best shoes

[wheezywhizzy]

What are the best shoes to wear to a theme park? I was thinking sneakers or crocs. Does anyone have any suggestions on which ones are better?

 

[damo]

There are lots of places to get wet, so I prefer good sandals.

 

[Pink Flamingo]

There are lots of places to get wet, so I prefer good sandals.

Me too ~ if you're going on any of the water rides, your shoes WILL get soaked.

 

[Metro West]

I don't do the water rides so I wear my Nikes.

 

[Hummingbird]

If we arent riding the water rides that day I will wear snakers (either new balances or nike shox) but if we are doing the water stuff then I wear crocs or sandals.

I never really was a fan of wearing flip flops to theme parks, but his past weekend when we went I forgot my crocs at home so I stopped at the little shop in citywalk (some kind of surf shop) and bought a pair of flipflops (beach sandals) there really thick and they are a company called Reef. We walked the parks from 9:15 until close at 7 and not once did my feet or back hurt. And when I say walked we WALKED. We rode every single ride that was open with t he exception of the p. flyers in JP island. So now I think I have found a new IOA shoe!

 

[missyek]

I am a flip flop person and soon as the weather is nice each year, I wear them every day. Because of that I wear the croc flip flops (sooooo glad when these came out). Our WDW trip in 2008 was for 10 days and I wore my croc flip flops all day every day and we were up early morning until closing during magical hours at each park. My feat were just fine! And let's not just worry about water parks or rides--don't forget those rainy times/days! Flippy flops were awesome!!

But it really is knowing what is sensible for you. I like the croc family (no matter how stupid many people think they are) because they work! If you are on your feet for long periods of time, they really are comfortable and rarely do my feet hurt. But if you need really good arch supports or whatever, then it would probably be best to go with a really good walking shoe.

 

[Larrabe]

I always wore running shoes, but most times, my feet would be roasting and my calves would ache by the end of the day, so I'm giving flip-flops a whirl. After hearing so much praise for them on the WDW boards, I bought a pair of Teva Mush. They are WONDERFUL!!!! Love, love, love them. I've also heard a lot of praise for Fit-Flops as well, so I'm thinking of ordering a pair.

Good luck with your shoe hunt!

 

[townsend32796]

SURPRISINGLY, my Vibram Five Fingers are the most comfortable AND stable shoes I've ever worn to the Theme Parks... I have problem feet - but have no problems wearing the Five Fingers around the Parks. AND... if they get wet, they dry quickly... (When they get dirty, you throw them in the washer - but NOT in your dryer... I throw mine after being washed on top of my dryer and they'll be completely dry in 30 minutes or so...).
Linda

 

[wheezywhizzy]

I am a flip flop person and soon as the weather is nice each year, I wear them every day. Because of that I wear the croc flip flops (sooooo glad when these came out). Our WDW trip in 2008 was for 10 days and I wore my croc flip flops all day every day and we were up early morning until closing during magical hours at each park. My feat were just fine! And let's not just worry about water parks or rides--don't forget those rainy times/days! Flippy flops were awesome!!

But it really is knowing what is sensible for you. I like the croc family (no matter how stupid many people think they are) because they work! If you are on your feet for long periods of time, they really are comfortable and rarely do my feet hurt. But if you need really good arch supports or whatever, then it would probably be best to go with a really good walking shoe.

I have croc flip flops too that I love. I just wasn't sure how they'd do at the theme park though. I'm a flip flop person and wear them year round (even in winter). How are they on coasters though? Haha, I don't want to lose my shoes. That would not be cute.

Last time I went to a theme park I wore sneakers and I got blisters so bad. =/ So I am leaning more towards my crocs. I was going to wear my regular crocs but I think they will look stupid with my outfit but the croc flip flops would be super cute with it so I'll probably wear those.

 

[aubriee]

I have croc flip flops too that I love. I just wasn't sure how they'd do at the theme park though. I'm a flip flop person and wear them year round (even in winter). How are they on coasters though? Haha, I don't want to lose my shoes. That would not be cute.

