ANYONE BUY heelys for there kids in Disney??!

[plutolovr]

Ok, here we go.....My DS, who is 10, had been asking me to buy him Heelys for several months. I refused. He would not get enough use out of them to justify spending that kind of money. The only opportunity he has for wearing them would be on the road in front of our house (since that is the only time I would allow him to wear them). I have a better idea....walk or ride your skateboard down the hill. (of course with all of the proper safety equipment) So, what changed your mind, you ask? What could posess you to give in and buy these 'shoes from the devil'? Well, I didn't buy them! My ex mother-in-law did. Let me just say that my ex MIL and I, as well as me and my ex husband, get along. We generally don't argue about anything. However, I was not happy about the purchase of the Heely's. We were all in Florida during the Thanksgiving holiday and my ex-DH and his mother left with my kids to do some early Christmas shopping. And guess what they come back with.

So, the next day, we were all going to Epcot and MK. I am not one to break rules or disobey regulations, but I allowed him to wear his heelys...but with very strict rules of my own. Again, I am not happy about the purchase of the shoes, but I know when to pick my battles and this was not a battle I wanted to waste my breath on. If my DS broke the rules I had set in place...those wheels would have been jerked right out of the bottom of shoe....and I did bring the tool to do this! He was not allowed to skate freely about the park; he was not allowed to skate at a high rate of speed; he was not allowed to skate in inappropriate places (i.e. World of Disney).

And guess what....he listened to me! I set rules and he obeyed them. He didn't run into anyone. He didn't break any bone or crack a skull. And I will say this...these shoes are not for the lazy or for kids that just don't want to walk. At the end of the day, his legs were killing him. He used muscles he never knew he had because you have to stay balanced.

Hopefully I have muted a few misconceptions about these shoes. Not all parents of heely children allow their kids to run amuck (sp?). Kids that wear heelys are not necessarily lazy kids.

I will say that my DS has only worn his heelys once since we've left Florida and that was to his friends house down the road.

It strikes me funny that you would expect your son to obey "your" rules, but yet you disobeyed "Disney's" rules in doing so. Some fine example.

 

[ducklite]

I was at MK in October, in Cosmic Ray's. I was walking toward the condiment stand with my burger and got broadsided by a kid in heelies. My burger ended up on the floor (next to me, who also ended up on the floor). Thankfully, a CM saw what happened and stopped the kid. He made him remove the wheels and told him they are NOT allowed. He also replaced my burger for me. I guess this is a combo bad heelie/good CM story!

So, yes, it's true... I'm a heelie hater!

I think that they would be better off confiscating the wheels and sending them to package pick-up at the front of the park to be retrieved by an adult as they leave.

Anne

 

[makinorlando]

My DD has them, and never uses them anymore -the novelty wore off! I am pretty much one to say to each his own, and I don't really worry about what other folks are doing around me unless it is physically harming me or someone or truly ruining my Disney Experience.

That being said, as a weekly visitor (like Anne above) to Disney we see them everywhere, and while I agree not all kids using them are using them unsafely, there are enough that are that I really think that the non use of them should be better enforced!

My most recent run in (yes run in) with them was on Christmas Morning at Magic Kingdom, around 10:30am - now let me set the scene for you - VERY BUSY morning, just inside the turnstiles at the wheelchair rental area. I was waiting to pick up my mother's walker that we had checked, and there were many folks in line to get wheel chairs. It was a damp mornng - there had been some rain earlier - next thing I know bam - I am hit by a kid on heelies. He was moving to fast into the crowd of folks and could not/did not stop. I was STANDING STILL, and I am not a little person! He continued into the little gift shop there, and the only thing his mother told him was "Not in the store" - There was no sorry, no nothing for having run into me..

I was not feeling well that morning, and I have a paralyzed vocal cord with limited vocal volume so I just did not have it in me to confront them!

I just would love to ask parents who allow their kids to wear them in Disney (or public in general) to really think about their decision, and to be aware of what the kids are doing when they are wearing them!

Had the person he ran into been a chlld, elderly person or a smaller person in general there mght have been more damage!!!!

