HELP!! Flip Flops... Good Idea for walking parks?

[wdwlover88]

This is my sixth time to Disneyworld and everytime i go i where sneakers to walk the parks... and when we return back to the resort that evening my feet are hurtin'!! Now I've seen people walking through the parks wearing flip flops and some times it seems like a good idea and other times it doesn't. Honestly, is wearing flip flops a good idea???

 

[magicmouse2]

I read that flipflops are NOT good. I did wear sliders with chunky heels and was quite comfy in them, but flip flops and thongs would just spur on the fungal toe infections in my opinion.......

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

I wore soccer-style sandals (the type with one wide band) on my last trip and it was the first trip I've had where I didn't have to take 15 minutes out of each morning to wrap my feet in moleskin and bandaids. They were ugly, but they did the trick!

 

[chell]

I wouldn't wear them in the parks. Guess I've had too many bad experiences with them. You always seem to stump a toe or have a blow-out (when they fall apart)!

I do wear Birkenstock sandles in the parks and never have any problems. But I do make sure they are well broken in before I head for WDW. Also, I wear them almost daily for a week or two before the trip.


On the Disney Tips board a long time ago there was a thread about tips to help your feet after a long day in the parks. If I can find it I'll post a link for you here!

 

[Disney Ella]

I remember someone mentioning a safety issue before. They could get caught somewhere or fall off.

 

[Miscrapper]

For our last trip I had walking shoes (broken in) and bought Teva's based on recommendations here. The Tevas are expensive but very very comfortable. My feet tend to get hot in regular shoes so I like the sandals. I had no problems with blisters and neither did my family. We were well prepared with moleskin, foot spray etc but didn't use it!

Nice thing besides heat with sandals is that they dry on Kali, Splash or a storm better than athletic shoes.

 

[tinkerbee]

I've never had a problem with flip flops in the parks. My feet also kill me after a day of wearing tennis shoes. It's okay as long as you are use to wearing them.

 

[bjakmom]

I also loved wearing Tevas at the park (or anywhere for that matter!). Read about them here and decided to try a pair (the ones with the padding around the straps)- broke them in and had no problems wearing them all day - much cooler than sneakers/socks and much sturdier than flip-flops - they also stay on your feet no matter what.

 

[ScarletIndigo]

Originally posted by Miscrapper
For our last trip I had walking shoes (broken in) and bought Teva's based on recommendations here. The Tevas are expensive but very very comfortable. My feet tend to get hot in regular shoes so I like the sandals. I had no problems with blisters and neither did my family.

I second the vote for Teva sandals. They even make their own line of flip-flips or slides, which are more expensive, but probably have much better padding. I recently bought Teva sandals for DF and myself on recommendation from the folks here at the DIS boards, and I couldn't be happier with them! Yeah, they're not the CUTEST sandals around, and at $70 they seemed a bit on the pricey side, but I really think they'll be worth it when it comes to a 15-hour day at WDW! I recently spent the whole day walking around Chicago in them, and my feet didn't hurt a bit -- and the best part, NO BLISTERS! Definitely check them out!

(PS -- If you're on a budget, you can sometimes find them cheaper at www.sierratradingpost.com ... Otherwise you can buy them directly from www.teva.com. Good luck!)

 

[peachgirl]

I've worn flip-flops in the parks and never had a problem either. I've tried Teva's and Nike Straprunners and gotten blisters before I ever left home. The same thing happens when I wear the high dollar athletic shoes I just had to have.

On our last summer trip, after 2 days of the athletic shoes, flops were the only thing my feet could stand!

Believe it or not, $3.85 Wal-Mart flops are the only things that don't kill my feet. I just went to town yesterday and bought 5 pair of the silly things for this trip! They have a nice cushion sole, but it doesn't last forever, so I just wear a new pair every few days. Sort of like disposable shoes!!

14 hours until we're outta here!

 

[gumdrop]

The only thing I wear in the parks are flip-flops--the 2.00 ones from Target and I have had no problems. Like a previous poster said, just make sure you get used to wearing them. I also wear slide sandals (wide band) and they work fine too. I love having my feet as open as possible--the more material I have around my feet, the more blisters and pain I get.

 

[Lovetherodent]

I usually wear sandals to an amusement park, but since this is Disney, I'm coming prepared. I've got 3 pair of shoes lined up to go--Merrill water sandals, Rockport Sandals, and some off brand tennies that I've had for years and find very comfy. I figure if something causes a problem, I can switch.

Give the flip flops a try if you normally wear them and find them comfortable. If you take a mid-day break, you won't have to wear them all day if they're not working out.

 

[cpl100]

Honestly, I don't think flip flops are a great idea... not enough support and too easy to stub your toes. I recommend either Teva's or Clarks which give great support. I recently wore a pair of Clarks all over NYC. My feet never even whispered 'ouch' let alone shouted it out. I've decided to try them next month at Disney.

 

[Mrs.A]

Originally posted by cpl100
Honestly, I don't think flip flops are a great idea... not enough support and too easy to stub your toes. I recommend either Teva's or Clarks which give great support. I recently wore a pair of Clarks all over NYC. My feet never even whispered 'ouch' let alone shouted it out. I've decided to try them next month at Disney.

I agree with the Clarks, I have 2 pair I wear in the winter, and a pair of sandles for the summer. I will have on my clarks at Disney in Aug.

 

[peachgirl]

The only thing I wear in the parks are flip-flops--the 2.00 ones from Target and I have had

And I thought my $3.86 flip-flops were a bargain!

 

[jsmla]

I don't know your age but it can matter. My DD is 15 and a serious dancer. She wears heels to WDW and never has sore feet or blisters. I (age 43) really need well broken-in walking tennies. Lately, in addition to blisters, most sandals seem to give me leg and back aches after a long day. And my mom has a picture of me (aged 14) at WDW wearing those hideous platform shoes that were such a rage in the '70's. "Youth is wasted on the young."

 

[gumdrop]

Originally posted by peachgirl
And I thought my $3.86 flip-flops were a bargain!

Oh they are, don't worry! The solid color flops are on sale this week for 2.00, and if I really want to indulge myself, stripes and prints are about a buck more! So actually, starting tomorrow, they'll be back to Wal-Mart's prices.

 

[WDWAurora]

I think the original price of the Target flops is only about 2.50, I am also the proud owner of a pair! hehe BUT I would NEVER EVER EVER wear them in the parks. I've never gotten a blister from sneakers, but I wore the target flops to DTD for only a couple hours our first night and had a blister! And it's not like I'm not used to them, I'm a college student on a huge campus, and have worn them EVERYWHERE since I got them in early March, and the trip I made this mistake on was in May....I want to get some rainbow flops and try them...anybody know anything about that brand?

 

[georgina]

I usually stick to my New Balance shoes - they come in wide widths, which I need. I tried a pair of Tevas, but there was an elastic band under the top strap that was too tight on my feet. They look adjustable, but because of that band, i couldn't wear them. I'm not sure if all tevas are like that, but i was disappointed. Anyone elsewith wide feet have any recommendations? On the other hand, my daughter wears flip flops in amusement parks with no problem, except on the suspended coasters, where they have made her sit on them during the ride (uncomfortable!)

 

[chell]

Originally posted by georgina
Anyone elsewith wide feet have any recommendations?

That's why I wear my Birkenstock sandals. I know some people don't like them, but I love them. They are the only ones that are wide enough for me. Actually, they are the only shoes that I can just walk into a store a purchase. Otherwise I have to custom order my shoes becasue my feet are so wide.