Weird question

[DLfan4]

I agree with having the proper footware. We gots sketchers lite runners and they were great.

 

[Butterfly123]

My feet do okay, but my lower back gets sore from all the standing. I know I've got tight hamstrings, and I don't strengthen my core with ab exercises as much as I should. It's like you need to go into training to make through a multi day trip to the parks without some sort of discomfort!


<-- me in training for summer 2015!

 

[ronandannette]

So I have a really weird question. How does everyone feel physically after a day in the parks?

Back home I go to the gym 5 days a week so coming down I thought I would feel fine cause it would be walking and a lot of standing but man! By the end of the day I feel like I have done 5 workouts!!! I was having some heel pain in one foot before we came down so I'm not sure if that's making everything hurt worst or if my hit by a truck feeling is what everyone else feels. We are here now, had 5 day passes, and our taking pool days in between so we are not even mad dashing through everything. A perfect slow pace.

Feet HURT!! Mostly the issue is shock absorption and heat transfer from the broiling asphalt - thick, spongy soles are very helpful for me and something with a little bit of heel lift. I wear mid to high heels every other day of my life and my hammies are very short. For my particular problems I take a tube of icy-hot liniment (the blue gel kind with lots of menthol in it) and keep it in the hotel room ice bucket. ABSOLUTE HEAVEN at the end of the day.

Non-foot related, the heat and intensity of the sun in SoCal is also a big challenge for us - we're thick-blooded Canadians. We end up drinking tons and tons of water (and needing tons and tons of bathroom breaks). I've got wicked-bad acid reflux so I also need to be extremely careful with park food. I try to get on prescription-strength meds a week or so before leaving home.

Overall though, pain and suffering notwithstanding, my primary feeling at the end of a Disney day is still always happy!

 

[Andreas Mom]

For some crazy reason I thought that since I was doing all the jumping and running that I normally do while at the gym and I would just be walking that this would be a break for my feet! I must have been in my disney bubble lol!!

I am in so much pain at the end of the day that even getting out of bed for anything at the end of the day kills. I will be going to the doctors when we get home Wednesday.

 

[ronandannette]

For some crazy reason I thought that since I was doing all the jumping and running that I normally do while at the gym and I would just be walking that this would be a break for my feet! I must have been in my disney bubble lol!!

I am in so much pain at the end of the day that even getting out of bed for anything at the end of the day kills. I will be going to the doctors when we get home Wednesday.

Take some Advil. The anti-inflammatory properties will help with any swelling. Do whatever you need to do to feel better.

 

[kangamama]

We all tend to do so much more walking/standing per park day than we do in regular life. stretching is so important. Especially of calves and hamstrings. In fact if you are having heel pain, the best thing you can do the that is to stretch out the backs of your legs really, really well. I've dealt tp with plantar fasciitis on and off over the last couple years, and it wasn't until I really learned to stretch out the backs of my legs that I got it under control. I'm another who switches out my shoes midday, and I tend to have best luck with danskos. Also, of you are really sore, a trip to the pool (not hot tub!) can be a real help. As the cool water pulls the inflammation out of your body. Hot water can just cause more inflammation.

 

[msmama]

I've always felt like there is a special kind of Disney exhaustion, lol.

Basically, by the end of the day I feel terrible. Sore feet, aching everywhere, all muscles are just SUPER tight (like it's a struggle to touch my toes at the end of the day).

As far as I'm concerned, it's part of Disney. Though I was surprised I felt it as much at Disneyland as I do at WDW - and quicker, too. I wonder if it's extra hard ground or something?

Also I will never wear the same shoes two days in a row. If I can swing it I never wear the same shoes to the parks twice (though I try not to over pack). Changing mid day sounds even better (though we tend to not do breaks and I wouldn't want to carry an extra pair of shoes with me).

My shoulders always get really sore from carrying a backpack, too!

 

[larina]

Shoes shoes shoes.

I am always tired at the end of the day, but if I have decent (okay, really good) footwear, AND I change my shoes midday (this is a MUST), I'm not so physically exhausted at the end of the day, even on day 5. But wear unsupportive shoes, even just a couple hours, and it's over for me. Tired and grouchy sets in quickly.

 

[HollyL]

I'm a regular gym person too (my whole life). Just got back after 2 days in the park, and after day 1 (and wearing sketchers platform flip flops) I was fine, but after day 2 (wearing well broken in Nike's) my legs (especially thighs) were sore, probably because my son made me climb Tarzan's tree house numerous times!

I swear, if I lived close by, I would just buy an annual pass and use Disneyland as a gym.

A couple days later, I feel fine now. I guess I better use the stair master at the gym more!