Sneakers or flip flops?

[Tinkpink]

Someone on another post recommended TEVA flip flops because of the comfort (they have arch support) so I bought a pair (OK, two pair...) I have been wearing them to test if they are comfortable throughout the day with lots of walking/standing.

Yep, they passed the test!

[homeschool mom]

Personally, I always wear sneakers as that is what my feet need and feel most comfortable in.

My teen girls, on the other hand, wore flip flops on our last trip and were fine with it. The only thing is their feet were FILTHY at the end of the day. I don't think they got the dirt completely off all week!

21 days and counting!

[MinnieMommie]

I have worn all sorts of foot wear in the parks including running sneakers and the cheapo rubber flip flops. I think it depends on the weather, time of year and how long a stretch you will be on your feet walking in the parks. It also depends on the construction of our foot and how much of things like arch support you need. Lately I have been wearing nice sort of sneaker-shoes when I will be walking distances in the parks. Sometimes I get Born's (which work well for my foot) and on the last trip I worn Privos. They make so many comfortable walking shoes and sandals now that there is much to pick from. Basically I prefer to have my foot covered and to have slip ons vs anything I have to tie/buckle.

[Sean Riley Taylor's Mom]

I only wear my New Balance running sneakers in WDW. I have two pair that I alternate. I love flip flops and wear them at home but, my knee would never allow me to wear them in the parks all day. I do bring a good pair, my Ocean Pacific ones are my favorite at the moment, to wear to the pool and around the resort at night.
My husband and kid also wear a good pair of sneakers.
My kids brought their Crocs last year for the pool etc, but ended up wearing them in the parks on a few days and said they were very comfy. My husband bought a pair of Crocs Off Roads this summer and I can almost guarantee those will be going to WDW this December. He swears by them.

It is all about what you are most comfortable in. As a few others have said, just don't bring anything that hasn't been broken in. You will not be a happy camper.

[AvonleaCF]

I don't care what people say about Crocs, they're all I wear in the parks now! And I wear them WITH socks! Oh my goodness, someone send the fashion police! Oh and they're purple too.

I really don't care what others think about my foot ware; it's all about how comfortable I am.

I have New Balance sneakers as a back-up, but I prefer the Crocs.

I couldn't imaging wearing flip flops in the parks all day. Ouch! I hate flip flops though; I don't like having anything between my toes.

I wear Teva sandals at the water parks.

[badkitty]

I like to mix up the footwear. Flip-flops or sandals during the day and canvas shoes (with gel inserts) during the evening. Sometimes I will wear the canvas shoes all day but... smelly! I wore the flip-flops in the rain once and only once. They were so slippery I could barely walk. How do those of you who use flip-flops in the rain keep them on?

[mouseketeer mom]

My girls and I prefer flip flops, we are most comfortable in good flip flops. I do get worried about our toes in crowded areas though...my son prefers his crocs, and my DH is a sneaker guy! I really think its all about comfort with the amount of walking involved, that there is not a "right" answer. I have to say tho..I wore my flip flops over to MK by myself one day last week to upgrade our Park Hoppers to AP's. It was pouring. My flip flops became really slippery, and I almost broke my neck. I ended up taking them off and walking barefoot to guest relations, then remained barefoot to the boat launch back, all the way back to the Poly! I saw others in flip flops doing the same.

[pixiesmimi]

I have had that happen with regular flip flops and have walked barefoot across the parks to exit before, cringing all the way about all the germs I was picking up. But I washed my feet immediately afterwards really, really well. I don't have the problem with slippage with my Fit Flops. The soles and bottoms are designed so your foot doesn't slip in them. Of course I haven't walked in flooding rains with them. I would probably wear my Crocs on the days that it was raining just in case because they wear better in the water. And the water drains off and you don't have to worry about walking in wet sneakers all day. Miserable!

[Donald A]

Everyone is different, but as a podiatrist I would say that one should generally avoid a flat flip flop with no support in favor of a well-structured supportive sneaker. Will people tell me they feel great in flip flops? Sure, but long term as one gets older the tendons in one's lower leg will thank you for being in the supportive shoe.

[Little Round Bale]

I agree with supportive shoes but I also wear flip flops or sandals in the park. I work outside in my regular life and on vacation the toes see sun the whole trip...LOL. But I do bring my sneaks cause you never know.

[pixiesmimi]

Everyone is different, but as a podiatrist I would say that one should generally avoid a flat flip flop with no support in favor of a well-structured supportive sneaker. Will people tell me they feel great in flip flops? Sure, but long term as one gets older the tendons in one's lower leg will thank you for being in the supportive shoe.

That is what I like about my Fit Flops, they have the support that most sneakers have. The soles aren't flat. It is like wearing a convertible sneaker.

[momof3+twins]

I live in my flip flops also but I can't do them in the park. But, I will wear them everywhere else. So, in the park I wear a pair of open back keds. They have support like a tennis shoe but the back doesn't rub a blister on the back of my foot

[KAJUNKING]

i just went and bought a new pair of new balance 811s for our trip in 2 days, ive already started wearing them to break them in but they are great

[BlueDorrie]

I'm a big flip flop fan during the warm weather months but I would say bring both. I wore flip flops for two days and I couldn't get over the feet and leg pain I had at the end of the day from all the walking I did. I ended up wearing sneakers for the remainder of the trip because I had better support with the sneakers.

[Minnie Imagineer]

I am an old navy flip flops girl, they are so comfortable for me. Just whatever you do, don't wear crocs

[disneygeek84]

I usually wear tennis shoes, but the ones I bought last year for work offer no water proofing whatsoever. It's the craziest thing I've ever seen. So I'm just going to be wearing my Teva's for this trip and maybe my Birki's, both of which are completely waterproof and extremely comfortable. And I'm diabetic so I have to be careful of my feet, so making sure my foot isn't going to get tired or hurt easily is every important.

[g8rgirl29]

I alternated between my flip flops and sneakers last year. Only wear your flip flops if you are totally used to wearing them all the time and they are use to wearing you!! Don't forget sunscreen for the tops of your feet and it might be a good idea to throw a few bandaids in your pocket/purse in case your feet aren't as "conditioned" as you thought. I didn't have any problems and we were moving pretty quick and non-stop for 8 days.

[Aurora's Spindle]

I would say that it's definitely a personal decision. I rarely wear sneakers, and live through the summer either flip-flopped or barefoot. I've done Disney plenty of times in flip flops, as well as in comfortable, fairly flat slides.

As the PPs said, take your flip flops, but bring a back-up too. If you aren't used to walking very long distances in a single day, the flip flops might take a toll on you. Better safe than sorry.

[MickeyMousse]

SNEAKERS!!!! I've witnessed way too many people losing a flip flop or 2 while running to and/or boarding a ride!

[gwfx1031]

I go with sneakers during the long park days and then switch over to something more casual for later in the day. Switching shoes always seems to help the feet feel better for the long haul over our stay.