water park lovers...do you wear water shoes?

[faulks family]

Our family is returning to WDW at the first of October...for the first time, we will be going to one of the water parks for a day. I have just read in my "Walt Disney With Kids" book that she recommends wearing the soft water shoes. She says that the pavement, steps, etc. can get very hot...so she advises wearing these shoes and includes saying that you can wear them on the water rides. Those of you with experience with this--should we try to wear the water shoes or will we be OK barefoot? Our kids will be 6, 8, and 10, so I am really thinking about this more for them than for my DH and me.

 

[IMDORY]

We went last summer-we wore water shoes. The pavement is VERY hot in the summer and then there's the whole eeww factor of walking around a waterpark barefoot for us....

 

[skipperkim]

I do, the hot sidewalks and sand is not something you want to subject your feet to while at WDW.

 

[BankBunny]

I wore them last year and loved them. Not only for the hot pavement, but after walking so much every day it just plain hurts my feet to walk on the pavement with nothing on them.

 

[disnut8]

Well, think of it this way. If you go without the shoes and you need them, what are you going to do? Your only option would be to buy them there at Disney prices. If you go with the shoes, your kids will have nothing to complain about (hot sidewalks, hot sand, any uneven pavement surface, etc.) I dunno but with three kids, I'd head off any possible complaints as soon as I could. Besides, if the kids don't want to wear them, just leave them at your spot.

 

[horselover]

We always wear water shoes. The pavement is hot so it's just easier & more comfortable. I highly recommend Typhoon Lagoon . It's soooo much fun! Have a great trip.

 

[dreamalittledream]

what about wearing crocs on the rides? will they allow it?

 

[BabyPiglet]

I just slipped on flip flops but yes, you need some sort of shoe. Walking around barefoot on pavement and sand can really hurt! Not to mention it being hot hot hot.

 

[McKelly]

Any recommendations on water shoes?

 

[XYSRUS]

I just wore flip flops to the park, but didn't wear anything while I was on the slides. I just needed them to go get a bite to eat, or browse the shops. I, personally didn't feel like the cement was too hot to walk on. Little tykes are sensative, though.

 

[Luv4Disney]

Yup! The only time we wear them is at Disney water parks so we each got a pair at WalMart for like $3. Even if we got one use out of them it was worth it. We did it the first year without them and boy were we sorry! The pavement hurt a lot!

 

[LETSGOFAM]

what about wearing crocs on the rides? will they allow it?

I have a pair of Chaco's sandals - are they too bulky, and will they allow those also? I can't stand the typical water shoe, but if necessary, I will get some cheap ones at Walmart and toss later. What do you all think?

 

[DAZY3BYZ]

I would definitely recommend some kind of water shoes or sandals as the pavement does get quite hot. However, our experience was always that we were told we had to take them off to slide. We just held them on the way down the slide or if we were near the slide the kids would just leave the shoes with one of us and run up and down barefoot. Were you all allowed to wear them on the slides?

 

[Disneydd2]

I would definitely recommend some kind of water shoes or sandals as the pavement does get quite hot. However, our experience was always that we were told we had to take them off to slide. We just held them on the way down the slide or if we were near the slide the kids would just leave the shoes with one of us and run up and down barefoot. Were you all allowed to wear them on the slides?

I don't think you can wear them on the slides. I specifically remember having to hold them sliding down BB's tallest slide. Wow! What fun!

 

[bopper]

We wore them except for the rides (big fast waterslides) where they prohibited them.

 

[LETSGOFAM]

So, I guess I don't quite understand - You can go ahead and HOLD your shoes during the ride? Has anyone ever lost their shoe doing this? Is this what the small kids do? Or are the rides not that extreme?

 

[DAZY3BYZ]

My DH always held his sandals going down the slides with no problem, even Summit Plummett which he LOVES. The kids didn't want to be bothered with this so when we went on a long walk they wore their sandals. When we were near the slides and the walk was just to the top of the slide they went barefoot.

 

[KimK2006]

We were sandals/crocs/flip flops into the park, to eat, to the restroom, etc. but not while walking around to get to the slides. The pavement can get hot, but there are waters sprayers on the ground keeping most of the pavement fairly cool. We find it easier than holding the shoes going down the slides.

 

[LETSGOFAM]

We were sandals/crocs/flip flops into the park, to eat, to the restroom, etc. but not while walking around to get to the slides. The pavement can get hot, but there are waters sprayers on the ground keeping most of the pavement fairly cool. We find it easier than holding the shoes going down the slides.

I know this is WDW but does anyone worry about leaving their towels/shoes and clothes at their benches while you ride?

 

[MinnieForMe]

Neoprene water socks work great for younger children and you can keep them on for everything to my knowledge. My toddler used them last year at Typhoon Lagoon.

May I also suggest water shirts/rashguards if you are in the wave pool at Typhoon. Not only will they protect you from the sun but my kids got some nasty cuts from hitting the bottom of the pool. Their shoulders were a mess. Even I got wiped out and boy did it hurt!