Sit on them! I live in flip flops if I'm not at work. However, I must have good arch support, so the cheapy flip flops don't work. Spend a little more and get some good ones. My favorites are the Teva Mush, Sketcher tone ups, Fit Flops, Orthaheel, or Montrail Molokini. I just got back (May 1st-9th) from six days at WDW and two days at Univeral and switched out between my Sketcher tone ups and Orthaheels. They were great and dried quickly after getting off water rides. A friend was with me and wore her Nike Celso flip flops all week with no problem. She says they're all she ever wears down there and has never had a problem.

 

[suzieqmomof4]

Another vote for Vibrams-just got my second pair in the mail yesterday. The best shoes I have ever worn. I can't wait to wear them in the parks in July.

 

[missyek]

I have croc flip flops too that I love. I just wasn't sure how they'd do at the theme park though. I'm a flip flop person and wear them year round (even in winter). How are they on coasters though? Haha, I don't want to lose my shoes. That would not be cute.

LOL I found at WDW I did not have to worry about that at all, through that was in 2008 and I did not get to get on many of the cool rides that I wanted to go on (that is a whole long story about a HUGE Group of Brazillian (I think) teenages--well over 200 of them--that dominated the whole time we were at the parks, so fast passes were GONE by 11:00 am every day in every park... SIGH). Anyway, while I was at Darien Lake in NY last year, people would just leave their flip flops or other loose shoes at the start of the ride and collect them after the ride was done--but that only works if start and end points are the same... LOL If there are coasters where your feet are inside--no worries--but yeah, it is the ones where your feet dangle! LOL

And I hear ya about the regular crocs! I actually can't wear the "normal" one because they are too wide and my feet always slip out. But I do have a couple of the mary-jane style ones and those fit better. But I only have black and hot pink and amazingly enough, hot pink does not go with every outfit! But I also find my feet sweating in those... ICK! LOL

 

[townsend32796]

I have 3 different styles of Vibrams now...
When I 1st saw them on Dr. Oz facebook blog, I remember writing to a friend: Who would wear something like that? They look like monkey feet!
Next thing I knew, that friend had purchased their own Vibrams... and LOVED them...
I was very leery as I have so many feet problems and have med supports in my athletic shoes - but, to my surprise, my feet actually did MUCH better in the Vibrams...
Now I wear them to Disney... and Universal... and, a big plus for me, is that I'm much more stable in them too... I'd often feel off-balance entering and exiting rides - but not with my Vibrams!
I see people pointing at my feet and laughing... but I'm the one laughing! I'm NO longer thinking about my feet while at the Parks and just hoping for a place to sit down! In fact, we're going this weekend and I'm already planning on shopping in my Vibrams AFTER doing the Parks... Before I'd have just been thinking about going home and putting my feet up!

Linda

 

[Worfiedoodles]

I love the crocs Malindi and Cleo, which fit closer to your feet. The Cleo's are barely there, and very easy to sit on!

Maria

 

[iwork2play]

I wear some Nike open toed sandals,they arent flip flops,I cant wear anything berween my toes.These shoes have a thick ruberry sole & the part that goes across your foot is neoprene like. I saw some Nike Air shoes like these the other day that I will be buying before our trip at the end of June.
We all wear Nike sandals of some sort & never have any foot troubles with W-A-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-K-I-N-G all day & part of the night.

 

[Selket]

The Teva mush sandals are great but the best for the parks are the Teva "pretty rugged" sandals. Those go in water and are much more secure on the feet and are really comfortable.

 

[Liz&Griff'smom]

The best shoes that I ever wore to WDW were my Merrell sandals. Normally I have to change shoes throughout our trip (problems with blisters and swollen feet), but I wore these during our week long trip to WDW last year with no problems or blisters. They also have great support. I am planning on wearing the same pair to US/IOA that I wore last year. They still look and feel great. They also dry quickly when wet. By far my favorite shoes.