Best Shoes for Disney World
Finding the best shoes for Walt Disney World and Disneyland is difficult. In our pursuit of perfection, we’ve learned that there’s no one-size-fits-all ‘favorite’ footwear. Nevertheless, we’ve gained tons of experience and worn out dozens of soles at the parks and share our findings with you here.
Again, there is no such thing as “perfect” shoes for Walt Disney World. Like footwear itself, there are two parts to this. The first is that personal preference, individual comfort, and the unique contours of your feet and body are huge factors. If they weren’t, the scientists would’ve just perfected footwear decades ago and there’d be one pair of shoes everyone wears. Instead, there are thousands.
Second, it’s all about tradeoffs. This has been a difficult lesson that I’ve learned when chasing my other theme park white whale, which is photography. No lens, camera body, or tripod is perfect–they all come with compromises. With shoes, those include weight, cushioning, responsiveness, breathability, support, dryness, and so on.
We’ve been around the block a few times with shoes, and both typically wear Nike Free Runs as everyday shoes. The vast majority of the time in the parks, Sarah’s go-to shoes are Nike Free Runs. She typically sticks with the Flyknit version of this shoe, which has not changed since the 2018 model. I also really like the newer Next/Nature updates, whereas Sarah does not.
Sarah also mixes it up with a couple different types of sandals. She wears both the Crocs LiteRide Stretch Sandals and the OluKai Ohana Sandal. Both of these balance comfort and cuteness, and provide enough support so your feet won’t hurt after logging miles in the parks. As far as sandals go, both offer a surprising amount of arch support.
I originally started using Nike Free Runs ages ago to improve my mechanics, alternating between these for lighter use and Brooks Glycerins for longer runs or days when I’d be on my feet a lot. (No complaints about past pairs of Glycerins, but I’ve tried other styles of Brooks in the last few years and wasn’t as much of a fan.)
A few years ago, circumstances were such that we were not traveling at all and most of our walking was limited to a few miles around our neighborhood or, once the parks reopened, laps around EPCOT’s World Showcase. Even after things got back to normal, those marathon park days were less common as locals, so Nike Free Runs became my sole soles.
Once we resumed traveling, I was quickly “reminded” of the need for better cushioning and support when logging tens of thousands of steps day in and day out. That restarted my quest for the perfect shoe, which led me to a couple of very different options…
The first fruit of that quest is the Crocs LiteRide 360 Pacer Sneakers. Over the years, this blog has had a love-hate relationship with Crocs. I think the normal clogs are hideous, but the comfort is undeniable. (I also love a lot of the over-the-top Walt Disney World Crocs designs–might as well lean into the ugliness of the footwear!)
For me, these have all of the normal upsides of Crocs without (most of?) the hideousness. They’re certainly not going to be spotted during Milan Fashion Week, but they’re far less eye-catching. They don’t stick out in person or in photos, instead having a neutral or ‘invisible’ appearance that disappears or blends into the background. Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so let’s instead talk performance.
I’ve now field tested the Crocs LiteRide Sneakers extensively on multiple days on both coasts and absolutely love them. For those familiar with Crocs, the foam insoles are super-soft, incredibly light, and springy. The Crocs LiteRide Shoes offer sink-in softness while putting a bit of pep in your step, with the characteristic comfort of Crocs. (Meaning that if you think normal Crocs are comfortable, you’ll also like these; if you find normal Crocs uncomfortable, these won’t be what wins you over.)
That’s exactly how I’d write a succinct review of Crocs clogs. So not really anything earth-shattering–they’re exactly what you’d expect of normal Crocs. The difference, from my perspective, is that these are normal shoes. As much as I love the comfort of Crocs, I can’t do a full day clocking 20k steps in them. They’re not as responsive as regular shoes and my feet have a bit too much freedom in them, with the end result being blisters.
The Crocs LiteRide Shoes are the best of both worlds–the comfort and springy steps of Crocs, coupled with the style and structure of shoes. One thing that’s also very important to me in a shoe is speed. This may not matter to many people, but I want to be able to power walk through the parks, accomplishing a lot during Early Entry and knocking out as many rides as possible at the end of the night when wait times are low. Regular Crocs are too loose-fitting and casual for that. The LiteRides are not–they are speedy shoes.
