Comfortable sandals for kids?

[3boysluvndisney]

I was thinking that it might be alot cooler for my kids to wear sandals to WDW than socks and shoes and better if they were to get wet and not have soggy socks on. My dilemna is that I don't know what would be comfortable enough for them to wear and walk in all day. The ages are 8, 5, and 14 months. Of course the 14 month old will not be walking much at all and the other two will have access to a stroller as we are renting one for them but still need to be comfy. Any suggestions. We only have 2 weeks left so I need to be getting these shoes. TIA!!

TWO WEEKS UNTIL WE SEE MICKEY!!!

 

[HappyMommy2]

If you are willing to spend $20+ per kid and you have a Stride Rite store nearby, you can find some very cute and comfortable kids' sandals there. Their sandals are the only ones my 4-year-old will wear for any length of time. He has wide feet and Stride Rites tend to fit him best--we haven't had any luck with less expensive brands, though we have tried!

Remember, though, that some kids (and adults!) don't like wearing open-toed shoes at WDW because of all the stepping-on-toes that happens. You could possibly dress your kids in sneakers and then break out the sandals for wet rides or during rainstorms if someone doesn't want to wear sandals all day.

 

[jmatias]

We always use sandals at the parks. Our boys 8 & 6 love to get wet and the sandals also help to keep your feet cool.

Last year they used sandals from Gap and had no problem all 12 days at WDW.

This year we got them Nike straprunners ( the same style DH & I wear). They've been breaking them in for 1 month and said the straprunners are very comfortable.

I highly recommend sandals...especially for the Florida

Don't forget to put sunscreen on their feet

 

[JESW]

Another suggestion is to spend the $$ and buy the water shoes/sandals from llbeane - you can check them out on line. I bought these for both kids (5 &9) and they wear them all the time in the summer.

Jill

 

[jel0511]

I wear Tevas myself and this year bought Tevas for my kids. They LOVE them and they are very well made and very comfortable. They are expensice $40 per pair, but they'll last the summer (my Stride Rite sandals always fell apart) and I know they're well made and comfortable since I wear them all summer.

 

[Jordan's MOM]

Make sure you get them NOW, or don't get them. It seems to take a little more time to wear sandals in as they rub different places. I got my DS a new pair of the nice nike ones a week ago and this week end he ended up with blisters in a place the sandals rub that his old one did not. Lands end also has good kid sandals and they can sometime be gotten at Sears.


Jordans' mom

 

[Miniefan]

My son has always worn Nike sandals, since he was about 3 or 4 and before that he wore the Nike Sandals that were the one piece sling -type ones. I am sorry I don't know the name of them but both have been worn to WDW and no problems with blisters or pain. Hope this helps. Both have been purchased at Academy if you have that store. Ps they last a long time, one pair I bought a bit big, and my son kept them for over 2 years. For adults, I recommend Reef sandals and flip flops, I wear them everywhere, I have had this pair for since 1996, and they are great.
Kim

 

[Miniefan]

They are called Nike Santium and Nike Sunray, style types I guess, I found this on the Academy web site
Kim

 

[Miniefan]

I have some pics of these shoes, if you look on the rack room shoes web site, www.rackroomshoes.com you can find the pictures in there.

 

[elgerber]

I always buy Stride Rite for my daughter. They are spendier, but each pair has lasted her two summers, and they survived Disney in the heat.

Erika

 

[orvilleair]

DD5 and DD2 have wide feet and Stride had the most to offer for their shoe size. All of their sandals have held up and no complaints from the kids.

I suppose when they get older, we'll look into Reefs. Tevas gave me a blister when walking the boardwalk in Virginia Beach, but they have held up well.

 

[julybride]

Originally posted by Jordan's MOM
Lands end also has good kid sandals and they can sometime be gotten at Sears.


Jordans' mom

We like the Lands End sandals. You can get them at Sears - but I found their sizes/colors to be limited. Lands End delivery is usually pretty quick if you order on-line.

 

[stacilee]

I vote for the Nike Sunrays $15 at rackroom and available at many other places.
In baby sizes the make a Pink/purple one. After size 10 (baby) forget the cute colors. Then you have to shift over to the boys aisle. They come in Black with a white nike symbol or a royal blue.

