Those dang kids with those Heelez!!!

[MagliteL13]

In response to those who commented on my post a few pages back, yes we may be the exception but would you know that if you saw us in the park or would you automatically assume we were like all the other parents of kids in heeleys letting her run wild? Since she doesn't wear a sign and looks perfectly healthy everyone makes the assumption, just as they did when she was in the stroller, that we are bad parents and she is lazy (I believe someone posted that "they don't even have to walk anymore"). Rude kids come from rude parents as stated but the comments made by other adults about us within hearing range are teaching rudeness to their children just in a different way. I'm not condoning the use of these shoes, but, just as I asked people to be tolerant of us in the stroller when we were allowed to use wheelchair entrances and they were not, I ask that people be tolerant of these shoes. Even after explaining the situation to a CM at MK we were told we could not use the shoes. So do I put her back in the stroller and listen to the rude remarks made by other parents, rent a wheel chair and embarass her, or let her walk and hope for the best?

It's not your situation, it's the shoes themselves. In the parks they present a saftey hazard for the wearer and bystanders. If they didn't, it wouldn't be an issue. Saftey always comes first. Period.

 

[Woody13]

It's not your situation, it's the shoes themselves. In the parks they present a saftey hazard for the wearer and bystanders. If they didn't, it wouldn't be an issue. Saftey always comes first. Period.

Not true. They have not yet banned smoking at WDW! :wave:

 

[autumndawn1006]

Just wait till "rocket shoes" become available. :lol:

Forget the skates, I'll take some of these!

 

[MagliteL13]

Not true. They have not yet banned smoking at WDW! :wave:

"If you continue to smoke in the area you are in, I will assume you are on fire and proceed to take the necessary action. One moment while I go fill a bucket with Jungle water." (Not said by me, but another Jungle Skipper)

 

[bhg469]

LOL@ "jungle water"

 

[Nemo14]

LOL@ "jungle water"

Which side of the waterfall does that come from?

 

[NadieMasK2]

We recently returned from DL where we witnessed a CM grab a kid by the arm and tell him and his parents that those skates were not allowed in the park, they could hurt someone, and he can't use them again. He appeared rather threatening to the kid. I was shocked! I had never seen that happen at WDW. Then again, we saw some other things from CM's out there that we had never seen before, either.

 

[shoppingnut]

We recently returned from DL where we witnessed a CM grab a kid by the arm and tell him and his parents that those skates were not allowed in the park, they could hurt someone, and he can't use them again. He appeared rather threatening to the kid. I was shocked! I had never seen that happen at WDW. Then again, we saw some other things from CM's out there that we had never seen before, either.

DL is a very different park in which most of their guests are locals, not tourists like WDW. Parents will just drop their kids off at DL for the day and pick them up later, so they have more problems with roaming teens, etc than WDW. DL has probably had to get tough on lots of issues there that they don't have at WDW. It's too bad they don't get tough in WDW too, it would make the park experience much better for other guests. Unfortunately, that is what kids and parents need today, to have fear put into them. You might see it as threatening, but it could also be said that the CM was asserting authority which is certainly something I like the CM's at WDW to do.

 

[shoppingnut]

Not true. They have not yet banned smoking at WDW! :wave:

Well just think of all the places it has been banned from WDW. Over 90% of the rooms, all restaurants, inside all lobby and other areas of all hotels. Smoking in the parks is dangerous and a safety issue, because the cigarettes are held at a level where they could burn a child's face.

 

[PlaneJane]

if a kid bumps into me with those things on i might have to accidentally Clothesline him

 

[NadieMasK2]

DL is a very different park in which most of their guests are locals, not tourists like WDW. Parents will just drop their kids off at DL for the day and pick them up later, so they have more problems with roaming teens, etc than WDW. DL has probably had to get tough on lots of issues there that they don't have at WDW. It's too bad they don't get tough in WDW too, it would make the park experience much better for other guests. Unfortunately, that is what kids and parents need today, to have fear put into them. You might see it as threatening, but it could also be said that the CM was asserting authority which is certainly something I like the CM's at WDW to do.

This kid was with 2 adults, assuming his parental units.

I was not bothered by this, I actually thought it was good. I was just really surprised! It did seem that the CM could have approached the kid in a more friendly way though, you know maybe jokingly or something. He was rather gruff. Plus there were 2 other incidents that happened in queues where no one was in danger and it was no big deal at all, but the teens who were being approached were treated poorly imo. I can see your point about the locals, though.

 

[shoppingnut]

This kid was with 2 adults, assuming his parental units.

I was not bothered by this, I actually thought it was good. I was just really surprised! It did seem that the CM could have approached the kid in a more friendly way though, you know maybe jokingly or something. He was rather gruff. Plus there were 2 other incidents that happened in queues where no one was in danger and it was no big deal at all, but the teens who were being approached were treated poorly imo. I can see your point about the locals, though.

Well there are parents that don't have too much more sense than their kids. And, with most kids and parents today friendly does not work, so they've had to get tough with them across the board. DL has had to make a stand against their behaviour issues regardless if it is dangerous or not, so that your park experience is magical. Just remember what might be no big deal to you, might not be to the person standing in front of them.

 

[Chape19714]

Shoppingnut is right, DL is a far different park and has a different audience. This is nothing new, ever Imagineer Tony Baxter has told of when he went to DL with his friends on bikes. DL has always and needs to have higher safety concerns, because although you must be over 11 to enter alone, if something were to happen to them, a lawsuit would be likely.

