There are a lot of things you need to do to prepare for a trip to Disney World.

First, you’ll need to start working on your advance dining reservations, meaning you need to know where you want to eat. You also need to start making your park pass reservations (although certain guests will no longer have to do that as of 2024). You’ll need to work on your packing list, which means deciding what clothes to bring. But most importantly, you need to prepare for something you might not be thinking about: walking.

How much walking are we talking about here?

Here’s the honest truth: you will walk anywhere from 10-12 miles in ONE DAY in Disney World. Most of that walking will happen in the parks, but you can get some SERIOUS steps in just getting around your Disney World hotel, especially if you’re staying at a place that’s spread out, like Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.

For an idea of how much walking you’ll do in the parks, we’ll start by telling you that it’s 1.2 miles just to go around World Showcase just once! The parks are HUGE, and you’ll walk way more than you probably do on a normal day at home.

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How to prepare for all that walking

If you aren’t used to that kind of walking, you might want to consider “training” (no, we’re serious) for your Disney World trip at home by taking long walks before your vacation. You’ll want to keep in mind that Disney walkways are all concrete, so try to keep that in mind when you’re training — a treadmill or places where the ground is softer just might not cut it to get you ready.

We know that sounds incredible — asking you to work out to get ready for a Disney World vacation. But if you start doing more walking at home, your body will thank you for that training when you get to Disney World.

We’ll also recommend that you wear the same shoes at home when you’re training that you plan on taking to Disney World with you. We do recommend more than one pair of shoes, though, so you can give your feet a bit of a break between pairs and switch them out each day. It’s also good to have a pair of back-up shoes because it WILL rain in Florida, and you might end up with a pair of wet shoes!

One thing that might happen, regardless of the shoes you wear, is blisters. When your feet get hot and there’s a lot of friction, blisters are going to happen. We recommend keeping some moleskin handy to help prevent blisters or cover blisters. 

You should also pack pain relievers like Ibuprofen. Your entire body might feel a little sore at the end of the day, so any kind of pain relief could be just what you need to be ready to do it all again the next day. Bringing something like IcyHot might also not be a bad idea.

Plan your route

We also recommend getting familiar with the layout of each park in Disney World so that you can plan your day accordingly and not have to do a lot of backtracking. This is a good way to save you from a lot of extra walking.  The idea is to move to one area of the park and do everything you want to do there before you go on to another part of the park.

Finally, prepare to take breaks. Plan breaks throughout your day. Take some time to sit down and enjoy a snack or some entertainment and plan to take some time for lunch and dinner. Many Disney World-goers swear by the midday break, too, where you go back to your hotel for a few hours midday to rest.

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Pack the right shoes

Need an idea about what shoes make for good Disney World shoes? Well, we’ve found some NEW pairs on Amazon that might be PERFECT for your trip. However, we recommend you order these early and break them in before you leave for your vacation — trust us, you never want to wear shoes you’ve never worn before on your trip (we’ve been there, and it’s painful).

Get the Brooks Men’s Adrenaline GTS 23 Supportive Running Shoe

These shoes come in a variety of colors and are soft with lightweight cushioning. They’re technically running shoes, meaning that they’re made to go long distances, but they’re also made to keep your body aligned while you’re walking or running. These shoes get a solid 5 stars in Amazon reviews, too.

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Get the Brooks Women’s Adrenaline GTS 23 Supportive Running Shoe

Don’t worry, ladies, there’s a women’s version of this shoe, too. These sneakers also offer a supportive fit. They are certified as a PDAC A5500 Diabetic shoe and have been granted the APMA Seal of Acceptance.

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Buy the ASICS Women’s Gel-Kayano 30 Running Shoes

These shoes give you great comfort underfoot but also have added support designed to set your foot up for correct walking, meaning they’re good for your whole body. They have a nice thick sole, which you’ll appreciate when your feet are constantly being attacked by concrete all day.

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Buy the ASICS Men’s Gel-Kayano 30 Running Shoes

These shoes also come in men’s sizes if that’s what you’re looking for. The upper is stretch knit, which lets your feet breathe more, which you’ll appreciate in the Florida heat and humidity. There’s also a counter on the back heel that gives you a more comfortable stride.

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Get the Hoka One Women’s Running Shoes

Some of our team members swear by Hoka for walking all over Disney World. These come in a lot of fun colors and are highly rated on Amazon.

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Buy the Teva Women’s Hurricane Xlt2 Sandal

If you’re visiting Disney World in the summer, you may prefer a sandal, but you’ll still need to think about comfort. Our team loves Teva sandals, like this pair, because they’re supportive but also durable. Okay, so these sandals aren’t exactly NEW, but they’re our honorable mention, especially if you’re looking for a sandal option.

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Buy the TEVA Men’s Hurricane Xlt2 Sandals

These sandals also come in men’s sizes. We could also mention that they feature quick-dry webbing, which you’ll appreciate after one of Florida’s out-of-nowhere storms.

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So keep this in mind before you visit Disney World — your feet and body will thank you later.

While you’re in the shopping mood…have you checked our DFB exclusive graphic tees and merch? It’s super fun stuff to wear to the parks, or to rep your happy place at the grocery store! Click here to visit the DFB Merch Store!

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What shoes do you bring to Disney World? Let us know in the comments!

The post New Shoes You Can Count on To Last Through a 10-Mile Disney World Day first appeared on the disney food blog.