What do you do...

Lesley Mahler

Proud Mom of a Princess
Joined
Mar 14, 2006
Messages
1,012
...to prevent blisters in WDW? We will be there 7 days and 2 years ago we went to Sea World/San Antonio and after the 1st day, I had horrible blisters on my heals. I know there will be ton more walking in WDW and I'd like to know what some of you do to prevent them?
TIA
 
Hi Lesley Mahler,

I always make sure the shoes I wear at WDW fit my feet well and are broken in before my trip. I do get blisters (have one now, in fact), but they are from the different cute shoes I wear to work. In my regular life, I pick shoes with little consideration to how my feet feel about it. At WDW I do wear shoes that I know will make my feet feel good. (I just try not to look at my feet while I have them on.:rotfl: )

I say when you next visit WDW make sure you pick lightweight sneakers with lots of mesh to enable cooling and a thick sole. They should fit you well to reduce friction between your foot and the show when walking. The ground gets hot and can make your feet overheat if your shoe sole is too thin.

You can always change into cute shoes when you return for a break in your room before heading out to a nice dinner.

Bringing moleskin can help you if you do get a blister. I would put this over a blister. Bandaids don't help much as they always seem to roll or slip off. I have read that some people (adults only please) duct tape their feet to prevent blisters. I haven't done this. If you always get blisters even with good sneakers maybe this would be a trick to consider.

Here's to your feet having a great trip!!;)
 
Go buy moleskeine and carry it and a small pair of scissors in your purse (or pre-cut pieces if you're worried about getting hassled over scissors). Any time you even THINK you might be getting a hot spot, apply moleskeine. You can also use a bandaid with a glop of neosporin, but it isn't as effective.

Your feet do not need to look cute. Wear comfy shoes and to hell with fashion. Buy extra good insoles- I swear by the gel ones, personally.
 
I always wear my tried and true broken in sneakers (running shoes but I would not even attempt to call my self a runner :rotfl: :rotfl2: ). They are just darn comfortable. I have never gotten blisters wearing them with a pair of ankle sport socks. On our first trip I wore my Teva's for a day and couldn't stand the kids constantly stepping on my feet while we were standing in line. Not to mention my DH's big hooves are attracted to my tootsies like white on rice when I wear them.

I always bring my cute flip flops to wear to the pool but would never dare wear them around the parks all day.:scared1:
 

A moleskin user here too! I pre-cut various size pieces and carry some in my pocket. When I get a hot spot on a toe or somewhere else on my foot I use the moleskin before it becomes a blister. I put it directly on the hot spot.

Now if you've already developed a blister you can use the moleskin to pad the area of the shoe so it won't rub so much.

Also, if you feel a hot spot coming on, sometimes putting something in your shoe and pressing.........think of it as you're stretching out JUST that spot in your shoe...sometimes it's enough to stop the shoe from rubbing.

Good luck, blisters suck!
 
Moleskin is great, but Blister Block is the best thing since sliced bread IMHO! You can get it at any Walmart or Target in the footcare section. It is a waxy substance you slide on any areas that are rubbing or you think might rub to prevent a blister - kind of like chapstick for feet. If you miss it and end up with a blister then I would use the Moleskin.
 
I made the mistake last time of getting a pedicure the week before we left. Huge mistake! Make sure you wear well broken in shoes, second mistake I made! One thing that was good was to get a mans cheap, clear stick deodorant stick at the dollar store and rub that on your feet before you take off in the morning. It really does work. If you also have thigh chaffing, it works well for that too!
 
#1 If you get a pedicure before you go, make absolutely sure that they do not touch your calluses. You will need those calluses down there.

#2. Wear the most comfortable pair of shoes you own. Alot of people on here swear by good tennis shoes. Not me! I can't stand those hot, heavy things down there. Others love Crocs and while they are comfortable, I always wind up in either my Teva Mush Flip flops or my Montrail Molokini flip flops. They are the most comfortable pair of shoes I own and I own several pairs of them in different colors. If you think the thingy between the toes on your flip flops might bother you, cover it with moleskin or make sure your flip flops are like the Teva Mush or Montrail Molokini and have a wide ribbon between the toes (not a narrow ribbon or a plastic thingy). Reef flip flops are also fairly comfortable down there, but not as good as the Teva Mush or Montrail's

#3 BodyGlide antichafing gel is the best thing since velcro. I used to always get chafing between my legs and an occasional foot blister, but have not had a problem with either since using BodyGlide. You can order it online or get it at some sporting goods stores. Bandade also makes an antiblister balm, as does I believe Dr Scholls. Monistat makes an antichafing gel that's good or you can use plain old antipsersperant (not deodorant) on both your feet and inner thighs to prevent blisters and chafing. Oh, yes Avon also makes an antiblister balm that is very good. I would never consider going to WDW without at least a couple of these.

#4. If you do start to develop a blister apply moleskin ASAP (carry precut pieces with holes cut out of the middle of them to the park with you in a snack size ziplock). Or if you know you usually get a blister in a particular place you can apply moleskin beforehand. What I have done is stick the moleskin to the footbed of the shoe in the place where I think I even might get a blister before I ever leave home, so I have a cushion. The best preventative for me though is to just make sure I wear my flip flops. Since using BodyGlide I've never had to use moleskin again, but always carry some just in case.

#5 Carry at least 2-3 pairs of shoes and change out everyday.

#6 Take Motrin every night and every morning and massage your feet with peppermint lotion every night checking for any hot/sore spots.

