Bubble machines in the parks

[BayouMickey]

So um.. if someone is allergic to um.. bubbles and soap... er. um.. that would really stink...
I predict in the future we will all wear sterile paper clothes complete with gloves and have to eat through tubes connected to your backpack so we won't contaminate/affect someone's allergy. It's getting pretty ridiculous.. When I was growing up we didn't have all of this. If people were allergic, it was THEIR responsibility to make sure they didn't come in contact. Now days it's everybody else's job.
And as for people not wanting their glasses or hair touched by bubbles.. leave these kids be, you were young too, why take away their childhood? It's a minor nuisance compared to bigger things wrong in this world...

 

[RedHeadedFairy]

Food, food, and more food. That works for my kids. Keep their faces stuffed for the whole queue and they can handle it.

Worked for DD when she was a toddler too - I packed small snacks in snack-sized ziplocks so it was a different snack at each line queue.... fruit snacks, goldfish crackers, raisins, etc.

We also brought an extra small notebook because she loved to "write" in her scribbly fashion. Stickers are a great distraction & so are games like "I Spy" or just pointing out the ride details. (i.e. in the Aladdin queue there are jewels & polished stones embedded in the walkway, for Dumbo it's peanuts, etc.) For long lines we pulled out the camera & let her look at the pics & videos we'd already taken of the trip & sometimes we used that time to plan what our next attraction would be or which character she'd like to see.

I'm another "no bubble" person - they are fine in open spaces (like the pics of the CMs above - I can choose to walk around that) but not in confined areas like ride queues or RD.

 

[Schmeck]

So um.. if someone is allergic to um.. bubbles and soap... er. um.. that would really stink...
I predict in the future we will all wear sterile paper clothes complete with gloves and have to eat through tubes connected to your backpack so we won't contaminate/affect someone's allergy. It's getting pretty ridiculous.. When I was growing up we didn't have all of this. If people were allergic, it was THEIR responsibility to make sure they didn't come in contact. Now days it's everybody else's job.
And as for people not wanting their glasses or hair touched by bubbles.. leave these kids be, you were young too, why take away their childhood? It's a minor nuisance compared to bigger things wrong in this world...

Boy, I hope you are being silly here. How in the world can someone avoid bubbles in a packed queue? So, it's OK to mess up someone else's clothing, camera, etc, because a kid needs bubbles to be entertained in a queue?

My daughter was one of those kids allergic to some bubble solutions, but she was not allergic to all soaps. It took a while to find one she could use, but she was never smelly, any more than any other kid. At WDW, we avoided bubbles, except at VotLM. She sat with her arms inside her shirt, and her legs tucked up under her. I waved most of the bubbles away from her face. When a few popped near her, she got a rash on her face where the splatter landed. She was itchy and uncomfortable, but we went to the ladies room, we washed her face and I put ointment on the rash. It cleared up the next day, but the ointment makes her sensitive to sunlight. It was a tricky balance - itchy rash, sun damage that could turn to something bad.

So to those who are thoughtful and considerate about others' allergies - thank you. I try to be understanding too - for example, I avoid eating/opening peanut snacks in close quarters, etc.

 

[AuroraRora]

OMG, that thread was hysterical. Thanks for sharing. Although I have never had bubbles in the park, (too lazy to carry any extra stuff and too amazed by everything around me to worry about needing things to occupy my kids), I never would have thought about allergies in those situations. I do have severe allergies to cats and slightly less to dogs, so I think I found the fact that people were horrified by the thought of a bubble touching their skin interesting in light of another thread I read about dogs and cats on planes. Basically people in that thread were saying that it is too stressful for dogs and cats to fly in cargo and that people with allergies should suck it up because pets are people too - or something like that. As rude as people find bubbles in the park is as rude as I find animals being anywhere near me. In other words, rude is in the eye of the beholder sometimes. Just my 3 cents (inflation and all that).

Just curious - what do you do in pets-on-planes situations? I've flown with my cat in the cabin of the plane several times, and only had an issues once - every other time I've been given pre-boarding and he's been tucked away under the seat which I just realized, wouldn't give an allergy sufferer the chance to even know he was there. The one time I did have an issue, two old ladies refused to sit with me and the cat, and I was moved to first class with him.