Quick Story: When I was at DL some kids were in the back row looking backwards during the entire ride. The ride operator came on the speakers on the 2ne lift and said "please turn around and face foward....that's right you guys in the back...turn around....thank you" He was definately still watching as the announcement was made. At the end of the ride there were 3 managers waiting at unload and escorted the kids somewhere else. Rules are made for safety and nothing else.

About the heelez, I was at test track and the CM found some kids wheeling down the unload and took them aside and told them to take the wheels out of the shoes. She was 100% right in doing so, as there are no gates to block them from accidently wheeling right onto the track or into another car if they tripped or were pushed.

In my opinion, if you are cought, the wheels should be taken away and sent to package pickup. NOBODY should be exempt from the rules. Just like the kids on Thunder Mountian, there is a reason of everything, and although you may not understand it, it's there for your safety and choosing to disreguard the rules is putting yourself at risk. Unfortunately, many kids and people don't understand this, but they are the 1st to complain when the magic is "runied" by thier own decision to disreguard the set rules and partake in unacceptable/dangerous behavior.

 

[newfanatic]

NOBODY should be exempt from the rules

Enough said.

 

[robynchic]

The wheels are not removed, from what I understand. They are clicked from a locked "out" position to an "in" position. To remove these wheels and have the child walk around without them would cause another safety hazard, as well as a violation of dress code- the child would not be wearing shoes.

 

[outoffashion]

I work with kids, and some of them have Heelys, and the wheels can be removed with a special flat tool (nothing dangerous), and the shoes become just regular sneakers.

 

[Videoteck]

lol This topic was alittle old lol. Anyways I dont think they are as popular as they were a few months ago so maybe the popularity of them will stop the amount of kids using them.

 

[Senderella]

lol This topic was alittle old lol. Anyways I dont think they are as popular as they were a few months ago so maybe the popularity of them will stop the amount of kids using them.

I thought the trend had already died out. My niece had a pair several years ago. I don't remember seeing any "sailing kids" on our trip last May. I saw a TON this past Feb. It seemed to have made a come back or something.

 

[Kronos]

The wheels are not removed, from what I understand. They are clicked from a locked "out" position to an "in" position. To remove these wheels and have the child walk around without them would cause another safety hazard, as well as a violation of dress code- the child would not be wearing shoes.

Ok... //CM rant mode on.

The wheels (at least on "Heely" products) do not have a "locked" or "released" position. They are fixed in position. The wheels can be removed by hand and without any special tools by applying pressure to the side of the wheel. Once removed, a plug is then inserted into the hole. A special tool is required to remove the plug.

They are not permitted in the park (come ON, folks. Use your common sense here. We don't allow RUNNING in the parks; why on earth would we allow roller skates, inline skates, or wheeled shoes?).

CMs are encouraged to remind guests of this when we see them, but we rarely do because, after all, our "prime directive" is to make the guests' visit the most magical one possible. Consequently, many CMs turn a blind eye to bad behaviour.

Wearing Heelys? Have a magical day.

Smoking outside a designated smoking area? Have a magical day.

Shirtless and barefoot? Have a magical day.

Wearing a bikini top so small it is nothing more than two pasties and dental floss? Have a magical day.

60" tall 15 year old kid in a rented stroller? Have a magical day.

Dad on an ECV with his toddler in his lap? Have a magical day.

Climbing on rocks past a fenced-in area? Have a magical day.

Me, I think that a trip to First Aid or Celebration Hospital ruins a visit to WDW... so I speak up and gently remind the guest that yes, Heelys are prohibited in the parks, and they need to remove the wheels.

Now, please.

While I watch.

And here's how you do it.

So, I've been called a jerk, a vacation-ruiner, insensitive, a "macho grande", a nazi, and been threatened with a lawsuit (this one from a woman who was upset because her Heely-wearing son is HANDICAPPED and an exception should be made! - nevermind the fact that I can't think of a single physical imparement that would be HELPED by Heelys - and no, I didn't say that, just that if he was mobility-impared, then we had wheelchairs and ECVs available for rent - but I could not allow or justify Heelys).

//CM rant mode off.

 

[SpenceMan01]

I posted this over in the other thread that popped up today, and I just wanted to get it here too.

Heelys are dangerous. I'm going to preface my post with a warning: I am telling my story about how I was injured by Heelys, and it's not pretty. Those with a weak stomach or those that would rather not hear it, please skip the next paragraph. I've tried to make it blend in a little bit. For those that want to read it, highlight it.

**
I bought a pair back when they were first introduced. 2 days later, standing still on smooth flat pavement (not even rolling), I lost my balance, my toes came up, and I was just on the wheels. My legs flew out from beneath me, but in trying to stay upright, my left toes stayed in contact with the ground. When my legs flew up, my foot rotated around my toes on the ground. I landed on my back and looked down to see my foot hanging down backwards. In the end, I ended up with a broken and dislocated ankle (both on the same ankle), ended up having to have surgury to fix ligaments, remove bone chips and insert 2 pins and a screw. I was in a cast and on crutches for 5 weeks and in a walking boot for another month. It sucked.
**

Heelys are dangerous. I know mine was probably a freak accident, but I know lots of others happen with those shoes. I just want to warn parents about them. There's no way I'd ever let my kids get a pair. I'm really glad that Disney is cracking down on these things.. hopefully we'll see more enforcement in the parks.