Walkin' Yes Indeed I'm Walking...All Over The Parks????

[BlueStarryHat]

When we last went to WDW in 2022, my sister and I walked our usual amount, which was a *lot.* We weren't young then, and we're no spring chickens now but we did it. This year, I've developed a twinge in my left hip and arthritis in my ankle. It doesn't tend to bother me too much when I'm doing a normal amount of walking-shopping or whatever, going from place to place. I'm starting to have this fear of not being able to do the walking it takes to see everything we want to see in WDW. What do you guys do? (I'm not a good candidate for a scooter. I would *definitely* run people over.)

 

[Chirple]

When we last went to WDW in 2022, my sister and I walked our usual amount, which was a *lot.* We weren't young then, and we're no spring chickens now but we did it. This year, I've developed a twinge in my left hip and arthritis in my ankle. It doesn't tend to bother me too much when I'm doing a normal amount of walking-shopping or whatever, going from place to place. I'm starting to have this fear of not being able to do the walking it takes to see everything we want to see in WDW. What do you guys do? (I'm not a good candidate for a scooter. I would *definitely* run people over.)

Rollator? I got one before having both knees replaced. It also gives you a place to sit when you need it, and you can take it through the lines. An ECV isn't that bad. I've used them post surgery, and my husband used one when he broke his foot two weeks before our trip last year. You can park it and walk around.

 

[CeCe0906]

Yes, I got 22,000 steps on one park day. I definitely felt it the next day. All I can say is supportive shoes make a huge difference. My favorites are Keen walking sandles

For myknees, I wear capri compression moisture wicking wear under my very light weight park capris. .I wear lightweight hiking capri pants in the parks, it drys super fast, and stretches enough I don't have to worry about splitting pants getting in/out rides. It really helps with my knees and leg tiredness.

If you have the time, do a Resort day in between park days,.

For me it's not the steps that bother me the most it's the standing still in lines - so it's worth it to me to play the Lightening Lane game to minimize that. Try to time things so i get some sit down breaks with snack,, lunches,, shows.

I'm 63, usually with my grandkids ages 8,10,12

 

[Dan Murphy]

I used scooter for last half dozen trips. A godsend. I could not do a park without one.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I used scooter for last half dozen trips. A godsend. I could not do a park without one.

I'm the sort of person who runs into people with shopping carts and such. I fear doing the same with a scooter. Are they easy to maneuver?

A resort day in between park days sounds good, too. We're all day go-go-go-ers when in the parks, or at least we were. Our last trip we ran into the proverbial wall a couple of times and had to go back to our rooms and rest, but I don't know if it was our age or the fact that it was early September and hotter than the surface of the sun. Our usual (and future) trips are in December when the heat is more bearable.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I'm the sort of person who runs into people with shopping carts and such. I fear doing the same with a scooter. Are they easy to maneuver?

They are easy, BSH. `You can make them go very slow or slightly fast. They stop on a dime if you let go of the throttle lever. I have always used Buena Vista Rentals, excellent service. Practice a bit at your local grocery store or big box store like a Home Depot. YOu can do it.

 

[bluezy]

I make sure to take 2 or 3 different pair of good supportive walking/running shoes. I make sure they're different styles or brands and switch them out each day (and sometimes during the day). My most recent trip was in June and I took 3 different pair of Hokas...all different styles. I also take Motrin around the clock and my doctor (a huge Disney fan -- goes 3-4 times a year) prescribes muscle relaxers for my trips. I take one every night before bed and it makes a huge difference in my feet, knees, hips, and lower back. I also take a tennis ball to roll under my feet to help relax the muscles. BioFreeze is used as needed.

We have stopped trying to go commando in the parks. Instead of spending 11-12 hours in the parks most days like we did 10 years ago, we've cut back to about 8-10 hours a day. We don't take any rest day on a 7-8 day trip, but we do have 2 or 3 days where we sleep in and don't head to the parks until late afternoon (we usually head to a resort or DS for breakfast or lunch those days). On long days, we take a break in the afternoon to give our bodies a rest. That really helps. My husband has a partial hip replacement that is at the point of needing to be replaced -- it's 35 years old. Getting around is very challenging for him at Disney because he refuses to use a scooter. I suggested that he just use a scooter to get from one area to the next and that he could park it and walk to things in the area. I know that would make a huge difference for him, but I think his pride gets in the way of his comfort and enjoyment.

 

[Tink3815]

On our Spring trip my ankle hurt a lot from walking. Not sure if I twisted it or just being in my sixties and keeping up with thirty somethings. I brought an empty Ziploc bag and iced it while sitting in restaurants or taking a break. It really helped a lot.

You can stop at first aid and get ice or an ace bandage. They do take your name, but there is no charge for this service. They were not busy at all. Seemed happy to have something to do.

