What kind of shoes do you wear in the parks?

[wdwnut2]

I'm getting ready to buy some new shoes for our trip (which isn't until December, plenty of time to break them in!) and I'm torn between buying sandals or sneakers. If I bought sandals I would buy Tevas, but I'm wondering if feet do better wearing socks and sneakers. What do you veterans wear?

Ah, will the decision making ever end?

 

[wdwguide]

I wear waterproof hiking boots - work great for me. I'd be too scared to get stepped on or hit by a stroller to wear something like sandals.

 

[Amy]

I wear sandals, mostly because we go in June, and when my feet are hot, I'm totally miserable. Socks and sneakers are just too hot for my feet. You say you're going in December, so the heat might not be a factor.

Also, sandals dry MUCH faster when you go on wet rides (like Kali River Rapids). Plan on doing that in December? You don't want wet sneakers all day long.

 

[CrzyforPiglet]

We were there last December 7-14 and it was gosh darn cold and wet (very rainy) most days. Now the rain was unusual for that time of year but I was quite glad to have my sneakers and socks to keep my tootsies warm!! That being said I brought 3 pairs of everyday shoes with me - 1 lace up sneaker, 1 sneaker mule, and one pair of sandals. I think I wore the sneaker mules the most. Are you thinking of only bringing 1 pair of shoes? I would bring both sandals and sneakers - even if it is warmer during the day it can be quite crisp at night!!

 

[antmaril]

Well, we are going next week and I'm bringing my Nike Straprunners (sandals) and New Balance walking shoes. I switch back and forth - I can walk forever in these shoes. They are both very comfortable. With regard to the Straprunners, I really like the fact that the Straprunners dry quickly and I don't have to worry about wet socks and shoes during a water ride. In December, I would probably wear the New Balance.

 

[beattyfamily]

Here's my story...

We've gone off season always...Sept, Oct, and Dec...and I've always brought my sneakers. I always got blisters and me feet always felt hot.

Then I research here and heard about special socks that absorb moisture etc... and bought some of them and I bought moleskins too. Well, on a trip last April to Paris, I still got blisters with those special socks with sneakers. BUT the moleskins were a blessing for those blisters!!!!

Then this past October trip to WDW, I brought a couple kinds of sandals (Ecco Cosmos and Ecco Receptors) and my sneakers too (with special walking/absorbing socks). Well, I mostly wore the sandals and I NEVER wore my sneakers and I did not get one blister; well, I started to one day 5 because I was wearing the Receptors in the pouring rain...they are not meant to get wet, BUT I put moleskin on that spot that night and then wore my Ecco Cosmos for the rest of the trip and no more blisters and that one blister I started to get never came. That's the FIRST time I didn't get blisters! I mostly wore the Ecco Cosmos. It was like walking on air and they are cool and dry fast. It was great!

I think you should bring sandals and some other kind of walking shoe like sneakers or whatever and switch around. That's best for your feet. And bring moleskins if you are prone to blisters.

Good luck!

 

[wdwnut2]

Thanks for the advice. I was definately planning on bringing some kind of sneaker for at night in case it gets cold, but had wondered about all the walking in the parks and what to wear.

Antmaril- Do you ever get any blisters or rubbed raw skin wearing the Straprunners against your bare skin? That was my main worry about sandals. Last time we were in Las Vegas I wore sandals and they kept rubbing the top of my feet and ended up rubbing the skin off. Of course they weren't really walking sandals, so that may make the difference.

Any more shoe advice?

 

[wdwnut2]

Beattyfamily-
I've never heard of Ecco Cosmos. Are they available at retail stores, or did you get them online? They sound great!!

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by wdwnut2
Beattyfamily-
I've never heard of Ecco Cosmos. Are they available at retail stores, or did you get them online? They sound great!!

They are available in specialty shoe stores like The Walking Store and they are available over the Internet at many sites like www.zappos.com (free shipping) and www.pleasantwalking.com

They are also available through Ebay (that's where I got them for about $35 including shipping!) as they are very expensive...$110 - $125 but WELL worth it!

Read about them here: Ecco Cosmo

 

[antmaril]

I have never had a blister with the Nike sandals. They are VERY comfortable. I was reluctant at first when I purchased these sandals because I'm really not a sandals person. I actually found out about these sandals from these boards - two years ago. I bought a pair and took them with us on our trip to WDW and Universal. I was amazed at how comfortable they were. My DH also bought a pair and loved them. We walked all over WDW and Universal in these sandals - no blisters - nothing rubbing.

I don't think you will be sorry!

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by antmaril
I have never had a blister with the Nike sandals. They are VERY comfortable. I was reluctant at first when I purchased these sandals because I'm really not a sandals person. I actually found out about these sandals from these boards - two years ago. I bought a pair and took them with us on our trip to WDW and Universal. I was amazed at how comfortable they were. My DH also bought a pair and loved them. We walked all over WDW and Universal in these sandals - no blisters - nothing rubbing.

I don't think you will be sorry!

are these the straprunners everyone talks about here? I bought them when they were on sale at "Just for Feet" a couple of years ago but I didn't like the bumps on the bottom of my feet. Do you get used to that? I would guess so since many praise these sandals but I couldn't stand the feeling so I didn't give them a chance...maybe I should try them again this summer!

 

[antmaril]

I got used to the bumps on the bottom - it really didn't take long.

After a while, I didn't notice the bumps anymore.

 

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

At home I live in my Birks, but I've tried to wear them twice to WDW and have ended up with blisters by the end of the day. I have to wear socks and my Nike walking shoes.

 

[CourtasanSatine]

sneakers for the parks and knee high boots for PI

 

[Muffy]

I wear Teva sandals at WDW if I visit during the warm months. During the cold months I wear new Balance sneakers. Never had a blister!

 

[Goofyish]

I wear well worn-in trainers (sneakers?) and sports sandles (no socks!).

The sports sandles are waterproof and dry out quickley - ideal for those wet rides/rainy days. They also give my feet a good airing

 

[Simba's Mom]

You said sandals, no socks. Does anyone else wear sandals with socks in the cool weather? I haven't yet, but it would seem to me that that would be comfortable. Taking my first December trip this year and thinking of footwear.

 

[Goofyish]

Sandles with socks may be comfortable but it makes you look like a bit of a wally

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by Simba's Mom
You said sandals, no socks. Does anyone else wear sandals with socks in the cool weather? I haven't yet, but it would seem to me that that would be comfortable. Taking my first December trip this year and thinking of footwear.

I've heard of people doing it for comfort's sake BUT I've also heard it's a BIG fashion no no so I can't bring myself to do it yet!

 

[Beanie]

I have worn Sneakers for when we do the parks all day and I wear Sandals when we are just walking around the Resort.