How much should I be walking NOW to get ready for WDW?

[triplefigs]

I am not out of shape, but don't exercise that regularly. I have a treadmill and want to walk on it NOW so that *hopefully* my legs won't kill me at the Parks. How much do I need to walk? We leave in 55 days.


Thanks!

 

[Kimberly815]

I have read a lot of threads about this with varying results on the mileage walked. I think most people reported that they generally walked 5-10 miles per day while at WDW. However, I definitley remember reading totals higher than that in isolated cases.

I am so curious on this subject that I am actually planning on wearing a pedometer on our upcoming trip (October 15-22nd). My guess pre-trip is that we will walk around 8 miles everyday. I am curious to see if I am even close! I would be happy to report back on my findings.

 

[Evil Queen]

We had BIG plans to start walking two months out. We thought ok, we'll get in walking shape and be use to Florida humidity. Didn't work out that way. We did fine, but we sat when ever needed and rested.

I know that didn't answer your question, but if you want to start getting in walking condition, I would say now.

 

[PatrickBDunlap]

My family normally get up to 6 mile walks before we go. You do a LOT of walking when you are at the parks and you could go cold turkey but figuring how much money you are spending each day you are there, you do not want to be wiped out when you wake up the next day for another day at the park.

With that said, stay on campus at a resort that is close and go back to your room for a nap each day (trust me on this).

 

[kimmbagley]

You had better start NOW! I am only at 3 1/2 miles on my treadmill an d I think I am going to regret it. We leave in 29 days!

 

[nliedel]

Six miles a day ought to do it.

 

[bigmac5]

I walk about 30 minutes every night at a good pace and I found that I had no problem at WDW. I started my walking the first of June and we went to Disney the end of Aug. I think because even though you walk a lot there it is not all at once so it doesn't seem as bad

My DS14 complained about the amount of walking, but he doesn't do the 30 minute intense walk that I do. I think it does make a difference to do some every day.

 

[miller123]

Walk before you go!! I am back now 10 days but by let me tell you- you walk alot. We were wiped by the end of the day. Also good worn shoes-no new pair for the trip. Have fun.

 

[bigmac5]

I must also say that socks make a big difference. I bought some socks with cool max and they were wonderful. In the heat of the summer, my son's feet were wrinkled from sweating--mine perfectly dry. Diabetic socks are good to . They have two layers of material(DH is diabetic) which avoid friction.

 

[cillakat]

i wasn't exercising at all before we went last year and i was fine. we followed the touring plans in the UG so there was a ton of walking and backtracking. i wore my dansko clogs and it was just perfect. the one day i wore tennies my feet were so sore (b/c tennies are never the best option for me)....but as long as i kept those clogs on, i was good to go. we rarely rested or sat and i was almost always pushing 2-4 kids in our 1 disney double stroller

i will say though, that i slept very well for about 10h every night.

katherine in atl

 

[Nank]

I wish I had a pedometer with me when we went!

We walked ALOT! Maybe if we had planned a little better with the maps it would have been better. By the 4th day and our trip to MGM, I mapped out our plan and that worked much better. Went over to Rock N Roller coaster (?) and left that side of the park and never went back.

 

[markºoº]

Can't say this enough - make sure you have comfortable, well broken in shoes, good quality socks (not the real thin kind), and pack moleskin for any blisters that you might get. Also, if you are going during a peak period and expect to wait in line long periods of time, we find this will tire you more than actually walking! You feet will get sore just from standing still for long periods.

While you do walk a lot at WDW, remember you will get to sit a fair amount and the walking is spread out over an entire day. My family actually gets more tired after 5 hours at our local zoo than a day at WDW. The difference is we never sit at the zoo! The extended walks at WDW every day do, however, wear us down and almost always give me blisters.

If at all possible, don't try 6 miles at a time on the treadmill. Instead, try to break it up over the day. Two miles in the morning, two in the afternoon, and two in the evening.

 

[daisyduck123]

Two years ago before we went on our 1st trip to WDW, I had big plans to get the family walking each day, in prep. for our trip...because of what I'd read in the UG. Well, we never got any prep. done...we just went cold turkey & we all did just fine. No complaints....but we go in the off season, take our time, no commando-style.

 

[Steffy]

Wear your oldest most comfortable shoes. We walked our feet off. We were crazy women!!

My calves have never been tighter. Our fee throbbed liked they had heartbeats. We had a ball.

Walk tons.

 

[goofie4goofy]

Wear your oldest most comfortable shoes. We walked our feet off. We were crazy women!!

My calves have never been tighter. Our fee throbbed liked they had heartbeats. We had a ball.

Walk tons.

