Aches and Pains

[alexandria674]

I love Disneyland, but I sometimes hate the morning after. I mean, my feet really hurt afterwards and I soak them in warm water. This next trip I am trying to cut back on what I like to call "hangover feet". What should I bring along with me for foot care and what can I do afterwards?

 

[PinkBudgie]

Wear your most comfy shoes. I like my New Balance shoes.
Train ahead of time. Use those same shoes to go walking in before you go to DLR. If you are used to at least some walking it will help some.
I am tired at the end of the day but not in pain. I don't do any special foot care besides having excellent shoes so can't help there.

 

[QueenDoOver]

use gel inserts for your shoes. I even put them in my crocs! It really helps. Try to keep your time on your feet to 10 or 11 hours. 12 to 13 puts my feet over the edge!
Take ibuprofren before going to bed and after waking up.

 

[rainwatter]

I love Disneyland, but I sometimes hate the morning after. I mean, my feet really hurt afterwards and I soak them in warm water. This next trip I am trying to cut back on what I like to call "hangover feet". What should I bring along with me for foot care and what can I do afterwards?

We travel alot, and I do a few different things to help out my feet. Obviously, wear comfortable shoes. I also like the gel inserts (at WDW, I put them inside my crocs ) and when we get back to the room I elevate my feet and ice them if they are swollen. I also give them a rubdown with icy-hot after my shower at night.

 

[Tasscrapper]

When your done at the end of the day make sure you stretch your feet out. I think someone said they even took a softball or somthing like that to roll their feet on and it really helped. If you are at a hotel with a hot tub try sticking your feet in it for 10 or 15 minutes. You don't have to get in if you don't want. Just wear some shorts and dangle your legs. I've seen several people doing that at the end of the day.

 

[pixiewings71]

I have Dr Scholl's gen insoles. I also wear good walking shoes. I've soaked my feet in the hot tub after walking all day, it does help, I also like to sleep with my feet on a pillow....I'm weird but it works. Just stick a pillow at the foot of your bed, put your feet on it under the covers and you're good to go.

 

[prncssmel]

I wear Reef flip flops. It sounds crazy, but they have the contoured footbed and arch support. I have high arches, and these are excellent to walk in. I have done both DL and WDW in them. Never had a problem with sore feet.

Other possibilities: ibuprofen before you go to sleep (helps with the pain the next day) and soaking your feet at night with foot stuff. I like the Footloose and Fancy Fizz soak from B&BW or the Peppermint Cooling Foot Soak from Body Shop. I have used both after long work days in 5" heels - wonderful!

 

[avalon451]

I have high arches too, and I broke my foot a couple of years ago, so I have to be careful with them. My podiatrist recommended New Balance athletic shoes and SuperFeet insoles. Those insoles are the best I've ever seen. They are expensive, but they last for a year and they are so worth it.

If you're not used to athletic shoes, you might find them uncomfortable; but any shoes you wear should be ones that are well broken in, that feel comfy to you. The same goes for my spendy insoles-- if you wore them the first time at DL, you'd have sore feet! It takes awhile for your feet to get used to that level of support.

 

[bumbershoot]

Nothing worked on this last trip, but that's my fault b/c I'm heavier than I've ever been (other than while pg) and my shoes are not working for me but I am hesitating replacing them.

But in the past...arnica cream has worked incredibly well to keep the tootsies happier. Switching shoes, at least each day, if not during the day, is another key thing for me.

Bring an extra set of socks if you're going on any ride where you might get wet.

Basically, know your feet and get shoes that really work for you, not just shoes that you have b/c you have them.

 

[Judy from Boise]

i would add don't over do on the salt , and consider a "support" type sock with lycra panels built in at least at the arch.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Wear your most comfy shoes. I like my New Balance shoes.
Train ahead of time. Use those same shoes to go walking in before you go to DLR. If you are used to at least some walking it will help some.
I am tired at the end of the day but not in pain. I don't do any special foot care besides having excellent shoes so can't help there.

I have to agree with the "train ahead of time." It appears to me that a number of folks just charge in to DLR when they are not used to being on that type of surface all day long. Muscle in the feet are not ready for it and the edema builds up. Elevating definately help the legs, staying hydrated help move the water out of the legs and gives the heart a break and like Judy said" watch the salt" it has a bad effect on your BP and the lymph system flow. The more you weigh will take its toll on your feet and shoes that are not broken in will cause more than "tired, painful, feet." A little preparation will prevent a miserable experience. When I worked OS, we walked up to 20 miles a day carrying up to 60 lbs, without some prep I could not go 5 miles without dying. Take breaks and have fun.

