We’ve finally decided it’s time to sit down and have an important talk with the team.
Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom
While we all love Disney and Disney parks, we have differing opinions when it comes to a lot of things: what are the best rides in each park? What snacks beat out all the others? But there’s one thing we have debated on for YEARS, and we know you have too, so let’s set the record straight: Are sneakers or sandals better for Disney World?
Now WAIT before you get mad, wearing the right shoes to Disney World is genuinely a very important question to ponder as you’re preparing for your trip. You’re going to be walking miles and miles each day, likely way more than you normally would be walking at home. This means even someone very active at home will likely be dealing with some pain in their feet if they wear the wrong shoes.
Cinderella Castle
To be honest, there was a clear winner amongst our team, but we’ll get into that later — for now, let’s look at the pros and cons of each!
Sandals
The pro-sandals people on our team were very convincing! Breea, our amazing scriptwriter for the DFB YouTube channel, shared that she HATES sweaty socks, and can’t stand changing them out in the middle of the day either, so sandals eliminate that problem altogether. Specifically, she loves her Tevas!
©Amazon
Not to mention, it rains A LOT in Orlando, oftentimes when you don’t expect it. This means that if you’re wearing sneakers and you get caught out in the rain — yeah, you’ve got wet, gross shoes and socks. With sandals, you don’t have to worry about that! Both your sandals and your feet will dry quickly and you won’t be uncomfortable for the rest of the day.
We also feel it’s important to mention here that we do have reporters who walk around ALL of Disney World in just Old Navy flip-flops and are totally fine, so if your feet are made of iron, flip-flops or sandals may be perfect for you!
Sneakers
However, our team OVERWHELMINGLY stated that sneakers are their favorite way to go, much to the chagrin of our sandal-loving friends. While they recognized the ease of fast-drying shoes, some of our team mentioned their pre-existing foot issues like plantar fasciitis, which means they NEED the support sneakers like Hoka’s provide.
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Now, Hokas are top-of-the-market options that aren’t cheap, but really, any sneakers that really support your feet are “the only way to go” when you’re walking miles around the park, according to one of our wonderful writers. Our team also wanted to share though that breathable sneakers are absolutely a necessity because otherwise you will be dealing with hot, constantly sweaty feet, and that’s not ideal.
Breea even said that if it’s a cold day outside, she will switch over to wearing her Skechers that have memory foam in them, so even our strongest sandal advocate can’t resist the pull of sneakers!
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We do love these Skechers because while they’re still quality shoes, they’re much more affordable!
If you’re struggling to decide what to bring on your trip, we do suggest going with sneakers UNLESS you absolutely can’t stand your feet feeling like they’re enclosed. We strongly recommend walking at LEAST one mile somewhere at home in whatever shoes you’re planning to bring (preferably 2-3 miles) to ensure they’re feeling comfortable.
You’re going to walk LOTS!
While we have some brands we personally love and recommend, at the end of the day, it’s up to you what feels most comfortable to you. Everyone’s feet are different, and what works for one person may be the worst choice for another! We’re always here to bring you the latest Disney World tips, tricks, and news, so stay tuned to DFB!
Check out our list of Disney World essentials right here!
What’s your take on this debate? Let us know in the comments below!
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I wear cushioned sandals. Either way the footwear has to be broke in.
My Sketchers Go Runs were perfect for the parks last summer. I tried to wear sandals, but they just aren’t soft enough and my feet were screaming. In 2019, I tried Teva’s but it rained, they got wet and chaffed my feet and gave me blisters. I still can’t wear those sandals without them causing blisters, and I walked in them quite a bit to break them in, but I had to just stop wearing them, because they kill my feet. Last year I tried Ecco sandals, and I didn’t get blisters, but my heels were in too much pain at the end of the day. In my sketchers, I could walk the whole day and I could still stand at the end of the day on the bus, so I could leave the seats for others. And I should mention that my job at the time involved me walking a LOT, so I was used to walking miles and being on my feet for hours at a time, so the sandals killing my feet was NOT from a lack of being used to walking so much. Disney distances are not out of the ordinary for me, so it is purely from the shoes.
LL Bean Boothbay Sandals are the best even if they get wet they dry, way better than sneakers!
Agree – i am camp sandals – i like the chunky “hiking” type as well with arch support, although i do bring sneakers for the plane and as my back-up. But yes, whatever you bring, make sure it is broken in!
like sandals. my feet swell and sandals are adjustable
I used both on my last Disney Vacation in December. That was because I have flat feet but hate the feeling of wet socks. So, carried A pair of good sport sandals in my backpack but I wore sneakers.
Since the ’70’s I’ve used the split personality method in the summer. That is I would start the day in sandals and stay with them ’til after dark. Then I would say it’s time to change my feet and put on sneakers for the rest of the park day. This method always worked well for me to this day. In the cooler months, unless it’s extra warm for the time of year, I would go with sneakers the whole way. Not much help, I agree, but it does go to show everyone is different, thank goodness. …everyone the same, how boring, and how many fewer choices we would all have.