My Favorite Shoes for Disney
Disney World is a BIG place! Like the size of two Manhattan Islands big! That means tons and tons of walking. The average guest will walk an average of 10 miles EVERY DAY of a Disney trip and that means sore feet.
Having a great pair of shoes is going to be a game changer. Here are some tips to help you plan like a pro and trust me, your feet will thank you later!
Things to consider
When you are walking alot, blisters or rub spots can tend to happen even in the most broken in shoes. That being said, having a variety of shoes will help when you start to feel a rub spot, you can change your shoes to something else so that they may rub in a little different way and not make blisters worse.
It also rains in Florida a TON, which means theres a pretty good chance your shoes could get sopping wet. Nothing is worse than trudging around in wet shoes. Having extras that you can change into is a good idea so that your wet ones can dry out and you won’t be walking around in wet shoes! A bonus is to toss an extra pair of socks in your park bag, just in case you are unable to get back to your resort to change them out.
Tennis shoes are great options to wear! However, sometimes you get to a point when you want nothing more than to let your toes wiggle free. Consider having both Tennis shoes and sandals to help switch it up.
You will need more than you think
I can’t tell you how many times I have gone to Disney, and I only brought one or two pairs of shoes. Later in the week when my feet are super sore and the blisters have formed, I am absolutely miserable because I want nothing more than just one more pair of shoes that fit a little different to give my poor feet some relief!
I know shoes take up a ton of room in your suitcase, but it is probably the MOST important thing that you can pack to make your trip more enjoyable.
Personally I recommend having two different types of tennis shoes, at least one pair of comfortable sandals, and maybe a pair or two of other shoes that you can change into in the evenings so that you can switch things up.
What makes a ‘good’ shoe?
Obviously comfort is key, but something else I have found to be really helpful is shoes that are lightweight. Clunky shoes can sometimes be ok if they have the super padded soles and whatnot, but honestly… they can get really annoying to walk around in all day.
I prefer to have shoes that still have good support, but are as lightweight and breathable as possible. This helps avoid my feet getting to hot or sweaty and I don’t get so annoyed by the end of the day!
When looking for sandals, make sure that the straps are comfortable and won’t rub you weird and aren’t too tight. Sandals are great for the heat and for drying fast in the rain, but if your sandals have a weird buckle that rubs you, you could end up with blisters.
Another example is some pairs of Chacos. The strap system works by loosening and tightening. This is great to have secure shoes, but if you get the ones that go around your big toe, they can sometimes continue to tighten around your toe and kinda cut off the circulation. I’ve had this happen and it was crazy annoying to have to constantly bend over and loosen the straps. This is also frustrating because these are NOT cheap shoes!
A great test is to walk a few miles in your shoes before you go and you will quickly find any potential problem areas on your shoes. Sometimes it can be remedied with moleskin or blister bandaids, but if you can find shoes that you don’t need that, the better!
My favorite shoes
My absolute favorite go-to pair of shoes is my Tevas. These are a super lightweight sandal that is meant for outdoor activities. They have a few different variations with different straps and sole combinations, but I love the classic version because of how easy they are!
The straps are pretty soft and the ONLY complaint I have is because of where the buckle hits on my pinky toe, I can tend to get a blister if I wear them too long. This won’t necessarily be a problem for everyone depending on how these shoes fit you. I know it sounds silly, but my husband has shorter toes than I do, so his don’t rub on that buckle the same way mine do.
But I love that these stay on really well, and generally are really comfortable. Plus they come in a wide variety of colors and patterns so you can find something to fit about everyone. Plus the basic version of these shoes aren’t too expensive!
For tennis shoes, I LOVE Allbirds. I know that these may not be the best option for everyone, especially if you have any conditions like arthritis or whatnot, but generally, these are great tennis shoes!
I recommend the Tree Runners and they are super breathable and light. The sole is foam so it isn’t very heavy and the fabric definitely allows plenty of airflow. The soles and inside are made of wool, so they also don’t smell too bad even after having them awhile. I’ve had my current pair for around 3 years and they still works great!
There are a few other versions of these shoes and they do come in some fun colors! These are a little more of an investment, but they are still pretty reasonably priced for a good pair of tennis shoes!
