Heelys

[d1sneyf4n]

Hi there, do any of your kids have Heelys? My daughter wants them and she is 5. I never really thought to much about them but boy could we have used them this past week in Disney. She was slow as molasses. I am not so sure that you can wear them in Disney but I thought I would buy them for her for Christmas. Her one foot measures a 11 and the other 11.5. It says to order a size up.........anyone have any clue weather a 12 or a 13 would be better? Thanks in advance.

 

[okeydokey]

You won't be able to use them in Disney, they are against the rules. Not sure if a 5 year old can handle them well enough to wear them out in public at all, but if so I would always buy a size or 2 larger than they currently need.

 

[princessmom29]

Hi there, do any of your kids have Heelys? My daughter wants them and she is 5. I never really thought to much about them but boy could we have used them this past week in Disney. She was slow as molasses. I am not so sure that you can wear them in Disney but I thought I would buy them for her for Christmas. Her one foot measures a 11 and the other 11.5. It says to order a size up.........anyone have any clue weather a 12 or a 13 would be better? Thanks in advance.

I would definitely think twice before buying them for a 5 year old. They are ment to be used like roller skates, and my 5 year old can barely stay up on regular skates at the rink. They are just as dangerous as any other roller skates and should only be used outdoors or at a rink away from crowds and with the correct safety gear. Helmet and pads ect. My child has been knocked down in the mall more than once by older kids (8-10) on the things and I have seen kids fall and get injured using them. They are NOT intended for someplace like disney, the mall, the grocery store. They are a danger to others and to the child using them in these situations.

 

[Deb & Bill]

From WDW FAQs:

Q. Are there any personal items I should not bring with me into the Theme Parks?

A. Items that you may not bring into the Theme Parks include, but are not limited to:

Items with wheels, such as wagons, skateboards, scooters, inline skates, shoes with built-in wheels, two-wheeled or three-wheeled conveyances, strollers larger than 36" x 52", suitcases, coolers, or backpacks with or without wheels larger than 24" long x 15" wide x 18" high (coolers required for medication may be stored in a locker or at Guest Relations), and any trailer-like object that is pushed or towed by an ECV wheelchair or stroller
Alcoholic beverages
Weapons of any kind
Folding chairs

 

[d1sneyf4n]

OK well thanks for all the input...............I will be thinking twice now about the Heelys

 

[tanyaandallie]

Heely's.......the most annoying pair of shoes every made. My dd is 5.5 and there is absolutley no way I would buy them for her. They are just downright dangerous. Dangerous to the child and dangerous to the folks in the child's way. Of course, this is coming from someone who just does not like them in general. IMO a child should not be roller skating in Target, in the mall, in school or inside their home. If you take away all these places that they really should not be roller skating, where else can they be used? Of course, I see kids using them Target all the time. UGH.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Heely's.......the most annoying pair of shoes every made. My dd is 5.5 and there is absolutley no way I would buy them for her. They are just downright dangerous. Dangerous to the child and dangerous to the folks in the child's way. Of course, this is coming from someone who just does not like them in general. IMO a child should not be roller skating in Target, in the mall, in school or inside their home. If you take away all these places that they really should not be roller skating, where else can they be used? Of course, I see kids using them Target all the time. UGH.

Ditto.

 

[mmmagic7754]

 

[pooh4evr]

SIL bought our 2 older girls each a pair last Christmas- (mind you they were 4 and 6 at the time!) she doesn't think things through very well- I think we tried them once or twice, they fell and wouldn't wear them again- and there is NO where here they are allowed - we have signs posted at the malls, stores etc. waste of $$ -

 

[bushdianee]

I hate those shoes. I have had students wear them to school. For one thing even if the wheels are retracted the kids still have to walk on their toes. That cannot be good for a growing spine. Also kids can't run in them. IMO they are an accident waiting to happen. There are plenty of signs banning them but parents let their kids skate all over, which teaches them that they don't have to follow rules.

 

[russianzio]

I hate those shoes. I have had students wear them to school. For one thing even if the wheels are retracted the kids still have to walk on their toes. That cannot be good for a growing spine. Also kids can't run in them. IMO they are an accident waiting to happen. There are plenty of signs banning them but parents let their kids skate all over, which teaches them that they don't have to follow rules.

They just love those shoes, give them a choice. Its also fun when they walk on their toes. You, teachers are too strict!

 

[barnaby1]

Heely's.......the most annoying pair of shoes every made. My dd is 5.5 and there is absolutley no way I would buy them for her. They are just downright dangerous. Dangerous to the child and dangerous to the folks in the child's way. Of course, this is coming from someone who just does not like them in general. IMO a child should not be roller skating in Target, in the mall, in school or inside their home. If you take away all these places that they really should not be roller skating, where else can they be used? Of course, I see kids using them Target all the time. UGH.

