Travel Shoes to Pack for a Disney Vacation

So you're going on a Disney Vacation and now you need to figure out which walking shoes to pack for your holiday? Experts suggest that travelers pack light and limiting the number of travel shoes you bring is the best way to accomplish that. Here's how you can pare down the list of travel shoes you'll need to bring with you to tour Walt Disney World:

The Water Shoe

A Disney vacation will be filled with opportunities to enjoy the water, surf and sand. Don't go without protection for your feet. In days past, a simple plastic water shoe would have been your best choice in travel shoes. But vacation footwear has come a long way, and the design of water shoes has vastly improved. Some of them are even attractive.

A shoe that keeps your foot enclosed in a protective mesh and drains through the bottom will not only protect your feet, but keep out abrasive sand and grit. Moreover, the key to finding only four shoes to pack for your Disney vacation is to make sure that your shoes serve more than one purpose. To that end, look for an amphibious shoe that you can wear in the water or on dry land. Because of the mesh, the shoe will act like a sandal to keep your feet cool during those hot tours. The right water shoe can even give you all the support of an athletic walking shoe.

You can pack a high end water shoe for your vacation, like Columbia's Aquatooth or you can go for something simpler, like Lands' End's Sea-to-Shore Sport Shoes. Both shoes will provide enough walking shoe comfort for waiting in lines. If you prefer to pack a lower profile shoe for your trip, consider Salomon's Amphibia which is as stylish as it is functional. All three water shoes can do double duty, saving you precious space in your suitcase.

The Walking Shoe

Even though you're going to pack a multi-purpose amphibious water shoe that can be used for touring and travel, you should also bring a pair of regular walking shoes to wear when your water shoes are wet. You can bring your favorite pair of sneakers or walking sandals. You can buy a high-end athletic sandal like those offered by Keen, or even flip flops if you prefer. Your options are endless. But to get the most out of your Disney vacation footwear, consider taking along a walking shoe that can be worn with skirts and casual dresses, as well as pants, shorts and capris. That's a tall order for a shoe, especially since no matter what college students may tell you, Birks are not appropriate with skirts and dresses. Ever.

Consider instead, investing in a pair of women's shoes like Skechers Sight Seeing Mary Janes with breathable mesh. This travel shoe has a feminine upper wedded to an athletic sole below and will go with your entire Disney vacation casual wardrobe. Most people report adequate support for long periods on their feet, but if you require a bit more arch comfort, the shoe has ample room for an orthotic.

The Dressy Heel

There'll be a night during your Disney vacation when you'll want to get dressed up and look fabulous. For nights like these, there won't be a fashion substitute for an old fashioned strappy high heel. Since your other shoes are doing double-duty, you can consider this the one impractical pair of shoes you should pack.

The Cute but Comfy Sandal

You'll want to pack a pair of sandals for your Disney vacation that can go from cobblestone shopping plazas to the deck of a boat without sacrificing comfort or style. Manufacturers are beginning to realize that that's not too much to ask of a travel shoe. White or black sandals will likely go with most of your wardrobe but for even more flexibility, bring a neutral or metallic. One such shoe is the J41 Escapade. It's both a trail shoe, a ballet flat, and a walking sandal at the same time. At $83 you'll pay a premium for this versatility, but since it's replacing three pairs of shoes, it's well worth it.

Pack these four pairs of travel shoes for a Disney vacation and they'll ensure that you're prepared for any occasion.