 

[Drizzo67]

DS - 11 has never asked me for them but DD - 8 has. Being that she is an excellent skater I thought, why not. Well, jsut trying them on turned her off to the whole experience.

DS was run down by a kid on Heelys last year just outside of Test Track and screamed his head off at the kid. The parents just ran up to their kid and walked off, never apologizing to my son. That's just down right unacceptable. If DD or DS ever in anyway disturbed another person, I would make sure they apologize.

Its just common courtesy, people.

Dina Marie

 

[candlekatie]

I called WDW guest services this week and was told that they are allowed in the parks. Discouraged, but allowed.
Katie

 

[ducklite]

I called WDW guest services this week and was told that they are allowed in the parks. Discouraged, but allowed.
Katie

Interesting first post. Sorry, but I'm going to take the written response that several others have gotten from WDW Guest Communications over the past few months that are very specific in saying they are not allowed.

ANYONE WITH COMMON SENSE WOULD KNOW BETTER THAN TO USE THESE CONTRAPTIONS OR ALLOW THIER KIDS TO DO SO IN A CROWDED AREA!! Unfortunately kids don't come with common sense pills for them, or thier parents half the time.

Anne

 

[C.Ann]

Little buggers with these contraptions drove us nuts racing up and down outside of our Pop Century rooms throughout our entire trip.. Early in the morning; afternoons; late at night; in the MIDDLE of the night; etc..

Now I would NEVER trip one of these kids (why punish the kids because the PARENTS aren't paying attention?), but if one of them ever hit me and knocked me down - causing any type of injury - I'd be suing the PARENTS so fast their heads would be spinning - and Disney as well, for not having the COMMON SENSE to realize the danger involved, both at the resorts and in the hotels..

Sometimes the ONLY way to get someone's attention is via their POCKETBOOK..

 

[SueM in MN]

Interesting first post. Sorry, but I'm going to take the written response that several others have gotten from WDW Guest Communications over the past few months that are very specific in saying they are not allowed.

ANYONE WITH COMMON SENSE WOULD KNOW BETTER THAN TO USE THESE CONTRAPTIONS OR ALLOW THIER KIDS TO DO SO IN A CROWDED AREA!! Unfortunately kids don't come with common sense pills for them, or thier parents half the time.

Anne

There have been quite a few people who have posted that they wrote WDW and got the response that heelies are considered to be the same as roller skates, which are not allowed.

 

[makinorlando]

There have been quite a few people who have posted that they wrote WDW and got the response that heelies are considered to be the same as roller skates, which are not allowed.

Believe it or not I saw a SKATEBOARD last Monday night (during MVMCP 12/18) outside of Crystal Palace - now that was a total first for me, and I was amazed it got through security. Must have been tucked away in the stroller or something! It was not being carried at the time I saw it either.

The roller skate comment brought it back to mind!

(We were in Target this afternoon and Heelies were EVERYWHERE - Santa must have left them at every house in Central FL this Christmas. Between them and all of the extended families shopping today I could not wait to leave!)

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

I don't think Heelys are the problem lack of respect/disicipline is. My girls 8&9 have them and know that they are to only "skate" with them in the driveway. They can "cruise" with them in a store/mall if they are holding my hand. The never disobey and have never disrupted anyone while using them .They are a toy for them not a shoe when in wheel mode. They do wear them to school without the wheel. Parent's simply don't teach proper etiquette or respect and that's the problem.

 

[candlekatie]

I don't think Heelys are the problem lack of respect/disicipline is.

I agree. My son got his for Christmas and we laid out the ground rules right away. He was the one who decided not to bring them on our trip to Disney, he said he wasn't good enough with them and he didn't want to hurt anyone. And this is a 6 year old! He knew that we were only going to let him bring them if he could handle them. As far as I am/was aware Disney told me that they were allowed.
Katie
4 days till WDW!

 

[CampbellScot]

My husband is an occupational therapist and he said that there have been NEW postural issues and injuries b/c of these shoes. It has something to do with the position kids are in when "heeling"...causes back fatigue and strains. There have been a higher than average amount of kids with back strain and fatigue and the common denominator was HEELYS!!!