When it comes to Walt Disney World, another huge selling point is how shoes handle heat, humidity, and storm season. Part of the reason I like Crocs–and all more breathable shoes–is because my feet have an unrivaled ability to produce appalling odor. This might be TMI, but after wearing most regular shoes for a full day during the summer at Walt Disney World, my socks are essentially toxic waste. That is not an issue with Crocs.
Equally as important, Crocs are quick-drying. Afternoon showers can come out of nowhere at Walt Disney World, and even though we’re diligent about watching the weather radar and avoiding spontaneous storms, we still get caught in them from time to time. I’ve had pairs of shoes totally ruined as a result of the one-two punch of my stinky feet and getting (and staying) wet at Walt Disney World. (In fact, this is how/why most of my shoes have been “retired” over the last several years.)
With the Crocs LiteRide Shoes, I simply swap out my socks after an afternoon storm and am ready to roll. (I have friends who wear the LiteRides without socks; more power to those who can do that, but I can’t!) This is a really big deal to me and the main reason the Crocs LiteRide is now my go-to Walt Disney World shoe for the months of May through October.
With that said, I still won’t wear the Crocs LiteRide on consecutive full days in the parks. It’s not that I’ve tried and have had negative results, I’m just not willing to risk it. There are areas of the uppers where the fabric meets the mesh that looks and feels to me like it’d be a recipe for blisters if worn too frequently or without socks. Your mileage may vary on that, though. I don’t wear regular Crocs without socks, either.
I also don’t currently plan on wearing Crocs LiteRides for November through April. I think Crocs LiteRide Shoes are the most well-rounded footwear for Walt Disney World, but all of the aforementioned qualities are not always needed. Other months of the year, there are more comfortable options that work better for me.
Currently, select styles of Crocs LiteRide 360 Pacer Shoes (for Men) and Crocs LiteRide 360 Pacer Shoes (for Women) are 50% off on Amazon. I don’t know that this is actually a sale, as this deal was available when I bought my first pair a few months ago. Regardless, this is the cheapest price I’ve seen and we just picked up a pair for Sarah to test out.
For the other days when I don’t need the Crocs qualities, I’ve gone in a totally different direction: Adidas Ultraboost. I had heard people singing the praises of the Boost foam for years, but frankly, found the brand’s shoes a bit ugly and was skeptical that Adidas could actually deliver. Fast forward to last fall and I finally pulled the trigger on a ‘pop-culture’ pair of Boosts that I thought actually looked good…mere days before the affiliated designer finally and fully went off the deep end. Perfect timing.
Nevertheless, the comfort of the Boosts was immediately apparent and I opted to wear them during our month-long trip to Japan. The best way to describe Boosts is springy yet soft. The shoes offer a tremendous amount of cushioning and are plush as a result, but somehow also offer responsiveness and speed. They are perhaps the most paradoxical shoe I’ve ever worn, like an extremely exaggerated version of Crocs.
After logging at least 20,000 steps per day in the same pair of Boosts over the course of an entire month, my feet still felt great. For their part, the shoes also still looked great—they’re durable and grippy in addition to being bouncy. I’m now a Boost believer, and completely get the cult-like following.
I’ve had other shoes that ‘borrow’ from the Boost playbook, including the Nike React Infinity and ZoomX, as well as Brooks running shoes with their DNA technology. Those are all great shoes, but none even come close to rivaling what Adidas has accomplished with the Ultraboost. The offerings from Nike and Brooks are strong–and I definitely favor Nike Flyknit material–but the comfort did not compare.
All of the shoes I’ve had between those two brands either skewed towards softness or responsiveness. They didn’t do both like the Boosts. (Totally different style, but about the only shoes I like as well as Boosts are Nike Air VaporMax Flyknits. Unfortunately, someone has said she won’t go out in public with me if I’m wearing those.)
With that said, there are some drawbacks–at least for me. My Boosts are heavy and clunky, and even with the more breathable primeknit upper, they’re still too hefty and thick for me to wear to Walt Disney World in the summer (when the Crocs come out to play). Not all Ultraboosts are like this–many have a sleeker profile and use thinner material for even better breathability.
Speaking of which, this has been the dealbreaker for me with Hoka. I’ve heard nothing but good things about those shoes, and a seemingly ever-increasing number of Disney fans swear by Hoka. I don’t doubt the chorus of praise for its comfort, but the thicker upper makes them a tough sell for me. The Florida heat and humidity paired with my feet’s awful ability to sweat and produce odious odors is simply too much. On Clouds is another similarly-styled up-and-coming brand that’s also potentially worth checking out. I hope both offer varieties with Flyknit style uppers at some point soon; I’d love to give them a shot.
