Do you train to go to Disneyland?

[Pluto468]

I've recently heard of people trying to get in shape before their Disneyland trip, like cutting out caffeine or trying to walk a few miles a day. This hasn't really occurred to me. All I do is make sure I have good shoes because I'm so focused on keeping my feet happy. I do stretch every day anyway for my funky back and make sure I do that on park days. But I feel like no amount of extra exercise beforehand will make 8-10 hour days easier, but maybe I'm missing something.

How about you?

 

[BrianL]

I've recently heard of people trying to get in shape before their Disneyland trip, like cutting out caffeine or trying to walk a few miles a day. This hasn't really occurred to me. All I do is make sure I have good shoes because I'm so focused on keeping my feet happy. I do stretch every day anyway for my funky back and make sure I do that on park days. But I feel like no amount of extra exercise beforehand will make 8-10 hour days easier, but maybe I'm missing something.

How about you?

I think it depends on how much physical activity you are used to. I personally walk and jog frequently, so I don't feel like I need to specifically train for theme park days. I know some people who could benefit from it. Of course, if you start doing it a week before, I doubt you would see much difference, but if you give ti a few months, I think it would definitely help.

 

[Pluto468]

I think it depends on how much physical activity you are used to. I personally walk and jog frequently, so I don't feel like I need to specifically train for theme park days. I know some people who could benefit from it. Of course, if you start doing it a week before, I doubt you would see much difference, but if you give ti a few months, I think it would definitely help.

I walk every day and also use the exercise bike. Disneyland still kicks my *** though. Worth it, of course!

 

[BrianL]

I walk every day and also use the exercise bike. Disneyland still kicks my *** though. Worth it, of course!

Well, yeah, I can certainly be exhausted after a theme park day! My feet hurt - even my whole body. Sometimes I wonder why we put ourselves through it - but then I remember.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

If you're physically active on a regular basis no need to "train'.

I think there are people that use it as a motivator to start being more active in general.

Then I think there are others that use it literally just for the trip because they know they are not active enough in their normal life but then after the vacation they know they are going right back to not being active.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

I think it depends on how much physical activity you are used to. I personally walk and jog frequently, so I don't feel like I need to specifically train for theme park days. I know some people who could benefit from it. Of course, if you start doing it a week before, I doubt you would see much difference, but if you give ti a few months, I think it would definitely help.

Well, yeah, I can certainly be exhausted after a theme park day! My feet hurt - even my whole body. Sometimes I wonder why we put ourselves through it - but then I remember.

This exactly.

I walk daily so yeah in general walking and standing at the parks is easily doable but yeah also at the end of the day my feet are gonna hurt and I'm going to be physically tired.

 

[LKing]

Disneyland is my training!

To get ready for two weeks at WDW, we did two laps around DL and DCA as often as possible. On non park days, we do boring treadmill or walk by the beach.

Interestingly, I've never gotten a "Disney rash" at Disneyland, but always get it at WDW.

 

[BrianL]

Interestingly, I've never gotten a "Disney rash" at Disneyland, but always get it at WDW.

That's because it is so much more humid in Florida and people are just sweating all over everything.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I've recently heard of people trying to get in shape before their Disneyland trip, like cutting out caffeine or trying to walk a few miles a day. This hasn't really occurred to me. All I do is make sure I have good shoes because I'm so focused on keeping my feet happy. I do stretch every day anyway for my funky back and make sure I do that on park days. But I feel like no amount of extra exercise beforehand will make 8-10 hour days easier, but maybe I'm missing something.

How about you?

Nope and I dont exercise at all in everyday life. I make it just fine. As long as you know your shoes are good you will be fine. I mean you will be tired but not falling apart.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Disneyland is my training!

To get ready for two weeks at WDW, we did two laps around DL and DCA as often as possible. On non park days, we do boring treadmill or walk by the beach.

Interestingly, I've never gotten a "Disney rash" at Disneyland, but always get it at WDW.

I used to get it at DL but have not since 2021. Just got it again during our WDW trip. I am heavily leaning towards it not being related to exercise. Im trying to figure out what it is. Did you get it this most recent trip? If I remember correctly you stayed off property right?

 

[LKing]

I used to get it at DL but have not since 2021. Just got it again during our WDW trip. I am heavily leaning towards it not being related to exercise. Im trying to figure out what it is. Did you get it this most recent trip? If I remember correctly you stayed off property right?