I just thought this was interesting.

I find these shoes one of the reasons we have so many obese children in the world. First it was "playing" that became electronic and no effort required...now we have Shoes that don't require you to walk...it's not even exercise like roller blading or roller skates...it's just gliding...minimal movement or effort... Helloooooo? Anyone else see a problem here?!

 

[airman]

I just got back from WDW during Christmas and the place was crawling with kids scooting all over the place, it was annoying and I saw a few wipe out.
Joe

 

[BamaTigger]

We were at a Red Lobster saturday nite, outside waiting for our table, and this little girl had a pair on...rolling around, running into people. Her parents were just ignoring the whole thing. I had to jump up on the rocks when she came rolling by me....I think they need to BE BURNED! Kids shouldnt be wearing them in malls, restaurants, WDW, or anywhere. And the parents who buy them for their child should be sent to an insane asylum!


I hope they arent in the parks....I have a hard enough time dodging those big ol SUV-like strollers!

 

[Disney_1984]

some little kids were using these in WDW when i was there last week... although you may think im nasty and mean for saying this, but i couldnt wait to see them splat on their silly little faces, so much so that i HAD to buy a bottle of water and take a pew until one did. Three minutes later i was satisfied, two decided to race and bam one went down, i just laughed really loud and the mother changed their shoes. was great fun. thanks lil kiddies hope your ok

 

[taximomfor4]

has anyone emailed disney, asking them to clarify their Heely Rule by posting signs at the gate? It worked at the grocery store, maybe it'll work at WDW.

Beth

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

has anyone emailed disney, asking them to clarify their Heely Rule by posting signs at the gate? It worked at the grocery store, maybe it'll work at WDW.

Beth

Good idea. I think the problem lies with Disney's style of "recommending" proper behavior instead of requiring it. That works with many people, but never all. Every year, things get worse. How much longer until it's The Lord of the Flies?

Also, I just returned from WDW - I did see a few Heely wearers. I also saw a few in the airport. One rolled into a luggage cart and took a pretty bad spill. I did ask in WDW. Guest relations informed me that no roller skates, roller blades, Heelies or skateboards are allowed in the parks, but that all CM's may not have the time to "inform" a guest of this, unless they are being destructive or causing damage/trouble.

 

[disneymomof6]

the CMS shouldnt have to be chasing these kids around the park... if the signs are there or not there.... the parents should use their heads.... all the kids wheeling around on these are there with adults. It doesnt take a genious to figure out that the theme parks just arent accomodating for this... I am going in february.... (our yearly trip same time of year) and if a kid runs in to me.... he will get more then a dirty look... I am happy that none of my 6 kids would even think this was a good idea.... KEEP THE SHOES AT HOME!!

 

[dlraida]

The world is full of angry and self righteous people isn't it. Oh, Disney World I mean! Have you ever been run over by an electric scooter, I have and so has my triple stroller filled with three infants. Should I have wished for the person to fall on their face or scream insults at them. Should I have insinuated that their parents were obviously horrible. How about all of the horrible language I have heard at the parks, again should I secretly want terrible things to happen to those people. Do I agree that healies should not be allowed in the parks? Of course I do! I just find the anger and violent thoughts very sickening. Lighten-up, band wagon riders!!!

 

[momofthreegamers]

The world is full of angry and self righteous people isn't it. Oh, Disney World I mean! Have you ever been run over by an electric scooter, I have and so has my triple stroller filled with three infants. Should I have wished for the person to fall on their face or scream insults at them. Should I have insinuated that their parents were obviously horrible. How about all of the horrible language I have heard at the parks, again should I secretly want terrible things to happen to those people. Do I agree that healies should not be allowed in the parks? Of course I do! I just find the anger and violent thoughts very sickening. Lighten-up, band wagon riders!!!

Totally agree...who knows how many times I've been run over buy those annoying Disney strollers...geez. (speaking with sarcasm here) Some of the adults on here should be ashamed of themselves.