MY feet hurt -- walking around WDW and then some

[a2grafix]

Hey kids ...

I returned recently (Oct. 20-26) from my first trip to Walt Disney World, my first trip to Central Florida in just over 14 years. Yes, I know a lot has changed and that was one of the main reasons why I planned the trip -- to see the world again and do as much as possible.

But I have to tell you, my feet and shins ached the day before I left and the day I left. Of course, the discomfort subsided by Monday when I returned to my job, but nearly two weeks after the trip I still have some discomfort in the arch of my left foot.

For four of the days I wore two pairs of socks with my sneakers because I wanted to protect my feet. Good news -- I only got one blister, and it was a small one at that.

Okay, with that out of the way, I must have walked AT LEAST 23-25 miles, or maybe more, during my stay at Disney and a side trip to Universal and Islands of Adventure.

I stayed at the Shades of Green and walked down the driveway and across the street down the Polynesian path to either the monorial or to the buses, or sometimes just walked to the transportation and ticket center to hop a bus to MGM or Animal Kingdom. Then I'd return back to the resort, change, and go right back out for the evening to either Boardwalk or, most nights, the Adventurer's Club at Pleasure Island.

For most of my trip I did two parks in a day and then did the nightlife. The last three days of my stay I did, basically, four parks -- three of the parks plus Pleasure Island. I think Thursday I almost did four parks plus the AC, but timing wasn't right for me to visit Epcot.

Unfortunately I forgot my pedometer. And oh, I forgot to say, I did Disney solo and went to Universal with a friend from Satellite Beach. So, basically I did what I wanted to do and changed my mind on a whim and still had a glorious time.

I wondering, though, HOW MANY MILES could I have actually walked while I was on vacation? I probably did more than most since I was on the go for 19-20 hours a day. Let's see now, I hit the Magic Kingdom twice, Universal and Islands of Adventure once, MGM three times, Epcot three times and Animal Kingdom twice. I also walked the Marketplace and visited most of the shops, and walked the Westside twice, spent one night at Boardwalk, and three nights at the AC at Pleasure Island. I also walked through the Contemporary for a while just to see the changes.

Oh, yeah, it was weird since I was on vacation and got little sleep. But I felt so refreshed, even though I probably slept anywhere between 3 and 5 hours a night. I guess when all the pressure of your job and daily worries are evaporated for a week, your body is in relax mode and you have big fun.

Thanks. Now discuss --

Kungaloosh!

 

[jjgoo]

Wow, good for you. I had a similar experience when I went solo once for four days and I was doing 2 parks a day and walking immense amounts, constantly on the go. At the end of the trip my shins ached soooo much.

I too loved being able to change my mind on a whim and run to the otherside of a park to catch a show or go right back on a ride I enjoyed.

I don't think I would ever do it again, but it was a great experience one time.

Now I am much happier leasurely strolling around with my wife and not being too concerned about seeing and doing everything. We still walk a lot, but we are not racing around.

I think it just proves that WDW can really fit you however you want to take it while you are there.

 

[sanaj2000]

I've heard that walking around Disney for a week is like walking around New York City 10 times.

 

[PeeplMoovr]

My wife wore a pedometer a few times to the parks just to see how far we'd walk in a day. Usually if the weather is cool and we're on the go we can walk up to 13+ miles in one day.

Even during times when we're moving slower it can be up to 7 or 8 miles in a long day.

So, walking the World can be fun, relaxing, and healthy at the same time.

As long as I stay away from Dole Whips. :lookaroun


Advice to keep your feet from hurting: take up running or jogging each day. We do and our feet get used to the activity and neither of us experiences the hurt you're mentioning. Ouch!

 

[TurboCaroline]

I would wear my pedometer but wouldn't it throw off the reading since everytime you make any kind of movement it counts as a step. So basically it wouldn't be very accurate...:shrug:

 

[DisneyGigi]

I would wear my pedometer but wouldn't it throw off the reading since everytime you make any kind of movement it counts as a step. So basically it wouldn't be very accurate...:shrug:

I thought about doing this too because I would love to know how many miles we walk while we are there.

 

[DisneySam]

Glad you had a good trip! Usually after my solo trips I am exhausted because I walk way too fast from being over excited to be at WDW. Once I got to EPCOT on my first night around 5 or 6 and walked all over Future World and World Showcase by Illuminations time. Needless to say I slept good that evening.

 

[JimboJones123]

"My Feet Hurt"

-Inside the mind of a car jacker.

 

[Fun2BFree]

Good to hear you had a great trip despite discomfort towards the end. And yes, it is weird that though WDW is hectic, tiring, and at times stressful, it's still the most relaxing place to be. :sohappy:

 

[a2grafix]

My wife wore a pedometer a few times to the parks just to see how far we'd walk in a day. Usually if the weather is cool and we're on the go we can walk up to 13+ miles in one day.

