Closed Shoes and Pouring Rain

[jelloarms]

How do you guys deal when you are wearing closed shoes, and it rains so hard that your shoes end up so filled with water that you can actually feel it sloshing about? How do you dry it out?


When I went to DW in 2001, it rained HARD on our last day. Luckily since it was the last day, we just wore our slippers on the plane the next day.

When i went to D-Land in 2006 and it rained HARD, I ended up using the blow dryer and attempted to dry my shoes that way. It didn't work that well, after a few minutes, the dryer would shut off to prevent overheating. I spent the rest of the trip walking around the parks in slippers. It was STILL raining and I had to walk REEEEEAAAAAAALLLLLLLY slow to prevent....slipping.

I have heard of throwing your shoes in the dryer but I remember passing by the laundry room at our hotel and seeing some shoes on the ground, that had fallen OUT of the dryer b/c of all the banging on the door.

On our 08 trip I was lucky and it only rained once and it wasn't POURING. Still, I did pack extra shoes in my luggage.

But yes, I am curious. How do you deal with this?

 

[clandrum]

This last trip was the first trip I had where it rained on us. I found that it is better to wear capris or shorts. Jeans soak up the water and then soak your tennis shoes.
I always bring at least two pairs of sneakers so one can dry out. I also used the blow dyer but was careful not to hold it to close and did not turn the heat up all the way and never had it shut off.
Also the dyers at WDW say not to put tennis shoes in them to dry because it damages the dryers.
Now this thread got me thinking about our next trip and there has got to be a better way to handle this so I looked on line and found this nifty thing at Target. I might order it.
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.htm...NM=|B001GP607U&CPNG=home&ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001

 

[lllGurulll]

Stuff a TON of newspaper in them. Let it wick as much water out as possible and then take the newspaper out and stuff it with more newspaper.

They will dry.

 

[SorcererDonald16]

We were in WDW for the May Monsoon last year. The best advice I can give you is to bring at least two pairs of shoes so you can alternate days you wear them, if need be. We bring our own hairdryer, and that helps dry them out some. Squeezing some of the water out with Bounty helps some.

Last year I actually got to the point where I lined the inside of my sneakers with napkins, and shoved some on top of my foot too, under the laces, just trying to keep a little of the water out and from soaking the inside soles of the shoes. It was so much water pouring down constantly that the fact I had on shorts or capris didn't help at all. Ponchos and umbrellas didn't really help either, especially thanks to the pooling water on a lot of walkways. If you have any shoes that are more of a cloth-like material, I'd say leave them behind and find shoes that are more water resistant.

 

[ancestry]

We don't wear closed toe shoes (i.e. athletic shoes) at Disney, especially in the rain. We all have Keens - the kind that double as hiking/water shoes. If there is any threat of rain we wear our Keens that dry out within minutes.

These are the ones I have http://www.keenfootwear.com/product/ss10/shoes/women/waterfront/newport h2

 

[lllGurulll]

I'm gonna say it.

Crocs.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I agree Crocs or something like Keens are the way to go and avoid the problem altogether.

If you really want more of a sneaker, though, we all have these shoes from LLBean. They have mesh sides and dry alot quicker than regular sneakers.

 

[imthatgirl]

Back in the day when I wore sneakers I would always bring a pair of flipflps in my backpack, then if it was raining I would quickly switch my shoes to avoid swishy sneakers.
These day I just wear really good flip flops to the parks.

 

[Alesia]

That's why I will only wear crocs or flip flops.

 

[goofy4tink]

Back in about '03 or so, we did the trail ride at FtW. Half way through the ride, the skies opened...I have never, not before or after, been in such a downpour. We turned the horses around and went back to the barn. By the time we got there, even my underwear was soaked!! My shoes??? You have to wear close toed shoes, and of course, the vast majority of us had on sneakers. When my family got back to our resort, we took off our sneakers, let them drain, and then stuffed them with newspapers. Later that day, probably around dinnertime, we took the damp papers out and put in new ones. Yes, we had to buy several newspapers, but it wasn't a huge deal.
By the next morning my sneakers were dry, my dd's were just about dry and my dh's still had a ways to go. Mine had a fair amount of mesh on them, dh's did not. His were pretty much all leather. But, they had dried out by dinnertime that day.

I seldom wear sneakers at WDW in the summer months anymore. I have my Crocs, as well as a pair of Keen sandals.

 

[RMulieri]

No help here..I don't wear closed shoes unless it is cold out, and then I bring 2 pairs for that reason. I wear hiking sandals all other times ( Teva Terra Fi) and they dry easily

 

[TLinden16]

I find that mesh sneakers dry out pretty quickly, and leather ones do not.

That being said, I always make sure I bring an extra pair of sneakers with me for just this reason. I'll often bring an older pair for "emergencies" that I can just throw out at the end of the trip.

 

[jillybeans]

I to was there for the May monsoons of 2009 - go with the newspaper!!!! Those USA TODAY's outside the door came in handy. Stuff paper in and then once that paper is saturated, take it out and stuff in somemore. Guarantee that those shoes will be dry in the morning.....

 

[dzorn]

I'm gonna say it.

Crocs.

Yep! We always travel with more than I pair of tennis, crocs and sandals. Never had a blister.

Denise in MI

 

[imagineer wannabe]

All flippy floppies, all the time

Seriously, I wear them year round. There are some built for walking (I have more than one pair of Crocs flippy floppies.) I take 2-3 pair with me on the trip, and never wear closed toed shoes during my park treks.

 

[Gigi22]

We have never hit the WDW monsoon season--but I now make it a routine to waterproof our sneakers (using the same stuff we use on our winter boots) before we go on vacation. It is not perfect, but it does help.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Have you considered finding some hiking sneakers that are meant for water? I actually was concerned about rain for our upcoming trip and looked at some Merrell water shoes. They were really comfy!

I ultimately decided on different pair, but I'm not ruling out going back to get them.

 

[holden]

Because of foot issues, I can only wear my sneakers (with orthodics) in the parks. I bring a pair of flip flops to change into for water rides and in case it rains. We do the same for the kids.

 

[JamesMom]

I agree Crocs or something like Keens are the way to go and avoid the problem altogether.

If you really want more of a sneaker, though, we all have these shoes from LLBean. They have mesh sides and dry alot quicker than regular sneakers.

Thanks for the link - ordered a pair for my trip in 10 days expressed ship so I can break them in a bit beforehand.
I have the most tender feet and the water parks with their hot pavement and graveled pool bottoms kill me! Hopefully these wil be light enough to keep my comfortable. And save my shoes in the event of a May 'shower'. The kid can make due with sandles and flipflops - I can't tolerate the thong thing between my toes. Told ya, I've got sensitive feet.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I'm gonna say it.

Crocs.

I wouldn't even consider wearing sneakers in the parks. I don't like to walk around in wet shoes. Crocs are ugly, but they are comfortable in any kind of weather.