A weird, but practical thought - Open-toe sandals in the parks: A primer!

[RoyalCinderella]

Hey, guys, how about an appendum to the longest post on the DIS boards (my trip overview). I wore Nike athletic sandals (the name escapes me) to the parks, an amphibious model that dries really quickly when they get wet. I thought that with the threat of afternoon showers and our Splash Mountain marathons, they would be good to wear. So, a review of athletic-type, quick-drying sandals:
--You will get what has been deemed "zebra feet." Tan stripes where the sandal straps do not cover the tops of your feet! Blinding white stripes under the straps! Looks great at the AKL, but not at the Beach Club!
--Your toes will be stepped on, especially in large crowds leaving the MK/Epcot and by your significant other. He just wouldn't stay off my toes with his big ol' man tennis shoes, ouch! Its ok, though, he bought DVC. I'll forgive him I suppose.
--You will stump your toe(s) on the displays in the Emporium shop and your cuticle may be cut. Yes, folks, it hurts, even in the MK. Easily treated with a cookie swirl double scoop from the nearby Ice Cream Parlour.
--Don't bother with an expensive pedicure - I'm glad I just slapped on some of my mom's polish, because it chipped so badly between stormalong bay pool and the aforementioned boyfriend tennis shoe tread!
--I have two half-broken off toenails, a cut cuticle, a bruise on a big toe, zebra-striped tan lines and badly chipped toe nail polish. But I had a lot of fun getting those things, and my feet didn't hurt one bit, even after 8am - 1am park days. (Really - we're nuts like that!)

 

[brer rabbit 28]

I'm there with you! I alternated between reefs (that have given me the zebra effect) and crocs flip flop style-sooo comfy without the dutch girl clog look!

 

[tkd lisa]

I had a teva tan for a lot of years. If you think zebra stripes are funny, imagine the ladder look, which is what tevas give you.

Now I'm a croc girl, who cares if they're ugly!

 

[RoyalCinderella]

Yes, Crocs with mickey pin backs stuck in the holes may be my next step. Yea for sandals in Disney, so comfy!

 

[safetymom]

I am proud of my Teva flip flop tan. I sure didn't get that when I lived up North.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

I wore Rafters flip flops in Animal Kingdom during TS Alberto. They were great! I mostly wore my K-Swiss sneakers, but did try to switch between the Rafters and Clarks flip flops. Both flip flops rubbed the top side of my foot - not between my toes and not so as to cause a blister. I didn't have any trouble with the Rafters when they were wet (they have neoprene straps).

DD had Skechers Spiderwebs and others in our party kept stepping on the back of her shoes. She too primarily wore her athletic shoes.

 

[WeLoveThePoly]

I'm there with you! I alternated between reefs (that have given me the zebra effect) and crocs flip flop style-sooo comfy without the dutch girl clog look!

Speaking of the Crocs flip flops - are they comfortable? Does the "thong" part bother you after you've had them on for a while like regular flip flops?

I just got my Crocs "Nile" style this week and they don't feel comfortable. I wear a size 11 shoe (yes folks, Big Foot is a DISer) and ordered that size in the Crocs but my big toe hangs over the front edge and my pinky toes rub on the sides. I'm going to return them and thought maybe I'd get the flip flop ones instead.

Thanks,
Debbie

 

[kgkmom]

I had a teva tan for a lot of years. If you think zebra stripes are funny, imagine the ladder look, which is what tevas give you.

Now I'm a croc girl, who cares if they're ugly!

I'm with you tkd lisa! First I tried sneakers, then I was a Teva girl for a couple of years, and now I'm Croc girl! My FIL loves to bust my chops about my 'lovely shoes', and I say, 'yup, they are butt-ugly, but they are comf-ter-bul'!

Besides, they remind me of Minnie Mouse's shoes, and what's better than that?

 

[gonemousin']

I wear a size 11 shoe (yes folks, Big Foot is a DISer)

Oh my word...that made me laugh!!

