Shoes to wear around the parks in?

[English Tink]

I'm planning what shoes to wear when I go in August.
I brought a new pair of Nike Lunarglide trainers(I'm gonna do some serious breaking in before I go..) and then I also have my croc flip flops which I have worn since I first went.

Are those good shoes to wear when I go or do I need to bring any others ones?

 

[Tinkerbella16]

Which Sanuks do you have? I'm thinking about purchasing a pair for a trip in May, but I'm not sure which style to go with.

They are just the all black yoga mat flip flops. SO comfy! They have lots of colors in that pair, I just like black because it matches everything.

 

[Wildflower]

whatever is comfortable (and broken in) to you! just make sure it breathes well and you have the backup of moleskin or the like to prevent blisters in case you start rubbing. bandaid also makes plasters specifically for blisters just in case - and they work pretty well!

 

[aw14]

I just got a pair of Keens Daytona. I will only wear open toe shoes at WDW as the heat makes my feet swell.

These are great, easy to break in and very comfortable.

 

[cw1982]

I wore flip flops all week (good ones with lots of cushioning and materials that work well when wet) and did not get a single blister or foot ache.

 

[allgiggles]

The best shoes for the parks is a very personal and individual choice. I could never wear flip flops or sandals all day but I see thousands of people doing it at Disney World so it obviously works for them (my son's DGF wore flip flops all day, every day for our 7 day trip last year). If I wore these types of shoes, I'd have back pain within an hour or two, my feet would be killing me, and I'd worry that my feet or toes would be very susceptible to injuries (One day I saw a woman at MK bleeding profusely from her foot --it looked like her toenail got ripped off). I know some people think the worst thing you can do is to wear training/running shoes or sneakers all day. But for me, that's by far the best option -- even during the summer. I always take 2 different pair of running shoes or cross trainers that are relatively new but well broken in. I wear moisture-wicking socks and my feet (and knees and back) are very happy. I always make sure I alternate the shoes every day so that my feet have pressure and support in different areas each day. At night I massage my feet with peppermint lotion and roll each foot over a tennis ball on the floor to massage the muscles. I've never had a blister or hot spot on my feet in all of our trips -- not even the year it rained for hours and hours every day and my shoes and socks were soaked within minutes of walking out the door in the morning. If we're going on Kali River Rapids, I make sure to take a disposable grocery bag with me and I put that over my feet/shoes once we're loaded on the raft. I do take along a pair of Ecco sandals that provide decent support for my feet and I'll wear those around the resort in the evening or when we go to the pool in the afternoon.

There is no one right/best shoe that works for everyone, we all have to wear what works for us. And there will be nearly every type of shoe imaginable in the parks. I think the most important things are to take shoes that are comfortable for you and to make sure you have at least 2 pair of shoes for your trip that you know you can wear for many hours at a time.

 

[WDWVolFan]

Took tennis shoes last time and didn't wear them.
After the first day in flip flops, I felt comfortable and wore them all week. My favorite is the Brazilian brand, Havaianas...they have all sort of colors and styles...women have a lot more options than guys but I keep it simple and just wear them.

 

[Tinkerbella16]

Here are my Disney Toms I wore last year! They are SO comfy and better than sneakers. I didn't believe it until I wore them myself around the parks. I wore these and my Sanuks more than the sneakers I brought.

 

[allgiggles]

Here are my Disney Toms I wore last year! They are SO comfy and better than sneakers. I didn't believe it until I wore them myself around the parks. I wore these and my Sanuks more than the sneakers I brought.

OMG, those are cute!!! I might need to invest in a pair of those for at home. They'd never work for me in a situation where I'm going to be on my feet all day -- they're too flat, my sciatic nerve would be acting up in an hour or two, but I could certainly wear them to picnics and other times where I'll be doing more sitting than standing/walking. Off to look for a fun pair for me to wear this summer.....

 

[Mr Anderson]

I have a pair of Sanuk flip flops that I wear to the parks, that are also the yoga mat material... love them. Also a pair of Crocs flip flops (not those atrocious, ugly, holed things they sell). I have a pair of Nike LunarGlides I brought last time as well, just to mix it up. They are great running shoes... not as great for walking all day in. I will probably be bringing my new NewBalance Fresh Foam 980s this time around as they are SUPER comfortable to walk in and I also bought some Tevas sandals that wrap around the foot to replace the Crocs flip flops.

