Okay, all you chronic Disney World overpackers, raise your hands! (*slowly slides hand into the air guiltily*)

It can be seriously challenging to pack all your park outfits, Minnie ears, Loungefly backpacks, and hotel essentials in your luggage while still saving room for souvenirs on the way home. But you know what’s probably taking up too much space? Shoes! You really only need 3 pairs of shoes for Disney World — allow me to explain.

Park Shoes

First of all, you’re going to need shoes for the parks. These can vary across a few categories, but they need to meet some key requirements. Most of all, they should be comfortable and broken in. You do NOT want to wear brand-new shoes to Disney World because you’ll end up with blisters by the end of your trip.

The shoes for your park days should also be able to withstand tens of thousands of steps. Typically, a full park day in Disney World involves 20K+ steps, which is a lot more than most people walk during their day-to-day lives. If you haven’t tested the shoes under such strenuous conditions before, then you might want to do some long walks in them ahead of time to see how they hold up.

You’ll also want to consider how your shoes will weather the…well, weather. If you’re going to Disney World during a typically rainy time, are you okay with these shoes getting wet? If you’re averse to soggy socks, you may want to consider something open-toed.

Probably the most popular shoes to choose for park days are sneakers/tennis shoes and outdoor activity-focused sandals (like Chacos or Tevas). Of course, you’re not limited to those options, but they’re a good place to start.

The Only Shoes You’ll Ever Need for Disney World

Pool Shoes

The next important pair of shoes you’ll want to bring with you are your pool shoes, which could also be your lounge shoes. These will likely be some type of sandal or flip flop that you wear when chilling at your hotel or heading to the resort pool.

These are also a great option for walking around the Disney World water parks, since you likely won’t want to take sneakers on and off wet, sandy feet all day. These would be the type of shoes that you could quickly slip on and off in an emergency (like if your hotel’s fire alarm goes off in the night – it has happened to us before!). 

These don’t have to be stylish or fancy, and they can honestly be pretty cheap. This is more of a functional shoe than an aesthetic one. Sandals, flip flops, or Crocs fit well in this category.

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Nice Shoes

Finally, our third group is the “nice shoes.” These are the shoes you wear to a night at Disney Springs or a fancy dinner at your hotel. You match them to your dress-up outfit, and you hopefully don’t plan on wearing them for too long.

The comfort of these shoes will depend on how long you’re going to keep them on – a pair you’re wearing to Disney Springs needs more longevity than a pair you’re just wearing to dinner at a hotel. But if you’re celebrating a birthday or anniversary or visiting a signature restaurant outside the parks, this type of shoe is a must.

These could be your heels, loafers, Oxfords, flats, or boots. More about fashion over function. 

Hopefully, these tips will help you use your suitcase space more efficiently before your next trip. We know that luggage space is valuable real estate – we’ve gotta save room for souvenirs on the way home!

So if you’re trying to shave down your packing list for your next Disney World vacation…maybe start with the shoes!

Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World packing tips!

Click Here for the Ultimate Disney World Packing List!

Which shoes do you bring to Disney World? Tell us in the comments!