I agree, can't bear these silly shoes. I think they must be quite bad for the childrens backs as well as only their heel is raised.

 

[RN01]

My 11 year old daughter got them last year for Christmas. Last March she fell with them and broke her arm. I still let her wear them though because I figure it's the same as roller blading. And before I get flamed, if your kid had a wreck on their bike and broke their arm, surely you wouldn't take the bike away forever. I wouldn't get them for a 5 year old though. Wait a few years.

 

[melancholywings]

I think the greatest problem with them is people think of them as shoes and not rollarblades/skates and they don't put their kids in helmets or pads, and allow them to be worn in places you wouldn't rollarblade. The 'shoe' gives a false sense of security.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I wouldn't get them. You can't use them hardly anywhere. Most malls, and stores have signs saying no shoes with wheels. Even our roller Skating rink won't let you use those.

I didn't know that when I broke down and got DS a pair when he was 10, he kept falling and finally took the wheels out himself and said they weren't fun.

 

[*Seanaci*]

My 11 year old daughter got them last year for Christmas. Last March she fell with them and broke her arm. I still let her wear them though because I figure it's the same as roller blading. And before I get flamed, if your kid had a wreck on their bike and broke their arm, surely you wouldn't take the bike away forever. I wouldn't get them for a 5 year old though. Wait a few years.

A bike is totally different than these stupid shoes in my opinion. Do you require your daughter to wear the appropriate safety equipment when she wears her Heely's? I know that when my son is old enough to ride a bike or wants roller blades, he'll be required to wear the appropriate safety equipment whether he likes it or not.

I think the greatest problem with them is people think of them as shoes and not rollarblades/skates and they don't put their kids in helmets or pads, and allow them to be worn in places you wouldn't rollarblade. The 'shoe' gives a false sense of security.

Ditto this.

 

[Debbie7452]

I have also heard that the un-natural foot position these shoes force the kids to use while skating or even walking is really bad for their feet. I saw an article by a Podiatrist lamenting how awful they were damaging kids feet long term.

Of course, I am a firm Heely hater!

 

[Mickeyherewecome123]

My 5 year old twin boys have had them for over year and they love them. My DH bought them without me knowing, and I was a little ticked that he did that. First of all the smallest size he could get was a size 1 and our boys were in a size 12 at the time, so the Heelys were very very big for them. My second thought was what they heck are you buying 4 year olds Heelys its just an accident waiting to happen.
Well I was totally wrong, they both put them on and just starting rolling around the house in them. They practiced and practiced for a couple ofweeks in the house and they have been rolling around ever since. Its amazing to me how coordinated they are. I shouldn't have been surprised, cuz they have been riding two wheeler bikes since they were 3 1/2.
They have had a few falls, nothing major. But one time my one son had them on in our local grocery store and he took a really hard fall on his butt. But he got right back up and starting wheeling again.

 

[pls5286]

My 5 year old twin boys have had them for over year and they love them. My DH bought them without me knowing, and I was a little ticked that he did that. First of all the smallest size he could get was a size 1 and our boys were in a size 12 at the time, so the Heelys were very very big for them. My second thought was what they heck are you buying 4 year olds Heelys its just an accident waiting to happen.
Well I was totally wrong, they both put them on and just starting rolling around the house in them. They practiced and practiced for a couple ofweeks in the house and they have been rolling around ever since. Its amazing to me how coordinated they are. I shouldn't have been surprised, cuz they have been riding two wheeler bikes since they were 3 1/2.
They have had a few falls, nothing major. But one time my one son had them on in our local grocery store and he took a really hard fall on his butt. But he got right back up and starting wheeling again.

It was a child like yours wheeling around in the groc store that slammed into my DS and caused him to fall and break his arm!!! These shoes are not for the groc store or any store for that matter. They should be outlawed!!

 

[design_mom]

It was a child like yours wheeling around in the groc store that slammed into my DS and caused him to fall and break his arm!!! These shoes are not for the groc store or any store for that matter. They should be outlawed!!

I'm so sorry this happened to you. I saw a young boy on Heeleys run into an old man in the mall and they both went down. I am not sure how serious the injuries were, but they took the old man out in an ambulance.

I think that Heely's are fine for the driveway and the sidewalk (with proper protective equipment), but they are not appropriate for stores or other crowded areas. I'm glad Disney has a policy against them, but I wish they'd enforce it more uniformly. (We saw quite a few Heeleys while we were there last December.) If you wouldn't ride rollerblades someplace, you shouldn't ride Heeleys either.

My DS (8yo) wanted them several years ago, but when we started looking at all the places that have "No Heeleys allowed" signs posted, he decided he didn't want them anymore.