 

[denneg]

Just curious - what do you do in pets-on-planes situations? I've flown with my cat in the cabin of the plane several times, and only had an issues once - every other time I've been given pre-boarding and he's been tucked away under the seat which I just realized, wouldn't give an allergy sufferer the chance to even know he was there. The one time I did have an issue, two old ladies refused to sit with me and the cat, and I was moved to first class with him.

I actually think it should be reported to passengers when people are bringing pets on the plane. My DH is severely allergic to cats, if he were on a plane with a cat under its seat, he would have major respiratory issues. Even if it weren't under his seat but near him, he should know about it in advance. The airline should announce it, and the passengers flying with the animal should tell those around them. A have had an issue with it in the past, and had to switch flights because he was having so much trouble breathing before the plane even took off. We never even saw where the cat was, but it really made our travel day much harder than it needed to be.

For the bubbles, I've bought them for my son and always caution him to never point it at anyone. If other kids ask him to make bubbles while we are waiting for a parade or show, I make sure it's ok with their parents first. We never bring it in a line, or in large crowds.

 

[BayouMickey]

Boy, I hope you are being silly here. How in the world can someone avoid bubbles in a packed queue? So, it's OK to mess up someone else's clothing, camera, etc, because a kid needs bubbles to be entertained in a queue?

My daughter was one of those kids allergic to some bubble solutions, but she was not allergic to all soaps. It took a while to find one she could use, but she was never smelly, any more than any other kid. At WDW, we avoided bubbles, except at VotLM. She sat with her arms inside her shirt, and her legs tucked up under her. I waved most of the bubbles away from her face. When a few popped near her, she got a rash on her face where the splatter landed. She was itchy and uncomfortable, but we went to the ladies room, we washed her face and I put ointment on the rash. It cleared up the next day, but the ointment makes her sensitive to sunlight. It was a tricky balance - itchy rash, sun damage that could turn to something bad.

So to those who are thoughtful and considerate about others' allergies - thank you. I try to be understanding too - for example, I avoid eating/opening peanut snacks in close quarters, etc.

My point being, everyone else shouldn't have to take your precautions. As it is my poor children cant bring peanut butter sandwiches to eat at school because someone may have a peanut allergy. Consideration can only go so far until it becomes inconsiderate to everyone else. I feel for your daughter, honestly I do. But I also feel for my children for having to give up their liberties for your child. And before you judge me, my daughter is a diabetic since she was two.. do I go to school or restaurant and say you can't serve anything with sugar in it cause it can kill my child? No, I take it upon myself to make sure she doesn't eat something she can't eat

 

[Magpie]

I actually think it should be reported to passengers when people are bringing pets on the plane. My DH is severely allergic to cats, if he were on a plane with a cat under its seat, he would have major respiratory issues. Even if it weren't under his seat but near him, he should know about it in advance. The airline should announce it, and the passengers flying with the animal should tell those around them. A have had an issue with it in the past, and had to switch flights because he was having so much trouble breathing before the plane even took off. We never even saw where the cat was, but it really made our travel day much harder than it needed to be.

For the bubbles, I've bought them for my son and always caution him to never point it at anyone. If other kids ask him to make bubbles while we are waiting for a parade or show, I make sure it's ok with their parents first. We never bring it in a line, or in large crowds.

I live with several cats, and at the best of times I'm usually covered with their hair and dander. Could your DH sit next to someone like me, or would I set his allergies off?

 

[LilyWDW]

My point being, everyone else shouldn't have to take your precautions. As it is my poor children cant bring peanut butter sandwiches to eat at school because someone may have a peanut allergy. Consideration can only go so far until it becomes inconsiderate to everyone else. I feel for your daughter, honestly I do. But I also feel for my children for having to give up their liberties for your child. And before you judge me, my daughter is a diabetic since she was two.. do I go to school or restaurant and say you can't serve anything with sugar in it cause it can kill my child? No, I take it upon myself to make sure she doesn't eat something she can't eat

Really? Those are not even the same. You can easily avoid food and drink that could make your child sick. In a line at Disney, if someone decides to blow bubbles, there is no where to go. The area is very limited. It isn't Disney that is adding that, it is some random person. The person who has an issue with it has no warning that this would happen.

