If you plan on wearing tennis shoes....

[ScoJo15]

Pack an extra pair!!

It rained one day during our trip two weeks ago and my daughter's shoes were still wet the next morning. Thank goodness we had packed a pair of flips (Ok, we didn't really pack them but she wore them for the car ride down).

I will always remember to pack an extra pair of shoes from now on.

Hope this helps!

 

[K9pal]

We always pack 2 pair, and alternate them each day. Gives your tired feet a break.

 

[puffkin]

We always pack 2 pair, and alternate them each day. Gives your tired feet a break.

Agree. It is amazing what a difference putting on fresh shoes each day makes. For some reason, your foot wears each pair of shoes differently.

 

[ehaley]

I AGREE 2 pairs are a must and they need to be well broken in. Learned the hard way after the 1st trip with only 1 good pair and had lots of blisters to show for it. Add a little moleskin on any area that gets sensitive and no more problems. I've never done sandals at the parks, but now have a pair of Tevas and am thinking about bringing them in January. While they are comfortable I'm not convinced they would be walking all day. Then there is the weather, if it gets cold I'm not sure I'd want to wear them at all.

 

[The Sweetness]

One trip to AK, When Kali Rapids was still a new ride, we were excited to try it. We liked it, but my mom (very hard to please) was quite disapointed that we didnt get wet. We got right back on and got the bonus plan. We were completely drenched from head to toe. Luckily it was hot outside as usual and our clothes dried quickly. But our sneakers were ruined. They were still damp a few days later when we went home. We ended up buying flip flops in AK for $15 a pair. It was worth it though, just to see the odd looks that grandma was getting in the bathroom trying to use the hand dryer to dry her pants

 

[minkydog]

Good advice. Wearing wet tennies is like slipping a loofah onto each foot. ~ow!

 

[gt0163c]

There are multiple ways to get athletic (or other type) of shoes dry, should they get wet.

The easiest way is to place loosely crumpled newspaper (or other paper, preferable absorbant, but not too absorbant. Newspaper really is perfect.) in the shoes. This does a couple of things. The paper absorbs some water, but it also keeps the show more open and upright, so the air can move around more and dry the shoe better.
What I normally do with wet shoes is remove the laces, pull the tongue out, pull the insole out (if it will come out) and then lightly fill the shoe with crumpled newspaper. If you're able, change the paper every few hours.

Also, especially in Florida, don't leave the shoes outside your room. Put them as close to the air conditioner as possible. Air conditioners also remove the humidity from the air. So, the air drying will work much better inside your room, with the air conditioning on, rather than outside the room in the humid Florida air.

In fact, putting the shoes on top or near the a/c unit so that the air will be blowing into/over them will speed up the process (whether it's on cool or heat), as the moving air will help with the evaporation process.

 

[Luv4Disney]

If it's planning on raining, don't wear socks! LoL. I learned the hard way. We pack flip flops as well just in case.

 

[Nikki_Mouse]

I bought a pair of "Crocs" from Dick's sporting goods. My husband did not like them-until he tried them on. I went and bought him a pair. They do not abosorb the water from the rides. They dry quickly and were very confortable. I learned about them on Intercot.com and was very pleased that I purchased them. Look into them- you may like them as well.

 

[ron808]

Hmm... I went there with flipflops & I've had no troubles walking all day.

If you're considering tennis shoes, try something that's cushy.

Nike's Air Max line is good.

 

[ZoZo]

Just back from a week at WDW. Brought some tennies I thought I had broken in well (they're my workout shoes), but found that 12+ hours a day of walking isn't the same as a 45-minute workout on the treadmill! Got blisters, although I'd packed moleskin and used it. Finally switched to flip flops the last two days and did better. But had a painful, water-filled blister under my little toe that was awful!

So my advice is . . . break them in really, really well. I wish I'd brought my oldest, crummiest tennies, because I know they're broken in!

 

[agnes!]

If you drove or if you have a rental car, put the shoes in the back window & use solar power .
First, make sure the shoes are as dry as you can get them, using newspapers inside, paper towels, undoing the laces, pulling up the tongue, etc. Then if the shoes remain quite wet even after you've tried to dry them a little bit by hand, make sure you put some kind of plastic(a WDW shopping bag perhaps?) under the shoes with maybe some newspaper between the shoe & the plastic.

Works like a charm, usually drying out shoes within one sunny day.

agnes!
PS - Another tip...buy some new *good* socks before your trip. New comfy/thick socks can rejuvenate a slightly tired pair of walking shoes. I like Thorlos. It's true they're expensive, but they take forever to wear out.

 

[Amyg]

PS - Another tip...buy some new *good* socks before your trip. New comfy/thick socks can rejuvenate a slightly tired pair of walking shoes. I like Thorlos. It's true they're expensive, but they take forever to wear out.

Thurlos are great! One thing I did notice about them is they are so thick (and comfy) I have to wear a half size larger shoe with these socks.