The Best Shoes To Wear To Disneyland

Choosing the best shoes to wear to Disneyland is a big deal! You want to be comfortable because you’re going to be doing a lot of walking. But, you also don’t want to spend a ton of money on the wrong pair of shoes! If you end up wearing the wrong shoes you’re going to be completely miserable. Nothing puts a damper on an amazing Disney Parks vacation like sore feet.

In this post, I’ll cover the best shoes to wear to Disneyland. We’ll talk about sneakers, sandals, flip-flops (can you wear flip flops to Disneyland?, We’ll talk about it!) and I’ll share with you the comfortable sandals that have changed the way I think about shoes at Disney theme parks. I’ve also got some tips and tricks that will help your feet feel their best on your Disneyland vacation and cut down on foot pain!

I used to think that the shoes you wore on your Disney trip, really didn’t make much of a difference. A shoe is a shoe, right? After long days of walking around amusement parks, your feet are going to be tired and you’ll feel pretty miserable by the end of the day. I had this outlook for years. I was so very wrong! Comfortable walking shoes are always a good idea, but choosing the best shoes to wear to Disneyland really makes so much difference in your overall vacation!

Imagine this: You finish your day at the Happiest Place On Earth. It’s been a hot day, you’ve walked long distances and you’re feeling pretty tired. You’re ready to hit the bed at the hotel, but you still have a short walk back to the hotel. Ordinarily, you’d be dreading this part of the day. Your feet would be killing you. However, you’ve made a change in your type of footwear and you realize that you’re feet aren’t exhausted! Your little feet have carried you all around Disneyland park and they are still going strong! The walk back to the hotel isn’t miserable and you live happily ever after. Sound like a fairy tale? It’s not! I’ve lived it. Don’t forget the lesson we learned from Cinderella: the right shoes can change your life!

I’m not joking when I tell you I’ve seen a few people wearing stiletto heels at Disneyland! I actually could not believe my eyes. They looked miserable. One woman had them on while she was trying to chase her small children around the little playground outside of Goofy’s house in ToonTown. The ground there is covered with this soft, material to protect the kids from skinned knees if they fall. Well, the ground cover was not designed for stilletos. The heels on this poor woman’s shoes kept popping into the ground cover and getting stuck. She looked miserable and I couldn’t help but note that maybe stilettos were not a good option for Disneyland. So, you won’t be finding any type of impractical shoes on my list of the best shoes to wear to Disneyland. Practical, comfortable shoes are what you’ll find here!

Discount Disney Park Tickets

Please be aware, that Disney theme parks all require park tickets and reservations. Make sure you have both! Please don’t pay full price for your Disney tickets or hotel. My partners at Get Away Today have the very best deals on tickets and hotels. Their customer service is top notch and they even have layaway plans. You can find them here or call 1-855-GET-AWAY. Make sure you tell them Melissa from Mix In Some Magic sent you for the best deal! If you book a package with park tickets and a hotel room you can use my code MIX10 to save an extra $10. That’s more churro money, friends!

I have a bunch of hotel reviews that might be helpful for you if you’re still trying to decide where you’d like to stay. I prefer to stay at a hotel within walking distance of the Disney parks. This is a great option for our family because I love being able to just walk over to the parks and walk back to the hotel when the day is over.

Disneyland Planning Help

I’ve got bunches of information on planning a Disneyland trip that will be so helpful for you! Start with my complete guide to visiting Disneyland. It’s a step-by-step guide for planning your vacation that will be helpful. Check out my top 10 Disneyland tips and my guide to when to visit Disneyland to help you pick the best time for your vacation! I’ve also got a post on rope dropping at Disneyland that’s very helpful.

Make sure you check out my downloadable touring plans if you’d like a step-by-step guide to the parks! 

I have a planning phone call that’s super popular! In this phone call, I can answer all of your Disneyland vacation questions and give you lots of tips and info tailored just to you and your group!

Best Shoes To Wear To Disneyland

I don’t think there’s one pair of shoes that is perfect for every single person. The best choice for me may not be the best option for you. We all have different feet and different needs. So, make sure you choose a pair of shoes that feels right for you!

