In many of the Disney fan groups I belong to on  Social Media, I see one question asked over and over, “What shoes should I wear to the parks?”   The wrong pair of shoes can put a blister on  your vacation, literally.  I’m here to share what works for me, and what has caused big problems.  Hopefully these tips will help, so that you can be like Cinderella and find the perfect fit.

Tennis Shoes/Sneakers

The best choice by far for the amount of walking you do during a Walt Disney World vacation is tennis shoes.  Just doing a quick internet search, most people who tracked their walking shared distances of 10-15 miles per day!  Tennis shoes are comfortable and provide the support needed for that amount of walking and standing for hours a day.  They are also a good option for rainy days, with rubber soles that provide traction on slippery surfaces. The only con to tennis shoes is that temperatures in Florida during the summer can be sweltering, and feet contained in socks and shoes can get hot.

Tennis shoes

Slip On Shoes

One of my favorite pairs of shoes to wear to Walt Disney World are Toms.  I love the different colors and patterns they come in!   My red polka dot Toms are my favorite and are perfect for a Minnie Mouse “Disney Bounding” outfit!   I’ve seen many people even customize their own slip ons, like my friend Megan did.  Aren’t these amazing?!

Hand painted Wall-E slip on shoes. Painting and Photo by Megan Welch.

Toms are comfortable to wear when walking at Walt Disney World

They’re comfortable to walk long distances in, and keep my feet from getting too hot since I can easily slip them off and I don’t have to wear socks with them.  They also have backs to keep them from falling off my feet easily.  Toms, and other similar slip on shoes, do have their drawbacks, though.  I would not recommend them for rainy days; the canvas would get soaked, and the soles do not have proper traction to keep you from slipping on wet walkways.

Flip Flops and Backless Sandals

As a born-and-raised-and-never-plan-on-leaving-Floridian, I don’t believe there is a season that isn’t flip flop season.  I wore my flip flops many, many times while walking around Walt Disney World.   They’re comfortable, and keep feet cool on hot days.  They can also be a good choice for a rainy day since they dry quickly.  Unfortunately, I found out on a recent trip that flip flops may not be as great of an option as they seem.  While entering the car to ride Test Track, the person in line behind me stepped on the back of my flip flop.  It slipped off my foot, and down into the black hole underneath the attraction never to be seen again.  A very friendly Cast Member was great about the situation, and gave me a voucher for a new pair of sandals.  However, I did have to walk to the gift shop with only one shoe, and the only sandals they had were the foam and plastic type; not exactly on par with my leather Rainbows.  I love my flip flops, but this latest fluke will make me think twice about wearing them again.

I lost my flip flop underneath Test Track

Voucher for new flip flops provided by a Cast Member

Heels/Wedges

Walt Disney World has many restaurants on property that are of the more upscale variety.  There are a few that “theme park attire” isn’t an appropriate choice.  If I am going to a resort restaurant or just making a trip into one of the parks for a meal, then I will wear fancier sandals or shoes with a small heel.  I definitely do not recommend spending an entire day at the parks in heels; even if they are cute.  Comfortable wins out over cute at Walt Disney World every time.

Should you not find a perfect fit, First Aid Centers will happily provide you with a Band Aid.  If you were curious about comfortable shoes to wear to Walt Disney World, I hope this has helped narrow down some options for you.  If you’re a veteran Walt Disney World visitor, I’d love to hear in the comments what type of shoes you recommend when walking the parks.