Non Walking Toddlers - Shoes Required in Parks ?

[Lisa0503]

I had read a post earlier about a woman who was not let into a store at WDW because her SLEEPING toddler in a stroller did not have shoes on (FYI, this was an older post I found doing a search) Anyway, my question is, what is the policy on shoes in WDW? Can little ones be barefoot (or in just socks) if they are in a stroller or being carried?

We are leaving in 5 days and I want to be prepared.... My dillemma is my DS is almost 16 months old, very big for his age and still not walking He also has a foot condition where his toes are growing inward so his feet are not straight. In addition, he has chubby, wide feet. All this combined make it VERY difficult to find shoes for him. We did manage to find him some sandles that velcro around his foot but he just pulls the velcro and kicks them off We have taken him to a pediatric foot specialist who basically told us that his feet should straighten out once he starts walking...whenever that is... When I asked him what to do about shoes, he said don't put any on him. Well, this is fine for home and DS has been barefoot all summer but I don't think this is going to work at WDW. I was thinking about trying to get some Robeez on him. If I can get them on his feet, would they pass as shoes at WDW?

 

[ilovejack02]

I dont know what the policy with Disney is on this BUT Robeez and Bobux are awesome and would be an option for your little guy.
http://www.robeez.com/
www.bobuxusa.com

 

[Nienor]

When I took my son to Disney at 12 months, I don't think he wore shoes the entire week. He wasn't really walking yet and didn't want to wear them in the heat. We were never told that we couldn't enter a store or attraction.

About the post, some people refer to 4 year olds as toddlers. I could see an issue with a n older child not having shoes, but not an infant or 1 year old.

Have you tried looking for shoes at stride-rite? They make great soft shoes for new walkers. Get the laced ones and double knot them.

 

[Mrs264]

My little one was 6 months the first time we took her. she wore socks on her feet most of time but i did take them off when it go too warm - with no problems. She spent most time in her snugglie and the rest in her stoller.

 

[Lisa0503]

Have you tried looking for shoes at stride-rite? They make great soft shoes for new walkers. Get the laced ones and double knot them.

Yup, we tried Stride Rite... The problem is my son's feet are straight from the heel to the middle of his feet where the arch is...then his toes all angle off inward so his foot is bent. His 'condition' is called Metatauras Abductus or MTA. Stride Rite couldn't get his feet into the shoes with laces. We did get one pair from Stride Rite last winter that we could put his foot in and then velcro it over but he did need to get a shoe 2 sizes bigger than he measured at just to have the room for his foot I do think that Robeez will work for us...I just wanted to make sure it is going to be accepted at Disney as a shoe... We went to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg this past June and DS could not go on the 2 kiddie rides he would have been able to because he did not have shoes. I had never even thought of it before that trip. I just want to make sure we don't have that problem at Disney.

 

[amarberry]

I think that Robeez (or Robeez knockoffs) would be acceptable as shoes.

I remember reading that very old post about toddlers and shoes last year when my 14 month old DD wasn't yet walking when we went to WDW and worrying. I really think that as long as you have something covering his feet you will be fine. You would probably be fine with nothing on his feer with 90% of the CM's, but it's the other 10% that might make your life difficult. I'm sure that they are just doing what they are told though.

Good luck!

 

[llqool]

we have taken our daughters at 6 mos, 12 mos and 13 mos when they weren't walking. i don't believe in putting shoes on a kid who is not walking (unless it's winter and it's for warmth). we had no problems whatsoever at Disney.

where we *did* have problems was at Universal Studios. for some reason, they wanted my daughter to have shoes and socks on even when it was very hot and she wasn't walking. they would not let my husband hold her on his lap on a ride without us putting socks on her!

 

[lulu71]

My DD is the same way. Have you tried the Robeez/Bobux on your DS? I have a hard time getting them on my DD's feet. Because of her feet are so chubby and she has a high instep, they are really stretched around the ankle. Pedipeds seem to work better for her for some reason, I think they must be made wider.

BTW, my 15 month old isn't walking either. We're leaving for WDW this weekend and it didn't even occur to me to bring her shoes, but now I will. Thanks for the heads-up!

 

[TinkerbellMama]

I dont know what the policy with Disney is on this BUT Robeez and Bobux are awesome and would be an option for your little guy.
http://www.robeez.com/
www.bobuxusa.com

Robeez stopped fitting my son with EXTRA wide feet when he was about 6 mos. old. They just are not wide enough, and the ankle elastic is too tight for kids with extra wide feet/cankles! We buy Preschoolians now and use the wide foot bed. They are NOT cheap, but they are absolutely worth it!

