at all you can do about those rude people other than avoid them.

Now, if someone yells at me about my bubble gun, it is quite possible I will ignore them and keep playing with it as there are no rules at Disney against them. Hey - they SELL them so they obviously WANT guests to use them.

I don't get this at all. Either do it, knowing it upsets others or don't do it.

Why would you be careful or stop if someone came up to you and asked you to?

You already know it upsets others. You're going to do it, anyway. Why stop (or start being careful) when they tell you? How does that change anything?

 

[mom2rtk]

I don't get this at all. Either do it, knowing it upsets others or don't do it.

Why would you be careful or stop if someone came up to you and asked you to?

You already know it upsets others. You're going to do it, anyway. Why stop (or start being careful) when they tell you? How does that change anything?

Hoping people will just suffer in silence?

 

[princess_ariel_85]

Surely it should come down to commom sense, shouldn't it?.

In the past 2 visits to WDW I've encountered lots of bubble blowing activists (aka children) and they've caused me no real problems, but then I've never encountered bubbles being blown in lines.

Open spaces are fine, crowded lines are not.

This thread has gave me some wonderful mental images of people darting through WDW like Indiana Jones, rolling under CM's holding their bubble blowers like weapons and leaping from great heights to avoid the sticky floating messes.

Fab thread!

 

[Wadecool]

Just had to say...GO CATS!

Go Big Blue! Cincy had a couple good teams as well. I was rooting for Xavier last night.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

While I have never seen anyone blowing bubbles in line, I don't think I'd care for it very much while in a more confined space. I suddenly got images of the interior portions of the line for Splash and being trapped with a bubble gun.

The funny thing...I too was worried about keeping my kids entertained while in line prior to their first trip to WDW. They were 4 and 2 (recently turned 2) and I imagined these meltdowns with the waits. If anything, I've never seen them be so patient and well behaved (for the most part). i.e. being at Disney and all of the things too look at and think about while in line were enough to keep them preoccupied. If anything, cool queues like TSM and Winnie the Pooh were borderline sensory overload.

So, moral of the story- I think adding even more stimulation to the wait can actually do more harm than good beyond annoyance and allergen factors. We try being so proactive- wanting to keep them entertained at every point where a meltdown could erupt - that sometimes we fail to recognize opportunities to let them calm down and unwind a bit...I'm guilty of it too.

I do also appreciate the fact that OP was asking.

 

[elaine amj]

I don't get this at all. Either do it, knowing it upsets others or don't do it.

Why would you be careful or stop if someone came up to you and asked you to?

You already know it upsets others. You're going to do it, anyway. Why stop (or start being careful) when they tell you? How does that change anything?

In the real world, bubbles are typically greeted by smiles and laughter. My point is that I've only ever observed 10% of people get bothered by bubbles (90% of whom are on the Dis), why should they stop 100% of the bubble fun? If you're part of that 10% just speak up nicely. If 90% of people are bothered by bubbles, I'm sure the outrage will hit Disney ears and CMs won't play (or sell) bubble guns anymore.

Surely it should come down to commom sense, shouldn't it?.

In the past 2 visits to WDW I've encountered lots of bubble blowing activists (aka children) and they've caused me no real problems, but then I've never encountered bubbles being blown in lines.

Open spaces are fine, crowded lines are not.

This thread has gave me some wonderful mental images of people darting through WDW like Indiana Jones, rolling under CM's holding their bubble blowers like weapons and leaping from great heights to avoid the sticky floating messes.

Fab thread!

I LOVE that mental image!