What Do You Do For Achy Feet?

[5forMickey]

Before our last trip to DL I faithfully walked 45 minutes on a treadmill every day for 3 months trying to avoid the achy feet. Didn't really help and after day one my feet were killing me (almost had to scoot back to the Hotel on my behind) at the end of the day. I have a little bit of a circulation problem so I think that may play into it. A co-worker suggested using compression socks. Anyone have any helpful hints? Would love to know how everyone is getting around this.

Footnote: I'm holding out on the ECV usage.....although they works wonderfully for my Parents.

 

[nicolispicoli]

I put salon pas on everything! You can probably put them on the bottom of your feet or the tops to help. I usually put them on my shins and calves while I'm at disneyland.

What kind of shoes are you wearing?

 

[5forMickey]

I put salon pas on everything! You can probably put them on the bottom of your feet or the tops to help. I usually put them on my shins and calves while I'm at disneyland.

What kind of shoes are you wearing?

That's a GREAT idea! See, I never would have thought but that seems so logical.

I have tried everything, Bourne's, Clark's, Ecco's. Snauk's seem to work the best. I have a high arch so sneakers aren't the best.

 

[ILoveDzny]

I wore my Skechers Go walk on my last WDW trip and it was the least my feet have ever hurt. Wasn't pain free, but it was the best trip for less achy feet. I plan to wear them on my 9 night trip coming up in January

 

[RobertaMomof2]

This may sound strange but I hit the pool and hottub. I feel so refreshed after an afternoon break. We usually head back to the room after lunch in the park and take a swim and hot tub for about an hour. Shower and relax in the room for an hour and are ready to go back to the parks. Always works for us

 

[Winnowill]

As someone who doesn't care for athletic shoes or socks, I had thought my normal Cole Haan casual shoes on bare feet would be adequate for WDW last year. After all, that's my typical footwear for shopping and doing other activities on weekends and other times. Boy, was I wrong! They were the worst. Halfway through the trip, I had to spring for a pair of Mickey-themed sneakers because I could hardly walk with the shoes I had. So, for this year at DLR, I invested in nice, moisture-wicking athletic socks and a pair of the Skechers with memory foam (they don't look like athletic shoes, which I love). I alternated them with the Mickey sneaks, and I had no problems at all.

 

[goldmay]

I haven't found a way to prevent foot pain but wearing these at the end of a long day makes my feet feel better - http://www.yogapro.com/products/YogaToes.html

 

[Indiana Scott]

Someone I worked with gave me the helpful tip of changing your shoes half way through the day and it really helps.
The other thing I do is stop often (every 15~30 minutes) and just sit and watch what's going on for 5 minutes or so. Not only does it make all your joints feel a bit better, it also allows you to really take DL in.

 

[Angrose]

Someone I worked with gave me the helpful tip of changing your shoes half way through the day and it really helps.
The other thing I do is stop often (every 15~30 minutes) and just sit and watch what's going on for 5 minutes or so. Not only does it make all your joints feel a bit better, it also allows you to really take DL in.

This.
Also, soaking your feet at the end of the day feels wonderful. Take some ibuprofen before going to bed and that will help too.

I have discovered Teva's and they are now my go to shoe for the parks. They are sandals, but so comfortable and I also don't have to worry about getting them wet (I'm looking at you Splash Mtn and Grizzly River Run!). They are way more comfortable than my running shoes for walking around all day. I am a little worried for my next trip the end of November though. I love my Tevas so much and I will be sad if it rains and I can't wear them. I'm not sure what closed shoe to wear if it rains. I tried wearing boots last year and they were killing me mid-way through the day!

 

[5forMickey]

I haven't found a way to prevent foot pain but wearing these at the end of a long day makes my feet feel better - http://www.yogapro.com/products/YogaToes.html

Oh my gosh I'm so going to try these they look wonderful. I'll use the salon pas while I'm walking and use these when I come back -- or after coming back from the hot tub.

Thanks everyone for the wonderful suggestions!

