Shoes for the parks?

[LLane82]

We're making our very first trip in the middle of Sept. and Im wondering if I need to go ahead and buy some new tennis shoes for everyone? We all live in flip flops but I have a feeling that might not be a wise idea with all the walking around the parks for 6 days!

My kids are 9,6,2 and 1. Should I go ahead and just buy everyone (esp. the oldest 2 who will be walking everywhere) new, comfortable shoes for the trip?

 

[hibricc]

Just be sure the shoes are broken in before the trip. Kids wear "in" their shoes at different rates, of course, but I would buy my kids (boys 8 & 10) shoes for a September trip and have them start wearing them NOW. That's exactly what we did for our nine days at WDW last winter, and there were no complaints about sore feet.

BTW, we're a "shoe" family (my kids wear sandals in the summer, but otherwise we always wear sneakers), so flipflops or crocs aren't in our equation...

 

[quandrea]

I've been to WDW 12 times and I love wearing Crocs. Just be sure to wear socks with them (a bit nerdy, I know, but it avoids blisters). For rainy days, I always have a pair of lightweight runners (LL bean makes a great pair, just go online). They cose only about 35 dollars. Flip flops would be a disaster. Be sure to break in any new shoes before you leave.

 

[jlm]

whatever you would have them wear for a day of walking at the fair, local park, etc....that is what they should wear at disney.
My dd (11) lives in flipflops and that is what she wears in disney. My sons live in tennis shoes-that's what they will wear. I do a bit of both (breaking in a new pair of teva mush now! ) My dh only wears tennis shoes, and just bought a new pair to break in for our Dec. trip. (The last trip he didn't buy them & break them in soon enough....blisters!!)
Just don't 'try something new' for Disney-it's a ton of walking! Or count on strollers~
Jen

 

[Ava]

We usually wear flip flops or Keens to any amusement park. Especially if there are any water rides - wet sneakers are no fun.

As others have said, if you want to get new shoes for the trip get them now & have the kids start wearing them so they are broken in by Sept. I'd also take both sneakers & flip flops/sandals on the trip; that way if anyone ends up with blisters they can give their feet a break. I usually wear my sneakers while traveling & pack the flip flops since you can stick them flat at the bottom of the suitcase & they don't take up much space.

 

[Ryansdad0727]

I usually take at least 2 pair of shoes. A tennis shoe and either sandles, Tevas or crocs and alternate them. That way they are not rubbing the same spot every day and the rubbed spots have a day to heal inbetween.

 

[RooRach0906]

I usually wear my sneakers while traveling & pack the flip flops since you can stick them flat at the bottom of the suitcase & they don't take up much space.

We do this to, plus they are lighter so if your flying less weight in the bag. I wear flip-flop almost year round so at Disney def my shoe of choice but I do also take one day and where my tennis shoes. DH is normally a tennis shoe person but he has found that at any park (Disney, Busch Gardens, etc) he is more comfortable in flip-flops too. I would say if that is what you all are most comfortable in wear them. Maybe just take a pair of tennis shoes just in case.

 

[Jdougherty]

this last trip
DH wore tennis shoes
DD wore Gabby Croc and Classic Crocs
DS was bare foot ( 9m old)
I alernated between tennis shoes and croc flipflops

 

[Mama Mouse]

My 7 year old alternated between crocs and reef flip flops. He did fine with both. Just be sure they're broken in.

ETA: When he wore the crocs, I put a coat of friction blocker on his feet first. No blisters or hot spots at all.

 

[coffeeguy128]

teva and merrell will be your feets best friends. Never once have my DW,DD or I had blisters and they are as comfortable as can be. My DW swears by them for vacations.

 

[Samar]

If you do buy new shoes, DO IT NOW to break them in before the trip! I brought my "old" pair and my new pair but alternating gave me a blister at the bottom of my foot because the "old" pair was roomy enough for my foot to slide in I should've worn my broken in new ones but I switched due to the rain forecast.

 

[here757]

my whole crew rolls in flip flops

not the mesh treva ones. i wore them slam out on a five day trip.
things were as thin as rice paper

 

[MandiB]

Just got got Nike free run for this years trip, hope they hold up with all that walking!!