Yep, I stayed off site The first few days we were there it was in the 70s and I did fine. It was later when it became more hot and humid that the rash started appearing.

 

[Tinkaboo]

I water jog in the lazy river current pool at my rec center 4 days a week, an hour each day. I walked an average of 9-10 miles per day last DL trip. The fresh air and exercise do help you sleep good each night! And those fabulous beds at CCI!

I used to get a rash on my ankles at Christmas time on every December DL trip...could never figure out why! Turns out I am allergic/sensitive to sheepskin and I would wear Uggs every trip. Took me several years to figure that out...dumb me but at home, I never wore them for 8+ hours a day! Now I just make sure I buy them with synthetic fur, not real sheep...no more rash!

 

[ParkHopper1]

DL endurance is a unique thing...yes, walking miles and stamina will always help but where most people struggle is just the pure amount of hours you are ON your feet with little time to sit and rest. Even in line you are on your feet. I have seen teenage athlete boys to gown physically fit guys struggle at DL cuz while they may be in shape very few get the type of on your feet for 12+ hours straight training to keep up!

Three things I always advocate is pace yourself and take rest breaks mid day even on day one, change your socks mid day, and alternate shoes every day to give pressure points on your feet a chance to recover.

That and a healthy supply of Advil and Tylenol!

Pro tip to prevent the "Disney Rash" is an application of a dry stick deodorant (not roll on) works wonders to prevent chafing. That is critical for me on the hotter summer days to remain comfortable and I am one that is in decent physical shape!

The physical pain will be a thing but the more you can mitigate the other things to keep you comfortable the more bearable it will be vs EVERYTHING being miserable!

 

[WITN-E]

I don't know that this counts as training, but I do try to meet minimum step goals in the months before trips to try and prepare my feet as much as possible. My last trip I averaged 25k steps per day, and that's not really realistic for every day outside of Disney, but it doesn't hurt to have Disneyland as a "carrot" to get me off my butt and have something to look forward to. Does it help me go faster? No. Does it help my dogs from barking as much? Absolutely yes. It also helps get my feet prepped in my shoes so I won't have issues with blisters - which can kill a trip quickly.

My next trip is in less than a month now (yay!) and I will be religiously getting at least 10k steps a day from now until then.

 

[LAS2AMS]

I’ve never had issues at DLR, probably because it’s rare that we spent more than a couple consecutive days there. Heck, we use to walk from DLR seven miles to/from the Santa Ana Metrolink station - since they almost never checked for tickets before (northbound) or afyer (soundbound) that stop. We also rode our bikes 20-some miles…

At WDW, yea, I get fatigued. That’s time for a meal or hotel break. You can never get use to that type of walking.

 

[pennym]

I did my 10K step a day for about a year before my last trip to Disneyland, and was pleasantly surprised at how conditioned I was in comparison to all my other trips. No sore feet or aching legs, it was amazing! I would recommend training at least some!

 

[disneychrista]

I can say with absolute certainty that when I was fitter and weighed (significantly) less my feet hurt a lot less at the end of the day then they do now that I gained the weight back.

 

[afan]

The parks are always easier for my legs when I've either been training for a longer run, over 6 miles or when I've purposely increase my mileage for a trip. For me that's most vacations, I would always rather walk in a city than take the subway all over if it's close because that's how you see stuff.

I agree with the others it is a lot about the time you spend on your feet, however you get that time in before the trip. Was it still doable when I was only running a few miles a week, sure but it's better since I started running longer distances so my legs are more used to it.

Yep, I stayed off site The first few days we were there it was in the 70s and I did fine. It was later when it became more hot and humid that the rash started appearing.

If I forget to put sunblock on my feet I will get the itchy rash at WDW. I don't have the same issue at DLR wearing the same sandals. It's not a sunburn and it never went up my legs but it was so itchy I didn't want to wear socks when I got home.

 

[MonocularVision]

I ate a bowl of ice cream in addition to several handfuls of leftover Starburst jelly beans tonight so yeah… I am training in my own way.

 

[Pluto468]

I ate a bowl of ice cream in addition to several handfuls of leftover Starburst jelly beans tonight so yeah… I am training in my own way.

You'll be all set for your trip! Maybe I'll copy your training plan.