How do You get in "shape" for WDW?

[Melwood23]

For about two weeks before I leave, I stay up until 5 am, drink a 12-pack of beer every night and get up around noon everyday.

Oops -- I'm sorry that's what I do before I go to Vegas!

:

sounds almost like me before my LV trips.

As for the WDW trips, I walk the dog for about 40mins everyday (though in this hot weather I have had to cut back on the dog's walking). But I also started riding a bike to help build those legs muscles.

Also I have learn, and this maybe harder with kids, to take a break each day.
I do a park in the morning, then break around noon/1pm, back to the hotel to relax, either the pool, or just lay down in the AC (yes even in Dec I have done this). The key is to let those legs relax a bit. Then I am ready for the late afternoon/evening park stolls. I tried to do one park all day when I first started going to WDW in 2000, but it was ridiculus how much my legs would be aching by the time I got to bed, they would keep me up half the night.

Even if you do a park all day, SIT and rest periodically.

 

[STEAMBOAT209]

DW and I diet M - F, eat what we want on the weekends, break in our new sneakers on the weekends by walking longer distances each weekend. This usually keeps us in shape for each trip, we try to keep this as our routine.

 

[siouxi31]

I really make sure my yoga is in gear daily for a few months before WDW. It helps to be limber. We also walk as a family but there is no schedule. It's whenever we can fit it in and we walk for about an hour. I'm not sure of the mileage of the walk.

 

[ReneeA]

I've always kept in decent shape. I make sure that I start walking longer distances before our trips. We are going in a month and right now I am walking 3 miles 4 times a week. I am also doing an exercise video (70 minutes!) 2 times a week - but that's just to remove the hips and lovehandles from childbearing!

I am trying to convince my DH that he should be walking with me, but the 95 degree heat is turning him off from that right now. Like it's going to be any cooler than that in WDW in August.

 

[newholidayx2]

get outside and walk in the 90degree heat!
I have been getting out to walk in the mornings (8am) when the day is going to be 90 degrees here in MA. I figure I'll be doing it closer to midday when we're in FL 2wks in August - better start geting adjusted to the humidity now

 

[Dawson'sMom]

Thanks everyone for your ideas! I will keep up the walking and maybe add some outside walking time to adjust to the heat.

Anyone eles have any ideas on what to do? Has anyone tryed the Johnson foot soak stuff after you return to the room?

 

[maxiesmom]

I do the Walk Away the Pounds videos too. Or should I say I have done the 1 mile walk, I haven't quite made it past that yet.

I walk constantly at work, so I really haven't had any problems at Disney. I am trying to build my endurance up.

I have some minty lotion that is made for tired legs. It feels really good after a hard day, and I must remember to pack it.

 

[Dawson'sMom]

Bump!

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

Lots and lots of walking - on a daily basis usually 4 to 5 miles/day - although we did like familydisney's plan of staying up until 5 am, drinking a 12-pack of beer every night and getting up around noon everyday Unfortunately something called "work" gets in the way of that plan!

 

[rkujay]

Walk.... a lot. But most importantly HYDRATE. If you don't live here, the heat will make you sweat. Guess what? I live here. The heat makes me sweat, so I drink lots and lots of beer...and a little water too.

 

[Bev J]

We are about 2.5months away from our trip. DH, DS and I have started walking about 30 min a day this week, next week we will add a little more distance and keep going that way.
Our problem right now is the heat- 115 heat index! So we are walking about 9 at night.
unfortunatly I woke up this am with heel pain that just about made me cry, I am going to try a different pair of shoes tonight and see how it goes.

Bev

 

[kimmar067]

For about two weeks before I leave, I stay up until 5 am, drink a 12-pack of beer every night and get up around noon everyday.

Oops -- I'm sorry that's what I do before I go to Vegas! ...

.....




I sign up for the "Iron Man" triathlon about a week before a WDW vaca......

 

[Karenj2]

It's funny I noticed this post today - my friend and I were just talking about this! She and I usually walk once or twice a week for about an hour, and I walk my dog every morning for about 40 minutes, but I haven't been losing weight... She and her hubby decided that they wanted to do this "marathon" in Delaware (bicycling, running, kayaking & canoeing), and running was her weakest point, so she searched for ways to train, and found this website:

Couch to 5K Running Plan

It's worked wonderfully for her - at first she couldn't jog for even a minute without getting winded, now she's up to jogging for 20 minutes straight. (Plus she's lost 5 pounds, and she's getting more muscular). She sent me the link today, and my plan is to start doing this during my walk with my dog, so I can get used to walking 5-6 miles a day.

 

[deekaypee]

I have a pretty strong aerobic/cardio workout in place, so that walking isn't a problem for me per se. But to prepare for the different kind of "exercise" Disney provides takes some practice, so I'm glad to see this thread here.

Some things I do:
-In addition to my regular workout I take to walking outdoors at the trip nears, during the heat of the day if possible. I test out different shoes during this time (turns out I'm a sneakers kind of gal).
-I also experiment with different bags/water bottle combination during the walks. (My first rule of survival for any Disney trip? Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!) I pick the combination that offers the best balance between carrying necessities and comfort.
-I bring along a yoga strap and a yoga-on-tape (well, MP3). Others have mentioned the importance of stretching and all I can say is "Amen!"

What I find the hardest about Disney isn't all the walking, or even the weaving, through the parks. It's the standing in line. Keep those tips about relieving sore feet coming!

 

[QT Pooh]

If you're walking 4 miles 6x a week, you should be alright. Sometimes leg cramps are not caused by lack of exercise but by dehydration or by a calcium or potassium deficiency. If you're not taking a multi-vitamin, maybe you should start, especially if you're also dieting.

 

[goofyernmost]

Well, let's see...First, I buy a case of Dove Ice Cream bars to get my system ready for an over consumption of Mickey Bars, Drink gallons of Pineapple Juice to get ready for O/Ding on Dole Whip Floats, try and locate some mutated turkeys to gain the capacity for Turkey Legs the size of a small building, and then I stand in basically one spot, weaving back and forth in single file to ward of any muscle cramping.

Other than that I just practice smiling so my face muscles stay relaxed in that position.

 

[Dawson'sMom]

Thanks everyone for the input!

Anyone eles have ideas?

 

[rkujay]

Don't...repeat DO NOT bring new shoes (sneaks, sandals, whatever) to Disney. It will help avoid the temptation to wear them and look trendy, cool or whatever. Wear your broken in (but not worn out) ones. Sure way to spend time on the sidelines is with brand new shoes.

 

[Dawson'sMom]

Bump!

 

[Amyg]

Funny but we got so busy before the trip because my DH was gone on business for a month before we left so my DS-9 and I only got to walk a mile and a half only once! Well, I was really worried because I have a knee that starts to hurt at about the mile mark and also have ball of foot pain. The first couple of days, my thighs were a bit tight, (I'm one of those fast paced walkers so I'm always leading the charge) then the 4th day my shins hurt a little but the 5-8 days I was fine. I was both surprised and relieved!

I think one very important thing is to get good shoes with great support, my shoes were so comfy during the entire trip! Exercising before the trip is a great idea though!