Water Shoes for kids at CC

[txamu01]

Hi everyone! We leave on the Disney Wonder next week. It is our first Disney Cruise in over 10 years and our first with kids (10, 8, 5)!

Do the kids need water shoes for Castaway Cay, or are their flip flops fine?

 

[apathetic]

Flip flops are fine and probably necessary walking around the land. However, I do recommend water shoes because there are a lot of shells, especially when you first enter the water. If you can find sandals that stay on in water (i.e. crocs) then that would be ideal. We usually bring sandals and water shoes because it is more comfortable walking around in sandals then switch to water shoes for swimming.

 

[Trip planner]

Hi everyone! We leave on the Disney Wonder next week. It is our first Disney Cruise in over 10 years and our first with kids (10, 8, 5)!

Do the kids need water shoes for Castaway Cay, or are their flip flops fine?

water shoes are on sale this week at target.

 

[Trera]

Our DD has been on over 10 cruises now and we always have shoes on here when walking around on the island. That being said, she has never worn any type of shoes or sandals walking on the beach or in the water.

my guess is that you will get lots of differing opinions on this so go with your gut.

 

[cmeyer115]

Flip flops are fine. My son was 5 last cruise and he barely kept anything on his feet~

 

[Vijoge]

My granddaughters much prefer water shoes at the beach. The small rocks and shells in the water hurt their feet and flip flops fall off when they swim.

 

[Shanti]

My 12 year-old son and I wear water shoes for the dry parts of the island, & bare feet in the water/at the beach. The sand is really soft & feels nice. It isn't rocky at all.

 

[jetskigrl]

I think the beach area changes based on time of year, storms, etc. The times we have been to CC, there were many small pieces of coral, I believe (could have been broken shells). My kids and I tried walking out in bare feet and we had to return to get our water shoes before going into the water. My DH had on sandals and was wishing he had water shoes because the pieces would get between the bottom of his foot and his shoe and hurt even worse.

So bottom line, you may or may not need them. I needed them and was glad that I had some with me. But many others have reported that they didn't need them.

 

[bumbershoot]

I think the beach area changes based on time of year, storms, etc.

It absolutely does.

Our first time on CC the sand, both dry and wet, was downright painful. The other times it wasn't.

My kids and I tried walking out in bare feet and we had to return to get my water shoes before going into the water.

I had bought water shoes ahead of time thanks to a deal I found through land's end on the Budget Board here. DH and DS declined to choose any. So they ended up with expensive Disney branded water shoes from the store on the island. DS was too big for kids but too small for men's, so was irritated to get a women's size. Thankfully they fit me now LOL.


I'd rather have them and not need them then not have them and want them!

 

[ImDMous]

I always prefer having mine, sometimes the beach is pretty rough and you never know what you might step on in the water.

 

[anricat]

I think the beach area changes based on time of year, storms, etc.

Yes, this! The first time we were there was in June 2014 and the beach was soft and perfect. We didn't need our water shoes and I sort of wondered what everyone was talking about. Then we were there in October 2015 and yikes it was rough! Pebbly and course and we definitely needed some water shoes. We are headed back in a little over a week and I'm torn. I'm loathe to pack MORE shoes, but on the other hand, if it's the same as last time, I think we'll need them.

 

[Mimirdh]

Water shoes, definitely a must for us! Like the others have said, sometimes the sand is smooth other times pebbly.

 

[txamu01]

Thank you so much for answering! I think I will go ahead and buy them for everyone! Need to add it to my to do list before we leave for Florida!

 

[JW9DVC]

Flip flops come off in the water. The shoes tend to stay put. Costco usually has some for sale soon.

 

[jiminy14]

I normally don't wear water shoes but my last visit changed my mind. I stepped on a sea urchin buried in the sand and ended up with barbs stuck in the bottom of my foot. The lifeguards did not have any tweezers and directed me to first aid. My one DD said I was the third person to approach the lifeguard and ask for tweezers to pull something out of their foot.

 

[kiford]

I'd never used water shoes (didn't even know what they were until recently) but last trip we did Dunn's River Falls and you needed water shoes so DH and I bought some on board ship. We figured that since we had them we'd use them at CC too. Why did I never know about these things!? It made it so much easier to walk through the water. I hate getting sand between my toes, hate the occasional slimy feel of things on the bottom, the odd stone or two, and walking through hot sand on the beach and turning sandals into sandpaper. You don't need them, but I'll never go there without them now.