 

[pezheadmeg]

I just got my Crocs "Nile" style this week and they don't feel comfortable. I wear a size 11 shoe (yes folks, Big Foot is a DISer) and ordered that size in the Crocs but my big toe hangs over the front edge and my pinky toes rub on the sides.

I can top your size 11 with a size 12 Debbie (and yes I'm only 5'5", the rest of me never caught up with the feet ) Go with the men's Reefs. The strap is thicker, the sole is thicker, and they come in neutrals!

 

[keypooh90]

Good tips! I wear my beach style crocs. The most comfortable things in the world, albeit a little ugly...lol

 

[ItGirl753]

I think mine are Tevas too. They are the sandals I wear when I will be walking all day. I do have a funny tan -- two stripes across and one on the side of my foot. My feet always look "dirty." I will have to look into Crocs. I need a new pair. Do they sell them all over?

 

[lovehoney]

Speaking of the Crocs flip flops - are they comfortable? Does the "thong" part bother you after you've had them on for a while like regular flip flops?

I just got my Crocs "Nile" style this week and they don't feel comfortable. I wear a size 11 shoe (yes folks, Big Foot is a DISer) and ordered that size in the Crocs but my big toe hangs over the front edge and my pinky toes rub on the sides. I'm going to return them and thought maybe I'd get the flip flop ones instead.

Thanks,
Debbie

I just bought the croc flip flops and I wear a size 11. I got them in the lime green with pink. They look girly and are very comfortable. I hate it when I have to wear big clunky man shoes.

I was in a flooding downpour recently where I was walking in water above my ankles. They were a little slippery but dried out super fast. My friend with me had a suede sports sandle and she was squishy for awhile.

They also have a very thick heel. I kept getting off balance at first, but after a few days they were fine. So far I haven't had any problems with the thong part. We have a trip planned to Seaworld in a couple of weeks so I'm going to try them out there.

 

[4mykids]

Love my Croc flip flops, but am still undecided about wearing them to the parks. All I wear in the summer are flip flops, but my toes get tired of gripping the Croc flip flops (or "slaps" as we call them in our house). My try them at the AK since it is a smaller park with a wet ride and see how I do.

 

[Mickey&Donald]

This is exactly why I never wear flip flops in the parks! Waaaay too many injury opportunities! I'm a super fashionable Crocs girl -- I think the Dutch girl in clogs look is HOT!

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Speaking of the Crocs flip flops - are they comfortable? Does the "thong" part bother you after you've had them on for a while like regular flip flops?

I just got my Crocs "Nile" style this week and they don't feel comfortable. I wear a size 11 shoe (yes folks, Big Foot is a DISer) and ordered that size in the Crocs but my big toe hangs over the front edge and my pinky toes rub on the sides. I'm going to return them and thought maybe I'd get the flip flop ones instead.

Thanks,
Debbie

I thought you were supposed to order the next size down in Crocs, but you're saying you ordered the same size and they're too short??? I was thinking of ordering some flip-flops online before our trip, but maybe I ought to try them on locally beforehand...

 

[zookeeper]

I bought the Airwalk flip flops from Payless yesterday ($7.00 on clearance). I already have a pair of the Beach style Airwalks from Payless so I thought I'd try out the flip flop style. I took them out for a test-walk last night and I found them to be really comfortable. Usually, the first walk out with any new flip flops it takes me a while to break in the between the toe part, but these are great!!!! I find my feet get really sweaty in the Beach style ones, but I didn't find that with this style.

 

[MeLaNie9]

I also wore Nike "amphibious" sandals - old ACG sandals, to WDW in May. They were so comfortable and quick drying. I DID get the zebra tan which I am still sporting but I didn't seem to get stepped on a lot. I did, however, get the pre-trip pedicure....it was still cold in Cleveland and it felt so good to do it for our vacation to sunny Florida, and my polish stayed put for the entire trip and beyond!!!