Under the Sea

Sounds pretty unreasonable. I've wondered the exact same thing. Both my mother-in-law and mother have foot problems. They also must wear shoes at all times or they're in pain later. I've avoided going to those places with them just because of the shoe requirement. Both have shoes that they use just for indoors -I wonder if they bend the shoe "rule" for this situation.

HI!

I've visited 'Under the Sea' only on one occasion, and I will never go back! The lady on duty was so obsessed about whether or not people had shoes touching the carpet, that she didn't even care about what the kids were doing! I found the whole visit to this place completely stressful, not fun as it should have been.

If you want a nice friendly indoor play area, try Playsource in Woodland hIlls, or FoFo Figgleys in Westlake. It's a totally different experience to Under the Sea! Have fun!

I think it is pretty important to take note of how they were cleaning the location of the blood... was it being attended to? They should have had it marked off and prevented any other contact there immediately... One thing I like about Adventureplex in MB is that they let the adults into the area with shoes on... I understand that they are trying to keep the area more clean, but socks should always be required too if that is the intent.

Try out Naya's Garden in Silverlake. And before you go call and tell the owners your situation. Maybe you can ask if you can wear a pair of brand new soft bottomed shoes. They require everyone to wear socks in their play area and they even sell them if you forget to bring a pair. Hope that helps.

WOW! I have never been but my sister has...I will pass on to her!

Ummm, ew? That's disgusting (both the bare feet and the blood on the equipment)!
Perhaps a call to the health inspector would be in order?

Did the employee say why he was so concerned that you were wearing shoes? Many places such as basketball courts and dance studios have floors that are very expensive to maintain and can be detsroyed by even the little bit of grit that adheres to the bottoms of shoes so they do not allow shoes on the floor. Other places are concerned about the potential for children being stepped on or otherwise injured by shoes (usually on the feet of other children. Wrestling shoes that have been worn outside the gym are not allowed on the mat out of concern for the safety of the youngsters who will be wrestling on the floor. Whatever the cause, the rule should be posted and some options should be made available. Options might include disposable covers to wear over the shoes.

I have been to one where the employee was wearing shoes on the carpet. I thought it was a rule that you HAD to have socks on if there were no shoes (health code). You could contact the owner of that location, he/she is going to want to know about the injury and if it was your child, you should file a report with their insurance company. Usually if there is an injury, there is an automatic $1,000 payment, more if the case is pursued. My suggestion would be to take someone else with you that can go in the play area, while you watch from the sidelines (if they don't allow shoes). Also, it shouldn't cost any extra to use the equipment. At our location, you pay $8 and that is it, unless you want food. Maybe there is a corporate office you could talk to, they do have a website. I would think they would want all of the locations to have and follow the same rules.

I'm clearly in the minority here, but I think that you're being a bit unreasonable about things.

I do agree that the child who was hurt should have been seen to immediately. And, the blood should have been cleaned immediately. Did the attendant see the blood, or did an adult point it out to the attendant? You didn't say. If I had been there I would have tactfully mentioned it to the attendant and asked to have it cleaned up. By the way, where was this child's parent/caretaker while this was happening? Frankly, it should have been that person's responsilbity to help the child and clean up.

I am in complete agreement with the no shoe policy. I'm sorry your feet hurt when you don't wear shoes. Perhaps if you explained this to the owner you could arrive at an alternative agreement. Maybe you could offer wear slippers that aren't worn outside or as others suggested, medical bootie covers. There's a very good reason for the no shoe policy. Our shoes track in all sorts of very nasty things and transfer them everywhere we walk. Would you be happy licking the bottom of your shoe or someone else's shoe? Probably not. Children have their hands in their mouths all the time and are crawling around on the floors of the play places. It's just good simple hygiene - and a regulation set out by the health dept. So, I'd think twice before making such a stink on that one.

I do agree that the rule should apply to all and that all adults should wear socks and bodily fluids should be cleaned up as soon as they're noticed. However, I would also cut these folks a little slack. It sounds as though you were seriously offended by having been asked to remove your shoes. I wonder how much the other stuff would've bothered you had you been allowed to keep your shoes on.

Guess I won't be going there!

Unfortunately I've been in a similar situation. It sounds like the place isn't exactly what you and your friends are looking for anyways (what you mentioned about cost). But it may have just been that particular employee.

Find out if this employee portrayed the image that the establishment wants. The incidence should definitely be brought to the attention of management.

If you're still not happy with the way you were treated, they definitely don't need your business.

Which Under the Sea were you visting? I want to make sure I don't go to that one!

I read your request and had to respond for two reasons...1) I am completely with you on the fact that you have to wear your shoes all the time(I am currently suffering the same or similar problem you have and it is painfully unbearable for me to walk barefooted,I have orthodics and have been seeking help for my heel pain for 3 months and haven't had any relief...(let's talk about that,write me back if you can...)
(2 that is just wrong about the child getting hurt and the attendant not showing concern just angers me.... To me it's just another case of covering their butts and not paying attention to the child's well-being... that needs to change!!!