 

[Chirple]

I'm the sort of person who runs into people with shopping carts and such. I fear doing the same with a scooter. Are they easy to maneuver?

My recommendation is to rent one with a single wheel in front. I've been able to cut tight corners pretty well. The ones at the grocery store are boxy compared to a rental, but it would give you an idea. When I am in a crowd, I put the speed on turtle and keep my hand on the throttle at all times.

 

[Dan Murphy]

My recommendation is to rent one with a single wheel in front. I've been able to cut tight corners pretty well. The ones at the grocery store are boxy compared to a rental, but it would give you an idea. When I am in a crowd, I put the speed on turtle and keep my hand on the throttle at all times.

Yes, very true.

 

[cvjw]

Start walking everyday at home. Get your body used to walking - it is a great form of exercise and can be done anywhere. The health benefits are great. We walk 3-5 miles everyday at home. Walking all day at the parks is easier for us now (57 and 60), then it was 10 years ago.

 

[OKW Lover]

I enjoy walking around the parks. Living so close to WDW and having an AP I actually use park days as a way to get exercise. Some days I'll wind up walking 5 miles while enjoying all the sights.

A few typical routes:
1 Start at DHS. Walk up the street to the right, then down towards ToT and RnRC. Head back towards One Man's Dream, perhaps stopping for the movie there, then continuing through Toy Story Land, and Galaxy's edge. Stop at Pizza Rizzo for lunch and then continue my walk back to the shops on my way out. From there I walk along the path to Epcot and walk the loop around World Showcase. I then take the skyliner back to the DHS parking lot. That should total about 5 miles.
2 Epcot, I find just the walk from the parking lot into Epcot, checking both sides of what used to be call Future World, and then completing loop around World Showcase and then heading back out can easily rack up 3 miles. If I think I want to do more that day, I'll exit International Gateway and walk around the lake before going back into Epcot which will add another mile or so.
3 On an MK day. Park in the lot and walk to the TTC. Get on a resort monorail to the GF where I'll check out the shops and then follow the path to the MK. Once in the MK it's down Main Street and turn left to Adventure Land. Follow that to Tiana's and BTMRR (not stopping to ride either but just to check them out) and along the walkway over towards the river boat landing. Then past HM into Fantasy Land and heading back towards the Dumbo rides and the train station. From there it is the quiet path to Tomorrowland and back to main street on the way out. But not done yet! Walk from the MK to the contemporary to check out the shops there and maybe get something to eat. Hop on the resort monorail to the Poly to check out the shops there and get something to eat if I didn't do that at the Contemporary. Once done it's time to walk through the Poly grounds to get back to the TTC and the parking lot. About 5 miles total for that loop.

 

[RickNJane]

DW and I are in our late 60's and have been doing the parks since the early 1990s. We have definitely changed the way we approach it. First we make sure we stay long enough so we can enjoy the parks at a more relaxed pace. What we would do in 1 day now takes 2 or so. We also take resort days and just resort hop. That is especially fun at Christmas time when all the lobbies are decorated. I now use Touring Plans to make a starting itinerary. You can choose your pace and if you want to minimize walking or waiting. We almost never stick to the plan, but it is a great start.
Also, and very important, Don't Get In a Hurry! Don't feel like you need to rush. Slow Down, Relax, Enjoy the vibe. Disney does not need to be a military type campaign! DW has arthritis in her ankle due to a pretty bad break. We have found that good shoes really helps. We use Ortho Feet these days. We may have to get a scooter one of these days, but for now, we do not. Also choose your trip when the weather is cooler. We cannot take the heat like we used to. That really surprised me. Heat just saps our strength. Cooler weather has become a must.
Maybe I am in the minority, but I do not enjoy Disney Springs all that much. It is long, with a lot of walking, just for shopping. The bus station is not in a great location as it forces you to walk when you are pretty shot. I miss the old days when DS was DTD and Pleasure Island! Bus stops were much better.
Hope this helps!

 

[bluezy]

...
Maybe I am in the minority, but I do not enjoy Disney Springs all that much. It is long, with a lot of walking, just for shopping. The bus station is not in a great location as it forces you to walk when you are pretty shot. I miss the old days when DS was DTD and Pleasure Island! Bus stops were much better.
Hope this helps!

You're not the only one. The last few trips we've only gone to DS to shop at WOD and the Christmas Store and then we sometimes (depending on how much stuff we've bought at DS) take the boat to POFQ or POR to have lunch. We take a bus to DHS from there and take the Skyliner back to AoA. During our trip this past June, we did go to DS on arrival night to watch the drone show (which was worth the walking), but if that's not back the next time we visit, it will once again just be a quick trip to DS for the 2 stores.