 

[GatorChris]

I switch shoes (both New Balance), but not in the middle of the day. I'll wear my running shoes the first day, and then switch to cross-trainers the next. The running shoes have so much cushion, it's crazy, but the support isn't the best. So the next day, I'll put on the cross-trainers which still have good cushion but they are more firm so that my foot muscles are having to overwork to balance me while standing. Then it's back and forth each day. Used to, even in my 20s and 30s, my feet would ache after about two days and then I'd just grind through it. But after doing the switch method a year ago (and now I'm 40), it's made a huge difference. I don't even notice foot fatigue at the parks when I do this. Hope this helps.

 

[ImTempest]

Oh, it's the shoes, without a doubt. For a long time, I would go to the parks and almost feel like crying at the end of the day, my feet hurt so much. So, I started drinking Smart Water - that really helped by keeping the muscles from tightening up. And I changed the brand of shoes I'd been wearing. First, I tried cushion inserts - no good, just made my feet sweaty. I tried Reeboks and Danskin and a VERY expensive pair of walking shoes that I don't even remember the name of. No good. Then I found Champion, and they work for my feet. Don't know why. Everybody is different. I buy a pair, take them home and wear them for one day only, then they go in my closet and become "My Disney Shoes", worn only at Disney. Hope you find your solution!

 

[nicolispicoli]

That's a GREAT idea! See, I never would have thought but that seems so logical.

I have tried everything, Bourne's, Clark's, Ecco's. Snauk's seem to work the best. I have a high arch so sneakers aren't the best.

I used to make fun of my mom for it, but now I swear by it! I use them for all activites where I'm pretending to be young but feel old (Music festivals, etc.), haha!

Also, whenever I go somewhere that requires a lot of walking, I bring a ziplock of lavendar epsom salt and soak my feet in the tub at the end of the day. That works wonders.

As far as shoes go, the only ones I can stand to wear at DLR is flip flops or plain sneaker keds. I know most would shudder at the flip flops thing, but honestly, it's what I usually wear and everytime I try to go to DLR and force tennis shoes or something I wouldn't normally wear, my feet ache like crazy.

 

[tzeitel]

I agree about alternating shoes - I have Tevas and flip flops (yeah no support but so comfortable!). Another good tip is rubbing peppermint lotion on your feet at the end of the day

 

[Butterfly123]

So I was the person who always swore by really good sneakers, and Keens. And I still do, but last trip I broke my toe a week before our trip, and the only shoes I could wear were my gardening crocs...just the classic crocs style. I always thought that crocs would be a poor choice for the parks. They are loose, and your foot sort of wiggles around in them. Well I have to say my feet were very comfortable, and I really didn't have any foot fatigue! So what I will do next trip I don't know! It's a little hard to get over that ugly factor. Maybe I'll bring them and wear them as needed. They sure made my feet happy!

 

[nikkislaght]

I wear Tevas and Merrills to Disneyland.. make life a lot easier at the end of the day.

 

[5forMickey]

I agree about flip flops.....I actually found the Snauk's by default while crawling back to the hotel one night. I bought a pair of the flip flops from the store in DTD and they were a life saver...

 

[GenGen22]

I think good walking or running shoes is the answer. Before taking a 10 day trip to WDW I shopped around asking at shoe stores what shoes they suggested & I ended up purchasing Nike Air Max which are expensive, but in all 10 days my feet never hurt. Now I swear by them. I don't wear any other brand.

 

[Aladora]

I agree about flip flops.....I actually found the Snauk's by default while crawling back to the hotel one night. I bought a pair of the flip flops from the store in DTD and they were a life saver...

I swear by my Sanuk Yoga slings.

 

[Girimama33]

I have to bring my Sanuks next time...
A few weeks ago, I took Motrin after breakfast, lunch and dinner...It helped me tremendously. Usually my feet will not start to ache until I lay down to go to sleep. It was nice not to have that discomfort for a change. I hate taking meds, but ...whatever works...