Bubbles at DL and DCA?

[tanyaegangibson]

I know that "bubble guns" are no longer sold in the park (and can't be brought into the park) anymore because they seem weapon-like. So I was wondering if there are now non-gunlike bubble-spewing alternatives available for sale there.

I'm kind of hoping this won't deteriorate into a debate about people liking/hating bubbles, but I understand I'm opening up the topic at my own risk! (I do understand why some folks don't like them, and I do make sure my kids don't start bubbling in crowded places or in lines. I just want to know ahead of time if there are non-gun options or not so I can let my kids know before we go to DLR in July.)

 

[SMD]

They sell an Ariel bubble wand. It spews forth soapy bubbles at an alarming rate and can completely fill a path or a small room in a few seconds. It also makes noise and lights up. And it comes with the added feature of leaving a soapy puddle behind if tilted too much. I never thought I'd miss the bubble guns, but oh my god are these things awful.

Actually, I don't miss the bubble guns, those had the ability to poilt bubbles right at someone probably more so than the wands, it was just a fraction of the bubbles of what the wands produce in a half second on the trigger.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

They sell an Ariel bubble wand. It spews forth soapy bubbles at an alarming rate and can completely fill a path or a small room in a few seconds. It also makes noise and lights up. And it comes with the added feature of leaving a soapy puddle behind if tilted too much. I never thought I'd miss the bubble guns, but oh my god are these things awful.

Actually, I don't miss the bubble guns, those had the ability to poilt bubbles right at someone probably more so than the wands, it was just a fraction of the bubbles of what the wands produce in a half second on the trigger.

Yes. We are the proud owner of one of these after telling our daughter she could pick out a treat on her birthday. Sigh.

Soooo many bubbles. They're small and incessant. And you can't make bubbles without playing music. She adores this thing and now takes it out when we walk our dog. I imagine the neighbors love us.

 

[PHXscuba]

Th new wand-style ones were everywhere in the parks this week. You will have no trouble finding one.

PHXscuba

 

[Skiton]

I am mystified about how bubbles could be controversial.

 

[AussieCaribou]

I am mystified about how bubbles could be controversial.

Skiton, it has to do with the feel of bubbles. They are both wet and sticky and many (adult?) people can find this confronting. I have to admit to liking seeing kids having fun with bubble and love to see them floating around, but I dislike stepping in the stick mess that can trail behind them...or getting bubbles in my face.

I saw an 'adult' have a total break down last time I was at the Parks after being confronted by bubbles. So the controversy comes from who has the great 'right' the kids having a blast with the bubbles or the adult who wasn't playing with the bubbles but was affected by them...

 

[Kender]

I miss the bubble guns. They were one of my favorite things both playing with and watching others play with them .

That said, the wands are atrocious and not an adequate substitution. We were going to get one because we miss bubbles, but when we learned they played music we chose to save the headache of having to always listen to it. They do definitely exist, though, as others days. However I do not see many playing with them when I've been there.

 

[SMD]

I personally don't like the feeling of bubbles popping on me and I don't like them in my eyes or mouth or landing on my food. If one of my neighbors were blowing bubbles, I'd move out of the way. When I'm standing in the switchbacks for Peter Pan and someone decides the way to entertain their kid is blow bubbles, I'm stuck. But the guns were just obnoxious as they could produce 100 bubbles in a few seconds. Last May I waited for several hours for PTN while a kid squealed and let out a constant stream of bubbles. When she finally ran out (there was a round of applause from those of us downwind) I went and got food, but by then her parents had procured a refill. You'd think I suggested something abhorrent by the reaction I got when I asked if she could stop long enough for me to finish my food, because no matter which direction she pointed in, they blew towards me. The wands produce even more bubbles even faster. There are kids clutching these things while they walk and sit in strollers and at some points on a crowded day it's literally like a bubble curtain is being shot up into your face. At F&W I asked to have my food remade because some kid filled the booth with bubbles and the CM told me it happens every few hours. Maybe it's just me, but if I saw a kid in my care shooting bubbles I'd look where they were going and if they were landing on people's food I'd tell them to stop and take the bubbles away. Maybe the kid would cry or throw a fit, but that's my problem to deal with, not the people whose meal is being ruined.

