Ariel statue outside the Beach Club Villas
We also planned to do a lot of things that we have never done before in 4 previous trips in the past 10 years - the Jungle Cruise, Liberty Belle, American Adventure, etc. But we also weren't going to break our backs to do everything - after all, we'd be back in 5 months. We wanted to relax while we did everything.
We own at the Saratoga Springs Resort, but we figured we'd like to enjoy the World Showcase at Epcot a lot more this trip. It was within the 7 month window to book at other resorts (4 months), but nothing was available, so I put us on the waitlist for either the Beach Club Villas or the Boardwalk Villas. Within two weeks the Beach Club became available, and that's where we stayed.Ariel statue outside the Beach Club Villas
If you are reading this, and see an abbreviation that you don't understand, I've gotten used to the abbreviations as used on the DISboards. For instance, "DW" refers to "Dear (or Disney) Wife". Here is a complete list if needed.
Well, this year I got new sneakers several months in advance, and broke them in good.
I started getting blisters by the end of the first day.
I had even bought BodyGlide, which is a stick kind of like an anti-perpirant, but didn't put it on the first day, and after that it was too late - it made things a little more tolerable, but the blisters were still forming.
I think it is because I have a habit of tying my sneakers loosely, and just slipping them on and off.
DW had gotten Disney Crocs some time before we went, and loved them. She wore them every day, and didn't have problems. On Day 2, I tried a pair on at the Beach Club Marketplace, and noticed that they did not rub on any of my blisters - and they were, in fact, comfortable. Ugliest footware on Earth, but my feet hurt. I'd rather look like I was wearing Goofy's shoes and be comfortable than look normal and wincing with every step. However the Marketplace only had black with a red strap and red with a black strap in Adult XL, so I waited until that night and went to Downtown Disney.
Alas, they had the same colors - apparently those are the only colors in the Disney Crocs. So I bought a black-with-red pair, and wore them the rest of the trip (with socks), except to California Grill.
My feet were never happier.
I wasn't necessarily up to full speed - I could still feel that I had blisters, but they didn't get any worse and there were no stabbing pains when I walked. I could get around fine without fear that I'd be leaving trails of blood around WDW.
These things are coming in December.