Thursday, July 19, 2012

Thursday's Tip

OK, so here's the "duh" tip of the century: when touring the Disney Parks, wear comfortable shoes. It's a given, right? Everyone knows this. But what constitutes comfortable is different for everyone. I cannot imagine wearing flip-flops all day long, and yet I see countless park-goers doing just that. Some guests are big fans of Crocs. (Personally, I just can't get past how they look, but my children seem to enjoy them.)

For most of us, athletic shoes are the way to go. More specifically, I wear running shoes because they tend to have great arch support and be vented near the toes, keeping my feet cooler. (The irony here is that I almost never wear athletic shoes in my "regular" life. During the summer, I tend to wear sandals, flip-flops, or pretty heels if I'm dressing up. And in the fall/winter months, I either wear boots or some sort of loafers.) But I do encounter one problem with my running shoes: water. As we all know, it rains often in Florida. And the Disney Parks also have a few fun attractions that will get your feet wet. So, on any given day in the Parks, I end up with wet feet...and that is no fun! While I typically pack a spare pair for the following day, I'm still stuck with wet feet for the day.

In search of the perfect pair of shoes, I have tried on more than a few styles, and I think I have finally come up with my new favorite pair of Park touring shoes. Mine are Sketchers, but I've seen similar styles in other brands. I gave them a test run this past week at Holiday World (yes, it rained and, yes, we got very wet on a few water rides). At the end of the day, my feet were tired, but not more than expected after a day of walking. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome. Here they are:



They cost around $50, but I got them on a BOGO half off when my husband bought some new shoes too, so they were a pretty good deal. (I buy cheap fun shoes, but I don't skimp when I know I need quality and comfort.) Like flip-flops, I don't need socks--and there's nothing worse than wet socks! But like athletic shoes, they cradle your feet and stay on well.

I still plan to pack my favorite pair of running shoes as a backup. I find my feet actually feel better when I rotate two pairs. But I think I'm a convert--I'm hooked! So, how about you? What are your favorite comfy shoes to wear in the Parks?

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