 

[tanyaegangibson]

Th new wand-style ones were everywhere in the parks this week. You will have no trouble finding one.

Oh gosh, I'm actually so glad asked now. Given the description of them, I do not *want* to find one. (My kids aren't that young, and they're quite sane, so if I explained that the things made noise and a zillion bubbles at the same time, they wouldn't be eager to get them. They enjoyed the bubble guns the most when they were able to shoot them from the top of the omnibus on Main Street in little bursts because it made them feel like they were giving pixie dust to smaller kids who would get really excited about walking to the castle in the morning and having bubbles descend upon them. The wands sound just annoying.)

Maybe it's just me, but if I saw a kid in my care shooting bubbles I'd look where they were going and if they were landing on people's food I'd tell them to stop and take the bubbles away. Maybe the kid would cry or throw a fit, but that's my problem to deal with, not the people whose meal is being ruined.

Nope, it isn't just you.

 

[tarheelalum]

I really miss the bubble guns. Bubbles are awesome. I love running around and poking them.

 

[BriannaRuth]

We've always taken small bottles of bubbles to DL. I've even given them away to kids in line before. Had no idea anyone would be bothered by them, but they're just a few bubbles when you do it the old-fashioned way and I wouldn't do it in a restaurant. These things sound awful.

 

[Rabb it]

There are still just as much bubbles going down at the parks, maybe even more than there were before. They have these little mermaid bubble wands for the girls and a sorcerer mickey one for boys. For a while they were sold out of the new wands and couldn't keep them on the shelves!

 

[LizzyS]

Th new wand-style ones were everywhere in the parks this week. You will have no trouble finding one.

PHXscuba

Yes, when we were there a couple of weeks ago, kids were blowing bubbles left and right; you will have no problem!

I always notice if people are blowing bubbles because I got a SUPER painful eye infection from bubble solution when I was a child, so I am forever shielding my eyes if kids are blowing them everywhere.

 

[amyg1975]

Those bubbles stain clothes- they have ruined many of my daughters shirts. I now know this, and make her wear an apron or old shirt when she plays with the bubble gun.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

Being in a wheelchair near little kids with bubble guns is a special kind of experience.

I wound up in one the last two times we went (back issues..only made it one day dangit!) and boy do I have some major empathy for those who use chairs all the time...especially around bubbles!!

That said, we did buy my daughter one of the guns back a few years ago because she would melt down (2) on occasion. So we'd take it to a corner where there weren't any people and let her have at it. Unfortunately we opened the trunk on the way home while getting gas and it fell out and shattered. That was not pretty.

 

[Disney Lvr of Old]

My son loved the bubble gun. But we went through 4 of them when we went. They always replaced them for free which was nice but definitely thought they were fragile. Hopefully it resembling a wand will turn him off this time.

 

[justgrace]

BUBBLE GUNS/WANDS!!!!! They make me go from to in about 5 seconds flat.

There's really nothing quite like the taste of soapy chemicals in your face and dole whip treat to let you know that you're indeed at Disneyland as the kid in the stroller shoots them incessantly while your sitting at the table beside him and his oblivious parents.

*okay I'm partially joking here, but seriously - those things drive me nuts!

 

[agamble]

We bought our kids the bubble guns as we were leaving the last day of our trip last year. They sprayed them the entire walk back to the Desert Inn. So much fun! LOL! They still have them and they worked the last time we tried. The music making ones don't sound too horrible to me as they are an outside toy, but I'm not sure I'd buy them for my kids.

 

[Indiana Scott]

As curmudgeonly as I've become it surprises me that I actually like walking through a cloud of bubbles.
It's just festive!!!

 

[AustinTink]

Skiton, it has to do with the feel of bubbles.

More than that. People need to realize that there are folks out there who are allergic to the chemical bubble solution. The same people who can't have scented soaps and detergents in their homes also can't have some random kid's bubbles landing on their skin. Commercial bubbles have always given my kid a rash. We had to be creative and make our own when he was little. It's pretty selfish to think one kid's fun is more important than another kids health.