My kids LOVE these sandals. (girls and Boys) IN fact last summer I said to my daughter why don't we pick out a cute *girly* pair of sandals for you. Her reply was "NO WAY MOM! I don't care if they're black. You always say black goes with everything! Almost all of your shoes are black"
She's right thats true.
Just for fun I tried on a pair. In black of course.
a size 6 boys fits a ladies 81/2-9.
I feel like Tigger in these shoes.
My husband hates them on us. calls them our *ugly* shoes.
Says: " I see you girls and Mommy are ALL wearing your ugly shoes today."
We just laugh.

I would highly recomend them for both the kids and you if they fit. I spent 8 days and night last year in disney in my ugly shoes and had happy feet the whole time!

 

[Suzanne74]

I get my dd mary jane velcro Keds every summer. She wears them all the time - look like sandals but fit like ked sneakers with lots of cushioning - on socks. Gap and Children's Place make the mary jane style sneakers too but they aren't as good or comfortable as Keds.

Have fun on your trip!!

 

[lenshanem]

Lands End sport sandals. Cheap, too. So glad I ordered them! My only fault was I should have ordered the one with the heel strap for my youngest at 3. My 6 year old handles the slide ons fine, but my youngest wants to kick them off and go barefoot. They have worn them to the pool, etc. I'm taking them this trip for my oldest.

Order online or by phone, they come fast and if you order the wrong size you can easily return them to Sears.

 

[twoksmom]

Stacilee, I just bought 2 pairs of these in cute new "girlie colors".
They are blue with pink accents. If anyone is looking for good sandles for kids these are great.We buy them new ones when they wear out their old ones. April

 

[Sandy Feet]

Hmmm, I was looking at the Lands End sandals for dd and may buy a pair. In the past we've had a problem with her saying this type of sandals hurts the top of her feet where the fastener is. Has anyone had that problem?

What I'd like to find are some sandals with a back strap my fashion concious ds will wear. He normally wears the athletic slides or sneakers. At least he has agreed that his heavy Timberland boots will be too heavy. LOL If someone can suggest a mail order place that sells "cool" sandals I'd be very grateful.

Down here in the Caribbean we tend to wear flipflops all the time. I have a pair of black reef sandals but feel like a duck when wearing them! So mom might just have to get a new pair too.

 

[vicb]

Another vote for Lands End sport sandals, never had a blister or problem with them!

 

[Miniefan]

Sandyfeet, I don't know if they are available where you are at, but here in the states they have all new different styles and colors of Reefs for women. I wear mine everywhere, they are so comfortable. Maybe you can try buying some somewhere online?
Kim

 

[gopherit]

I have a very "particular" (translation -- EVERYTHING bugs him!) 9 yr old son. he tried on about 5 different sandlas -- including Nike, TImberland, Columbia, etc. The one pair he approved of: Land's End. Bought 'em at Sears. Don't know if this is a universal thing or maybe I'm wrong -- but the same sandals at Sears are $5 cheaper than the catalog. I bought a pair of hot pink suede slide sandals for myself -- again, $5 cheaper by buying them at Sears versus LE direct. And no shipping charge -- gotta love that.

As for son #2 -- he liked the Nike best -- although not the one-pc type. None of my 3 kids could handle those. My dd (age 4) who craves all things pink and purple said no to these -- simply couldn't stay on her heel after a step or two. Tried 3 different pair, thinking maybe we had an "off" pair... I guess she has a super skinny heel, if such a thing exists?!? So son # 2 ended up with some Nike "Santiam Plus" and dd ended up with NOTHING so far... what do you do when your 4 yr old dd thinks all the sandals are too babyish and only wants the trendy flip flops (that you have no doubt will either break her foot into blisters or break -- period -- before 1 week is out?!? If it had arch support and looked remotely functional, it was a no-go in her book. She was leaning towards rainbow jelly slides (oooo -- picturing the foot sweat already) and these obnoxious skinny thong jobs that had tube lights in the straps. For fun -- ohh, perhaps. I'm not a total hard-nose! But for walking the endless miles of WDW? I think NOT. How I got such a "fashion conscious" child at the tender age of 4 is beyond me -- I have got to be the most conservative, least fashion conscious, downright geeky woman on the face of the earth. God is having a big hoo-ha of a laugh watching the two of us, I feel certain.