Shoes?

[sm723om]

We have a 5 yr old and a 15 month old and this is our first trip to WDW ever! What kind of shoes do you suggest we wear? I have seen a lot of people talking about crocs but I've heard you can get blisters from them. Please help me decide what I should pack! Thanks so much!

 

[NU2WDW]

For our first trip, I just had them wear their broken-in sneakers and that was fine. We are going later this month and they'll probably have sneakers and flip flops.

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

My DS5 wears Crocs around home, but I don't have him wear them at Disney. He usually wears sneakers, or covered toe sandals, like Keens.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Whatever the kids are most comfortable in. Never go with new shoes! Last August my kids alternated between their sneakers and crocs. One thing I would suggest for everyone is having more than one pair. We find that switching off occasionally helps keep the blisters away.

 

[Tam1067]

We go in August, and each of my kids brings two pairs of broken in gym shoes and a pair of Crocs. When we're doing major touring of the parks, they wear their gym shoes. I want them to have "real" shoes that will not fall off or get stepped on by people in crowds. And we have never had blisters, so I think it works well. If we're just going to a park for dinner or for a couple of hours, I've let them wear Crocs, but that's the exception and not the norm with us.

Also, you do need spare shoes in case of rain. Gym shoes take a day or so to dry.

 

[natnelliesmom]

Whatever shoes your children are wearing comfortably now, are the shoes you should bring with you. I think Crocs are wonderful for Disney, waterproof and lightweight. But if your children haven't worn them before, they may not be the best choice for your trip. If you wear them in at home first, that may work well for you.
My daughters usually wear Crocs in Disney, but they wear them with socks. We always just pack a few extra pairs of socks for when they get wet.
-Sarah

 

[ScotsMinnie]

We bought some really comfy sneakers for our girls and that was fine.

They chose some Crocs while we were there and they wore those with no problems. Before we left we bought some croc type shoes for DD7 as she really wanted them but they gave her sore feet so were put in the bin.

This year I am taking for them:

Addidas Superstar sneakers (worn in)
Flip flops for the pool
Comfy sandals for during the day
Pretty sandals to wear at night

 

[MarriedToAPrince]

I would say Stride Rites, Keen, Bear Feet, or Birkenstocks would be best.

 

[RMulieri]

I wore Tevas hiking sandals. I put my DD in sneakers with socks. She tends to trip and fall very easily in crocs( though she loves them) plus when she did wear Crocs her feet were sweaty and blistered.

 

[KSG'sDisneyMem]

My suggestion is to have the children wear white socks each day. This helps to keep their feet getting stinky and sweaty in their shoes; not to mention an avoidance of blisters. Not comfortable to have tennis shoes on and have sweaty feet. I put them on with their crocs too if we will be at the park all day. Get the band-aid blister covers for fingers and toes. They are absolutely fabulous! I carry them with me and if any of us develop a hot spot; we put one on and avoid blisters.

 

[scrapbookmom5174]

DD struggles with Crocs in the summer. Her feet get really sweating and then we have guaranteed blisters. We are going to try Merrell sandals this summer. DD(10) is already into a size 9.5 womens (YIKES), but has a very, very narrow foot. We are hoping the Merrells will be a good choice for us.

 

[MasterChief]

New Balance tennis shoes are the best shoes I've ever had. Skip the Croc's...they are just a fad anyways.

 

[Sorsha]

Just a dissenting opinion here..

All 3 of my kids have crocs and live in them all spring and summer. They have never had ONE Croc-caused blister. We also did 9 days in WDW in 2007, all 5 of us in Crocs all day every day, not a blister between us. I think it just depends on your feet.

Now, if you buy knock-off crocs, ANY other branc of croc-type shoes, I have found, you WILL get blisters. The problem usually lies in the rivet that holds the heel strap on. Real Crocs have a way of sinking the rivet into the shoe so it doesn't rub your feet. Other Crocs don't. My DD5 got horrible shred-the-feet blisters from a cute pair of fake Crocs given to her by a well-meaning but penny-pinching relative. Never again!

Crocs all the way for us!

 

[disneycrazy2004]

Love the crocs. We all take a pair of crocs and a pair of sneakers and that is all we wear at Disney. My kids live in their crocs all summer.

 

[bubbamomma]

Comfortable worn in walking shoes for my family. A couple pair each for when they get wet.

 

[Redbudlover]

Keens all the way. My DDIL turned me on to them on a WDW trip a couple of years ago - so much support and blister protection. I now have four pairs - and bought my 3 year old DGD a pair when I took her to WDW last fall. No sweaty feet, no blisters.

 

[BABY_EINSTEIN'S_MOM]

Just a dissenting opinion here..

All 3 of my kids have crocs and live in them all spring and summer. They have never had ONE Croc-caused blister. We also did 9 days in WDW in 2007, all 5 of us in Crocs all day every day, not a blister between us. I think it just depends on your feet.

Now, if you buy knock-off crocs, ANY other branc of croc-type shoes, I have found, you WILL get blisters. The problem usually lies in the rivet that holds the heel strap on. Real Crocs have a way of sinking the rivet into the shoe so it doesn't rub your feet. Other Crocs don't. My DD5 got horrible shred-the-feet blisters from a cute pair of fake Crocs given to her by a well-meaning but penny-pinching relative. Never again!

Crocs all the way for us!

Totally agree with this entire post!

 

[FancyO'Nancy]

For myself I am taking my Keen's and several pair of Reef flip flops (we call them slippers) and I am going to buy myself a pair of Crocs to break in before we go. For my three girls I am packing their Keen's, their crocs & a couple pairs of flip flops. DH is taking his Teva's and a pair of Merrell shoes that he loves.

We have had problems with the generic Crocs from Wal-Mart, etc...so I don't even buy those. I'm thinking that most people that say they have issues with blistering & rubbing with the Crocs probably have the generic ones. Maybe not.

As far as Crocs being a fad...my girls have worn them constantly for over 3 years. I've passed down several pairs so far. It's not a fad at my house! They are easy to put on and comfy.

 

[lrab1126]

crocklings for both my dd's, they stay on well....no blisters, no sweating, just perfect and they also this year got the scutes and have been wearing them around to break them in and they love love them and they are so cute on them. My youngest also got the croc otters (only come in sizes up to toddler age 4/5ish) this year which she is really liking as well. my kids are very anti sock and sneaker kids....they hate their feet to be hot or "tied in" so sneakers are not an options (my dh and i are the same way too). stride rite also makes some great sandals and the Nike stretchy sandals (forget the name of them) are really great for a lot of walking. good luck !

 

[Sorsha]

crocklings for both my dd's, they stay on well....no blisters, no sweating, just perfect and they also this year got the scutes and have been wearing them around to break them in and they love love them and they are so cute on them. My youngest also got the croc otters (only come in sizes up to toddler age 4/5ish) this year which she is really liking as well. my kids are very anti sock and sneaker kids....they hate their feet to be hot or "tied in" so sneakers are not an options (my dh and i are the same way too). stride rite also makes some great sandals and the Nike stretchy sandals (forget the name of them) are really great for a lot of walking. good luck !

My youngest has Croclings too... she loves them, and they are SO easy to put on and take off and no worries if they get wet in the sprinkler! I think Croclings are my fav Crocs style for kiddos. My kids are anti-socks too. Being in MT, they have no choice but to wear socks about 8 months out of the year , so you can imagine that as soon as it warms up, off go the socks!

My 8 yr old has Mary Jane style Crocs, and that is her fav style. She likes the "full foot" style and the extra strap.