Healies at Epcot

[goldilocks_63]

My DD-8 wanted to wear Healies (Gym shoes with wheel in them) to WDW. I said no to MK, because too crowded, but thought Epcot would be okay. However, security said no, so we didn't....

But then saw lots of kids wheeling around in the park....

Opinions, Goldi

 

[graygables]

Heely's are skates and should not be allowed in the parks anymore than skateboards or rollerblades. I was run over more than once on our last trip & security was quite busy telling guests to remove them. Furthermore, they are dangerous. One slip and you've got your head split open.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/03/earlyshow/living/parenting/main1365761.shtml

http://www.safety-council.org/info/child/heely.html

 

[Margie J]

I think they should be banned from the Parks and Malls. In any crowded area it's hard enough to navigate around people. Trying to avoid kids with healies on can be dangerous for everyone.

Kids with healies might easily fall or trip also.

 

[Chuck S]

I saw a lot of Healies, too. I think they should be banned from all parks, and the policy enforced. All it takes is a collision between a rolling child and an elderly person to cause serious injury.

Since this isn't a DVC specific topic, I am moving it to the theme parks board.

 

[bytheblood]

I saw a lot of Healies, too. I think they should be banned from all parks, and the policy enforced. All it takes is a collision between a rolling child and an elderly person to cause serious injury.

Agreed!

 

[mwehttam]

I personally think theese shoes are pointless and a waste of money. We are going to have a generation of kids who don't know how to walk properly. My DS is only 7 weeks old but I already know that he will never have a pair of these if they are still around when he gets older.

-Matt

 

[eeyoreiscool]

Since most people that have them don't ask if they can wear them, they claim ignorance. I don't think they should have them and should do a better job of enforcing the ban against them. There are too many kids who don't pay attention to where they are going with them.

 

[MareSINY]

I really blame the parents for these sneakers. I saw a couple of kids in MK with them on, and it caught my attention because I knew they weren't allowed, but they weren't going crazy so I kept my opinions to myself. A few weeks ago I was at BJ Wholesale Club with my dad, a family with two young kids kept meeting up with us down the aisles as we both shopped. The kids were wearing heelies and they were zooming around on them without a care for other people, and the parents just ignored it. I guess since they weren't bothering them they didn't care. Some parents just don't parent, that's the problem.

 

[Skylarr29]

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1297074

 

[trypnotic]

I also find them highly obnoxious though I don't believe they're going to cause a generation to not learn how to walk properly. That sounds like something that's been said over the years in response to anything new.

I see this as a chance for Disney to capitalize on the shoe industry. Kick out the people with those shoes or give them a chance to go over to the Emporium or Mouse Gears to purchase a pair of non-rolly shoes - $20 over what anyone would be comfortable with of course.

 

[CleveRocks]

I e-mailed WDW about Heelys, as a result of an ongoing thread a few months ago. The OFFICIAL response is that all footwear with wheels (Heelys, rollerblades, etc.) is NOT PERMITTED in any of the theme parks.

However, as we all know, this is not enforced as well as it should be. And there are no signs at park entrances notifying people that Heelys aren't allowed inside.

But the official rule is NO HEELYS.

 

[nhpooh]

I really blame the parents for these sneakers. I saw a couple of kids in MK with them on, and it caught my attention because I knew they weren't allowed, but they weren't going crazy so I kept my opinions to myself. A few weeks ago I was at BJ Wholesale Club with my dad, a family with two young kids kept meeting up with us down the aisles as we both shopped. The kids were wearing heelies and they were zooming around on them without a care for other people, and the parents just ignored it. I guess since they weren't bothering them they didn't care. Some parents just don't parent, that's the problem.

I agree, I too have seen this and wish the parents would control there child. Dosen't make for fun shopping when you have to watch out for other peoples kids. We watch ours and they should watch theres.

 

[goofy4tink]

Saw a ton of kids with them on last week. Also saw a fair number of close calls when the youngsters weren't watching where they were going and almost ran people down or crashed into something.
If Disney is going to say they are not allowed, then the CMs should be enforcing the rule.

 

[Pixiedust34]

I see this as a chance for Disney to capitalize on the shoe industry. Kick out the people with those shoes or give them a chance to go over to the Emporium or Mouse Gears to purchase a pair of non-rolly shoes - $20 over what anyone would be comfortable with of course.

Heelys (sp?) do not belong in the parks. I know that the cms are busy, but I wish they'd enforce this rule. It's a safety issue.

And they don't belong at the resorts, either. My dd was nearly plowed down by a kid on Heelys on the sidewalk at Pop Century.

ETA: Does it not seem like common sense that a child should not be wearing Heelys in ANY crowd? Not only for the safety of the crowd, but also for the safety of the child? Even if the rules were not clear and/or well enforced, I would think (hope) that most parents would realize that Main Street is not an appropriate place for their child to be cruising along in Heelys. And knowing the amount of walking that is to be done at WDW, the shoes cannot be good for all day wear there, anyway.

 

[krissyh]

Time to add heelies to literature/signage as NOT ALLOWED.
And more checking at the gates.

 

[kytiam]

Time to add heelies to literature/signage as NOT ALLOWED.
And more checking at the gates.

Good idea! Even the CMs that try to enforce the rules are fighting an uphill battle. Unless the CM actually conficates the wheel, I could see many people complying with the rule only until they get around the corner and out of the view of the CM who told them to walk, not roll. Then it's back to wheelin' until the next CM stops them.

 

[Wendy1953]

My DD-8 wanted to wear Healies (Gym shoes with wheel in them) to WDW. I said no to MK, because too crowded, but thought Epcot would be okay. However, security said no, so we didn't....

But then saw lots of kids wheeling around in the park....

Opinions, Goldi

Congratulations on being one of the few parents who follow the No Healies rule! They are not supposed to be worn in the parks, but yet we see the kids with them all the time. If security were to enforce the rule, everyone would be better off. Parents who allow their children to wear them into the parks, knowing they are banned, are not setting a good example for their kids.

 

[shellytc]

DS 9 has heelies, and they do make the wearer walk funny. When he is not "cruising" he has to walk on his tip toes. We allow heelies in our court at home, and not too many other places. And definately not at Disney. When he isn't "cruising" it is uncomfortable and wrong for the foot to be used that way. I just wish other parents would use some common sense. It is difficult to explain that they aren't allowed, and then see all these kids breaking the rules.

Parents just say NO to heelies.

Shelly

 

[Donna]

It'll probably come down to everyone showing their "heels" at the turnstiles to prove they're not wearing them (kids). I don't see any other way of enforcing it. Just one more thing to delay entry to the parks!! grrrrr!!!

 

[PatsMom]

We too saw lots of heelies and little enforcement by CM's. Just don't understand parents who let their kids use those things in a crowd. Dangerous for all concerned.