You're tired. You're achy. Your head hurts. But most of all, your feet feel like they're on fire.

Welcome to Walt Disney World. Check your feet at the door. Anyone who has ever spent an entire day at any of Disney World's theme parks knows exactly what I'm talking about. Sore feet seem like a trademark of the Disney theme park experience.

It doesn't have to be that bad, though. Here are a few tips to help save your feet at the parks.

• Crocs. They're ugly, but they work. No tennis shoe has ever matched these babies for comfort. I scoffed at them until I tried them. I mean, look how ugly! But then I tried them and like so many others, my sore feet won the battle against fashion.
• Rest. Oh it seems like a given. Rest a little during the day and your feet won't hurt so much. But then you find yourself at the parks going non-stop. If you're staying on property, take the monorail or the bus or a boat to the hotel and rest for an hour, then go back. Your feet and the rest of you will thank you.
• Fastpass. Fastpass as many of the rides as you can. This saves you from standing in the stand-by lines - some of which can leave you standing for over an hour.
• Table service restaurants. It might be tempting to go counter-service the entire trip. After all, we're in harsh economic times. But if you let yourself rest occassionally at a table service restaurant, you're find you'll be a lot less likely spending cash on treatment at the podiatrist's office. Not only does someone bring the food to the table, but you have a tendency to really rest while your food is served to you instead of gulping down some fast food in the parks. Furthermore, no standing in line waiting for food.

Above all, listen to what your feet are telling you. If you can go no further, stop for awhile. Or for the day.

What are your tricks for saving your feet at Walt Disney World?

*Photo Credit: ALBOWIEB

It’s inevitable. You’ll have to hear about it. Even when it comes to Walt Disney World.

Of course when it comes to Walt Disney World you’ll be hearing about this. The top vacation destination in the world, drawing visitors daily from all over the world, where better to be cautious, right?

Reuters is running a story on the impact of the possible pandemic entitled, “Disney World still draws crowds despite flu alert”. It seems that despite Joe Biden’s assertion that he wouldn’t let his family travel on an airplane, most others aren’t worried about the possibility of infection.

For the most part. Disboards has a popular thread going currently about precautions those visiting the World should be taking in light of the epidemic. The conversation, like most message board conversations, takes numerous paths with suggestions on brands of anti-bacterial lotion, to how that doesn’t really work, to talk on individual immune systems.

One thread in particular has a concerned guest ready to cancel reservations in fear that Disney will close.

Disboard poster WillCAD possibly had the best words of wisdom: “Panic kills more people than flu does.”

The best way to combat this is the same way you combat all illness: preparation and cleanliness.

• Always wash your hands. Here’s my routine for handwashing. Turn faucet on, procure towel at this point if possible, wet hands, get soap, grab extended towel, turn off faucet with towel. Then, grab the door handle with towel, toss towel. The door handle of the bathroom can completely negate your handwashing. Always use a paper towel to pull the handle.
• Sneeze and cough into the crook of your elbow. This keeps you from expelling germs all over your hands.
• Hand sanitizer won’t kill many viruses, if any, but it’s not a bad thing to have for other germs that can get into your system. It WILL NOT, however, replace hand washing.
• When you wash your hands, use warm water. As hot as you can stand it. But, of course, don't burn yourself. It has to be said.
• When you get to your resort, disinfect your room immediately. Bring Lysol wipes or spray (look for the ones that mention killing flu virus specifically). Spray down hard surfaces such as the phone, the nightstand, headboards, bathroom vanity, etc. For porous surfaces such as fabrics, this won’t work. Ditch any unneeded, bulky linens (such as bed comforter) which are sometimes not washed in between visits (it’s true).
• Be mindful of what you’re touching. If you don’t need to touch that wall, don’t.

Honestly, there are many more. This comes from being a big of a germaphobe and some might be even considered extreme, but any avoidance of foreign germs is always helpful. You shouldn’t consider these things to only be relevant during an outbreak, but also at any time.

Oh and parents – please, teach your children to cover their coughs and sneezes. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been sneezed or coughed on by a child. It’s just good practice to teach your child from a young age how to be a responsible adult.