 

[TinkerbellMama]

Yup, we tried Stride Rite... The problem is my son's feet are straight from the heel to the middle of his feet where the arch is...then his toes all angle off inward so his foot is bent. His 'condition' is called Metatauras Abductus or MTA. Stride Rite couldn't get his feet into the shoes with laces. We did get one pair from Stride Rite last winter that we could put his foot in and then velcro it over but he did need to get a shoe 2 sizes bigger than he measured at just to have the room for his foot I do think that Robeez will work for us...I just wanted to make sure it is going to be accepted at Disney as a shoe... We went to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg this past June and DS could not go on the 2 kiddie rides he would have been able to because he did not have shoes. I had never even thought of it before that trip. I just want to make sure we don't have that problem at Disney.

Get a note from his doctor stating that he has a foot condition and cannot wear shoes. That's what I'd do.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

I think that Robeez (or Robeez knockoffs) would be acceptable as shoes.


Good luck!

I sure hope so! Soft shoes are the only shoes my son has ever owned/worn, and they will continue to be the only shoes he owns/wears for as long as Preschoolians still fit him. Hard-soled shoes are NOT good for developing feet! If anyone at WDW or anyplace else ever gave me trouble about my son not wearing hard-soled shoes, well let's just say that person and that person's supervisor would get an edumacation about toddler footwear.

 

[Nienor]

oh well about the Stride Rites. My friends and I had luck cause they came in wide and double wide. Those double wides can be great for chubby toddler feet.

If you're worried about difficult CM's, you could always buy the cheapest thing at Walmart you can get on his feet. That way you wouldn't worry about buying expensive shoes you won't use again.

On kiddie rides, technically non-walkers aren't supposed to be on rides. And since everyone needs to wear shoes, I can see an employee giving you problems. Although at Six Flags I see plenty of school age kids running around with no shoes on while riding.

 

[Ariel8676]

We have never had a problem with my children not having shoes on when they weren't walking.
**i have to say that Preschoolians are awesome shoes, they have both walking and soft sole shoes..they never scuff and you can throw them right in the washing machine. Their customer service is awesome, maybe e mail them and see if they have anything to fit your needs...we used them for our first 2 dd's and will usse them again.

 

[rgribik]

What about the crocs(or knockoffs)for little ones? My sister used these on her kids with very wide feet. She would slip them on when they went into a ride or restraunt. My kids don't like them because they have very small narrow feet(and are way too picky!). I saw tons of little kids with them on at Dis this summer.

I forgot: We also used to buy my sisters kids, a soft bootie type footwear from The right start or leaps and bounds, or One Step ahead catalog. Anything that you could just slip on quick would help if he doesn't need to walk in them.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

My son has round feet....no kidding. When we took him in May of 05 and May of 06, he was barefoot most of the time in his stroller or when he was being carried. He also loved taking off the sandals and tossing them.

He was walking, so we carried his velcro sandals (also the only thing we could find that would fit) and put them on him if we let him walk....the ground is way too hot for bare feet.

We had absolutely no problem anywhere, parks, rides or otherwise.

We did find that the swim shoes would fit him too. We bought him a pair at Blizzard Beach because he kept wanting to walk through the hot sand.

I just have no clue what we are going to do in the next couple of months. Winter is coming and I still have trouble finding shoes for him.

 

[KelsiesMommy]

I'd go with the robeez... my dds have worn Robeez anywhere and everywhere, including DL/DCA

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

We took DD to WDW at 9months last year, she was walking and had shoes on, but for some reason she kicked them off and as we were getting in line for IASW, a CM asked us if we had shoes for her (DH was carrying her). We were shocked that she had taken them off and we had not noticed, but didin't think twice about them asking for her to have shoes on. Good thing we had them

BTW, we LOVED robeez for our kddies before they walked! TDS even has some cute non-robeez!!

Maybe just have them handy in case someone asks>>?

 

[Nanu57v]

We love ROBEEZ, and I'm 100% certain they count as shoes. FYI, I've noticed the real Robeez are wider than the Walmart rip-offs.

 

[Schmeck]

Even with a doctor's note, a CM might not let your child on a ride, as the wearing of shoes is part of the health codes - no shirt, no shoes, no service...

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

On kiddie rides, technically non-walkers aren't supposed to be on rides. And since everyone needs to wear shoes, I can see an employee giving you problems. Although at Six Flags I see plenty of school age kids running around with no shoes on while riding.

Babies are permitted on all rides/attractions at WDW that do not have a height restriction.


We've never had a problem with our toddlers to be shoeless if they are in a stroller.

And up utnil the oldest was 5 in the double zonked out at the end of the night without shoes....didn't hear a peep from a CM about her either.

Even with a doctor's note, a CM might not let your child on a ride, as the wearing of shoes is part of the health codes - no shirt, no shoes, no service...

For a medical issue--I have seen disabled guests in wheelchairs without shoes. They were wearing socks and depending on their ability to ride the ride, to my knowledge noone was denied entry into or onto an attraction if they were otherwise able to ride or view it.

Disney or any business cannot require footwear if your feet anatomically just don't fit. Socks or equivilant would be sufficient. Otherwise--it would be an ADA issue for someone to be denied access.