Anyone Else's Feet and Legs Absolutely KILL Them?

[disnut1149]

Same issue here UNTIL I started wearing crocs. My DH fought me so hard when I bought him a pair too but they are the ONLY shoes I can wear and NOT wake up in the morning barely able to stand on my feet. I know they are ugly and I've heard they are not really good for your feet, but they work. I used to buy expensive tennis shoes and wear nice thick socks with them, but every night and the next morning, the bottoms of my feet hurt so bad. Now DH and I both have several pairs just for WDW and any long walking days (theme parks, zoos, etc).

Hi
I love my Croc Scutes. They're the most comfortable pair of shoes I've ever worn. I used to get blisters and shin splints all the time and I wore very comfy New Balance sneakers. But they just didn't work at DW. The Crocs are so much better looking now. They have some really cute styles. My DD wore the Patra all week at DW and she said her feet felt great. My DGD wore Scutes for kids and that's the only shoe she wanted to wear.

 

[4under4]

Might I suggest you try these? My 62 year old aunt with a TERRIBLE back recently went through a relatively painless seven days at the world doing LOTS of walking in these, at the urging of yours truly.

I have always suffered from blisters while at the world, until my last two trips when I was wearing these.

http://www.fitflop.com/

These are the only shoes I wear ALL SUMMER long. I love them!

 

[willowsnn3]

I was 57 when we did our first trip. On the last day, we went to breakfast & everyone else went to a park afterwards. I just couldn't....I went back to the room & stayed in bed stretched out all day, lol. A year later & 50lbs lighter, walking the treadmill everyday, I was good to go. 6 trips since that first one & sure I'm a little achy at the end of the day but now I can go @ rope drop & close the park down. Love when MK is open til 3am. I can not wear sneakers at all. I am a flip flop kinda girl, lol. Most of mine cost around 5 dollars!!! I do have 1 pair of croc flip flops & I usually swap shoes about every other day or morning/afternoon. I also do a lot of walking with the Leslie Sansone on demand shows. Really strenghtens the leg muscles which I guess is the key.

 

[HebeJebe]

Another vote for fitflops!! I seriously love these things. I wore them last year when we were there for a week and was amazed at how much my feet (heels especially) didn't hurt.
I have a bad knee (surgery as a teen) and start taking some aleve a day or two before hand and then continue it twice a day until I get home. I know it's going to swell so I figure why not plan ahead, right?

 

[LYNSUE]

I also swear by the crocs. DH and I both wear them when touring WDW. Never ever do we have problems with sore feet or legs. Also both DH and I have a walking regiment. We both do two miles a day 5 days a week. I am sure that helps also.

 

[arcticdisneylovers]

I am pooh sized and do not exercise regularly and I was worried about our January trip. I envisioned having to resort to a wheelchair Seriously I thought I would be crippled after 8 days of park walking.

I was shocked, honestly. My feet, legs, hips and back never bothered me at all But I wore my orthotic shoes (ugly, ugly) everyday no exception. I even brought multiple types of blister stuff including a whole new box of moleskin in anticipation. The crowds were very light so we really didn't have to wait in lines because everything was basically walk on. We were on the DxDDP so we stopped for lunch and supper everyday which allowed us a good hour to relax. We made rope drop everyday but most afternoons we returned to the hotel for a rest/soak in the hot tub. It was a recipe for success. I guess having our DD5 with us was the key. It forced us to slow down and forget my commando style of the past when we were childless I can't wait for next year

Maybe it was just disney magic

 

[dizcrazee]

Here are my foot-saving rules when I'm at Disney:

• Don't stand when you can lean on something
• Don't lean when you can sit
• Don't sit when you can sit with your feet up
• Don't sit with your feet up when you can lie down

I'm not an expert, but I heard feet hurt partly due to blood pooling in the legs and feet. So getting your feet up or lying down helps redistribute that blood.

Early in your trip, avoid touring so long that your feet are killing you. There just isn't enough time to recover and the problem will just get worse. Sit as soon as you start "trudging" - when walking becomes an effort. Stay seated until you feel no pain when you get up.

If sitting on the ground/curb bothers you, bring something to sit on (a small traditional mouse pad works) so you can sit anywhere. Take turns waiting in lines so EVERYONE isn't standing. This works best at turnstiles at opening, waiting for ropedrop, buses, food lines, saving parade spots, etc. (or sit in line on your trusty mouse pad).

Wear two different pairs of shoes. Take your "I bought these just for vacation" new(er) shoes and the pair that they replaced. Switch off daily (if you take a break) or every other day (if you don't). Each pair will shift your weight slightly and put pressure on different spots.