Ultimately, as should be obvious here…or from customer reviews…or simply the range of footwear available in different styles and shapes…there is no perfect shoe solution. However, I’ve been incredibly satisfied with the Crocs LiteRide 360 Pacer Shoes, and frankly a bit surprised at how well they combine the strengths of Crocs and regular shoes, while eliminating many of the drawbacks at a relatively reasonable price.
At least for me, that makes them close to the perfect shoes for Walt Disney World, with the best balance of qualities and compromises for visiting the months of the year when Central Florida is hot and/or wet. (Read: most months!) Given how many Disney fans also seem to love Crocs, we figured sharing a heads up about this new-to-us shoe line from the popular brand was worth sharing. For those who are vehemently anti-Crocs, hopefully some of our other recommendations and thoughts on shoes that work best for us at Walt Disney World and beyond proved useful to you!
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
What are your favorite shoes for Walt Disney World or Disneyland? Do you opt for specific footwear that offers added comfort, support, or springiness when doing the parks, or just your ‘normal’ shoes? Have you tried the various varieties of Crocs in the parks? Did you like or dislike their performance? Do you prioritize function over fashion, or vice-versa? Any options that perform particularly well in the hot, humid, and wet weather of Central Florida? Do you agree or disagree with our advice? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback—even when you disagree with us—is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Going into our honeymoon at WDW, I thought I’d be set with a two pairs of good running shoes that I had broken in with lots of long walks that were also solid brands: Asics and New Balance. After Day 3 in the parks, my feet were killing me. My wife, though, had Skechers and was feeling great. Since that trip, we’ve both gone with Skechers and have been set as long as we get new pairs a couple months ahead of our annual trip and break them in. BUT, I came here to put a plug in for Stance socks. Our last trip in May my wife assured me two months ahead of time that she did not need any new pairs of Skechers. She was wrong. So we went looking in Disney Springs at the shoes stores and struck out. But then we went into the Stance store, because she was also wearing these dumb thing Disney-themed socks that I thought were probably not helping keep away the blisters. I figured these $30 Stance socks (for three pairs) were worth a shot or I’d at least have a “unique” souvenir. Boom! These socks saved the wife’s feet and the trip. She is now addicted to these things and refuses to wear others socks (for better or worse for me, I guess). … Anyway, Skechers shoes and Stance socks are our winning combo now. Beer at the end of the day also doesn’t hurt!
My favorite to wear at DW is Sketchers GoWalk sandals. They have wonderful support for my arches, as I have had plantar fasciitis in the past. I can go 10+ miles a day and still be comfortable. I also love that they are machine washable. I take 3 different pairs and rotate. They are great when wet and dry quickly.
Be prepared for the next purchase of ultraboost to be different. I was a believer. I have several pairs and they all fit differently. The latest Disney release is almost unwearable they are so uncomfortable!
Oh no! Appreciate the heads up!
I second the Ultraboost rec, for all the reasons you mentioned. A great sneaker.
I have tried almost every shoe in your article and some, but I think I have found the perfect pair with the New balance Foam X. I go between the More or 880, you can usually find them on sale at the New Balance outlet and they are better than the boost for me. They are light weight and have a bouncy feeling that makes it easier to walk. I have bad feet and knees from being in the military and was always looking for the perfect shoe. I do have the literide for days I know it’s going to rain and they are easy enougn to throw in my backpack and switch over.
Keen Whispers are my ride-or-die park shoes. Comfortable even on my weird feet, no soggy socks, but enough traction that I don’t slip in the rain. I have them in three colors.
This was great and fun to see all of the different positive shoe comments :). Most of all tho I loved seeing the baby bump pic!!! This reassures me that all I going well on that front :). My GoTos have been Hokas for many years tho I have been experimenting with Crocs and a few others recently.
thx for the report!
Since New Balance has made 990s, now on 990v6, I’ve worn them. To run, to walk around in, whatever. I’ve got all the colors they make, I wear them out & buy the exact same ones. About 10 years ago I got some custom orthotics instead of the ones they come with. About 3 years ago I realized that if I used KT Tape w the New Balances & orthotics 10-15 miles a day at WDW for a week w normal exercise prep was not going to be a big deal. Plus they are made in the USA and I like that.
