Shoes

[TiggerNZ]

OK, OK I know I am sad and way overplanning....but best shoes for a day at DL/DCA???

I just bought a pair of crocs which I adore, but are they OK for an entire day - running shoes better?

Any advice gratefully received from all you experts!!!

 

[tinkerbelt]

Really whatever's the most comfortable for you! I wear flip flops a lot when we go, and they're comfy for me, but I know that a lot of people wouldn't be comfortable in flip flops.

Crocs are great for the parks, but I've found that mine rub the side of my foot if I wear them all day, which leaves a blister...you could wear socks to eliminate that, though.

In the winter, if it's too cold for flip flops, I wear running shoes. Just avoid wearing shoes that are new and need to be broken in...I've made that mistake before, ouch!!

Pack a pair of really comfy slippers or soft, fuzzy socks for when you get back to the hotel. Your feet will be so happy!!

 

[kiwitravel]

I have found New Balance to be the most comfortable for walking, a previous thread echoed this with a lot of others finding them excellent. Not outrageously expensive and very hard wearing, I stlll have my first pair from 5 years ago and they are still fine, but I did splash out on a second pair two years ago....

 

[silence]

I way over pack when it comes to shoes. I have a lot of problems with my feet when at the parks. The seriously feel bruised by the end of a 2 day trip.

Anyways, I mostly wear crocs and tennis shoes. I switch off every day, or, sometimes if we go back for a break, I change while at the hotel.

I usually wear socks with my crocs too.

 

[PinkBudgie]

I wear New Balance also. I would never dream of wearing anything but walking shoes to DLR. I walked around the park for 3 days this summer and never had sore feet. Tired, yes. But not sore.

One of thing I always notice when I go to DLR is people's shoes. I am just amazed when I see some college age girl walking around in high heel sandals.

If you aren't sure how your shoes will be, try them out for a day of long walking somewhere and see how they do.

 

[DesertBell]

We wear Crocs for the whole trip, and have never had a problem. We do take tennis shoes * just in case*, though.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

The benefit of the Crocs over the running shoes in DCA (or even DL for Splash) is the fact that you can wear them onto GRR and not have them be completely soaked for the rest of the day. Just remember to put your socks in your bag in the dry storage.

We make sure our girls have their Crocs for the play fountains, so we just wipe them dry and off we go.

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

The benefit of the Crocs over the running shoes in DCA (or even DL for Splash) is the fact that you can wear them onto GRR and not have them be completely soaked for the rest of the day. Just remember to put your socks in your bag in the dry storage.

We make sure our girls have their Crocs for the play fountains, so we just wipe them dry and off we go.

I agree. I have Mary Jane Crocs and I love those things. They dry super fast when they get wet. The only thing is they get a tad slippery on the bottom when wet. I almost broke my tail bone walking from DTD to the parking structure. The sprinklers were on and the cement was wet and I slid about 5 feet and almost fell. If DBF didn’t catch me, I would have fell and would have had a broken butt.

I usually wear my Crocs during the day and at night if it’s cold I wear my Ugg boots.

 

[pixiewings71]

I have a good pair of Curves walking/running shoes that I love to wear. I put gel insoles in them and I'm good to go. I take nice fuzzy socks to wear at the end of the day too and if I remember I pack a massage roller thingie. LOL You just put it on the floor and rub your feet over it, feels so good.....

 

[SeattleTink]

For me the key is to switch shoes every day.

Last summer I wore my Keen sandals and switched off with my Simple tennis shoes. I love my Keen's but somedays I needed just to switch it with a pair of shoes that supported my feet in a different way.

I think whatever shoes you find comfortable, wear those. Just have something else to switch to if you need it.

I was in the parks for 8 days and really with this technique my feet were just great.

 

[avalon451]

I wear New Balance tennis shoes with Superfeet insoles-- both recommended by my podiatrist when I broke my foot.

I carry small wastepaper basket liners in my backpack--they roll up really tiny, so they take up hardly any room-- and we slip those on our feet on GRR and Splash-- no wet shoes.

 

[Sherry E]

Add me to the New Balance camp too - and I also have inserts for arch support! NB shoes that are widely recommded by podiatrists for plantar fasciitis and other foot issues! One of my friends who is always with me at DLR also wears NB, but hers are a totally different style than mine. Hers are more sneaker-ish, and mine are all black walking shoes, and they are really durable! They are great in rain, great to walk all day in, it takes a lot to get them scuffed, and as much as I have worn them in the last 3-1/2 years, they are in surprisingly good shape. They don't show as much wear and tear on them as tennis shoes do.

 

[Disney Dreams]

I wear my Nike tennies any time. Whatever you chose - be sure to break them in before your trip if they are new.

 

[ylatan]

Really whatever's the most comfortable for you! I wear flip flops a lot when we go, and they're comfy for me, but I know that a lot of people wouldn't be comfortable in flip flops.

Crocs are great for the parks, but I've found that mine rub the side of my foot if I wear them all day, which leaves a blister...you could wear socks to eliminate that, though.

In the winter, if it's too cold for flip flops, I wear running shoes. Just avoid wearing shoes that are new and need to be broken in...I've made that mistake before, ouch!!

Pack a pair of really comfy slippers or soft, fuzzy socks for when you get back to the hotel. Your feet will be so happy!!

crocs with socks!

i do agree, crocs are great. so are sneakers, though.

 

[TiggerNZ]

Thanks guys - I think I'll go with the running shoes, have a very comfy pair so should be good.

I wasn't sure about the crocs as will be bringing them all the way from NZ just for DL as will be too cold to wear them in the UK! Brrrrr. Not heavy though, so will see how I go for space!

You guys are awesome - thanks so much

 

[lisah0711]

I wear Merrell's in the winter and Teva's in the summer. I echo the recommendations to have shoes to switch between. It can really make a difference and you just don't want to do as much when your feet are hurting.

 

[ParkHoppa]

So pretty musch crocs are the most comfortable shoes alive.

I would live in them, but, (and i know it should not matter while visiting the parks), i find them atrociously (i think i spelled that wrong ) UGLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


tennIES for me! my feet usually kill when i wear my vans, so STAY AWAY!

 

[jory29]

Advil, Advil, Advil.....


or, Motrin.


Either way, the good folks here on the DIS boards told me to take advil daily for our last trip. 2 words... TOTALLY AWESOME!!!!

Yes, shoes are inmportant, but so are pain killers, specifically anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofren.


Thanks, kind DIS'ers, for pointing me in the right direction prior to our Sept. trip.

 

[Sienna]

Since I wear tennis shoes 95% of the time at home, I stick with those when I'm at DL. They're technically running shoes (Asics), but super comfy and light. Gotta keep the feet happy.

 

[bumbershoot]

It's all very personal to the individual.


But I switch shoes day to day, and sometimes switch shoes during the day.

During my solo weekend in January, where I was going all day without a break for two days, I actually had 3 changes in one day.

Started the morning in my Crocs Mary Janes WITH socks. Then as the socks started to rub the bottom of my feet I took the socks off (it had warmed up, too), and then around 1 or 2 I changed to my athletic shoes. Worked well!

I have wide feet, so I either have New Balance, Saucony, or Asics and that'sbasically it. For the last two years I've had Saucony just b/c I like the style (and price). But really, just having shoes that FIT you is good, regardless of the brand.


I also bring the wonderful fabulous arnica cream to reduce the pain and enhance the healing (as arnica is known to do!).