gentle reminder about footwear

[butterfly71076]

I always buy new sneakers before Disney and wear them everywhere for about a month before. Have never had a problem. If you are wearing sneakers, something I have learned, make sure your socks fit you right. Too big or to small can bunch up in places and cause blisters.

 

[Minnesota!]

I just got back tonight from 7 days at the world. On the advice of a friend, I got a pair of Sketchers Go Walks. Granted, not the cutest but I felt great the whole trip, no sore legs or feet like before.

How do these fit? I really like the looks of the open toe sandals, and was going to order a pair on Amazon. Not sure if I should go up a size if they run small, etc. I suppose I could order two pairs and return whichever doesn't fit best..

 

[DebbieB]

How do these fit? I really like the looks of the open toe sandals, and was going to order a pair on Amazon. Not sure if I should go up a size if they run small, etc. I suppose I could order two pairs and return whichever doesn't fit best..

Mine are the closed toe slip on, I went up a 1/2 size and was glad I did, they were really comfy.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I found that socks had a lot to do with it, too. On our first day I wore the wrong socks and I paid for it.

I love Asics gel shoes. They are very supportive.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

How do these fit? I really like the looks of the open toe sandals, and was going to order a pair on Amazon. Not sure if I should go up a size if they run small, etc. I suppose I could order two pairs and return whichever doesn't fit best..

The pp is right, go up half a size on them but also give yourself plenty of time to try them out. The GoWalks are not so good for some people. A lot of people LOVE them but if you need a lot of arch support, they don't work so well. I could not wear mine at Disney or anything more than running errands.

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

I have been to WDW on many occasions, but, for some reason I didn't wear my sneakers the first day deciding to wear a cute new pair of sandals I just bought. We went to HS, planning on only being there a few hours. We were having a blast and decided to stay for Fantasmic! I started to develop a blister on the ball of my foot near the toes. So, I was walking on the side of my foot and twisted my knee! Moral of the story is it affected me for the rest of my trip. If I can save one person from having this happen, my job is done.

And I thought I was the only one! That's how I re-injured my Achilles tendon - something that hasn't acted up in years. I changed my tennis shoes (that I was sick of wearing) for cute shoes because we were only going to the Magic Kingdom for a few hours one night recently. What a mistake! Never again!

 

[mindeola]

I only wear flip flops at the park. I think it is important to wear the shoes you are used to that are broken in. I would be so aggravated by tennis shoes.

On my last day last week, I did get a small blister on the ball of my foot. I have never had that happen before. They were newer sandals that I thought were properly broken in . Moleskin fixed it right up, but it was painful!

 

[Huff]

I usually alternate between two pairs of choose every other day. Prevents the same spots from being rubbed daily. So far no blisters.

 

[Dreamin192]

Last year I wore a pair of Toms Sandals our first day at the parks. I had worn them around the house for weeks before and thought I would be okay. Never underestimate what lots of walking and heat can do to your feet. We did the Family Magic Tour and about 30 minutes in I was dying. I made it through the tour, completely miserable and skin rubbed off in several places. I searched the main street shops for any sort of footwear and ended up with a pair of Mickey flip flops. Not the most stylish things ever but I actually wore them several times and they saved my feet that first day. The CM at the register asked if I wanted them to take the tags off so I could wear them then, they clearly experience people needing to switch shoes a lot.

 

[gorkt]

Yep, footwear is so important! I like the Sketchers GoWalks and I also bring a waterproof pair of Ahnu sandals. I still usually get some blisters on my toes a few days in so I also to make sure to pack bandaids and neosporin.

 

[1971DBday]

I am a flip flop kind of person and hate having my feet enclosed in gym shoes to long. Found a great pair that would be comfier in the parks and they were great. Next year bought the same pair and after day 1 started getting blisters. In desperation bought a pair of basic flip flops at the park and they were great. My advice - you never know and to each their own.

 

[dreiwhit]

I think it is important to wear the shoes you are used to that are broken in.

Absolutely! I shudder to think of walking around in the parks with shoes that hadn't been broken in.

We bought new tennis shoes for everyone well before we went to Disney this year. My wife and I wore ours every day, even just around the house, to break them in. I told my kids to do the same. Yep, you guessed it. They didn't listen to dear old Dad and they weren't broken in as well as ours were.

They both had blisters before lunch on the first day. Fortunately, dear old Dad had planned ahead and brought plenty of moleskin and band aids.

 

[Micca]

I tried Crocs and flip flops a time or two and it was awful for me. I didn't get blisters, but my feet hurt in the Crocs, and my entire body hurt with the flips. I've learned my lesson that I must wear tennis shoes that are well broken-in. The minute we return to the resort though, the tennis shoes come off and flips go on.

 

[GeneralTso]

I'm sorry that happened to you. Foot pain (leg/hip/anything) can really make a Disney trip rough. A blister on day 1 can mess you up for days on end.
Your reminder is a very good one. It is so important to work out your shoe situation before you go. I have 3 pairs that go the distance. A pair of Sketchers, Disney Vans (surprisingly comfy) and a pair of Nikes. I can go forever in those shoes. I rotate through them. I wear sandals and flip flops around the resort, never into the parks.

I saw a woman in strappy, stiletto sandals last time. I was pretty shocked but to each their own. Maybe her feet just never hurt.

 

[momimouse27]

I'll never forget, on my honeymoon I was going to be so cute(!) and wear my brand new tennis shoes. Mind you-this was in the early 90's when everybody wore those flat soled Keds-except mine weren't Ked's they were the cheap Walmart kind. And we wore them with NO socks. Well, you can pretty much guess how that went. By noon of the second day, I had a nice big blister on my big toe. So, we had to buy a pair of new and cushy shoes to wear. They were much better but I still hurt the rest of the trip. Never again!!

 

[Duckiedee]

Can an orthotic be worn in a Sketchers Go Walk?

 

[dreiwhit]

I found that socks had a lot to do with it, too. On our first day I wore the wrong socks and I paid for it.

Absolutely! Socks are very important. When I have to do a lot of walking (like Disney), I wear moisture wicking synthetic socks. When cotton socks get wet, they will rub against your skin and cause blisters and hot spots.

I also heavily powder my feet and socks when I put them on in the morning.

 

[yngsj]

No matter what shoes I wear, I always rub Body Glide for feet on my feet so my shoes/socks don't rub on my skin. I wouldn't go to WDW without it!

 

[TWK]

I always always back blister bandaides. We have been lucky and not had to use them. Last time we went one of my kids broke my sandal early on and I had to wear flip flops the rest of the week. I agree, I think it is best just not to wear brand new shoes.

 

[niffer5150]

i won't even attempt a park in anything but my gel asics. the risk vs. reward is WAY off. why ruin a very expensive vacation with bad footwear? btw, band aid makes a really nice gel blister bandage that's amazing and worth every penny. they are a permanent part of our touring kit now because even in the best shoes, feet can swell and shoes that were fine before, now don't fit the same way.