What shoes should my toddler wear to WDW?

[travelinggnomes]

My husband and I are in a little disagreement over what shoes our 3 year old should wear to the parks.

My 12 year DD will be wearing her Nike flip flops.
My 9 year DS will be wearing Keens.

I think my 3 year DD should wear her worn in squeaky shoes (minus the squeaks), because they offer good support and are worn in. DH think she needs to wear tennis shoes. (Which she NEVER does and will be wearing princess dresses part of the time)

Is there an alternative that I am perhaps not thinking of?

 

[DCbride]

At that age DD6 always wore crocs to the parks. Easy, comfy, waterproof.

 

[travelinggnomes]

At that age DD6 always wore crocs to the parks. Easy, comfy, waterproof.

Was she able to keep them on well? My dd kicks them off something fierce! Same with flip flops.

 

[MistressMerryweather]

I like crocs, especially with princess dresses. They have sparkly mary janes, the Shayna Hi Glitter Mary Janes. They are super comfy and look cute with princess dresses. If you'd rather not do crocs, look in Teva Psyclone for a 3yo. That is what my 2 and 3yo old have worn on every trip. Actually, we bring both.

eta: I don't like sneakers/tennis shoes. they inevitably get wet and super uncomfy. Crocs/Tevas/Keen are made to get wet and dry quickly.

 

[Hannathy]

Mine always wore tennis shoes.

It doesn't matter 1 fig what they look like with her dresses all that matters is that they are the most comfortable shoes she owns that she can move in and walk and run and climb into rides and up stairs etc.

 

[travelinggnomes]

I wasn't as concerned that she would look silly with her tennis shoes, in fact, she has some sweet sparkly tennis shoes. BUT, she doesn't wear tennis shoes often, and I am concerned that they will create blisters b/c they are not worn in well. Her squeaky shoes are very soft leather and worn in...and have a good support to them. They have rubber soles, not hard soles. It just seams like that would be the best choice. The shoes that she wears most often and is used to. Or, am I just going crazy? lol

 

[akcire]

I wasn't as concerned that she would look silly with her tennis shoes, in fact, she has some sweet sparkly tennis shoes. BUT, she doesn't wear tennis shoes often, and I am concerned that they will create blisters b/c they are not worn in well. Her squeaky shoes are very soft leather and worn in...and have a good support to them. They have rubber soles, not hard soles. It just seams like that would be the best choice. The shoes that she wears most often and is used to. Or, am I just going crazy? lol

Bring both. Her feet will probably sweat. Bring extra socks and swap out her shoes.

Also I'm guessing she has Wee Squeaks. With regard to the squeakers, I'd leave them in. If she's riding in a stroller she won't squeak that much and it will be easier to hear her if she does a classic toddler dash. If you find the squeaking bothers you then take out the squeakers. Outside at Disney, I doubt you'll notice much.

 

[MistressMerryweather]

I wasn't as concerned that she would look silly with her tennis shoes, in fact, she has some sweet sparkly tennis shoes. BUT, she doesn't wear tennis shoes often, and I am concerned that they will create blisters b/c they are not worn in well. Her squeaky shoes are very soft leather and worn in...and have a good support to them. They have rubber soles, not hard soles. It just seams like that would be the best choice. The shoes that she wears most often and is used to. Or, am I just going crazy? lol

Definitely go with the worn in sandals and not the tennis shoes.

 

[kmb584]

DD wore (and still wears) her Stride Rite sandals in the parks. They've always fit her well and are comfortable.

 

[tourguide81]

At 3 DD1 wore crocs almost everyday. I think this next trip at 6 and 3 they'll be wearing crocs & keens - that's what they wear all summer and on our warm weather trips already. Maybe one other pair of comfy mary janes, we'll see. They never wear sneakers so I wouldn't get them specifically for the trip.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I would have a least 2 pairs of shoes for a 3 year old. I prefer 3 pairs. wears one pair to park take an extra in case one pair gets soaked esp if sneakers. then the next day you have a dry pair to start that day. we had a trip that had a lot of blisters because of wearing wet shoes while walking in parks. remember that shoes are required in water play areas which most likely your 3year old will love

 

[theduhaimes]

My kids always wore Keens at that age in the parks. They come in adorable little girl colors and they are the best of both worlds (sandal and sneaker).

 

[MandiC]

I vote sandals. My girls wore sandals or flip flops each day but on our AK day our younger daughter wore tennis shoes....which was fine until we went on Kali River Rapids. Soaked shoes are not very comfortable. I know at 3 she won't be going on the big, wet rides but there are splash pads in the parks too and if it's warm she will likely want to go play in them.

 

[PaulaVonSchweetz]

I'm always paranoid of 3yo DS getting blisters so I bring a sneaker and a sandal and alternate daily.
Plus crocs for the pool.

 

[tourguide81]

I would have a least 2 pairs of shoes for a 3 year old. I prefer 3 pairs. wears one pair to park take an extra in case one pair gets soaked esp if sneakers. then the next day you have a dry pair to start that day. we had a trip that had a lot of blisters because of wearing wet shoes while walking in parks. remember that shoes are required in water play areas which most likely your 3year old will love

This is the benefit to keens and crocs - very quick drying and breathable. But like I said, we don't wear sneakers pretty much ever.

 

[Tink575]

I wasn't as concerned that she would look silly with her tennis shoes, in fact, she has some sweet sparkly tennis shoes. BUT, she doesn't wear tennis shoes often, and I am concerned that they will create blisters b/c they are not worn in well. Her squeaky shoes are very soft leather and worn in...and have a good support to them. They have rubber soles, not hard soles. It just seams like that would be the best choice. The shoes that she wears most often and is used to. Or, am I just going crazy? lol

I would bring both, the sandals are probably better, but may also get wet in the rain. Bring a pair of Crocs or waterproof flip flops for her. Children that age just love to stomp in puddles, play in sprinklers and so on.

 

[blackpearl77]

Mine wore crocs the whole time!

 

[RooRach0906]

We always take 3 pairs of shoes for DD normally a broken pair of sandals and tennis shoes mainly for the parks and also flip flops or water shoes for the pool.

We just make sure what ever we take is broken in.
One year in Dec we even took a pair of broken in Mary Janes.

I say take both pairs. Maybe even try to break in the tennis shoes a little before you go.

 

[PocahontasLookALike]

When we took my daughter last time she was 17 mos old and a pro at walking. Just as my feet ache and tire i can imagine so do kids feet. My kiddos only wear highly supportive shoes such as keen, stride rite, tsukihos, see Kai runi. We have toms and converse but she doesn't wear them long walking outings.

All those brands make really cute sandal type shoes that my daughter wears with her princess dresses at home! When we go,this year I'll def be bringing her at least pairs of shoes so she doesn't have to wear the same pair 2 days in a row. And also have a spare backup

 

[pigletgirl]

We'll do Keen's for the park for DD (don't want the hassle of changing shoes to run in the splash areas) and her stride rites for dinners and travel days. I only plan on bringing two pairs of shoes.