HEELIES (those darn sneaker skates

[Tink's Pixieduster]

..Don't quote me, but I read somewhere? where heelies were now banned at all Disney parks..

If you look back at post #7 on this thread, I cut-and-pasted a direct quote from the WDW website and provide a link to the page.

 

[KidGoofy]

My uncle and I make $1 bets if we see a kid using them saying he will knock into somebody or fall on their face. I think it is funny because they don't know how to use them. My friends brother has those and he would do splits somehow with them.

 

[lovemydisney]

If you look back at post #7 on this thread, I cut-and-pasted a direct quote from the WDW website and provide a link to the page.

I apologize as I jumped the gun and started from the last page and failed to see your post...I only read the last few and I should have read all the posts, starting at the beginning.

 

[Tink's Pixieduster]

I apologize as I jumped the gun and started from the last page and failed to see your post...I only read the last few and I should have read all the posts, starting at the beginning.

That's OK - many people don't go back and read all the posts, so this was an opportunity to give that reminder to all.

And to the DIS Boards!

 

[lovemydisney]

...Thank you...

 

[Hope73]

If a child has them it is fine. I on the other hand don't allow my kids to have them. I think it is bad for walking in and when they coast it looks like it would give them shin splints.

We saw them all over the parks in sep but maybe they are banned now.

 

[themudd4]

Ok, just as another posted stated they are on both sides of the fence. Well I sort of am. OK here is my thing. I know some say they are bad for kids, dangerous, hard on their feet etc. I spoke to my child's doctor about them and he said they are no more dangerous than any other roller skate or in line skates. The problem is that the kids feel a false since of security knowing that they can just stop and walk. The problems with the feet are the same as any other unsupported heavy shoe such as cowboy boots, or heavy dress shoes.
OK...now for the part about the kids in them...I am not of fan of Heeley's. I think they cost way to much for what they are. That being said I was still a sucker and bought a pair for my child. My DS LOVES them. So far we have only had him get hurt in them the first day he got them...just learning, and it was just a little scratch. I was not worried about that. My son knows I will pull the wheels out of those shoes in a minutes notice if he doesn't follow the guidelines. So my problem isn't with the shoes at all really...it is the parent's that let their kids run around in them without any care in the world for anyone else. My DS7 is only allowed to wear them with we are with him (unless the wheels are out). I do allow him to wear them in the grocery or walmart where-ever, but if anyone comes down the aisle we are in he must stop and walk...no exception.
I have no problem with WDW not allowing them, although my DS was disappointed, but nothing he wont get over.

 

[CleveRocks]

Ok, just as another posted stated they are on both sides of the fence. Well I sort of am. OK here is my thing. I know some say they are bad for kids, dangerous, hard on their feet etc. I spoke to my child's doctor about them and he said they are no more dangerous than any other roller skate or in line skates. The problem is that the kids feel a false since of security knowing that they can just stop and walk.

I'll give you my perspective on them ....

My wife is a pediatrician. Unfortunately, Heelys pay for a large portion of our Disney trips, if you know what I mean.

 

[bavaria]

Earlier this week a child wearing heelies broke their elbow in the lobby of the hotel where I am staying

Sadly more money for Cleverocks' wife or another pediatrician's WDW fund

 

[themudd4]

I'll give you my perspective on them ....

My wife is a pediatrician. Unfortunately, Heelys pay for a large portion of our Disney trips, if you know what I mean.

Yes, I know...you and I have spoke about this before. That is why I spoke to my child's peditrician myself. I wanted his take on it.

 

[MOQu]

When we were at Disney over President's Week, I saw kids on Heely's every day. Each time my DD15 commented very loudly how Heely's were not allowed in the parks. People looked at her like she was nuts!

There is no signage anywhere (at least not that I saw) about what is and isn't allowed in the parks. Most people need to be hit over the head with rules before they will follow them.

If they really are against Florida law, then Disney Security should be confiscating them. Rules that are not enforced aren't really rules, are they?

If I did what I wanted to do and triped-up a few of those brats weaving in and out of crowds on their wheels, you can be sure some parent would want me punished!

 

[MiaSRN62]

MOQu says : If they really are against Florida law, then Disney Security should be confiscating them. Rules that are not enforced aren't really rules, are they?

