Heelys - Should I let the kids use them

[sjms71]

where is this rule "written?" as ds has heely's... they are his only "sneaker/tennis shoe" type footwear and i have no problem letting him wear them to the parks (w/or w/out wheels)...

he has had various pair of them for two if not three summers and has never "lost control" "wiped out" "crashed into anyone or anything" etc... he can walk just fine in them (w/the wheels in) or roll depending on his preference... but has not experienced any of the above issues...

i struggle to consider them "roller skates" because they are walkable, even w/the wheels in whereas w/roller skates you *have* to skate...

anyway, i'd love to find this rule... for my own curiosity and to show ds when i say no 'cause he's the kind of kid that needs proof!

You took the words right out of my mouth. My DD has them and has never had an accident or crashed she has always been mindfull of others in public. I guess I could see where it could be a problem in a theme park. I'd like to see this rule too.

 

[BlindTyldak]

Heh, you know there's no listing of the park rules online? I know I've seen them, but I'm not sure how it's worded for Heely's . . . it was included under the "no skateboards in the parks" rule.

Edit: just asked the DH, he remembers the rule as well and believes it was posted at the entry to the parks. He says he also asked a CM about it and was told that unless they check the bottom of every pair of shoes as people enter, there's really not much they can do about it.

 

[snow_white22]

I am not a fan of heelys. I work at a childcare centre and one day these kids were flying around and all of a sudden this girl flipped backwards and hit her head on the floor. She almost passed out! Since then we have banned them. I just think they can be dangerous.

 

[crisi]

Disney doesn't need to write their rules - it is a private place and they can decide not to let you in if you are wearing purple, if they so desire.

On park maps the rule is in typical Disney fashion - general and worded such that you could argue (but argue too much and find yourself our on your Mickey ears): Courtsey: We work hard to offer a comfortable, sae, and enjoyable experience for all our Guests. Please assist us by showing common coutesy to fellow Park Guests. Please be respectful of others. Do not use profanity of engage in unsafe, illegal or offensive behavior. Proper attre, including shoes and shirts, must be worn at all times.

My guess is heelys are covered in not being proper attire and also unsafe.

 

[polyfan]

Then again, I personally don't consider wearing pants down at your(general) knees with your underwear to be seen is proper attire nor do I consider wearing a bathing suit top in the park proper, but that is just my opinion of what I consider appropriate. I suppose that is why is it is worded so general.

 

[Laurajean1014]

WDW does not allow them in the parks.

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.

My son has had a pair for 5 years and he loves them.

 

[sjms71]

Last poster was right. They are just trying to make a safe fun enviroment for everyone. I just get upset that a big deal is made to enforce some rules however, I sometimes don't see other rules enforced. My example is smoking in designated areas. My personal experience is I never see this enforced. I feel this is a safty issue and health concern. Cm's walk by nothing is said but don't dare park your stroller where it shouldn't be. I just wish all rules would be enforced equally. But if it was a perfect world I'd be at Disney now. Oh well one can dream. lol

 

[Dopey's twin Dippy]

i see them in our supermarket. kids romping with no parent supervision. i really dont think i would let my kids if they were younger wear them at disney.

 

[liltoot]

anyway, i'd love to find this rule... for my own curiosity and to show ds when i say no 'cause he's the kind of kid that needs proof!

How about "cause I said so"

 

[torinsmom]

I won't buy them for my son, because I am very strict that he wear a helmet when he rides a bike, skates, skateboard, etc. It only takes one fall to ruin a child's life forever, and I have seen it happen. It doesn't matter how careful the child is; noone can anticipate the moves of others around them, or if there will be a rock in the path that will send them flying.

I would say its a no-brainer that it wouldn't be a good decision to let them skate in the park, whether they are allowed or not.