And I've seen several people talk about moleskin... forget that. Band-Aid Friction Block. THIS is what you need. It is a GODSEND. It is wonderful. You spread it around anywhere you know you'll get a blister and voila... no blister. It will not make your feet slippery or greasy. It's great. The ONE DAY I forgot to apply it, I got several blisters. Then I put the stuff ON the blisters the day after and I was saved from pain... lots and lots of pain from there on out. I can't oversell this stuff. And it's relatively cheap, too. I get it at Walmart for $4 and we don't even use a whole stick while we're there, but we bring two just in case. Buy some, you'll thank me later.

 

[Plowboy]

Anything that is comfortable and well broken in!

 

[allgiggles]

I have a pair of Sanuk flip flops that I wear to the parks, that are also the yoga mat material... love them. Also a pair of Crocs flip flops (not those atrocious, ugly, holed things they sell). I have a pair of Nike LunarGlides I brought last time as well, just to mix it up. They are great running shoes... not as great for walking all day in. I will probably be bringing my new NewBalance Fresh Foam 980s this time around as they are SUPER comfortable to walk in and I also bought some Tevas sandals that wrap around the foot to replace the Crocs flip flops.

And I've seen several people talk about moleskin... forget that. Band-Aid Friction Block. THIS is what you need. It is a GODSEND. It is wonderful. You spread it around anywhere you know you'll get a blister and voila... no blister. It will not make your feet slippery or greasy. It's great. The ONE DAY I forgot to apply it, I got several blisters. Then I put the stuff ON the blisters the day after and I was saved from pain... lots and lots of pain from there on out. I can't oversell this stuff. And it's relatively cheap, too. I get it at Walmart for $4 and we don't even use a whole stick while we're there, but we bring two just in case. Buy some, you'll thank me later.

I love this stuff!!! It's always in our Disney box.

 

[Weather_Lady]

FWIW, our park touring days are divided into two distinct parts: a hard-hitting 3 hour stint immediately after rope drop, and a more leisurely evening return after naps and swimming. We've always worn well-made and well-broken-in sneakers (well-cushioned running shoes rather than cross-trainers) with moisture-wicking socks in the morning, and comfy supportive sandals (Tevas or Crocs sandals, although if there is ANY chance of getting wet, we only do the Tevas, as Crocs and other rubbery sandals become dangerously slippery when wet) in the evening. When visiting the Animal Kingdom, we'll skip straight to the sandals if we're planning on Kali River Rapids, so that nobody ends up with soaked sneakers.

Between choosing good footwear and changing it often, I can attest that even though we're walking a minimum of 10 miles per Disney day, no one in my family of four has ever had so much as a single blister!

 

[wilkeliza]

I wear Teva's or Keen's. They are open, provide good airflow, and a water proof. I love them because if it rains I don't feel like I am walking around in wet socks and shoes all day. This trip I did get a blister from my Teva's but that is just a personal thing. I have one toe that always blisters with great amounts of use and it cleared up in one day so no biggie. Was actually only painful when I wasn't wearing my shoes.

 

[Mr Anderson]

I wear Teva's or Keen's. They are open, provide good airflow, and a water proof. I love them because if it rains I don't feel like I am walking around in wet socks and shoes all day. This trip I did get a blister from my Teva's but that is just a personal thing. I have one toe that always blisters with great amounts of use and it cleared up in one day so no biggie. Was actually only painful when I wasn't wearing my shoes.

Use that stuff I mentioned above in all the places that touch/rub on the Teva's and no more blisters! It's magical. Your feet will thank you for it. Just ask @allgiggles

 

[wilkeliza]

Use that stuff I mentioned above in all the places that touch/rub on the Teva's and no more blisters! It's magical. Your feet will thank you for it. Just ask @allgiggles

Haha I'm a runner so I already have body glide and other blister blocker stuff as well as this. I just have an extra fatty toe pad on one toe that causes all the issues.