How much DO you walk at Walt Disney World?

Picture from Fitbit.com

First, I wanted to say - - I haven't forgotten about the Trip Report. :) I hope to get this one finished before I go on the Disney Dream again in January! However, my iPhoto decided to freak out and the pictures I KNEW I took at Splittsville aren't showing up. Grrr - don't you love technology?! So instead, let's talk about walking around the World, shall we?

I have a FitBit activity device that I wear on my wrist; it tracks your steps and activity, and you can also use it as an alarm clock, to track your eating, your sleep, etc. It's a neat way to track just how much you move during the day; as I have a desk job, it really helps me know when I need to get around and move more.

Since I wore it while I was walking around Disney World and the Disney Cruise Line in August/September, I wanted to share with you just HOW much an average person probably walks at Disney, and why it's important to be prepared with appropriate footwear.

I looked at my steps logged on August 31 - September 4th, and each day I walked about 14,000 steps, or nearly 6 miles. Keep in mind - I wasn't killing myself running from place to place, or jogging from one end of Magic Kingdom to the other. This distance came from your normal touring and walking; from your room to the bus stop, from the bus stop at the park to the entrance, around the park, back to the bus and your room, etc.

It's SO important to have appropriate shoes! I remember one trip I took back in college, in the early 2000s. I bought some of the cute (and cheap!) flip flops, the kind that come in 100s of colors, to match my outfits (of course). I found out about 1/2 way through our first day that this was a BAD idea. My feet were killing me, and so after about 4 hours at Disney, I bought a pair of Mickey Mouse Keds-style sneakers and socks.  And lesson learned.

I recently purchased a pair of Sketchers GoWalk shoes and used those for the first time in August/September. OMG they are the BEST - - I will be buying more pairs, for sure. They're cute and stylish but still give you the support you need as you make your way through the World. Please excuse the general state of these shoes - they're "much loved", as you can tell!

I am confident in saying that the average person walks between 5-8 miles per DAY while at Disney World. So how do you get your feet ready for Disney, and keep them in good shape once you're there?

* If you're mostly sedentary at home, start walking a bit more each day to get your body ready for the many miles you'll be logging at Disney.

* Wear comfortable shoes - I cannot stress this enough. Comfort OVER fashion, every time! No one wants to stay in their room because they're in such pain they can't enjoy themselves.

* Be sure to pack some Band-Aids, just in case. I find that on occasion, I get blisters and so having Band-Aids at the ready is a real lifesaver.

*  Closely watch little ones - they're not used to walking this much, either (probably) and so they might need a few more breaks. Depending on the age of the child, you might also consider taking or renting a stroller, even if they don't use one at home. This beats having to carry them! :)

How much do YOU walk and Disney, and what steps do you take to protect your feet?

Have a magical day!