Whose bright idea was this? The sparkly mickey confetti all over the ground at MK?

[JUJU814]

Ok..I'm all for pixie dust and sparkles and fun..but all over the ground everywhere are those Mickey confetti sequin things AKA "pixie dust" as it's been called my some CM's and my 5 year old daughter who is fascinated in it. It's outside the entrance, up and down main street. I know the fairy godmother throws it during the parade also.

Soooooo, ummmm, all over the MK last week, little curious people, our preschoolers, of course want to be picking it up all day. Mine decided she must "collect" it. Eeeeewwwwww!

Don't they know that of course little kids are going to want to pick up the mickey sparkles off the ground? I'm not a germaphobe, but having my little one's fingers on the ground where tens of thousands of people a day are walking is a little gross.

I didn't know what to do..to her, it was magic pixie dust and I didn't want to shatter that by freaking out over her hands on the ground..but on the other hand, well, eeeewww it's gross!

I washed her hands frequently, but I would like to know what are they thinking? It just isn't using a lot of common sense. There is plenty of magic without throwing stuff all over the ground, isn't there?

We're home..no major diseases..at least yet so I guess all is well...but it's just something that's been on my mind post-Disney, and since I'm not pre-occupied with all my planning and ADR's, I thought I'd ask if anyone else noticed this?

Julie

 

[Hannathy]

WOW relax children have been picking up treasures from the ground for thousands of years and horrors, I guess to you, they even put a lot of it in their mouths and the race is still gong strong. I guess you don't have the 5 second rule! My goodness it is a little confetti not toxic waste. A certain amount of germs is needed to build strong immune systems. Relax have fun and whip out the baggie to put it in, that's what we do so it isn't in every pocket and all thru my bag, altho some always ends up there.

I think it is fun! and like it.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Why not just tell your child to stop picking stuff up off the ground?
I don't think that kills the magic. I also agree with the previous poster. a few germs aren't the end of the world. If you really want to be grossed out think about how many people have touched the rides you sit on and touch with your hands all over. To me that is much worse than some confetti.
Of course I don't let any of it ruin my vacation.

 

[Sandy321]

wow - I'm such a horrible mom - - I help my dd pick it up off the ground, and I save it in a zip lock bag!! I guess I was raised that a little bit of dirt will help boost your immune system - my grandmother used to make mud pies - and eat them!! or at least taste them!!

I've also been known to give a crying toddler (with a parental permission ) a few of those mickey heads - and tell them to let it drop so that more magic can happen - to just hold onto the magic for a little bit, then drop it for someone else to hold that may need some magic!!

Yes, I'm weird!

But you are in good company - you are not the only one that may have that thought... and that's ok - you get to decide!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

I think my son started picking it up off the ground on one of our first trips. That was over ten years ago and he's just fine. No health concerns and he's a good student. OP, I don't think your daughter will suffer if she picks up a little now and then.

 

[JUJU814]

Why not just tell your child to stop picking stuff up off the ground?
I don't think that kills the magic. I also agree with the previous poster. a few germs aren't the end of the world. If you really want to be grossed out think about how many people have touched the rides you sit on and touch with your hands all over. To me that is much worse than some confetti.
Of course I don't let any of it ruin my vacation.

Oh dear...good point! (about the rides)

Chill out folks..I'm not horrible. I didn't say I didn't allow her to pick it up, it just was a little eeww..Yes, we have the 5 second rule...when we would drop something. That is so not the same as purposely picking up confetti that who knows how many thousands of feet have already walked on

I wasn't totally serious and it certainly didn't ruin my vacation! Trust me...that was minor compared to the traumatic experience that did ruin our vacation..our beloved 3 year old lab getting deathly ill while we were there, and getting home to have to put him to sleep 2 hours later.

And to the horrible mom that picked it up and put it in the zip lock, I'm even more horrible because I didn't have a ziplock and I put it in my pocket!!!! LOL and ummm, actually, I think I forgot to take it out before I put my shorts in the washer..oh no! LOL

I just thought it was gross. Please don't flame me.

My sister in law is from Brazil and she used to pick up ants and eat them. She's one of 7 and her mom has the cutest accent and just smiles and says "antibodies!"

I KNOW that's true..but still...

 

[katyjeka]

Our 3 dd's have been picking it up for years. I think it adds to the overall magic. I agree, if you are so afraid of germs, don't allow her to pick it up.

 

[kathie859]

My DGS (age 6) is a veteran at spying the odd treasure on the ground. From rocks to bugs to someone else's litter, he likes to inspect it all. FWIW, he's a healthy 1st grader with no resultant diseases as result of his penchant for picking up "stuff".

Of course, we preach "Keep you fingers and hands OUT of your mouth" and encourage him to wash his hands regularly.

OT re: 5 second rule: The family next door had 5 kids and the Mom mentioned once that for the first child that everything was sterilized and resterilized before given to the child; by the time #5 arrived, he was lucky to get a dropped lollipop rinsed off in the sink before it was given back to him
All 5 managed to reach young adulthood without any permanent damage.

 

[JUJU814]

Our 3 dd's have been picking it up for years. I think it adds to the overall magic. I agree, if you are so afraid of germs, don't allow her to pick it up.

Well it certainly added to my dd's overall magic..she was fascinated with it..to the point I asked if they sold it anywhere..and they don't.

