Who else gets terrible aching feet at WDW?

[DisneyDotty]

Something else to consider for tired, achy feet--
I'm currently receiving physical therapy for tendonosis in my achilles, and my therapist said to always wear sandals with a back strap--that way your muscles aren't working as hard when you walk.

 

[grinningghost]

Do you walk at home several times a week for exercise, or do you expect your body to adjust instantaneously when you start suddenly start spending 10 hours a day standing?

Yep. I walk on my treadmill everyday for 30-45 minutes. But that's still a far cry from all the walking and standing at WDW. I'd have to be insane to want to try that at home.

 

[followme2disney]

I must be the only person around that had trouble with Crocs. When I went in May I tried the Crocs, after reading recommendations on this board. The Crocs seemed to cause one huge hot spot on the entire bottoms of my feet. It was painful, but luckily blisters never actually formed. I tried them again with socks and still had problems. I wish I could wear them because they are so light weight and cushiony. Right now I am stuck with my Reebok Hexlites. They work pretty well, but they are hot. My sister who has much worse problems with her feet then I do recently went to the foot doctor and got arch supports made for her feet. She had much less problems in May with the supports then she used to without them. Also, I definitely believe taking Advil throughout the day helps minimize foot aches, stiffness and swelling.

 

[Sk8Leigh]

I must be the only person around that had trouble with Crocs.

I like my Crocs for around here, but when I wore them at WDW my feet still killed. One thing that was stupid was that I didn't wear socks with them at first. The socks provide a little more cushion, plus I got extra-cushiony socks. Once I put the socks on it was a little better, but they still (already) hurt. Then I changed to Nikes, and they might have been a little better, but by then the damage was done.

When I go to DL in Sept., I'm going to try my Nikes first, and see how that goes (I don't think I've done that yet), but I'm not sure if there's anything that will really help. I think I'll be trying regular Advil as well.

 

[Terk-1]

I start walking more and more prior to my trip to both break in my sneakers, but to also get used to all the walking involved at WDW. I always wear sneakers that have been well broken in, with clean, dry socks. If I find my socks sweaty when I take them off during an afternoon break, I will put a fresh pair on before heading out to another park. I also use "Shea It Isn't So" foot cream from Bath & Body Works and have never had a blister. I also bring their Mega Mint foot soak w/peppermint oil to soak my feet in after a day at the parks. Makes the tootsies feel great.

 

[ReneeA]

I was born with flat feet, and while my feet don't ache after a long day in the park, my ankles and calves kill me. I have to get new orthotics made before our trip this year.

Also, I walk 2-4 miles a day for about 3 months before our trip to kinda gear up for it. That helps immensely.

 

[TerBear4]

I start walking more and more prior to my trip to both break in my sneakers, but to also get used to all the walking involved at WDW. I always wear sneakers that have been well broken in, with clean, dry socks. If I find my socks sweaty when I take them off during an afternoon break, I will put a fresh pair on before heading out to another park. I also use "Shea It Isn't So" foot cream from Bath & Body Works and have never had a blister. I also bring their Mega Mint foot soak w/peppermint oil to soak my feet in after a day at the parks. Makes the tootsies feel great.

I wished I had thought of all this before I went in June. I never thought to bring foot soaks, oils or creams. I just soaked my feet in a very warm/hot bubble bath. We all sat on the side of the bathtub with our feet soaking each night. Great bonding time with the family!! LOL!

 

[TerBear4]

I sympathize. My little toes curl underneath my 4th toe... KWIM? After the second day of walking on my poor little toes, I had the worst blisters I think I've ever seen. My entire little toes were covered by blister. My DH just about gagged when I showed him. I ended up wrapping my whole little toe tightly with a BandAid to sort of splint it out to the side. I was good to go after that! So next time I'll be prophylactically splinting my baby toes right from the beginning.

I have this exact same problem with my little toes. By the second day, on both feet, I was so blistered. Never happened before. I was even wearing CROCS!!!!

I went to Walgreens and picked up some of those little cloth/gel cushions which you slip right over your toes. I forget what they are called. It's like a bandaid, but cloth and you can reuse them. I then bought some of the Gel Cushions for slip on shoes and put them on the bottom of my CROCS! Much better!

I do not recommend the Nile Crocs for alot of walking - this style has the least cushion and arch support. Next time I'll bring a different pair.

 

[TruBlu]

If you get blisters from your crocs just get some of the moisture wicking socks (Target) to wear with them. No blisters, and cool, comfy feet!!

 

[Simba22]

Mine weren't bad last year but for some reason this year was horrible for my feet. So bad that at least one toe on each foot was numb and tingley for about a month after we came back. It was horrible and I didn't do anything different last year as compared to this year with the exception of rushing through everything. Last year my DBF and I took our time and rested when we needed to but this year since we had others with us we needed to run everywhere....another reason I'll never go with anyone else again! LoL

 

[SnwflkCts]

I know people talk about using BODYGLIDE for blisters but it also keeps my feet from getting so tired. Really!!! My feet used to get so dry and achey but I don't feel that way when I use BODYGLIDE. My DH and I have passes to a local Amusement Park and the one time I forgot to use the stuff was the only day my feet killed me ... so just my 2 cents ... the stuff really works for me. Lots of other threads about BODYGLIDE and I never heard of it before looking at the DIS Boards!!