Here are my top choices for the best shoes to wear to Disneyland. I have not tried out every shoe on this list, but they all come highly recommended by my family and friends. Plus, they were all top of the list when I polled my Instagram followers about their favorite shoes to wear to Disneyland or Disney California Adventure Park. I do have a favorite shoe from each category that I can highly recommend from personal experience. You will have hours of walking each day on your Disney vacation. You might as well have some comfortable shoes. It will help you have a good experience on your vacation!

Tennis Shoes

Whenever I think of the best shoes to wear to Disneyland, I think of good walking shoes. Then, I automatically think of tennis shoes. These tried and true athletic shoes have been getting me around my whole life! However, all tennis shoes are not created equal! You get what you pay for and if you buy cheap tennis shoes, your feet are probably going to pay the price later. To me, having breathable fabric is really important. Here’s a list of the best tennis shoes for your to consider for your Disneyland vacation.

Nike

Nike shoes are incredibly popular with tons of people! Many people swear they are the best walking shoes in the world. They have tons of different options and styles to choose from. You can check them out here. They may just be the best shoes to wear to Disneyland for your feet!

Under Armour

Under Armour, shoes are lightweight and many have mesh uppers that help keep your feet cool. They have lots of styles and different colors to choose from. You can check them out here.

New Balance

New Balance shoes are comfortable and have great support! This was a top choice of many of my Instagram followers. They have tons of styles and would be a good choice. You can check them out here.

ASICS

These popular shoes have a “gel” service that got lots of recommendations! Here’s some info from their website: “Rearfoot and Forefoot GEL Technology Cushioning System – Attenuates shock during impact and toe-off phases, and allows movement in multiple planes as the foot transitions through the gait cycle.” You can check them out here.

Skechers

Skechers are a great option at a lower price point. They have tons of different styles to choose from. The “Skechers go walk” were specifically recommended a few times. You can check them out here.

Altra

Altra shoes are very popular! They are often a great choice for people with plantar fasciitis and offer great arch support. They have tons of different styles to choose from. You can find them here.

Adidas

Adidas shoes have been around for a long time because they are so popular! They are at a lower price point than some of the other options on this list. The cloudfoam options were recommended to me a few times. You can check them out here.

Vessi

I haven’t tried these shoes yet, but I’d like to! They look comfortable and supportive, plus they are waterproof! You can check them out here.

Hoka

Hokas are all the rage right now! People love them and they are a very popular shoe for Disney vacations. I think they’d be a great choice for yours! You can find them here.

Brooks- Melissa’s recommendation

I absolutely love my Brooks! When I first tried them on, I was a little worried that they might have too much arch support, but it turns out that’s exactly what I need to keep my feet happy! They are comfortable, lightweight, and very breathable. Brooks has a variety of styles and colors to choose from. You can find them here.

Sandals

I used to exclusively wear tennis shoes to Disneyland, but after wearing sandals to the park a few months ago I started rethinking my ways! I love wearing a good pair of supportive sandals to the parks. My feet stay cool and happy all day long. Plus, I can easily ride Splash Mountain without worrying about wet socks and shoes! My favorite park shoe is in this category on my best shoes to wear to Disneyland list.

Teva

I love my Teva sandals! I bought them for a trip to Hawaii and they were great for wearing around the island. Then, I started wearing them to Disneyland and I think they’re great shoes. I love the adjustable straps and they have tons of different style/color options to choose from. You can check them out here.

Keen

Keen sandals are very popular and are a great choice for Disneyland. They have great arch support and are the perfect land-to-water shoes. They have a variety of different styles to choose from. You can check them out here.

Chaco

Chaco sandals are very similar to Tevas. I really couldn’t tell the difference between them when I tried them on. I just went with the pair that had a pattern I liked best! So, make sure you check them out too when you’re looking for the best shoes to wear at Disneyland.

Crocs- Melissa Recommended

I know what you’re thinking, “Crocs all day at Disneyland?” I felt the same way until I tried their sandals and now they are hands down my favorite park shoes! They are so supportive, keep my feet cool and I can wear them on the water rides! They are so comfortable. Plus, they’re pretty cute and I can even wear them with a cute sundress if I want. They go with everything. I have the low wedge sandals and I love them! Could these possibly be the best shoes to wear to Disneyland for you too? Check them out here.

