Ten Steps to Happy Feet at Disney World

Did you know that most people who record their steps at Disney World report walking eight to ten miles PER DAY while at Disney World?!? Your feet will take a beating. Add in the heat and humidity and you are looking at the perfect recipe for blisters. Disney World may be the most magical place on earth but if you don’t take care of your feet, they’ll be feeling less than magical by the middle of the week!

After taking seven trips to Disney World in eight years, I’ve got foot care down to a science. It takes some careful prepping and planning but if you take care of your feet, they will take care of you. Here is my ten step process for happy feet at Disney World.

1. Go for long walks starting at least three months before your trip. Our family goes to a park that has a two mile walking loop and we walk that nearly every day that the weather allows. While walking two miles at a time is not nearly as abusive on your feet as Disney World will be, it’s a good start. Walking eight miles a day probably isn’t realistic for most families but two miles is pretty easy to work into the schedule and will at least get you prepared for the big trip. For best results, wear the shoes you plan to wear in the parks!
2. Buy the right shoes. You are going to need at least two pairs of shoes for a week at Disney World. You need a good, supportive, comfortable athletic shoe. You probably already own a pair that you like, but if you don’t like them, they have any comfort issues, or they are wearing out, pick out a new pair early. Your second pair should be a good quality sandal. I prefer Under Armour Slides. They have memory foam which makes you feel like you are walking on clouds and the strap is adjustable so if your feet swell (and they will!), you can loosen the strap a bit.
3. Choose the right socks to wear with your athletic shoes. They MUST say “moisture wicking” somewhere on the package. They should not be cotton. You want a sock that is pulling moisture away from your feet, otherwise you are going to get blisters easily. I like Adidas and Under Armour, personally. They cost a little more but I have some from my Disney trip in 2010 that are still in good shape. Definitely worth the investment!
4. Stock up on moleskin. Do you know that moleskin is? I didn’t know before my 2010 trip! It’s sort of like a bandaid, but it’s thick and cushioned, and it has a really strong adhesive so it stays where you put it. Plus it comes in large pieces that you can cut to the proper shape for your needs. I usually pre-cut it into strips and then put it in my purse to be ready when it’s needed. And when is it needed? When you have a spot on your foot that feels a little hot, that means it’s irritated and a blister is going to start to form. As soon as you feel a hot spot, drop everything and put some moleskin on the area. It will help prevent the blister. I’ve also used moleskin as arch support by taping it around my arch. It can relieve a lot of pain that way. There have been times at Disney World that my feet were completely covered in moleskin! Don’t be ashamed, keep your feet happy!

   

   

5. Prep your feet for the day with Body Glide lotion. This stuff is magic (and you can use it other places, too. Thigh chafing? Slap on some body glide!). Rub this lotion all over your feet and in between your toes. It helps prevent the irritation that leads to blisters. It’s like magic! Body glide also comes in a stick, but I think the lotion is better for feet.
6. Swap your shoes! When you stop for a lunch break, switch shoes. Yes, this means carrying an extra pair of shoes around the parks all day for each family member. Yes, it is totally and completely worthwhile. If you have a stroller, leave them in the stroller.  Or rent a locker if you need to. Bringing an extra pair of shoes is worth the hassle. My preference is to start the morning off in my athletic shoes with moisture wicking socks. Then around lunch or a little later, depending on our plans for the day, I switch to my sandals. At that point, my feet are hot and tired and getting into sandals cools them down. The only time I do not switch to sandals is if it’s raining–particularly with my Under Armour Slides, getting wet feet is miserable at Disney World! If I have sandals on and it rains, I quickly change back into shoes. Keep your socks in a gallon sized ziplock bag–trust me.
7. Soak your feet in the hot tub! When you get back to the resort at night, get your feet in the hot tub. It’s recovery time, because tomorrow you have to get up and do it all again! If your resort does not have a hot tub, get in the pool and float. It helps a lot! Even a soak in the bathtub will help.
8. Put your feet up. Lay down on the floor and prop them up against the wall. Get as close to being at a right angle as you possible can and stay there for 10 to 15 minutes. This helps a lot with swelling and discomfort.
9. Treat your feet. Use a peppermint foot lotion or another tingly foot lotion to help your feet calm down and recover from the long day. Personally, I use Deep Blue Rub from DoTerra oils. I am not a consultant with that company but I buy it from a friend. The lotion smells amazing and it helps relax tired, achy muscles. I usually rub it all over my feet and legs right before I go to sleep.
10. Stay on top of the pain. If foot pain is common for you, take a pain pill before the pain even starts and consistently take it at the interval and dosage recommended. I usually just take 2 motrin every six hours around the clock the whole week to keep the pain at a distance.

I hope that these things help you to keep your feet happy at Disney World. It’s hard to soak in the magic when your feet are aching. I strongly recommended following all ten steps and not just picking and choosing one or two. These steps work best as a full process to protect your tired, achy feet.

Have a magical trip!