Just out of curiousity...was the playground located in Burbank? If you ever go somewhere like that again, I would recommend getting those shoe covers that doctors use. You could probably find them at a Durable Medical Equipment store. They look like hair nets.

Sometimes the attendants in places like this aren't empowered by management to use their own powers of analytical thought -- meaning, that particular person felt that they must follow the rules to the letter, or perhaps face getting in trouble. The situation they were facing could be something no one ever told them how to handle, which is definitely a problem in management of the place. Kids fall down and get hurt and they should know what to do -- jump in and do something about it immediately and forget about what's on someone's feet when there's an emergency!

Before you decide this is a terrible place and you're never going again, contact the owner (I think they're franchises) or manager and describe what happened. Be sure to explain to them about your physical need for shoes so that they'll get it. Find out what their policy is about injured children and blood clean-up. Let them know their employee at the time didn't know how to deal with it.

We've been to lots of indoor playplaces, Under the Sea included. This never came up when I was there, so I have no idea how any of them would handle the situation. I also have a problem being barefooted or in just socks, so I always bring slippers. I show them to the attendant and let them know I only wear them indoors at places like that and then no one ever gives me any trouble. The slippers have thick enough soles that my arches are supported, but they still look like slippers, not shoes.

Good luck and happy indoor playing, if you decide to give it another chance.

- Colleen

I suggest writing a letter to the owners/managers. They should kknow so this can be improved upon. That is not safe for the people who do go there and bring their children. You might even get your money refunded or some token of a sorry for the company as well!

Thank you so much for the heads up - I won't be bringing mine.

R.

The Under the Sea Staff is horrible. I have had bad experiences at both locations (similar to what you are talking about) (burbank too). They only care about getting your money.

This sounds like a bad situation you might want to get some of those surgeon booties that can go over your shoes if you ever do want to go back or to a similar type place and just tell the attendant before hand. I don't get the no shoe rule to start with but since they do have I would just try to work around it. If you do contact the owner maybe you could suggest that they provide the booties for these situations.
Sorry it was abad day,
E.

Under the Sea has always been dirty and you are correct, unwelcoming. I went there once, with no incident, and chose to never return. Try Jungle land in Agoura off of Rayes Adobe or Jumping Genius on Falbrook in Canoga Park. There are too many great places to take your kids in this town to put up with trash.

Good Luck,

Jamie Si

Sorry to hear about your upsetting experience! I will definately think twice before visiting this establishment. What really got me was their insistance you remove your shoes when you are clearly disabled. According to the American's with Disabilities Act, this was illegal! I myself am considered disabled by the state, although I pretty much can function as well as a non-disabled person, and have encountered similar experiences. The ADA basically states that all reasonable accomodations must be made for any disabled person to enable them to participate as a non-disabled person would. There are certainly dozens of options this company had to accomodate you! In the future should you encounter another situation like this I highly recommend asking to speak to a manager. Then politely inform them that you are disabled and according to the FEDERAL law (the ADA) accomodations need to be made for you. Then offer a suggestion or two. I have found that this always works for me. When it doesn't file a formal complaint. Pretty much no one wants to go against the ADA because they always lose. Heck when I was in college the UC system backed down once I mentioned the ADA! Good luck and I also suggest seeing a podiatrist for those bone spurs!!

thats crazy! they should be worried about the children when they get hurt not if you are wearing shoes or not. your an adult and can make your own decision to keep your shoes on. i agree with you on not going back. i would complain to the company about what happened. although indoor play areas are nice however i prefer to take my little girl who is a year to a public play ground so she gets a bit of freash air and is outside. i do love like the discovery zone and places like that but she isnt old enough for those.

Wow, this is the one in Culver City right? I also witnessed an unfortunate incident there. A Dad who came in only had a $100 bill to pay with. His child had already run inside the play area, so he followed her. The attendant refused to give him change and chased after him saying he hadn't paid and then demanded that he pay another way or leave. When the Dad told the attendant he was trying to pay but that she didn't want to accept the $100 bill she threatened to call the police. He told her "go ahead" and she did. If you can believe it, the Culver City police escorted him out. We haven't gone back since and several other parents left disgusted.

First off the child who was hurt should of been looked after, second the playground should of been evacuated due to the blood, the minute blood was noticed, nobody should of been on the playground. Sadly because of the aids virus, blood is considered a health hazard to anybody. Again sadly to say, that children are borns with aids everyday. You don't have to disclose you have aids even in public schools, not even the school nurse nor the prinicapal has to know about it. Alough bless the kids parents who to make the schools aware of it.
I would report the place about the blood, not tending to the hurt child, about the shoes, well you could of said I must wear them ... to them unless you have a paper that says from your doctor you are disabled and must wear them ... I would of said either get off the matted area or lose the shoes.

sorry
T Miles