Be Sweet to Your Feet

Shoes
Nikes? Chacos? Crocs? Merrells? Whatever shoes you prefer, make sure they’ve proven themselves up to the challenge of Disney. One common piece of advice is to wear shoes that are “broken-in,” but most runners will tell you that a proper-fitting pair of shoes doesn’t need to be broken in. Shoes are an investment, so consider visiting a running store to be fitted for shoes. When my family visits Disney, we each take two pairs of running shoes and a pair of flip-flops or sandals. We alternate the running shoes each day and wear the flip-flops for shorter park visits or to dinner.

Socks
You may not spend much time thinking about your socks, but the right socks can make a world of difference! Stay away from all-cotton socks, which will absorb sweat, and consider moisture-wicking socks to keep the sweat at bay and reduce blisters. I run in toe socks, which keep my toes from rubbing together, and I’ve never had a blister while wearing them. Also consider carrying and extra pair of socks in your park bag – pop-up thunderstorms are common in Florida, especially in the summer, and slipping your feet into a nice, dry pair of socks feels great!

Anti-Chafing Products
Friction is your feet’s worst enemy, so anti-chafing products are their best friend. There are lots of brands available – BodyGlide, Gold Bond, even Vaseline. My preference is Monistat Anti-Chafing Gel, which is available in the foot care aisle at Target and Walmart. Use it liberally – all over your feet, between your toes, and anywhere else your clothes might rub, even under bra straps or elastic waistbands.

Pedicure

In the frantic preparations for vacation, make time to get a pedicure. And while you’re at it, schedule a pedicure for after you return home, too! At the very least, take a nailcare kit and make sure everyone’s toenails are trimmed.

Plan

Given that this is the PassPorter newsletter, this seems like an obvious tip, but be sure to use your PassPorter and My Disney Experience app to plan your day! A good touring plan will help minimize criss-crossing the park and standing in line. When we visited Walt Disney World in late 2014, we pre-scheduled our FastPasses, but we had to choose the attractions first – the app chose the times, which meant that we had to hurry to Space Mountain when we weren’t quite finished in Frontierland, so we had to backtrack to hit Splash Mountain. Now that we can choose the attraction and time for each FastPass+, our February 2017 trip was much more streamlined. And don’t forget to calculate the location of your Advanced Dining Reservations, too. It’s quite a hike from Spice Road Table in Morocco to Mission: Space! If you are going to brave the long standby line for some of the E-ticket rides, try to hit them early in the day while your feet are fresh.

Take a Break