#7 The only place my feet ever swell is in Florida, so for my next trip I have bought some Elemis Instant Refreshing gel. It's supposed to be wonderful for sore muscles, swollen feet, and even headaches and tight neck and shoulder mucles. It gets good reviews by the folks on cruisecritic.com. I got mine on ebay much cheaper than it lists for. I also have a foot/leg cooling mask from Jafra that I've used down there a few times. It makes your feet/legs feel wonderful after a hard day at the parks.

#8 Try to avoid sodas and other sources of sodium down there. If your feet swell, the skin over the swelling will be thinner and more prone to breaking down (i.e. blisters).

Take very good care of your feet down there! FYI: I started being so particular about chafing and blisters after a trip to San Antonio several years ago. After three days at Fiesta Texas Six Flags, Sea World, and the Children's Museum, I was in agony trying to keep up with my seven year old GD who I had taken down there for a GM-GD trip. When I got back I could barely walk and the chafing between my legs was bleeding, it was so bad. Note to self: never get out of the wave pool and wear a wet bathing suit and wet shorts around Fiesta Texas for several hours in July. The seam of the wet shorts WILL chafe you raw.
 
...to prevent blisters in WDW? We will be there 7 days and 2 years ago we went to Sea World/San Antonio and after the 1st day, I had horrible blisters on my heals. I know there will be ton more walking in WDW and I'd like to know what some of you do to prevent them?
TIA

well prevention is the key here. i get thick arobic socks that wisk away the moisture. I also get a foot soak/cream for my tired footsies. at the end of the day back in the hotel i make it mandatory to wash my feet if i am too tired to soak them and apply the cream and put on clean socks .i bring mole skin anyways but never had to use it TG . but other people have been blessed by my moleskin ..I also get gel insoles for my shoes because they help my back and feet. Wear broken in comfy sneakers too . Also stopping for a mickey mouse ice cream bar is Mandatory .. hehehe Have a fun trip !
 
Back when I was 19, I wore a brand new pair of shoes to WDW, and it is somwthing I will never forget. I had blisters on both heals and it was aweful. It taught me a lesson. Never wear brand new shoes to WDW without breaking them in first.
 
Body Glide Body Glide Body Glide, it worked great!
 
If blisters on your heels are a problem, wear backless shoes. I also don't wear the same pair of shoes 2 days in a row. I wear Crocs if it looks like it might rain or Rainbow's if it looks dry. I've never had a problem with blisters in either of those types of shoes.
 
Any Podiatrists lurking?

Here is my story. This happened to me on my last two trips to the World - one was in April and one was in late August.

My feet have, what I thought were light, cracking on the heels. It doesn't bother me whatsoever in every day life. I stand on my feet 9 hours a day at work.

Two or three days into my trip I have heel discomfort and when I take a look the cracks have swollen outward and are puffy and bright white and deep! It's happened while wearing socks and running shoes in April. In August I had on Nike rafting sandals that were very comfortable.

What on earth is the problem?? I am starting to get anxiety about our trip this August.
 
Hi Lesley Mahler,

I always make sure the shoes I wear at WDW fit my feet well and are broken in before my trip. I do get blisters (have one now, in fact), but they are from the different cute shoes I wear to work. In my regular life, I pick shoes with little consideration to how my feet feel about it. At WDW I do wear shoes that I know will make my feet feel good. (I just try not to look at my feet while I have them on.:rotfl: )

I say when you next visit WDW make sure you pick lightweight sneakers with lots of mesh to enable cooling and a thick sole. They should fit you well to reduce friction between your foot and the show when walking. The ground gets hot and can make your feet overheat if your shoe sole is too thin.

You can always change into cute shoes when you return for a break in your room before heading out to a nice dinner.

Bringing moleskin can help you if you do get a blister. I would put this over a blister. Bandaids don't help much as they always seem to roll or slip off. I have read that some people (adults only please) duct tape their feet to prevent blisters. I haven't done this. If you always get blisters even with good sneakers maybe this would be a trick to consider.

Here's to your feet having a great trip!!;)

Where did you get your design with the 2 m's, pink mickey head and your name written across? I love it and I'd like to get one!!
TIA
 
Any Podiatrists lurking?

Here is my story. This happened to me on my last two trips to the World - one was in April and one was in late August.

My feet have, what I thought were light, cracking on the heels. It doesn't bother me whatsoever in every day life. I stand on my feet 9 hours a day at work.

Two or three days into my trip I have heel discomfort and when I take a look the cracks have swollen outward and are puffy and bright white and deep! It's happened while wearing socks and running shoes in April. In August I had on Nike rafting sandals that were very comfortable.

What on earth is the problem?? I am starting to get anxiety about our trip this August.


I am NOT a podiatrist but for years I have had the same exact problem. After talking to my doctor, here are some of the things i've noticed that cause the cracks to worsen.
--socks and tennis shoes in warm weather always seem to be a problem for me, mainly because I wear socks that wick away moisture and the lack of moisture in your skin/heel is what is causing the initial crack, so these socks only seem to make it worse
--another is increased sodium (salt) in my diet, when on vacation I do not eat like I usually do, hence increasing my salt intake and causing less moisture in my skin.

My biggest suggestions are: BEFORE you go, pamper your feet thouroughly. soak them in warm water at night before bed for about 15-20 min and then pat dry and apply the thickest lotion/cream you have, do this a for a few days before you go and you will notice the small cracks disapearing, then when you are there lotion your feet heavily every night and sleep in socks (if it doesn't bother you)

hope this helps! Enjoy your trip!:cool1:
 


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