I think this is a bit harsh ? Especially for those who are not aware it's a disney park policy. Like u said....there are not signs anywhere. And, no.....I don't think everyone needs to be "hit over the head" with rules before they follow them. We honestly did not know about this policy and as soon as we did become aware, we stopped. (and my dd never ran into anyone....she only did it in wide open spaces until we found out about the rule). But to confisicate the Heeleys ? I think there are probably alot of people who are simply not aware of the Heeley policy. It should be posted at the entrance to the parks if it is that big of a problem.
But please....if disney is going to start taking away little kids and older kids shoes (great PR that would be), then they better start confisicating people's cigarettes who smoke in non-designated places & blow smoke and ashes in peoples' faces..... people with strollers who will run right over your toes or in the back of your heels with them like they own the place (and add some people in the electric wheelchairs as well).
No, I don't think anyone should have anything confisicated except whatever doesn't pass the security check at the front gates. Just make the policies a little more visible.

 

[disneyfanz04]

I don't think the wheels should be taken away either, but they should be asked to remove them at the front gate, or in the park if a CM sees them. Like I said before I HATE them , but my DD11 LOVES them, but I enforce the rules of no heelying in the stores or crowded areas and of course she gets mad cause the stores have the best floor to heely on...she says it's smooth, but she gets over it!!! And if she ever hurt someone then they would be gone forever!!!

 

[MyManGoofy!]

Why are there no signs posted? Because if you post a sign for one thing - you would have to post one for everything. Can you imagine how big that sign would end up being to cover everything someone needs a sign to tell them not to do?

They are not confiscating the shoes or the wheels. CM's are asking for the wheels to either be removed or popped into the heel. (Whichever works.) This is why you will still see kids zooming around the parks in them, because there are quite a few parents that will comply only until out of sight. Not to mention the other group of parents that throw verbal (sometimes physical) hissie fits at CMs for even asking, so you do have a number of CMs that don't even bother any more for fear of confrontation.

Please complain to Guest Relations or managers when you see these Heelys - not just to CMs. The enforcement of this can only come from the top and Disney never sees any problems until they get enough complaints about them. And although they do know about this site - they do not comb through the threads to see how they can change/improve things. You have to tell them. A lot.

 

[maxiesmom]

Why should Disney have to post a sign for something that common sense would tell you is not a good idea? Skating around without protective gear, in a place full of people, not usually a good idea. And there is the little thing that is against FLORIDA LAW for them to be worn at the theme parks. Even if Disney did have a gigantic sign with every single rule on it, most people would not want to waste precious park time reading it. Disney does have on their park maps that there are designated smoking areas. And look at how many people still don't bother to use them.

Don't blame Disney. Blame the parents who let their children skate around like they are the only ones in the park.

 

[msgrimm23]

ok i was just down there and the amount of children with the heelies was rediculous. kids swerving in and out of people. it was very crowded and a few times i had to get out of the way of them. and i had knee surgry and an iv in my arm and had to deal with getting out of there way.

 

[themudd4]

We were there last week, and honestly was only bothered by Heelies 1 time. Don't get me wrong...they were everywhere, but this was more of an issue of this kid just running (rolling) wild in them. We did see security at the bag check tell a family they needed to remove the wheel out of the Heelies before entering the parks. The family tried to say they didn;t have the tool to do it. I thought it was almost funny when the family behind them handed them their tool to use. But FYI, my son has heelies, and I take his wheels in and out without that tool all the time. (My son was not allowed to take his on the trip with us...and he let me know it each and every time we seen a pair on someone else).

 

[Tinkerboy00]

I don't think the wheels should be taken away either, but they should be asked to remove them at the front gate, or in the park if a CM sees them. Like I said before I HATE them , but my DD11 LOVES them, but I enforce the rules of no heelying in the stores or crowded areas and of course she gets mad cause the stores have the best floor to heely on...she says it's smooth, but she gets over it!!! And if she ever hurt someone then they would be gone forever!!!

You sound like a great parent.

I hate them, but really I feel its up to the parents to keep the kids in check while wearing them. Certain places etc. they dont bother me. But in a crowded park that its often hard to walk through sometimes, I feel, they don't belong.

I think confiscating them is a bit harsh though.

I thought I heard/read somewhere that they were fining people???

 

[jennifer03878]

I HATE these things!!! I cannot begin to tell you how many kids wore them this past week. They all had no regard for anyone else (at least the ones that I saw).. All they cared about was flying by people on them. If WDW was smart they would ban them before someone gets hurt. I had several of these kids push past myself and DS9 just to get the best "roll" . So many times I wanted to stick my foot out to trip them but restrained myself. DS9 begged and begged me to let him get a pair to wear but I refused.

 

[jimenyfan]

Disney may not aloow heelys in the park but they are still there. We just came back on 4/4 and there were still a bunch of kids using them at the parks.