Even during times when we're moving slower it can be up to 7 or 8 miles in a long day.

So, walking the World can be fun, relaxing, and healthy at the same time.

As long as I stay away from Dole Whips. :lookaroun


Advice to keep your feet from hurting: take up running or jogging each day. We do and our feet get used to the activity and neither of us experiences the hurt you're mentioning. Ouch!

I am pretty active since I'm in the Air National Guard and I do exercise three to four times a week.

I was amazed though that I really didn't eat all that much. I ate what I wanted, not felt guilty. I ate two decent meals, one at Sci-Fi and the other at the Hard Rock Cafe.

I didn't gain a single pound, and actually I lost a few.

 

[a2grafix]

Good to hear you had a great trip despite discomfort towards the end. And yes, it is weird that though WDW is hectic, tiring, and at times stressful, it's still the most relaxing place to be. :sohappy:

By Thursday, the day before I left, I woke up and felt that I had aged 30-40 years. I felt like a craggly old man with a cane trying to walk into the bathroom. But after my hinges got oiled, all was fine.

It's amazing how much exercise you do in just walking around WDW.

 

[Pongo]

You have a friend from Satellite Beach? I'm from the SB area and graduated from Satellite High School last year!

:lol: Weird.

 

[disneydarling09]

while were on this topic...Ive been to disney more times than i can count but i took off a couple of years from 2003-2006. when i went back last year i cried, actually cried in Epcot because my feet hurt sooo bad. ive started/walking jogging because im going again in a few weeks but im very nervous that im not going to enjoy my self as much because my feet will be in sooo much pain again. any suggestions????:veryconfu

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

If you're anything like us a day in the WDW Parks is around 12 - 15 hours. Take away sitting still on rides, at meals and standing in line and you'll be walking for a good 8 hours.

You can cover an awful lot of miles in that time

 

[Jekyll_Baker]

I had returned to WDW in 2003 after a 17 year hiatus, and have been about 4-5 times a year since (17 times in 4 years). In that "first" trip in 2003, I went solo for 8 days from park open to park close, with 1 day in the middle for a slow day. It was September, so I was able to do almost every attraction in each of the 4 parks (I usually skip shows) - no telling how many miles I trekked. As far as my feet hurting, they never really did (and still don't when I go to WDW). BUT at work I'm on my feet for 8-12 hours a day - so that helps a bit being used to it.

 

[Tinkwings]

I love the aspect of increased eating combined with increased walking....sort of balances things out a bit.

I always ensure I have a pair of broken in walking shoes that can handle the week. I tried to use my most comfy sandals once for awhile and found them not conducive to disney hikes.....one friend insists her flat feet do great in flip flops all day....then again, this friend feels ONE DAY is enough to do the Magic Kingdom....:veryconfu Maybe its the sore feet....quote "we are not disney people":shrug: You pay how much money to get there across country and only go ONE DAY?!?!?!:lookaroun Sorry off topic.....

Nothing like racing to get to your favorite ride in excitement!!! :king:

 

[tink68]

Hubby and I went to the world in Aug and we wore our pedometer. IF it was correct we walked over 50 miles in 4 days at the parks. By the time we left I could barely move and I had blisters on both feet even though I wore broken in shoes. I think I needed thicker socks and will have those when we go in Jan. I have now started walking most nights to get in better shape (before I turn the big 40 in Feb. and to also get ready for this next trip). Going with an 11 year old this time and that may kill me. :hammer:

 

[shoppingnut]

Buy crocs and change off shoes with them, it worked great for me and I had so many less problems with my feet than other times.

 

[Grim Grinner]

I recently returned to The World this last September (Mmmmm free dining plan incentives... please tell me they're doing it again and I can convince the wife right now to go back!).

Now I'm no neophyte when it comes to the parks and the wife and I have been there more than a few times. However, this last time gave me my first foot-related injury.

I started off with my ultra comfortable Animal Kingdom sandals that are well worn and contoured to my feet. However, a sojourn to Splash Mountain got them wet and my normally protective callouses began to hurt.

By the 3rd day I had to switch over to my shoes (which before this trip were the norm). I was enroute, walking from MGM to Epcot along the waterfront when I felt a horrible stinging sensation in my left foot. It felt like I had a sliver, but I couldn't find anything to extract.

I continued onward. It was only after a bout of swimming at Coronado Springs that I examined my foot while perched precariously on my bed. On the toe next to the little toe, I had developed a blister. At first it was small but by the 5th day of the trip it had grown huge, almost as large as a quarter.

In fear of hobbling myself further, I risked cutting it open. Although my foot hurt, I switched back to sandals and was able to continue.

It was so strange having a foot injury during a trip. My advice is to change your footwear often so you don't wear down a specific part till the point of no return... switch things up and you'll be in much better shape.

 

[mgraef]

You should not have worn the Crocks with Socks.