Plus, bubbles are not needed and no one has a right to blow them. Food and drink are needed by people to survive.

 

[Sheilby]

Just curious - what do you do in pets-on-planes situations? I've flown with my cat in the cabin of the plane several times, and only had an issues once - every other time I've been given pre-boarding and he's been tucked away under the seat which I just realized, wouldn't give an allergy sufferer the chance to even know he was there. The one time I did have an issue, two old ladies refused to sit with me and the cat, and I was moved to first class with him.

I've only flown 4 times in my life, and one of those times was as a kid so I don't remember. Two of the times were within a year of having a baby which magically suppressed my allergies (I guess my immune system was suppressed in general so my body wouldn't reject the baby). The last time I was surrounded by family so I know there were no cats either in front of me or behind me.

My MIL has to bathe and change my nieces before I visit them at her house and I can not go to their house to see them.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

What it really comes down to is that there's a million other things out there aside from bubbles that can be used to entertain a kid in line. Honestly I think its ridiculous that parents feel like they need to make it so their kid has something stimulating them at all times, I was 3 years olds holding their parents phones at work watching cartoons while they go through the store...is it really so hard to teach your kid to be patient? And yes because I just KNOW someone is going to say "yes it is hard", give me a break... 99% of you I'm sure were taught to get over it and wait for a bit in line and now it seems to amount to abuse to let your kid be bored for 10 minutes.

 

[Sheilby]

I live with several cats, and at the best of times I'm usually covered with their hair and dander. Could your DH sit next to someone like me, or would I set his allergies off?

I could not sit next to you. I would break out in hives, my eyes would swell shut and my breathing would get heavy. I even had to leave a co-op group because one lady was so covered in animal dander that I was in misery.

 

[Sheilby]

Really? Those are not even the same. You can easily avoid food and drink that could make your child sick. In a line at Disney, if someone decides to blow bubbles, there is no where to go. The area is very limited. It isn't Disney that is adding that, it is some random person. The person who has an issue with it has no warning that this would happen.

Plus, bubbles are not needed and no one has a right to blow them. Food and drink are needed by people to survive.

Absolutely true, but cats are not needed to survive and I don't think they belong on planes where they put my health in jeopardy and I have no way of getting away from them.

 

[BayouMickey]

Really? Those are not even the same. You can easily avoid food and drink that could make your child sick. In a line at Disney, if someone decides to blow bubbles, there is no where to go. The area is very limited. It isn't Disney that is adding that, it is some random person. The person who has an issue with it has no warning that this would happen.

Plus, bubbles are not needed and no one has a right to blow them. Food and drink are needed by people to survive.

Yes because bubbles go lightning fast and cant be avoided. My point is still the same whether bubbles are important or not, my children shouldn't have to be without because yours does. Tell you what out of consideration I'll carry around a sign saying "beware bubbles" on our next trip.

 

[CaffeinatedMama]

My point being, everyone else shouldn't have to take your precautions. As it is my poor children cant bring peanut butter sandwiches to eat at school because someone may have a peanut allergy. Consideration can only go so far until it becomes inconsiderate to everyone else. I feel for your daughter, honestly I do. But I also feel for my children for having to give up their liberties for your child. And before you judge me, my daughter is a diabetic since she was two.. do I go to school or restaurant and say you can't serve anything with sugar in it cause it can kill my child? No, I take it upon myself to make sure she doesn't eat something she can't eat

So sorry your poor children can't have peanut butter at school so that someone else's poor child in your school doesn't die from anaphylactic shock.

 

[1000HappyWishes]

So um.. if someone is allergic to um.. bubbles and soap... er. um.. that would really stink...
I predict in the future we will all wear sterile paper clothes complete with gloves and have to eat through tubes connected to your backpack so we won't contaminate/affect someone's allergy. It's getting pretty ridiculous.. When I was growing up we didn't have all of this. If people were allergic, it was THEIR responsibility to make sure they didn't come in contact. Now days it's everybody else's job.
And as for people not wanting their glasses or hair touched by bubbles.. leave these kids be, you were young too, why take away their childhood? It's a minor nuisance compared to bigger things wrong in this world...