On the contrary...you should never wear old shoes...thye are worn out. If you get a really good pair of sneakers, like Saucony hurricane 7's, they need no break in, there is full support and you are walking on a pocket of air. When shoes are old (sneakers wear out in 6 months during everyday use) there is no longer any support, which in turn hurt your feet, ankles, legs. knees and hips. So invest in a good pair of sneakers, the ones above will cost you over $100 but are the top of the line, and you will not feel a thing.

We wore ours everyday, they make them in men and women's, We did 3 parks 3 times during our 5 day stay. No blisters, no leg cramps, no pain. We do work out everyday ( I wakl a min of 3.5 miles per day) but that has nothing to do with foot comfort...you will be able to go further with great shoes as you will be less fatigued. Keep in mind you are walking on cement...so as much support and air cushion you can put between your foot and the cement the better.

Think of good shoes as an investment. If you are hurting, WDW is not a fun place to be.

 

[franw]

Get yourself up to about 30 miles a day carrying a 50 pound weight around your neck. Practice throwing large amounts of money out of your fannypack while walking crisply. Only kidding! Actually, I would agree that comfortable shoes are the most important thing you'll have going for you. Not just one pair but two. One of the 20 minute downpours can soak your shoes. A pair of Crocs aren't a bad idea if it looks like it is going to be raining on and off (I can't wear flipflops around all day but if you can, they'll work).

One thing to consider is that you won't be walking 10 miles non-stop. You'll get chances to sit down and rest. Standing in line actually wears me out more than walking so try to use FastPasses and go to some of the more popular attractions early. Also check the boards to see where the shortest waits are and plan your day so you aren't walking from one end to the other. Take a break back to your room and hit the hot tub to relax your legs.

I've gone in terrific shape and terrible shape. I've had a ball each time and find WDW so energizing that, while exhausted at the end of each night, I hate to go back to the room. Have fun.

 

[Steffy]

On the contrary...you should never wear old shoes...thye are worn out. If you get a really good pair of sneakers, like Saucony hurricane 7's, they need no break in, there is full support and you are walking on a pocket of air. When shoes are old (sneakers wear out in 6 months during everyday use) there is no longer any support, which in turn hurt your feet, ankles, legs. knees and hips. So invest in a good pair of sneakers, the ones above will cost you over $100 but are the top of the line, and you will not feel a thing.

We wore ours everyday, they make them in men and women's, We did 3 parks 3 times during our 5 day stay. No blisters, no leg cramps, no pain. We do work out everyday ( I wakl a min of 3.5 miles per day) but that has nothing to do with foot comfort...you will be able to go further with great shoes as you will be less fatigued. Keep in mind you are walking on cement...so as much support and air cushion you can put between your foot and the cement the better.

Think of good shoes as an investment. If you are hurting, WDW is not a fun place to be.

You couldn't be more correct!!!!

Ah yes. I forget not everyone wears the type of shoes I do!

I wear SAS. I took 4 pair so I could rotate them. I wore the newest (1 week) on the plane and used the ones that were between 2 months and 12 months in the parks. Each pair of shoes runs about $125.00. They are great shoes. All I wear.

My feet hurt (but no blisters!) because we were total nut cases and did AK in the morning and afternoon and then MNSSHP until midnight! My goodness were had fun!!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I always wear a pedometer at WDW (I wear one all the time at home, too). I don't know how many miles I walked, but the day that my son and I went to AK and then walked around the World Showcase we walked LOTS of steps. I think 33,000, maybe more (he remembers, but he's at school).

When my 11yo son and I went we each wore one, which was good for his motivation. He didn't complain nearly as much about the walking at what he usually does. He was trying to outstep me every day and when in line he would walk in place to give himself more steps. Yes, he's a very competitive child!

 

[goofy4tink]

If you walk for about 30 minutes a day, you should be fine. I always have these great intentions about getting in 'WDW walking shape'...hasn't happened yet!!! But since you're walking, stopping, riding, walking, etc., it isn't such a big deal. As far as shoes go....we have done shoes in every combination you can imagine. We had always taken sneakers that were a month or so old...broken in but plenty of support. But, my feet get really hot in those. So, tried sport sandals. Good but tended to get little blisters if I wore them a lot. Then tried alternating. That worked pretty well, but we ended up traveling with about 3 pairs of shoes each!!! Who needs 9 pr of shoes in their luggage. So, in June dd and I took only sneakers, sport sandals, and our crocs. The sneakers never got worn, the sandals worn once...crocs the rest of the time!! In Aug...dd and I both wore our crocs to WDW and everyday thereafter. I have high arches and some knee issues but these made my feet very happy.

 

[kimmbagley]

Can't say this enough - make sure you have comfortable, well broken in shoes, good quality socks (not the real thin kind), and pack moleskin for any blisters that you might get.

Okay, now I'm bummin. I just went and bought everyone thin socks thinking they would be cooler! Are you saying it is better as far as friction on the skin, but not too hot either? My kids age 9 & 13 are fighting me on wearing flip flops too. I say NO WAY!