Keep some pain killer with you - whatever kind works best when you have muscle aches. Use it if your feet hurt and you're at the back of a park and need to get "home". DON'T use it so you can get in 2 more rides! You'll pay for that later.

How strange - these things are exactly what I do myself! The only other thing that I do is alternating hot/cold foot soaks in the hotel bathtub if I'm really hurting that night. I soak in hot water, then when it gets cool, I dump a bucket of hotel ice cubes in the tub. I follow that with Sportscreme. Man, do I love Sportscreme! However, if I follow lroger01's "foot saving rules" above, I generally don't get that bad off anymore.

 

[amzking]

Our first seven day trip we made it through purely on adrenaline, and when I woke up after the trip Sunday morning in my own bed I could barely walk, my legs hurt so bad!

 

[glocon]

Haven't been to WDW in about 8 years, and I hear it's way crazy busier than it was back then. These are great tips- thanks! So is it better to change what shoes you are wearing each day than to always wear the same shoe?

 

[shannon1119]

I read on here in the past that the average person walks about 12 - 15 miles a day at WDW. That may have something to do with it...

I believe it! We always come home and expect to have gained weight but the last time we both actually LOST a few pounds and I swear it is because we walk so much!

 

[LMN]

I am quite a bit overweight and have experienced the aching feet/shins also. But last trip I brought along my Croc Flip flops that I had just bought and my feet were great the whole trip! They are magic and I'll never go to DW without them!

 

[ratlenhum]

I am VERY overweight and have rheumatoid arthritis. I take 2 Aleve before bed, and 2 in the morning the whole time we're there and I do okay

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

Haven't been to Hoop De Doo/Ft. Wilderness area in a few years, but in front of that resturant is a "foot vibrating" barrel thing - you sit & put your feet on it - wearing your tennies - and for $0.50 I had the most wonderful foot massage for my tired feet. I have yet to find one that vibrates that hard but if you find yourself in that part of WDW, endulge yourself It really made my sore feet feel good.

I like to take 2 pairs of tennies -had plantis faciatis years ago so wearing flip flops is not an option for me - changing shoes & socks AM/PM daily helps alot. Plus a mid-day soak in the pool to relax. And the Aleve to help inflamation.

 

[bbluvsdis]

I have a question about moleskin for those of you who have used it. Do you put it on to prevent blisters? The stuff is so sticky it seems it would pull your skin off. Do you leave it on when you shower and just wait for it to fall off? Please tell me how you use this stuff!

 

[pooh98378]

Another person here that swears by the Crocs -- Croc Mammoths specifically. Before, I used to wear normal tennis shoes and I would have horrendous pain in the arch of my foot. The last two trips, I have worn Crocs and I have had NO pain at all the entire trip. As far as I am concerned, they are miracle shoes.

 

[rabbitthecat]

Another vote here for proactively taking something like Advil before you leave for the day and once you get back to the hotel. Definitely helps!

But, also thought I'd throw in that if the pain is really debilitating, it might be worth seeing a doctor and asking whether custom orthotics might be right for you. I found out a couple of years ago that I'm essentially "built wrong" and walking with orthotics in my shoes makes a world of difference. They can be pricey when they are custom made, but you might also try some OTC versions. I recently saw Dr. Scholls is making 'custom' orthotic inserts.

 

[goofyisinphilly]

I have a bad knee and a partially torn tendon in my foot. I take my tennis shoes that I was fitted for at Run for Your Life and my Crocs. Every morning and evening I take my anti-inflamatory and an Aleve. While not a miracle cure it keeps everything moving.

Oh and and I take my crutch and use it when moving around the resort. It just takes some of the pressure off when I'm not in a hurry. I'm not even 30 yet.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I work as an OR nurse so I'm used to being on my feet. The walking doesn't get me as much as blisters do. I love Moleskin..helps a lot.

 

[karajeboo]

I have a question about moleskin for those of you who have used it. Do you put it on to prevent blisters? The stuff is so sticky it seems it would pull your skin off. Do you leave it on when you shower and just wait for it to fall off? Please tell me how you use this stuff!

I used it this past trip for the first time. I had the beginning of a blister under my skin so I put the moleskin on my skin and the blister never really formed. The first day, when I thought I was doomed, I actually cut a hole in the moleskin so that there was a cushion around the blister, and that helped I think. So put it ON the skin to prevent blisters, and put it AROUND the blister if you already have one - it acts as a cushion so there is no pressure on the blister itself.

 

[connie1042]

Crocs and flip flops. I tried the tennis shoe thing and after the first day, never put them on.