Are water shoes a MUST?

missnic07

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Apr 6, 2013
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We will be doing a day and a half at the water parks in August, and some afternoons at the resort pool (CSR). Are water shoes a must? Do most people wear them? We won't be back for a very long time so we will probably only wear them this trip if we buy them.
 
A must for what? I'd wear flip flops to a park, but you definitely want some kind of footwear, or expect your the bottoms of your feet to burn off.
 
A must for what? I'd wear flip flops to a park, but you definitely want some kind of footwear, or expect your the bottoms of your feet to burn off.
For wearing at the water parks/around the resort pool. Do people just go barefoot there or is the ground way too hot?
 
If you go in the summer, you'll definitely need footwear. The walkways get REALLY hot. I just carried flipflops when I went down the slides, then put them on when I got out of the water. I don't like to wear actual watershoes when I'm swimming, though.
 

The first time we went I was SO clever and rented a locker. Of course we didn't want our shoes in the Lazy River so we put them in the locker too :rolleyes1 (Told you I'm clever). Cue 5 minutes later and DD and I were mimicking a hot coals dance in a not so elegant fashion to retrieve them. We now wear our crocs to get to where we need to go and put them on our wrists when we ride anything with the tubes. We don't do Summit Plummet.
 
The first time we went I was SO clever and rented a locker. Of course we didn't want our shoes in the Lazy River so we put them in the locker too :rolleyes1 (Told you I'm clever). Cue 5 minutes later and DD and I were mimicking a hot coals dance in a not so elegant fashion to retrieve them. We now wear our crocs to get to where we need to go and put them on our wrists when we ride anything with the tubes. We don't do Summit Plummet.

Ouch! I'll definitely be buying some now!
 
Good choice to get them. They are easier than flip-flops or crocs, because you can keep them on for all the rides except Summit plummet at blizzard Beach.

We even wear them to the hotel pool because really who wants to be walking around where thousands of other people who walked with dirty feet.
 
We've never worn them other than to get into the water park.

We were there for 2 days in August a few years back and no one wore them. and never wore them at any other time of the year either.
 
We don't wear them. The water parks are so wet from the hundreds of people getting out of the pool and dripping in line, plus the various water things spraying you in the queue. There might be a few places where the pavement is hot and dry, but you can traverse them quickly.

At the resorts, we just wear flip flops if we are dry and need to walk from our chairs to the pool bar or restroom or wherever.
 
I've never rented a locker, and never had a problem. I've left my backpack (only valuables were carkeys and credit card, deep inside) on a chair, and picked it up at the end of our visit for our towels and change of clothes. If you're on property and not renting a car, then you have your magic band on you, so even less of a concern.

We've also left our flipflops/water shoes on the rock walls surrounding the wave pool (while in the pool) and retrieved them later. Not the sort of thing people steal, and the lifeguards don't move them unless it's the end of the day, in which case you'll find them at lost and found.
 
you can get them for less than 10.00 at walmart etc,even walgreens has them for cheap
 
I would wear them at the water park for sure because the bottom of the wave pool is rough. I cut my foot on it last year!
 
We have been in the water parks in July and August and never felt like we needed any sort of shoe once we were inside. Most of the areas end up so wet by mid-day that it's not too bad (although I certainly cannot discount other people's experiences who are saying otherwise). If you're strolling outside the primary water areas to visit the gift shop or to get certain food, then I'd say to throw on some flip flops or whatever shoes you wear into the park, but even that can be managed.
 
We wore them the first year we did a water park. After that we never did again. They were just not comfortable to us. The walkways have water sprayed on them in many areas and therefore don't get too hot.
 
We visited the pool at CSR and only wore flip flops to the pool and when walking around. No water shoes necessary in the pool.

We did TL in September about two years ago and did the same thing. When we walked to the slides, we went barefood. I believe the concrete there is light and there are trees, so we didn't find it to be too hot walking around. We did wear flip flops when walking to places other than slides though.
 
I would definitely recommend them. My feet were hot and the pavement is a little tough to run around on all day. But, maybe I am just a wimp ;)
We have tried many types of water shoes and have honestly found that the cheap ones at Walmart were the best for what we required - to wear once or twice a season at a place like WDW. They were so reasonable that we have taken them on vacation, used them, and then just left them there. Good luck!
 
Even if the sidewalks aren't hot, there's often little rocks or other debris. DD9 had to go back for her shoes since the rocks were hurting her feet.

Not a big deal to hold your shoes for certain rides (Summit Plummet etc).
 
I've managed to order 4 pairs (2adult sizes and 2 kid sizes) for £18 including delivery. Thanks for your replies everyone!

First WDW trip happening this August!! 17-29th staying at CSR :)
 





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