Heelys - Should I let the kids use them

[Dina]

I've seen kids with them on at Disney. Those things always freak me out-- you see a kid walking, and then all of a sudden he starts rolling. It always takes me a second. They look fun!! I want a pair.

 

[Laurajean1014]

I almost got mowed down by some kid on them the other day in the mall. I decided that if the kid whizzed by me one more time, I was going to get in his way so that he'd have to take a fall!

Wow, that's not nice.

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

Normally, I would never wish any harm to come to a child, but every time I see a child on Heely's, I want to throw a stick on the ground in front of them, just to teach them the lesson that their parents have apparently not, that they are dangerous to the wearer and others.

WOW! How grown up of you! Let's knock a kid down because we don't like his shoes. MY DS has Heelys and has never run into anyone or had a accident in them however I do NOT allow him to use them ( he pops the wheel out) in theme parks, grocery stores and anywhere else it may be crowded. I find it absolutely offensive that you want to make the kids wearing Heelys fall just to "Show How dangerous they are" That is mature

 

[kaw1218]

Should I let my DS(10) and DD(7) use Heelys at the Parks?

I haven't read this whole thread....but I hope no one lets their children use these.....first off, they are dangerous(can fall very easily)
second my DD7 has gotten hit 4 times by kids wearing those(twice at the mall, once in the food store and once at Sesame Place).....most kids I see wearing them have no respect for others around them....they are in too much of a hurry....(and before I get flamed...I already told BOTH of my kids that they will NEVER have them-that got me a very uncool mom status)

They really are not necessary in a place where there are thousands of people
who really are just not fast enough to get out of their way(like us )

 

[Schmeck]

I don't think they are allowed at the resorts either - I remember seeing signs posted that skateboards and roller skates were not allowed on resort paths.

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

I almost got mowed down by some kid on them the other day in the mall. I decided that if the kid whizzed by me one more time, I was going to get in his way so that he'd have to take a fall!

That is the mature way to handle it

 

[plutolovr]

However, you can use them in DTD, the airport and many other places (especially malls). They can wear them at WDW but they cannot wheel (or take out the wheel). That's what my son did in April.

No, you cannot use them at DTD. My daughter is a CM at DTD and she stops kids all the time there. She makes them take out the wheels.

As far as hurting a child wearing them, if they are coming at you, out of control you have to brace yourself or you're gonna get hurt. This may result in the child falling, but what else are you to do.

 

[gigi1313]

How about "cause I said so"

that works sometimes when i need it to... but i know if i wanna know "why" so will he and imo he's entitled to an explanation since it directly effects him... and "'cause people on the disboards said so" isn't good enough for me, it won't be good enough for him!

 

[torinsmom]

Well, if roller skates are not allowed, then Heelys are not allowed either. Its just silly to think because it doesn't SAY HEELYS exactly, then its okay.There are lots of knock-offs of these skate shoes and it would be silly to keep updating the sign with every name. Roller skates are shoes with wheels on the bottom and they belong on an uncrowded residential street or at a skating rink, NOT in a public place. I see nothing wrong with Heelys when used appropriately, but I think it is hard for a child or teen to really "get" it when they can pop the wheels out so easily. They need a little adult guidance here, and that is the parents' job.

Marsha

 

[gigi1313]

have any of you that are anti-heely actually ever tried a pair on? i have! unless you want to roll, you don't have to...

to the posters that say "every kid i've ever seen w/heeley's on is rude/reckless/etc" methinks that's only every kid wearing heeley's that doesn't know how to operate them... you could walk past my ds a dozen times and not know he's got his wheels in 'til he starts to roll, *if* he starts to roll... he walks absolutely normally in them unless he CHOOSES to roll...

 

[twinklebug]

Looking at both sides of the conversation here I'd have to say I see parents defending their kids and grown adults who may wish they could have had the opportunity to heely (ie; sour grapes). From what I see, most kids who have these shoes are good with them, it's the 1:15 (guesstimated) who give all heely-ers a bad rap.

Let's just meet in the middle... Disney says no rollerblades... hence no heelys. Kids and their parents choosing to ignore the park rules face the possibility of being removed from the park as well as posing a hazard to the well being of others. I would applaud the CMs for doing so.

My son does have heelys, and when he asked if he could being them to Disney, the kid inside me screamed "YES! How cool!" but less than a millisecond later the adult side of me spoke a resounding "No!" If he were to attempt to sneak them to Disney I promised him I will confiscate the shoes until a time when he has a son who's the right size to use them.

 

[kvogel11202]

There is a time and place for all things, and Disney is not the place for Heelys. Too many people in one spot. Honestly my kids don't have them because they dangerous. I have seen too many kids getting hit by cars, falling down stairs, ect to even go there. It is a parents responsability to monitor their children and if they are being reckless take them away. Unfortunately we are in a place and time where parents are reluctant to do this. Nothing more irritating to me than explaining to my kids why they have to follow the rules, then having someone elses kids break the rules .... Rules are in place for EVERYONES safety .... sorry, little rant going on there....say no to the Heelys .....

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

Looking at both sides of the conversation here I'd have to say I see parents defending their kids and grown adults who may wish they could have had the opportunity to heely (ie; sour grapes). From what I see, most kids who have these shoes are good with them, it's the 1:15 (guesstimated) who give all heely-ers a bad rap.

Let's just meet in the middle... Disney says no rollerblades... hence no heelys. Kids and their parents choosing to ignore the park rules face the possibility of being removed from the park as well as posing a hazard to the well being of others. I would applaud the CMs for doing so.