I have an allergy to most bubble solution. I can only use certain types. I do a very good job at generally avoiding bubbles. But if they're blowing them in a crowded queue and I'm by them, I literally HAVE no other place to go to avoid the bubbles. Plus, I like to keep my glasses clean!

 

[BayouMickey]

So sorry your poor children can't have peanut butter at school so that someone else's poor child in your school doesn't die from anaphylactic shock.

So let me ask you this... peanut allergies aren't a new thing correct? Growing up, there were no precautions that affected the entire school. Kids bought their peanut butter sandwiches and there wasnt an epidemic of mass peanutacide. Why so different now?

And as for my child, theirs lots of things she cannot eat at school, but they still serve it. So your faciciousness isnt affecting me at all.. in fact, her dr suggests that if she cannot eat something in the cafeteria, have a peanut butter sandwich, oh wait! She can't have that either! sorry im not on the "stop the world because it affects me" train. If it's bad for me or my child, its my responsibility, I dont put it on anyone else's shoulders. Its not their problem.

 

[BayouMickey]

I have an allergy to most bubble solution. I can only use certain types. I do a very good job at generally avoiding bubbles. But if they're blowing them in a crowded queue and I'm by them, I literally HAVE no other place to go to avoid the bubbles. Plus, I like to keep my glasses clean!

And im sure if you ask the parent to temporarily suspend all bubble production while you're in the vicinity they would be obliged. But I don't think you are so self centered to take away a childs fun throughout 10 mile park just because you may be there.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

It's kind of funny when you step back and think..... this discussion..... is about BUBBLES

 

[maggiew]

My daughter is one of those people who are allergic to "bubbles". Actually she is allergic to the surfactants that make bubbles. She is 18 now and is just getting this issue under control. She would get red, raw rashes - especially around the inner elbow and the back of the knee. Regular rash cream, etc. don't work. She has been in misery most of her life due to this. One time she even got a bad infection from scratching the area with dirty fingernails (kids!!). Anyway, we have been able to find detergents, soaps, lotions, etc. that she can tolerate (with help from creams and medicine). Although we still need to take precautions like putting a towel (washed in her soap) down when she sits on airplane seats, train seats, car seats, anything with upholstery. All of our furniture and car interiors are leather because of her.

In regards to the bubbles. I don't want to restrict other children from having fun. If someone was blowing bubbles in our vicinity we would either move, or my DD would put her arms/legs in her shirt/pants, etc. as much as possible or we would stand surrounding her to try to protect her as much as possible.

However, I am also in the camp that I don't do things that might impact other people and their enjoyment of the parks. I have taught my kids to walk quietly in hotel hallways (even during day). Don't run and jump and bump other people while walking or in line (unless an area to do this type of thing). etc. Don't play music so loudly that others can hear. (Not really a Disney Park problem). Don't scream and yell. Don't get up from table and run around the restaurant while others are eating.

When my kids were little I brought little coloring books/activity books and crayons to keep the kids occupied while waiting for shows, etc. (Actually my kids still love to color and they are older!!) We generally used touring strategies that minimized waits in lines. So most of the time they could just be patient enough to get through the line. Or we would talk quietly about what we have done so far or what we were going to do. Or look at the park map and pick out what to do next. Etc.

Maggie

 

[Magpie]

So let me ask you this... peanut allergies aren't a new thing correct? Growing up, there were no precautions that affected the entire school. Kids bought their peanut butter sandwiches and there wasnt an epidemic of mass peanutacide. Why so different now?

Because people did die. And they died young.

My mother remembers in the 50's she'd read in the paper every week that some kid had died of "asthma". It was what they used to call anaphylactic reactions back then. You had your first attack, you died, and after that you weren't an inconvenience to anyone in the school system.

I don't think it's asking very much to engage other parents in making the school a safe place for all children. Peanuts are a particularly big problem because, unlike milk and other allergy-triggering foods, their oils can cling to clothes and fingers and cause allergic reactions long after the actual sandwich has been eaten.

Just as an example of how long oils can stick around: I was chopping jalapenos yesterday evening, and despite washing my hands with soap and water and even using hand sanitizer, I still can't put my fingers near my eyes without making them burn. Oily foods are incredibly tenacious!