 

[kldmom2000]

I am prone to plantar fasciitis flare ups due to all the walking.... I use my treadmill at home religiously and that does help a bit... but I always make sure to take the afternoon breaks and to get off my feet whenever possible.... I am a fan of comfty athletic sneakers that are well broken-in

 

[Donold_Fan]

I recently had knee surgery, and my knee didn't even hurt.

How recent was you knee surgery? We are going to WDW Sept 29-Oct 8, our longest trip by far and I go in for knee surgery (arthroscopic) next week. The doc tells me that as long as I had it done in July, I'd be good for an end of September trip. He also said that I'd have at least 4 weeks of PT (I've dislocated my kneecap 4 times over the years and am finally getting it worked on.)

While I have his assurances, I'd like to hear from someone who's recently been in the same shoes....This will be our 5th trip since 2001 and I seriously suffer from sore feet after the park (We always go commando while at WDW, hoping that the extra days will get me to slow down. I doubt it will, but I hope so) so I really don't want the added knee pain too.

 

[bookworm]

When I'm done walking the parks at the end of the day, my feet hurt SO bad. Am I a wimp? Or is this just normal?

I mean, my feet really, really hurt.

I know what you mean. I have plantar faciitis and stand all day on a concrete floor. ( I work in a school cafeteria). One thing I have discovered that helped was some stretching exercises to stretch the tendon of the bottom of your foot. Also in addition to foot soaks and lotion, I'm taking an ice bag. That seems to help mine also. Along with the Motrin. Hope this helps. If you see someone else hobbling around the resort with alien green mickey heads on their bag, it's probably me. We arrive on the 16th and are staying at POR also.
Darla

 

[Glendamax]

My feet AND legs KILL me at WDW. I usually try to come back from WDW 2 full days to recover before I have to go back to work.
For the past two weeks I have been on the treadmill for about 25mins. I hope to build up to (almost) an hour before I go.

I do have a question though - how many pairs of shoes do you take? Right now, I have an old pair of tennis shoes, and a pair of crocs I bought in May. (If this question is "hi-jacking" the thread, please send me a PM. Thanx!)

 

[beattyfamily]

When I'm done walking the parks at the end of the day, my feet hurt SO bad. Am I a wimp? Or is this just normal?

I mean, my feet really, really hurt.

Me too! Me too!

So this is what I do to get by.

I bring a couple of pairs of shoes to change them up each day.

I wear Teva Pretty Rugged leather and also my Ecco Cosmo sandals.

I have a bag of foot products I bring which includes Bodyglide, Avon anti-blister balm, Blistershield, moleskins, Peppermint Cream and Peppermint spray and various other products to treat a blister.

I take 2 motrin each morning and probably one more time in the middle of the day.

I soak my feet each night and then put the Peppermint cream on.

I spray my Peppermint spray on my shoes to freshen them up or on my feet mid-day.

I use Bodyglide on my feet on the hot spots. I use Blistershield on my legs for chafing. Sometimes I use the Avon anti-blister balm instead of the Bodyglide/Blistershield...it has a slight peppermint smell which is great!

I hardly ever have to use the moleskins anymore!

Good luck everyone!

 

[XOoOoVEEoOoOX]

I am prone to plantar fasciitis flare ups due to all the walking.... I use my treadmill at home religiously and that does help a bit... but I always make sure to take the afternoon breaks and to get off my feet whenever possible.... I am a fan of comfty athletic sneakers that are well broken-in

I have this condition as well, I was wondering if you have used the crocs...do they provide enough support?

Those small sneakers like the Puma's that everyone wears are so cute ..but I cant use them(not even around town) b/c they have absolutely NO arch support

 

[peedeejones]

For me it's not so much my feet that kill me but my legs.
I remember every trip to WDW I have had to come back to my room at night and soak in a hot tub because my calves are so sore!

 

[kldmom2000]

I have this condition as well, I was wondering if you have used the crocs...do they provide enough support?

Those small sneakers like the Puma's that everyone wears are so cute ..but I cant use them(not even around town) b/c they have absolutely NO arch support

I personally cannot bring myself to even try on a pair as they are just not me....

I used to be a clinical asst. to an orthopedic surgeon (that's when I first started with the plantar fasciitis-from being on my feet 9-10 hours per day) He gave me a list of exercises to do when I do have the flare-ups that really do help
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/fact/thr_report.cfm?Thread_ID=144&topcategory=Foot

I just make sure that I do rest when I can and I know that the regular exercise I do now definitely helps in the long run-my last episode was in fact our last Disney trip in 12/04.... I can't take Motrin/Advil or anything like that for the pain due to the Inderal I'm on for migraines, so I have to rely on ice, rest, and exercise to combat the pain....

GL to you! Hope you find something that helps!!!

 

[EpcotMatt]

I checked out PayLess for their version of Crocs or Airwalks or whatever they’re called. I’m a guy & my store only had women’s versions. Does PayLess even sell men’s Airwalks? If not, where else can I get these types of shoes without spending $40-$50{is that what they cost?} Also, with these Crocs, do you generally where socks or no?