Walk, Walk, and Walk some more before going to Disney

[trjme]

I wished I would have spent some time walking before our trip. By the time each evening was over my feet hurt so bad and my knees werent much better. I honestly dont know how I made it so late in the evening each night at the parks. We did have to miss the fireworks at Epcot twice on our trip because of my feet and knee pain but the kids didnt mind so much and even rubbed my feet for me when we got back to the hotel for a dollar. I think I should have had a better pair of shoes as well. I thought I would go with an old pair that were broken in well but they may have been too broken in.

 

[GrumpyMom25]

I'm so sorry. Yup, there certainly is a lot of walking involved getting around the parks. I'm already dreading the swollen ankles I get when we visit the parks ... not enough to stay home tho.
I know it's not funny but had to laugh at the fact that the kids rubbed your feet for you for a dollar. That totally sounds like something my kids would do.

 

[wdwmaw]

Just got back from my walk. Another tip, hit lots of buffets and practice eating so you don't miss out on anything. Nothing worse than being too full then having to walk.

 

[Ariel on Land]

Another tip, hit lots of buffets and practice eating so you don't miss out on anything.

Too funny! DH and I have been walking for 2 miles at least 3 times a week lately- but I'd NEVER have thought to "prepare" myself for buffets!

 

[Rellagirl]

What a great idea. We didn't do much walking beforehand since we had a ton of snow, although I wish I practiced since by day 3 my legs were done in. I lost about 10 LBS though.
Never thought of stuffing myself then walking... Will definitely try that as we are considering the dining plan for next time.

 

[churchpilot]

Just got back from my walk. Another tip, hit lots of buffets and practice eating so you don't miss out on anything. Nothing worse than being too full then having to walk.

I had to laugh and now I know where Al Bundy has been hiding all these years!!!

 

[andymattmom]

We are walking/riding the 1037 miles from our Indiana home to the Polynesian. Each day we log miles...down to 650 and 9 weeks to get there! It is a great family acitivity--last week my boys and I rode 18 miles round trip to the ice cream place. It is country roads so it was not busy traffic.

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

We bought a treadmill last year and we hung pictures all over the room from our last trip. When I walk I watch Disney DVD's of the parks or the planning dvd. It keeps me motivated as to why I am walking so much. I also have lost over 50 pounds since our last trip with 30 to go so that alone should really make a difference for me compared to last trip.

 

[Microcell]

We are walking/riding the 1037 miles from our Indiana home to the Polynesian. Each day we log miles...down to 650 and 9 weeks to get there! It is a great family acitivity--last week my boys and I rode 18 miles round trip to the ice cream place. It is country roads so it was not busy traffic.

Oh my goodness though, I live further west than all that (alllll the way in Missouri )!

 

[havinfun]

I was reading this thread about sore feet and walking. When I got to the bottom of the page. there was an ad for "Chicago Podiatric Surgeons". LOL

 

[Amor4Pooh]

My mom and I have been walking for a few months now for our trip- and I know I am losing weight because I can fit into my "other" pants, along with everything else fitting better and more loosely.
50 pounds! That's great! Keep up the good work!
I told my mom that we have to walk every day on the cruise- because we're going to be on it for 2 weeks!- I don't want to undo all our hard work
Amor4Pooh

 

[iScrap]

The man and I started walking fairly regularly a few weeks ago. I need to fit into some clothes for the trip and we need to build up our park touring stamina!

 

[BamaTigger]

I go to the gym 5 days a week and do 30 min of cardio (usually treamill), and no MATTER HOW MANY MILES i may walk, my feet ALWAYS HURT and i ALWAYS HAVE ACHEY PARK FEET!

So my solution is 3 THINGS: CROCS, IBUPROFEN, AND PEPPERMINT FOOT RUB!


This last trip, my feet were killing me so bad( i accidentally left my crocs and peppermint foot rub at home!!! ) that I couldnt even walk without limping and taking really really small steps...it was so embarrassing leaving the Poly looking like an idiot! ... it was the WORST my feet have ever been in all my Disney trips....

But for last Christmas trip, I had my crocs, took Bayer back and body every 5 hrs and I would rub my feet with peppermint foot rub every few hours while on a smoke break! It did really good!

I know Crocs are ugly, but man, they feel good! And no one needs to be staring at my feet anyway...after all--look at the Castle...you are in DIsneyWorld!

 

[Elmo888]

I walk outside (not on a treadmill) 5 days a week (4-5 miles a day), and I was fine at Disney. I wasn't sore. DD7 at the time did great, too, because I had her walking with me. With Bodyglide for rubbing, comfortable shoes (I was having foot problems way before the trip, so I was having shoe issues), and walking a couple of months before the trip, we were fine (DH hadn't walked as much and he was sore at Disney).

Crocs (I have CrocsRx Relief) have great foot beds, but I don't like how my feet move in the shoes. I prefer them with socks (it was January and my crocs don't have holes on top, so they look like clogs and the socks weren't too ugly!), but I still had blisters (just 2 though).

 

[jenseib]

I get the pain in my shins. Last year by day two I was pushing myself to walk, but i kept at it. We stayed 4 nights and the day we left i was fianlly working through the soreness. I did walk the tread mill before we went too, I guess jsut not enough. This year I walked again and alos did stretches for my shins. I did much better. I also tried to stretch my shins out during the day at intervals and I think that helped too.
Crocs kill my feet. I can't imagine wearing them for more than garden work, as I would be in so much pain. But ever yfoot is different, Heck my two feet are different from each other!

 

[Darlington101]

I get the pain in my shins. Last year by day two I was pushing myself to walk, but i kept at it. We stayed 4 nights and the day we left i was fianlly working through the soreness. I did walk the tread mill before we went too, I guess jsut not enough. This year I walked again and alos did stretches for my shins. I did much better. I also tried to stretch my shins out during the day at intervals and I think that helped too.
Crocs kill my feet. I can't imagine wearing them for more than garden work, as I would be in so much pain. But ever yfoot is different, Heck my two feet are different from each other!

What shoes were you wearing when you got the pain in your shins?

 

[jenseib]

I only wear new balance as they are about the only shoes I can get to fit my feet. I also wear mens. The are the only ones wide enough and don't kill me. I think the shin pain is more from me usually walking on a all level surface and and Disney there is up and down and a few hils, and such.

 

[kimis]

My dh and I start walking several times a week about 2-3 months before our trip. This is a huge help. You are right to only wear older broken shoes too. Wear the same shoes on your walks that you will be wearing at WDW.

However it is funny because something happens to this 51 year old woman at disney. My dh calls it my "disney mode". He has a hard time keeping up with me.. LOL

 

[jenseib]

I walk much faster there too. i can also go without much sleep there, and at home if i don;t get enough I can't function! LOL!

 

[FJJM0621]

I've been on my treadmill too... 2.5 miles 5 days a week (or at least I try to)

But I also put my son in a stroller & get my 4 yr old DD to walk around our neighborhood every night we are home. It's about a mile walk with good hills. I know she will want to do some walking even though she will have a stroller as well. Kids need to work up to it too.

She loves to keep up. Now if I could just get DH to practice...