As a longtime Nike wearer…I’ve stopped buying and wearing them. Based on their politics and the way they treat and pay their overseas employees, I can’t support them anymore….and this pains me because I’ve really loved how their shoes have treated me in the parks. I’m now wearing Sketchers ArchFit. They’re very comfortable and absolutely wonderful when it rains. Between these shoes and my Bombas socks, even when wet I don’t feel like I’m walking in a wet shoe. I advise everyone to try these shoes.
I find it hard to believe Tom isn’t rocking a pair of hi top Jordan 1s on park days
As a personal trainer/runne r(and sneakerhead!), I absolutely love my Hoka Bondi 7s but I’m partial to thick ankle collars, heavy cushioning and thick tongues. Most high quality running shoes tend to be fairly breathable, but can be a non starter if you don’t like bulky (albeit incredibly light) shoes.
The wife and I tend to wear Nike Dunks primarily because of the decent cushioning and aesthetics, but these aren’t ideal if you’re planning to get splashed/wet at all due to them primarily being composed of leather.
Ultra boosts are a great “fashion meets function” option and many cloud foam running shoes (most manufacturers have switched to foam as the primary cushion) are great options to keep those dogs quiet after a long day in the park!
My favorite WDW shoes are some gray canvas shoes I got from LL Bean ages ago. When I wear ASICS DS trainers (my default running shoes) my feet get very sore by the end of the day, but the simple canvas shoes are amazing. I have no idea why. They also have the advantage of looking nicer than wearing an athletic shoe. So for me, less structure and less support leads to a better experience.
Perfect timing for a footwear article!
Skechers just quit making my Go Walk 6 Glimmer (in black) that I love and I have 3 random pairs of shoes from Amazon here at home trying to find a replacement.
(Sarah might like the Go Walk as long as she doesn’t want black ones.)
I just bought the Crocs LiteRide you recommended on your site here. (Women’s version)
Fingers crossed!
Best shoes are the On shoes. After my 6 days of parks I walked over 122k steps in my On Cloud 5 Coast shoes and my feet didn’t hurt a bit. They are light and perfect for the hot weather and they also dried fast… it rained a lot in May during our trip. Cannot recommend better shoes than these!
Thanks for the tip on those! I checked out the On Clouds a few months ago at our local store, but don’t recall seeing anything like the uppers on the OC Coasts. Those actually look really like and breathable. Not quite flyknit material, but pretty close!
Hahahah oh man, shoes! It is great to read this. As someone who spends most of my park days in high heels or big leather boots, I can say that the best tip for any shoes (literally) is breaking them in before you arrive. You can wear crazy things if your feet are used to them. Also, to second a comment below, switching up shoes each day keeps my feet and legs using different muscles, which is why I can last 10 hours in the three inch heels. ((My fav story about this is that I once had a cast member who saw me at rope drop have everyone who was waiting for the parade cheer me as I crossed in front of the castle at 3pm for being in my shoes all day. It was special Disney Magic!)) That said, I do take frequent breaks to sit and let my feet rest when I go more extreme.
Tom, I obviously can’t make any recommendations for shoes in this comment, but I *can* make a recommendation for odor. Lush makes a product called ‘T for Toes’ that I sprinkle into my nastiest shoes, and after shaking it around in them a bit the odor mostly leaves and also stays away for longer. I have resurrected some janky footwear this way!
That’s an awesome story about the Cast Member, but also, there’s a reason the Cast Member remembered you and your crazy (your word, not mine) footwear choice! 😉
Thanks for the tip on ‘T for Toes.’ Sarah has tried to find a bunch of solutions for my footwear woes, but I don’t think that’s one of them. Most recently, she got me some all natural stuff by some brand called “Megababe.” Setting aside the fact that I am not a so-called megababe, the all natural nonsense stood no chance against my feet. When it comes to odor-fighting, I need the most powerful chemicals our scientists have created.
I’ve heard that the Crocs Pacer seem to lack good traction/grip on their soles, which potentially may lead to slippery accidents. Have you noticed this at all?
I love my Saucony Kinvara – great for running and also good for walking. They are tremendously light compared to many other shoes I’ve tried. But I have not quite figured out the “what to do in the rain” issue yet. Sometimes I wear waterproof golf shoes, but I’m not sure I like wearing them all day in the parks in the anticipation of a potential rainstorm.