Jack

 

[firefly87]

Switching shoes, at least each day, if not during the day, is another key thing for me.

I have to agree with this. When we would go back to the room late in the day, I would switch to a different pair of shoes to wear in the evening. It definitely gave my feet a "refresher"! I even had the kids do it.

I will also sometimes not wear the same shoes 2 days in a row. That seems to help keep my feet from getting so tired late in the day.

 

[Sherry E]

I wear Reef flip flops. It sounds crazy, but they have the contoured footbed and arch support. I have high arches, and these are excellent to walk in. I have done both DL and WDW in them. Never had a problem with sore feet.

Other possibilities: ibuprofen before you go to sleep (helps with the pain the next day) and soaking your feet at night with foot stuff. I like the Footloose and Fancy Fizz soak from B&BW or the Peppermint Cooling Foot Soak from Body Shop. I have used both after long work days in 5" heels - wonderful!

Hee hee. You just reminded me that you are a bath and body products fan after my own heart, prncssmel (I remember now that you said you love all that stuff too)! See, when I read this thread, I thought of the usual things I use for my feet at DLR - New Balance shoes, arch support inserts, Blister Protect products from Band-Aid, Synovium gel, Motrin, powder, etc. But the VERY first thing that came to my mind was, "Oh well, you just GOTTA have the peppermint foot lotion from the Body Shop. It's incredible!!" So you almost read my mind!

 

[PinkBudgie]

I have to agree with the "train ahead of time." It appears to me that a number of folks just charge in to DLR when they are not used to being on that type of surface all day long. Muscle in the feet are not ready for it and the edema builds up. Elevating definately help the legs, staying hydrated help move the water out of the legs and gives the heart a break and like Judy said" watch the salt" it has a bad effect on your BP and the lymph system flow. The more you weigh will take its toll on your feet and shoes that are not broken in will cause more than "tired, painful, feet." A little preparation will prevent a miserable experience. When I worked OS, we walked up to 20 miles a day carrying up to 60 lbs, without some prep I could not go 5 miles without dying. Take breaks and have fun.

Jack

Glad you agree. I think "training" ahead of time goes a long way and is often over looked. Get together with your friends and walk for an hour. If you are busy talking you will hardly notice the time fly by. I did this every morning for years until I went back to work last year. Now waiting for nice weather so I can walk again after work. Got to get in shape for a whole week of walking at DLR!

PS- I'm not carrying the 60lb pack though! That's my husband's job. It feels like it must weigh 60lbs from all the water bottles he puts in!

 

[Mugglemama]

i don't know how much time you have before your trip, or if you are someone who even needs to shed a pound or two, but i know for my last trip, weight loss was the one thing that made a difference in my foot pain after a day at DLR.

my trip in Aug '07, my feet were KILLING me! just killing me, seriously. i was wearing a nice 2 year old pair of New Balance shoes but still my feet were in so much pain. it started about 10 hours into the first day at Disneyland, and continued throughout all 5 days.

by my trip in Sept '08, i'd lost about 30 pounds, and did not experience ONE SINGLE OUNCE of pain during the entire 3 full days that we were in the parks. i wore flip flops the whole time, and STILL no pain!

so for me, i know if i get over a certain weight, that DLR is killer on my feet.

 

[kiwitravel]

Another vote for New Balance shoes here, I even bought a new pair for the 2006 trip as they were so good for the 2004 trip. Still have and wear both pairs....

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

I carry Advil or something of that sort when we go to the parks in my bag. I take it as soon as I can start feeling my feet and legs hurting.

I was looking at the Avon catalog today and they have these things you put in either the freezer or microwave and they're gel packs (like the ones you put in the freezer to sooth your puffy eyes). They strap to your feet and they sound like they feel sooo good after a long day at DLR! I want to get them just to take to Disneyland with me.

 

[MickeyNikiNaka]

Epsom salts are excellent to soak your feet in and I have to agree with Avalon, I don't buy shoes unless they fit with my superfeet!!

 

[noga]

For the first time my feet didn't hurt and we were there 5 full days.
I wore hiking socks (full support) and my keen sandals. Those things are the best. I also stretched my feet every night.

 

[DizneyDogs]

I use moleskin

you are supposed to put it on your feet but I just stick it inside my shoes, I also wear 2 pairs of light socks and at night when I get back to the room I soak my feet in the tub with Johnson Foot Soap