Marsha

 

[Jennick]

We saw several kids wearing these at the parks when we were at WDW the week of July15th. I can see where they could be dangerous because I did notice the one child had a hard time balancing while using them. I didn't see any CM's say anything to them while we were there, but it's possible they did and we just didn't happen to see it. It's possible the family didn't realize these were not allowed in the parks though to. For example , I had noticed several women wearing a pair of shorts and their swimsuit tops in the different parks while we were there. So the day we went to AK I told my daughter to go ahead and wear her swimsuit top because it's so hot at that park, plus there is the Kali river rapid ride. (bad mom..I didn't realize this wasn't allowed), and mydaughter was embarassed when a CM came up to her and told her she wasn't allowed to have just her swim suit top on. Thankfully we had also packed a tank top, so she put that on. Believe me I never would have thought that wasn't allowed, she was well covered, not one of those string bikini type tops. I have seen tank tops with less coverage. Oops got off topic a bit, but I guess my point is that , it seems like some CM's are enforcing the rules and some are not.

 

[Feralpeg]

WDW does not allow them in the parks.

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.

My son has had a pair for 5 years and he loves them.

I have seen CMs stop children from skating on them at DTD. However, I see many that are not stopped. I almost find them more of a hazard at DTD than at the parks. DTD gets so very crowded!

A lot of it depends on the CMs. Many don't want confrontations with guests, so they turn the heads if they don't think a problem is being caused.

 

[torinsmom]

I imagine they have to enforce the no bathing suit top rule to keep the teenyboppers from wearing their little teeny bikini tops. You'd think they'd make a distinction though.

Marsha

 

[CleveRocks]

I directly e-mailed WDW Guest Relations with the question of whether or not Heelys are permitted in the parks. I'll post back when I get a response.

 

[SueM in MN]

He says he also asked a CM about it and was told that unless they check the bottom of every pair of shoes as people enter, there's really not much they can do about it.

CMs have posted that they are considered roller skates because they can roll.
I believe there is a sign at the park entrance that says no roller skates, skateboards...

 

[weeyore33]

My boys have heelys and they wear them occasionally, they have had them for over a year, when thy grow out of them they buy new ones with their own money. let me tell you, they are great on them, until they are not paying attention or if something catches their eye, or they think they can do "stunts", my yougest did a great stunt, he hit a crack in the sidewalk and had his hands in his pockets and landed face first on the pavement, his braces went directly thru his lip , we had to go to the ER to have his lip removed from the braces, i say leave the heelys at home, it only takes one second for them to be distracted long enough to trip, and there are no distractions at Disney, right?????

 

[mking624]

My boys have heelys and they wear them occasionally, they have had them for over a year, when thy grow out of them they buy new ones with their own money. let me tell you, they are great on them, until they are not paying attention or if something catches their eye, or they think they can do "stunts", my yougest did a great stunt, he hit a crack in the sidewalk and had his hands in his pockets and landed face first on the pavement, his braces went directly thru his lip , we had to go to the ER to have his lip removed from the braces, i say leave the heelys at home, it only takes one second for them to be distracted long enough to trip, and there are no distractions at Disney, right?????

This is exactly my thoughts on them. At home in normal surroundings, a kid might be a pro on them. But in the middle of a theme park which is not your typical surroundings and where there is a sensory overload, that "pro" is likely to become distracted at one point or another...which turns those lovely Heelys into something not as easy to maneuver any longer.

 

[MomOfDisneyBoys]

I'm sure there must be a few children that can be respectful of others while wearing heelys, but I have yet to see one. Every child (and I am not exaggerating) I have ever seen wearing them has been completely rude and careless toward everyone around them. Weaving in and out of walkways and the like.

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.

My son has asked for a pair at least once a week since they first hit stores, and every time, I tell him, when he is an adult, moved out of my house, with a job to pay for them, he can have whatever shoes he wants, until then, there will be NO HEELY'S!

 

[Samantha/NC]

Just got back and kids were rolling all over the parks. I thought it was way to crowded for that!!! I agree w/ most posters I don't think it is safe.

 

[Hanover]

I saw a boy in May wearing them at MK. He went flying down a slight hill and hit a seam in the pavement and landed face first on the concrete.

Our family rule is that our boys must wear helmets when they use anything with wheels. Our ds9 would love a pair of heely's but wouldn't want to wear his helmet everywhere so he's not getting a pair.