I haven’t noticed that, but we’ve also become fairly adept at walking in shoes that are lacking in traction. The grip on the Nike Free Runs is bad, and we haven’t had many issues with that. Just in looking at the bottom of the Crocs right now…they appear fine, traction-wise, to me.
I am not a runner or a hiker, so my choice is Crocs. — the one that are like flip flops but no toe separator. I have more than one pair, and do switch off each day. I have never had s problem with my feet, and the Crocks are great in the rain. I live up north so I only get to wear them from the first warm day in March until about the end of October and when I go to Disney in December!
“Speaking of which, this has been the dealbreaker for me with Hoka. I’ve heard nothing but good things about those shoes, and a seemingly ever-increasing number of Disney fans swear by Hoka”
You can add me to the list. The Speedgoats have been my go to trail running shoes for several years now. The last several trips we’ve had to the parks I’ve worn them, and they’ve worked great. I know they aren’t for everyone, but the super plush sole helps me manage some pre-existing wear and tear on my the aging frame quite well.
Thanks for the recommendation. Also, “speedgoat” is just an objectively great name for a shoe. It tells the whole story of what makes that particular shoe awesome in a single (?) word.
I typically wear Merrell Chameleons for touring, including a five day stint at WDW earlier this year, plus tours of Washington, DC and the like. Probably don’t address the foot sweating or rain issues as well as some other choices might, but the best I’ve found so far for extended walking + standing. I use Spenco Rx Orthotic Arch insoles with most of my shoes to help with plantar fasciitis.
I’m not familiar with the Merrell Chameleons, but I have a pair of their GORETEX hiking shoes that are fantastic. I only wear them in cold or wet environments, though–they’re about the exact opposite of what I’d want in a shoe for Walt Disney World!
Glad to see your version of you hitting the ? block is as goofy as mine LOL I swear by ON Cloudstratus and Brooks Glycerin. Both are my daily wearers in FL heat and humidity and also they got me through the Dopey Challenge!
What are you talking about?! I look like a very cool dude in that block photo! 😉
My biggest tip for shoes at the parks is bring more than one pair. No matter what you’re wearing, a full day at the park compresses the shoe so it’s a rock the next day. On my last 7-day visit I brought 3 pairs!
Other than that I prefer Keen hiking shoes/boots. They’re breathable and provide enough support. I’m able to break them in on the trail for months ahead of time, but then I only visit WDW once a year.
On another subject, do you have a post on navigating the parks with a big camera bag? On my June trip security insisted on inspecting every camera body, lens, and gadget in my bag at every single park, which really puts a dent in rope dropping.
I don’t have a tip for a big bag, but for rope dropping, my multi-lens companion will just pick whatever lens they intend to use for the morning and will carry the camera through security in their hands. The bag doesn’t go off that way, and security can see that the big metal thing that did go off is a camera. We’ll then return later in the day with the rest of the lenses when it doesn’t matter if we get stopped.
As far as camera bag goes, you can see what I use pictured at the bottom of this: https://www.disneytouristblog.com/tom-bricker-disney-photographer-camera-bag-2023/
I only use bags that have a main compartment that opens like that. It minimizes friction and problems at bag check, as security can quickly scan it and (usually) doesn’t touch anything.
For about a year, I was not getting stopped at bag check so long as I held my camera bag out in front of me (far off my body) and only had lightweight mirrorless lenses. In the last couple of months, I’ve been flagged every single time. I’ve also noticed many more people in line with me at secondary screening, and it often being a 5-10 minute wait. So I’m pretty sure it’s not a “me problem.”
I think this is the issue: https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/evolv-technologys-scanners-security-lapses-pnc-park-kennywood-acrisure-stadium/
My guess is that Walt Disney World turned up the “sensitivity” of the Evolv scanners (or something like that) after these incidents started making headlines.
I totally agree. I often wear sneakers in the morning and then my Clarks Breeze Sandals after the afternoon break. Or if there’s rain in the forecast Clarks all the way. People think I am nuts but I can do 20,000 steps in those sandals. It’s a proper Clark shoe disguised as a summer flip flop. In the winter I have been known to wear my Ugg boots in the evening too for warmth!
Agree that you need to bring at least two pairs of shoes!
Strangely, on my most recent visit, it wasn’t my camera gear that got lots of attention (traveled light-ish with an Olympus OM-1 and the 12-100 lens) but the iPhone video handle that I use has a heavy steel grip (makes it more stable) and it apparently looks like a baton on the x-ray…which leads to fun moments until I pull it out.