PLEASE, don't let your kids wear those things at the Parks!!

With any luck, there will be an official policy put into place forbidding them, but still...why should anyone even have to be told that they're inappropriate, not to mention dangerous.

Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.


-Allegra-

Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.
-Allegra-

I'm sure that the parents who would think it's okay to wear heelies to the park, will know second think it.
But then again, I don't think they think too much to begin with.

I am hoping they disappear sometime in the next few years before my kid is old enough to ask for them.

All two-wheeled vehicles are forbidden (for guests) within Disney theme parks - which is what these would be.

We saw a couple of kids with these on while at WDW. They did not bother me. THe only way a CM can find them is if they see them "wheeling" it around. Otherwise...the way they fold into the shoe...you would never notice them while they are going through the main gate.

I
HATE
those
things.

My sons will NOT own them.

I have been bumped into by so many kids wheeling on them. In restaurants with trays no less. I readily admit that my son would be very likely to not pay attention to what he was doing and would run into someone. Not because he's a "bad" kid but because that's what kids do. They're self-absorbed. It's their jobs or something.

So I'm just not going to give him the opportunity to be obnoxious like that.

BLECH.
Adrienne

Oh yes, I have no intention of buying those for my kid...he will not own them.

My very soon to be 9 year old has asked for them more times than I can tell you. A few of his friends have them. My hubby and I agree he does not need them. I honestly think they are sort of tacky, cheesy, and very much a fad that will hopefully die out soon!

It is so funny you guys are talking about this subject. I was going to the grocery store the other day and I was waiting in an isle, NOT MOVING, for a car to leave their spot when this mother with two teenage boys comes out of the store pulling them by their shirts while they are wheeling on those skate shoes. She lets one go and goes to open her car when her son who obviously wasn't paying attention starts wheeling right into the front of my car. Luckily he stopped before he was into me but either way, if you're going to wear these things I think they should have some laws for them, similar to ohh I don't know ROLLAR BLADES!! But anyway, after the kid stops the mother shoots me this dirty look like I was going to hit her kid!

I have no problem with them using the skate shoes as long as its in a place that is appropriate for that sort of thing. If I hadn't been paying attention and I wasn't waiting who knows what might have happened.

Just my 2 cents...:P

Funny thing is, only place I have seen these "shoes" specifically banned............the local roller rink :D

With any luck, there will be an official policy put into place forbidding them, but still...why should anyone even have to be told that they're inappropriate, not to mention dangerous.

They apparently do have a policy, but I don't know how widely known or enforced it is. I have seen CMs tell kids to not use the wheels and just walk. A friend of a friend bought these for her older son and they were at DL and were told he could not use the wheels, and the mom got pretty mad, I'm told. I totally agree that they should not be allowed, the same way roller skates and skateboards aren't allowed because they pose a danger.

Not only are the dangerous but I imagine they really wreak havoc on the pavement and sidewalks.

I cant wait for the fad to die out.

Where is the apropriate place to wear these? Not at school, malls, amusement parks or any other place where there are large groups of people. Seems like the sidewalks of your own neighborhood would be about the only place, and why not wear rollerblades there?

I definately think DL is a place that those shoes would be dangerous. It can be hard enough to push a stroller in that place sometimes much less to be worried about a child on his own set of wheels.

I have had to deal with Heely's for a while since my husband owns a pair. (I actually bought him his first pair a few years back since he requested them for chritmas) I am constantly worried he will slam into people or lose control. (he loves wearing them to Costco since they have cement floors allowing him to coast down the aisles) He even has a pair of Soaps. (these shoes have a plastic section in the middle of sole that enable the wearer to slide on things i.e. curbs, rails etc.) I am constantly telling him he is goning to get hurt but he is an old skateboarder and this is a way of him reliving his youth I guess. I am still wondering whether our son, who is only four, will want a pair. He is not interested in the shoes yet but I know his dad would probably buy them for him if he did want them and then I will have TWO kids to worry about.

Even though he loves the shoes, I know he wouldn't wear them to DL since they are not what he calls "a comfortable long distance shoe."

Where is the apropriate place to wear these?

I think the original intention was for kids like me (when I was younger) who like to walk to the nearest 7-11 or Circle K but liked to skate. Skate there, then hide the wheels once inside the store and walk around, then skate home.

They were a passing fad for my son when he was in high school. He's now 19, and it's been years since I've seen him wearing them.

I know a girl who was trying on a pair of these at a store, and then promptly fell down at the store and broke her arm. Needless to say, the shoes were not purchased.

Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't like them. :p

(The "anticipated cooperation" part of that was a joke...I know I'm not the boss of everybody, despite my wishes to the contrary.)


-Allegra-

I find the half-leather heels on my Florsheims to be rather irritating. Especially when a nail comes to the surface, and I'm trying to walk on a polished stone floor (as at Westminster Mall). I've had to "set" those d---ed nails twice so far, and one of these days I'll get around to having them changed to full-rubber.

If I wanted to slide around, I'd go over to the ice rink, and lace up my figure skates.

Dunno what possesses anybody to wear "heelies."

Everytime I read this topic, I got a visual of someone gliding and I recall irony and I couldn't remember why...

It just came back to me. At Epcot I was with friends and heading into Wonders and a CM said to someone using the skate-shoes "You need to walk young man - no skating." The kid ignored him and in my opinion was a brat.

A few minutes later, we were walking out of Wonders, down the hill, and the kid goes gliding past, the CM again said "You need to walk!" and the kid turns his head to face the CM and us behind him, acted non-chalant, and then promptly was unable to stop in time (because of Wonders steep hill) and crashed into the planter at the entrance of Energy.

That made me laugh marktips. :D :D :eek: ;)

I think the original intention was for kids like me (when I was younger) who like to walk to the nearest 7-11 or Circle K but liked to skate. Skate there, then hide the wheels once inside the store and walk around, then skate home.

Now, see, that makes sense!

marktips, I'm literally laughing out loud (I know people use LOL all the time but it usually isn't true) at your story.

If only that happened more often! (with no serious injury, of course)



-Allegra-

I personally have no problem with "healies" (brand name). logistically, one cannot "skate" with them as the wheels are offset as to one's center of gravity. watch a kid try to propel him/herself with them. at most, all one can do is coast. I like them, my son has some generic versions that sound like old orthopedic shoes when he walks.
I can see some areas would be inappropriate, such as indoors. When I first saw them being used at DL, I thought "how convenient." Since DL is not all flat pavement, What a delightful way to get around...
I know I will probably get flak for my views, but before passing judgement, keep this in mind, parents....

I have had more annoyances regarding wheelchairs and strollers that any "kid" on any kind of skating mechanism.

I have had more annoyances regarding wheelchairs and strollers that any "kid" on any kind of skating mechanism.

That may partly be because any kind of skating mechanism is prohibited in the park whereas wheelchairs and strollers are not.