need help with shoes for water parks

[meab]

the search tool isn't working for me this morning!

we're going to BB in 2 weeks, and i'm desperately seeking the best kind of footwear to use while we're there. DH and i have tevas, but i didn't know if they let you go down the slides wearing shoes like that... not sure if an aquasock type shoe is better?

also, i bought the lands end water sneaker things for the kids, ages 4 and 2. they're mesh, so i thought it would be great for beach days too, since they claim the mesh keeps a lot of sand out of the shoe. however, we tested them this morning, and the kids didn't want to wear them in the sand. also, i'm concerned that a sneaker-type shoe will rub on their feet and start to hurt after they're wet. so maybe a sandal, like teva, would be better?

any suggestions are more than welcome. i saw a thread on some payless shoes, so i'll try to check those out today. also, i tried on a pair of crocs and didn't like the way they felt (ack, am i the only one?).

and i guess the big question is if people wear the shoes on the slides and everything.

thanks in advance. as if there wasn't enough to obsess about when planning a trip to disney...

 

[TAKitty]

We went without shoes, and I would not do it again. However, I also don't like to be barefooted either. I was going to suggest the Landsend shoes. Yes, if I go back to a water park I am going to wear them on the rides too. I also tried on Crocs, actually purchased a pair, and am now going to sell them on Ebay. They felt slimey to me. So, you can try the Landsend or the cheap "water" shoes that they sell at any discount store in the summer.

 

[Disney Debbie]

I wear Tevas. They make you take them off on the slides - but you can hold them so it isn't a problem at all. I just take them off right before I get in the water to go down the slide.

 

[meab]

isn't it annoying to hold on to your shoes while you're sliding down? is there any footwear you're allowed to wear on the slides? especially for the kids, i don't want them to have to worry about holding on to their shoes.

 

[HolliePoppins]

I would just buy water shoes. They stay on very well and you dont have to worry about holding on to sandals while you are trying to have fun. If you happen to lose one on the slide it could injure the next person so i wouldnt recommend the sandals. We buy water shoes every year and they are great. You can get them at walmart, kmart and most drug stores too. They are only about $8 or $9 Have fun.

 

[meab]

just curious why they make you remove tevas. it seems like it would be safer to slide with them on rather than hold them while sliding.

anyone else have to remove footwear?

 

[bicker]

I suspect they make you remove your shoes because of the chance it may get caught on something, or act as a plow to slow your descent so much that it would disrupt the operation of the attraction.

Beyond that, it would surely be more dangerous for the people down-slide of you.

 

[AStamm]

Whatever you do, wear something! We did BB and TL for the first time two summers ago and our feet were a mess because of hot concrete/sand.

 

[BYC]

I think they make you remove any shoe that could scratch up the slides. We have a water park near our home, and they would not let my son onto the slides because his bathing suit had a couple of small, metal grommets on it. We had to go but him a new bathing suit. They told us that if someone had a shoe with a metal buckle, or anything that looked like it could scratch the slides, they would not be allowed.

 

[bicker]

I think they make you remove any shoe that could scratch up the slides.

Gosh, that makes sense!

 

[meab]

hmmm. that makes sense, but i don't see how tevas could ruin the slide. and also, they seem like they'd slow you down about as much as any other shoes would.

please don't think i'm being argumentative. but i absolutely do NOT want to go barefoot, and i don't want to have to remove my (or the kids) footwear once i'm there and ready to play! i picked up pair of aquasocks for the kids so far, so they should be fine.

 

[mantysk8coach]

Is there a place near the entrance/exit to slides where you can store shoes? At a waterpark we go to a lot there are little cubby holes at each slide where shoes can be stored while you're on the ride.

 

[digskat]

we wore our aqua socks the entire time with no trouble

 

[BYC]

Is there a place near the entrance/exit to slides where you can store shoes? At a waterpark we go to a lot there are little cubby holes at each slide where shoes can be stored while you're on the ride.

The problem with these cubbies....at least at the water park near us... is that you have to go back to the beginning of the slide to fetch your shoes. The ride starts and ends at two different places. When we go, we carry nothing. We leave towels on a lounge chair, or in a locker. We all wear regular cheapo water shoes. That way, as we exit one ride, we are on to the next. No running back for shoes and towels, etc. That would make me crazy!

 

[Hollyster2]

So you CAN wear the regular water shoes on the slides?

 

[BYC]

So you CAN wear the regular water shoes on the slides?

Yes, as long as there are no buckles to scratch up the slide. Lots of people wear the regular sock type water shoe.

 

[clonetothebone]

I just spoke to a CM at BB and she said as long as they were "secure to your feet" you can wear them on the waterslides. If there is a chance they might fall off or get snagged on something causing your leg to get ripped off then you can't wear them. She specifically mentioned flip flops not being allowed.

 

[meab]

i also called disney, but not BB directly. the CM mentioned most people are either in aquasocks or barefoot, and she didn't know anything about people being asked to take their footwear off before sliding. clonetothebone, thanks for getting BB direct.

i guess they perceive the velcro straps on tevas as not being secure to your feet them. the flip flop thing seems obvious. sometimes it's hard enough just to keep them on your feet when you're walking!!!!!

so it seems like the moral of the story (based on BB CM's word and other info from this board) is:

aquasocks - yes
sneaker-type water shoes with no buckles - yes
velcro sandals and/or tevas - no
flip flops or other slip-in shoe/sandal - no
anything with a metal buckle - no

anyone have anything to the contrary?

 

[Hollyster2]

Thank you so much for the replies!