My son does have heelys, and when he asked if he could being them to Disney, the kid inside me screamed "YES! How cool!" but less than a millisecond later the adult side of me spoke a resounding "No!" If he were to attempt to sneak them to Disney I promised him I will confiscate the shoes until a time when he has a son who's the right size to use them.

Well said - Thank you

 

[Mariposa]

Having been hit by numerous kids and one very exuberant adult in Heely's at WDW, I'd just like to request that people follow Disney's rules and leave theirs at home? Thank you.

 

[RedsoxMickey]

There is a time and place for all things, and Disney is not the place for Heelys. Too many people in one spot. Honestly my kids don't have them because they dangerous. I have seen too many kids getting hit by cars, falling down stairs, ect to even go there. It is a parents responsability to monitor their children and if they are being reckless take them away. Unfortunately we are in a place and time where parents are reluctant to do this. Nothing more irritating to me than explaining to my kids why they have to follow the rules, then having someone elses kids break the rules .... Rules are in place for EVERYONES safety .... sorry, little rant going on there....say no to the Heelys .....

I usually do not get suckered into responding to rants but since I started this thread:

1. If I had any idea they are against the rules, I would not have posted the question. No I did not have a clue that no rollerskating signs are up(not that I would bring rollerskates).
2. I DO NOT believe my children are unsafe when using the Heelys. If I did, they would not be wearing them. If you are worried about the safty aspect, I happen to think you should say no to YOUR children, so I commend you.
3. I agree that IF your child is being reckless it is your responsibilty.

I feel bad for the parents that have no idea that these would be against the disney rules.
I do agree that like a lot of things with kids some kids get out of control and thus I am actually happy with the no Heely rule.

I wish they would make a rule that only adults are allowed to push their kids strollers.

 

[mking624]

RedsoxMickey,
I'm sure your kids are VERY safe on Heelys...but unfortunately one cannot predict how great & safe on Heelys a child will be when it comes to a sensory-overloaded theme park where thousands upon thousands of people pour through in a given day. Children don't have the reflexes like that of an adult. I know you're happy about the no Heely rule, I'm just commenting on your comments about the safety of them.

No one is bashing you for asking the question...I think by asking the question, it's made some people think a little bit about these things.

 

[torinsmom]

To me, you can compare it to driving a car. Some people will say they don't need to wear their seatbelts because they are safe drivers. That may be so, but you can't control other drivers, animals, etc. Plenty of "Good drivers" are killed every year.

Same with Heely's. You could be the best skater in the world, but you can't control which way thousands of people are going to move, or whether there will be a rock on the pavement, etc. I am sure plenty of great skaters are injured each year, not to mention people just walking along, minding their own business.It is just NOT safe to be on any type of skates at Disney, a mall, etc. Even if it WASN'T against the rules, it would be a bad idea.

I don't think anyone was bashing you for asking the question. Asking questions is how you find answers.

Marsha

 

[gigi1313]

Same with Heely's. You could be the best skater in the world, but you can't control which way thousands of people are going to move, or whether there will be a rock on the pavement, etc. I am sure plenty of great skaters are injured each year, not to mention people just walking along, minding their own business.It is just NOT safe to be on any type of skates at Disney, a mall, etc. Even if it WASN'T against the rules, it would be a bad idea.

Marsha, may i ask how familiar you are with Heelys? because they are NOT skates... there is only one wheel and it is in the back only and one can walk normally or CHOOSE to roll, at one's discretion... when wearing Heelys one is not a "skater" but rather wearing an athletic shoe w/the option of rolling at will... not willy-nilly rolling whether you want to or not... very different than a SKATE (or rollerblade)!

imo, as the mom of a Heely owner and as an adult who has tried them on, walked in them and rolled in them, Heelys are no more dangerous than any other athletic shoe if you are comfortable in them... i've tripped/stumbled more in my crocs when the front of my shoe catches on something and the rubber "sticks" than my ds in his Heelys...

this reminds me of the conversation re: kids who get toy swords at wdw and whack other people with them... no one ever comments about the hundreds of thousands of kids who carry them responsibly, but one whack w/a sword by a kid who is not being well supervised and well, wdw should stop selling toy swords...

 

[daisyduck123]

imo, as the mom of a Heely owner and as an adult who has tried them on, walked in them and rolled in them, Heelys are no more dangerous than any other athletic shoe if you are comfortable in them... i've tripped/stumbled more in my crocs when the front of my shoe catches on something and the rubber "sticks" than my ds in his Heelys...

If they are no more dangerous than any other athletic shoe than why have there been so many accidents in these? Try googling "heelys injury" & read there.

 

[crisi]

that works sometimes when i need it to... but i know if i wanna know "why" so will he and imo he's entitled to an explanation since it directly effects him... and "'cause people on the disboards said so" isn't good enough for me, it won't be good enough for him!

How about "a lot of people believe it is rude and unsafe." Sometimes, I just have to say "sorry, I don't agree with society on this, but you can't say "Jesus Christ on Crutches" in school and not expect to get into trouble. I don't know WHY you can't wear pajamas to school, but you can't, and no, there isn't a rule in the school handbook, you just CAN'T. Nor is it nice to call your teacher by her first name - once again, no rule in the school handbook, but she has requested being called Ms. Hanson and we respect that. I don't see any reason why you can't throw paper airplanes in the cafeteria (other than its disruptive, but it seems to me that the cafeteria is such a madhouse it can't be made worse by paper airplanes), but apparently you can't."

Disney has no way of telling if the person in Heelys is a safe Heely wearer or is five minutes away from crashing into a stroller and knocking over a six month old. I'm sure Tony Hawk could ride a skateboard through Disney and never knock somone over - doesn't mean most of us should be taking skateboards through Disney - or even that Tony Hawk should be allowed to.