shoes to wear

[sherrie]

I have always been a believer good sneakers were a must for all the walking, i am now going in July and am thing some good sandals would be cooler for me and dgd/5yrs. old, any suggestions. I am thinking flip flops would not offer any walking support. Thanks in advance.

 

[kilee]

I almost always wear sneakers at WDW. Some people can wear sandals or flip-flops with great success. If you are unsure take a really long (at least 2 miles) in those shoes at home. If possible do it 2 days in a row. See how you do, that should give you a baseline.

 

[Bojo]

Heard on the DIS about a brand called Chaco. Don't know how to put in a link to their site, but a search should find it. Went there and ordered from an outfitter listed there; they arrived a few days later. They are a bit pricey, but I am very happy with them. And, there are also Tevas; they seem to be available lotsa places.

 

[sherrie]

thanks, i will probably bring the sneaks as normal and find a good sandal as a backup, i heard of birkenstock but don't know where to get them

 

[redskiesx25]

i wore sandals some days at the parks. They were speedos (i am a swimmer and have those for the pooldeck) and they were very comfortable. If you were sandals, make sure they are BROKEN IN and make sure they wont give you blisters!

 

[alliecats]

I just got back and wore my Nike running shoes the whole time. They were perfect. I saw lots of people in flip flops and I just don't see how those protect your feet from the impact of slapping against that hard pavement for miles and miles. I got some Coolmax socks from Target and those were amazing. They wick away sweat from your feet, keeping them cool and dry. I would wear athletic shoes before I wore sandals of any kind. I don't think that even good sandals are meant to be worn for walking many miles a day. Have fun!

 

[daystar]

Hi,
When i went i wore nothing but sneakers, even though i did bring a pair of sandals....I think New Balance sneakers are the best walking shoes and comfort is great.....As for sandal i haven't found anything that was truely comfortable for alot of walking but my aunt always wear Clarks she says they are very comfortable but i don't know i've never worn them....

 

[DisneyPete]

Not only do I wear my sandals in comfort all day every day but they have the added benefit of being able to get wet without bothering your feet at all. Nothing is worse than wet socks that just won't dry if you get caught in a rain storm or wonder into one of the refreshing fountains.

 

[ziggystardust]

Best sandals by far are Merrels. i bought them on sale last year for about $50 if I remember correctly. (I bought my at lord and taylor b/c i had a coupon, but you could get them anywhere really- especially camping oriented stores like EMS and I think even Sports Authority.)
They were amazing - 7 days in the parks and my feet didn't hurt a bit (even after the morning race to mission space). I went in August and it definatly made a difference- I was a lot cooler than some of my disneymates. And a great thing also - was that in the Florida rain - you weren't nearly as uncomfortable and sandals dry a lot quicker.
Birkenstocks are great but they take some time to break in. And they usually run over $100.
Enjoy your trip!

 

[caribbeanme]

Hey guys!

You can get Birkenstocks (and a bunch of other hiking/outdoors gear ~ north face/lowe alpine/camelbak) at a very steep discount at www.sierratradingpost.com. They also have a few other brands mentioned here and in other posts re: disney shoes: teva's, merrells, ecco, chaco's, clarks. I believe that the home shopping channel QVC also sells Birkenstocks at special prices, straight from their factory. I found their website at www.qvc.com.

Birkenstocks take a few days to really mold to your feet, but once they do they're heaven. Unfortunately, they don't hold up THAT well to getting doused with water. For that, I would recommend trying to find sandals in the other brands mentioned (above). They usually have water resistant models that are either mostly rubber, or have quick-wick technology. Plus, since it's an open shoe, it'll dry faster anyway.

I have Merrell sneakers that are mostly mesh and are v. cool in hot weather. These also came with rubber type inserts that you use to modify your shoes according to your stride (pronator, supinator, no arch). I also have Ecco Receptors that I found at Sierra Trading post--they have a very springy, sneaker-type footbed, but they're open sandals. Best of both worlds!! They've been so popular amongst my family members that I had to order a pair for both my mother and my sister. Thankfully, Sierra has super fast shipping. Finally, my Chaco terrains a great for multipurpose hiking and the beach. They're very light, offer a lot of support, and are great for water. I'll be taking all three for my 9 day trip...

I have been able to use these shoes with no problem on long hikes/trips. It's always better to be safe than sorry, so if I expect I'll be trekking for a while or in possibly wet weather, I use sports tape (or duct tape) to tape up sensitive areas on my feet. It keeps those areas friction-free, and I don't have to worry that I'll end up with a blister. I have also tried the deodorant on feet method, and it helps. Finally, shea butter or, in a pinch, vaseline, can help keep your entire foot and heel moisturized.

Hope this helps!

~

 

[sherrie]

THANKS FOR THE TIPS EVERYONE, TIME TO GO BUY SOME GOOD SNEEKS AND SANDALS(JUST IN CASE) AND SOME SWEAT EATING SOCKS, LOL THANKS AGAIN

 

[goofy4tink]

I bring both sneakers and my sandals. The sandals were wonderful at night when it poured!!! I changed my footwear mid-day.

 

[voodooboy]

I recomend TEVAS. I am not a sandal person but I have tried all kinds from Birkenstocks, Dr. Martins, Skechers, and TEVAS. I recomend the TEVAS only because they are waterproof and in most cases just as comfortable as any of the other sandals suggested and walk with the cushion and support of a good pair of tennis shoes. If you plan to stay away from water completly then the Birkenstocks can't be beat for pure comfort. If you choose to go with the Birkenstocks bare in mind that unless you are use to wearing them they take a few weeks to get use to. In fact the break in period can be downright painful and Birks do not fare water well.

Whatever you choose take into consideration what activities you personally plan to do while at the resort. If water is involved I recomend the TEVAS. Good luck and have a great trip.

 

[Sporty]

I also recommend TEVAS. I am not a sandals person but I've been wearing them to WDW for years - love that they are waterproof. TEVA has many models. I have an old pair that is very hard and don't like them nearly as much as the pair I got a few years ago. They are SO comfortable. I currently have plantar fasciitis and did very well this past trip.

 

[sherrie]

THANK YOU SPORTY WELCOME TO THE DIS

 

[barb3779]

bump