I'm not "afraid" of germs. I do think Disney World would be just as magical and beautiful and lovely a place though without stuff to pick up off the ground. LOL I've never seen it before. I thought maybe it was here for the "celebration" promotion or something.

Oh..forget it..was just trying to make conversation. No more Disney for us for a while..sending our oldest to college next year.

Happy vacationing!

 

[mitsybella]

We were there 9 months ago and I'm still finding these in my bags and different places, I see nothing wrong with picking them up, just wash your hands before eating and you should be fine.

 

[bankgirl05]

Oh dear...good point! (about the rides)

Chill out folks..I'm not horrible. I didn't say I didn't allow her to pick it up, it just was a little eeww..Yes, we have the 5 second rule...when we would drop something. That is so not the same as purposely picking up confetti that who knows how many thousands of feet have already walked on

I wasn't totally serious and it certainly didn't ruin my vacation! Trust me...that was minor compared to the traumatic experience that did ruin our vacation..our beloved 3 year old lab getting deathly ill while we were there, and getting home to have to put him to sleep 2 hours later.

And to the horrible mom that picked it up and put it in the zip lock, I'm even more horrible because I didn't have a ziplock and I put it in my pocket!!!! LOL and ummm, actually, I think I forgot to take it out before I put my shorts in the washer..oh no! LOL

I just thought it was gross. Please don't flame me.

My sister in law is from Brazil and she used to pick up ants and eat them. She's one of 7 and her mom has the cutest accent and just smiles and says "antibodies!"

I KNOW that's true..but still...

Yeah, sorry OP for the flames 'a flyin around here... I got your witty grumble, and didn't think that you were completely serios, just half hearted, "great one more way for my kid to pick up germs ---sigh" and as far as the other poster about the germs on the rides: well thanks! if I wasn't a germ-a-phobe before I might be now! note to self: will definately be bringing my mini hand sanitizers and wipes!!!

Oh, and as my DD used to hand me the confetti to hold, i would just "miss" my pocket or purse and it would end up right back where it came from, she NEVER EVER EVER asked "where's my mickey heads?"

have a magical day!

 

[disneymom3]

I get what you are saying. I have to restrain myself from telling my kids not to touch the hand rails in the lines. Of course, when my son who was very very oral at three put his mouth on one of the rails, I decided not much could get worse than that.

As for the sparkles, I was quite thankful for them with a crabby toddler who wanted to be anywhere BUT Tony's with our extended family on the day we arrived several years back. I took him outside and he happily toddled around picking up mickey glitter. My biggest concern with it actually is not the germs, but the fact that these little kids stop on a dime to pick it up. I have almost tripped on several little people that way. Doesn't bother me, I think it's cute, but I really don't want to take out a preschooler at WDW.

And I wanted to say that i am really really sorry about your dog.

 

[LWatson]

LOL I was the dork when I was a preteen that took it off the table and other places and put it into a container to take home. My kids wanted it this time too. I dont know how much "pixie dust" we brought home, but it eventually all ended up tossed because I got sick of cleaning it up. This time though I'm sure we will still end up bringing it back.

 

[MissyDVC]

My kids pick it up every time we go (since they were 3 and 4 and are now 9 and 10) and we are all just fine
PS and FYI I just re-read the post and it didn't seem like it was joke even after I read it again. It actually seemed silly to me.

And very sorry to hear about your dog

 

[calnmace]

My daughters LOVE the confetti as well. Last time we were there we were watching the parade and the fairy godmother waved her wand and they were fascinated with the confetti that fell. They picked up what they could and we had a stroller FULL of confetti. I like it too, it adds to the Disney magic IMO
Later that day they went to the barber shop on main street and had their hair done with the color streaks and confetti. Something about little kids and confetti....

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

Jeeze, talk about attacking the OP - I guess no one is allowed an opinon around here.

Anyway, I didn't notice it at all when we were there last december - I'll have to pay more attention this coming december trip. Personaly, I wouldn't want or allow my children to pick it up - its nasty. Who knows who has stepped on it after stepping in duck poo, or dog poo, or what have you.
As I said, my girls didn't pick it up on our trip because no one ever noticed it, but they (actually EVERYONE else in our party) did get incredibly sick with the Norwalk virus durring our trip. We think it was because of all the character buffets we went to - everyone and their grandmother touching the serving spoons, and then whiping their nose, scratching their you-know-whats.... makes ya sick just thinking about it!!! The only thing you can do is make sure to wash their little hands (and your own) and make sure to have the sanitary cream in your front pocket at all times!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

Don't know how that double post happened!

 

[AC7179]

I'm with you. My daughter (4) tried to pick up EVERY treasure she found on the ground, and there was all sorts of good stuff this year. Mickey heads, confetti, etc. Add that to my mother's slight sense of germaphobia, and well.........I also would have appreciated it not being there!

 

[TwoRoos]

My girls LOVE to pick up the Mickey head confetti! And what they love even more (especially my 7 year old) is the gold castle confetti that's on the floor/winding staircase leading up to CRT! We usually save a few of those and bring home.

 

[WantToGoNow]

Note to add an empty medicine bottle to packing list to put the confetti in. My dd5 will stop to pick up anything pretty she see's - could be a rock, a leaf, a sticker, etc. so I know this is going to be irresistable to her.