Flip Flops

Here’s a question I get asked all the time. “Can I wear flip flops to Disneyland?”. My answer is, yes! As long as they are the right flip-flops. You can’t show up to Disneyland in cheap flip-flops and expect to have a great day. It’s just not going to work out. You can wear a good pair of flip-flops on theme park days without any trouble! Here’s the one I recommend you check out. They may just be the best shoes to wear to Disneyland for you!

Vionic

These flip-flops come highly recommended by a few friends. They look like they have great support. They have quite a few different styles/colors to choose from. You can check them out here.

Sanuks

These flip-flops are also highly recommended. They are less expensive than some of the other options, but they don’t look like they have great arch support. So, if that’s important to you, you may want to pass on these. You can check them out here.

Crocs

Crocs makes flip-flops! I haven’t given these a try yet, but I love my croc sandals so much that I will be trying them soon! I like the look of the wedge-style ones. They seem to have more support. You can check them out here.

Olukai- Melissa Recommended

Olukai flip-flops are so comfortable! I love my pair and often wear them around the parks. They are great in hot weather and keep my feet cool. They offer great support and come in a variety of colors/styles. You can check them out here.

Special Consideration

If you have specific concerns with your feet, you may want to check with a specialty shoe/foot store to find the best recommendations for your foot shape. This might be one of the best things you can do for your feet! They may be able to recommend some specific memory foam insole inserts for shoes you already have. Or, they might recommend custom-made inserts. I think it’s always worth checking out, especially if you’re feet often give you trouble. You want to make sure you have the proper shoes for your specific feet. That can make a huge difference and is often worth the extra cost.

Feet Saving Tips

Here are a few things you can do to help “save your feet” during your Disneyland trip! In addition to having the best shoes to wear to Disneyland, these tips can help keep your feet happy at the end of a long day.

• Don’t wear new shoes on your Disney Theme Park Vacation. You can have incredibly good shoes, but if you don’t break them in before your vacation they will be the worst shoes in the world! Make sure you really break your shoes in before your vacation so you don’t run into any problems.
• Be aware of “hot spots” on your feet and teach your kids to notice them too. Before a blister begins to form, you’ll feel a little “hot spot” on your foot where your sock or shoe is rubbing. This is a warning sign that a blister is forming! Stick a bandaid on it right away to prevent any possible blisters.
• If you’re visiting for more than one day, switch shoes each day. Different shoes put pressure on different spots on your feet. I love to switch between my favorite sandals, tennis shoes, and flip-flops. This helps keep my feet fresh and ready for each day. You could even switch shoes halfway through your day if you think that would be helpful. You can stash extra shoes in a locker or your backpack.
• If you’re wearing tennis shoes, consider bringing a pair of flip-flops to change into before any of the water rides. Walking around for hours in wet shoes and socks is no fun! You can stash some flip-flops in your locker, backpack, or stroller.
• Take a break. Make sure you take a break or two during the day. Put your feet up if possible and just take a minute to enjoy your surroundings without rushing off to the next thing. Your feet will thank you!
• Ask for a foot massage. When you get back to the hotel, ask someone in your family for a foot massage. Now, there’s a high chance no one will volunteer for the job, but it’s worth a shot!
• Bring a tennis ball to roll on your feet. I usually can’t get anyone to rub my feet, so I bring a tennis ball and use it to rub my own feet! It’s a great way to stretch out my feet and release a lot of tension from the day.
• If you notice your feet getting sore, take some Advil. Don’t try and be a hero! You’ll be happier if you take some pain reliever if you’re feet start bothering you. I always carry some with me in my park bag. You should take a look at my full list of park bag essentials.

I hope this guide to the best shoes to wear to Disneyland was helpful for you! Disneyland really is the happiest place on earth, but it’s a whole lot happier when you’re wearing the right shoes! What shoes do you like to wear to Disneyland? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!

Make sure to check out my podcast for lots of Disney planning information! You can find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Just search for “Mix In Some Magic” Follow me on Instagram for more Disney tips and lots of Disney fun!