Wheels of Wonder

Has this place always been this bad?
From the moment I walked in to the smell of feet and port-​o-​potties to the time I made my way past the cops to get out the door it was a horrible time. As a teenager in 1997 I frequented Wheels of Wonder every weekend. Today was my first journey there as an adult, boy has it gone downhill.
The place smells awful inside. I mean sure you’d expect a skating rink to be a little musty, that’s just the nature of the beast but this place reeks something terrible.
My 7 yr old and I arrived for a birthday party at 2:00 on a Saturday. Upon arrival we promptly got in the door and found our party with no problems. The seating area is composed of plastic tables and… lawn chairs. It was crazy busy and there was a small line to get skates. It took 14 minutes to get skates. One of the guests at the party had to purchase skates for her son because they ran out of size 4 skates. The boy behind the counter wasn’t very quick at all. After getting skates on my little person I went to grab a diet at the concession stand. After standing in line for 8 minutes with no movement in the line I just said forget it and went to the party table at least there was a Sierra Mist pitcher there.
The hosts for the party supplied by Wheels of Wonder were pretty good. The pizza came out hot and the drink pitchers were never empty.
When there was about an hour left of the 3 hour party the cops showed up. Apparently there were two unhappy, unruly birthday parents. It wouldn’t surprise me since I had passed the manager and overheard something about «a bunch of birthday brats» (wowser! What a way to talk about patrons) after the cops showing up and the smell and the crowd I was just ready to go. I collected my munchkin, got on his shoes, and bolted for the door. I don’t think I’ll ever be back to this place. Such a shame.

Was told after skating with my children for 2 hours to take my hat off or leave. I went and spoke with the manager and another man who was with them. I was told the rules are posted on the wall. I agreed with them and asked them to please have their employees to inform people before they paid. Which was meet with another rude comment from the gentlemen with the manager that the rules are posted they don’t have to tell you. We will never be back!

We went to wow on a Monday at noon. There were 12 in my group and around 20 people, including us at the rink. The dj, a 15 – 16 year old kid, keep playing special music that asked everyone except certain people, like backward skaters, to get off the floor. The first time the music came on we all got off the floor but for 5 mins or so there was no one on the floor so I took the kids back out and then I was asked to get off the floor for the backwards skaters, which was no one. When I complained, a employee went on the floor and started skating backwards, asking if that would shut me up. I asked to see the manager and she was rude, immature and told me I would be kicked out if I went on the floor during special music and wasn’t doing the task that goes with the music. We paid to skate not to look at an employee skate while we waited at the side. I WILL NEVER GO TO THIS GHETTO, rude skate rink again. I will never recommend it and I will tell bad mouth it forever because of this terrible experience.

We had a school event here. As much as my son enjoyed learning to roller skate, I think I will try and find another place for him to pursue this new interest. After skating awhile, we decided to stop for a snack. Oh, if only I had noticed the vending machines a few minutes earlier!
The boy at the concession stand was new. I mean NEW! After he found the buttons to push for my order (a small popcorn, a slice of pepperoni pizza, and a 24oz soda), he didn’t know how to put the tender in. So, lord help us, he had to figure out how much change to give me. I didn’t want him to hurt himself, so I told him the correct amount. You’re welcome management for my honesty.
After we finally received our order, I bit into my very cold piece of pizza. When I returned to the counter to remedy this problem, I was told that this pizza had just come out of the oven. I love being treated as though I am stupid and bothersome! (for those that don’t get it, that’s sarcasm) After talking to her manager, the young woman behind the counter told me that she had another pizza in the oven and she would bring me a new piece in «just a minute». I sat waiting for twenty minutes while my son returned to the floor to skate. My frustration grew as I watched people who had ordered after me get called over the PA to come get their pizza. I finally went looking for a manager to surrender and just get a refund on my money. She told me that the pizza takes twenty minutes to cook and was just coming out of the oven then. Just a slight discrepancy from what I was originally told. A 19 minute discrepancy to be exact.
We did enjoy the skating part of the evening. The staff is young and make it pretty clear that most of them are only there for the paycheck. There were a few exceptions. But, not enough to overcome the obvious lack of interest in the majority. I will do research to find another roller skating rink in the city. I would recommend you do the same.

Went twice this week during fall break. First day wasn’t too busy flyer online said $ 2 admission, $ 2 skates. I needed both but was charged $ 5. Weren’t a lot of kids there yet, music was loud and the announcer was muffled. After an hour I was ready to go but my shoes which had been left out of a locker we gone. Young kid working skate rental suggested I check out all the women’s feet, check the lockers which were open, search the shoe pile. Older man came to help me look to no avail. Asked if they could have the announcer say I misplaced my shoes and everyone look for my shoes in their bags. PA is for skating business only. Left without ANY shoes on my feet.
2^nd trip today… 4 busses of kids were in there. Between the people «flying» around the rink bumping into people and knocking into folks it was crazy. No one told them to quit! We left. Note: while skating they repeatedly called for «people» to meet there ride out front and other things. Apparently they are unclear about what is skating business.

The floor at Wheels of Wonder seems huge when you first walk in, and because of this, it can comfortably handle some of the bigger crowds. The décor id a little dirty and outdated, but you don’y really notice it when you are skating.
Prices are usually $ 8 and up depending on the day and what type of session, but they don’t take plastic.
The snack bare is sparse and a little pricey. Even the pop machine’s are $ 1 a can.
The music is usually hip-​hop and some old school favorites, but it doesn’t vary much from that. Also, their method of requests constantly changes, and the DJ gets rude if you don’t keep up with it. He also has a habit of talking over the music way too much.
They have glow skates for 30 mins or so during sessions, and unless you bring your own glow or flashing toys, you have to buy it from the arcade for some silly prices. Usually a dollar per glow bracelet.
The pro shop is small, but they are very helpful.
Hours change constantly, so call the hotline top keep up, or drive by and read the scrolling marquee.
To wrap up: big floor, ok prices, not so special music and food. Still a nice place to go on a Sat. night.