Please Help!!! Avoiding the dreaded shin splints??

Hrmm, good question! My suggestion would be cross training off the ellpitical and onto a treadmill or even better a path/road for maybe a month before your trips. The ellpitical is designed to have no impact, the typical 5-10 miles a day you'll do at WDW will have impact and you need to get ready for that.

I wrote this article in 2011 about how to help revive tired legs during travel, hopefully it will give you some ideas.
http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/articles/tips-revive-tired-legs-during-travel

In addition, standing in queue doing nothing is a great time to do some basic leg stretches or lower body yoga poses to help relax and condition your shins.

I had a minor problem with shin splints some years back, and stretches of a certain kind were recommended. I don't recall which stretches, but you could Google it. And I also agree that getting off the elliptical and walking for a few weeks before the trip should help, assuming you don't already walk for exercise in addition to using the elliptical.

I concur with all of you about walking for "Disney training." I walk for exercise too (running doesn't work anymore for my knees and ankles), but I totally ramp it up gradually to a crazy amount of walking about a month before Disney if I can. This way I get to Disney, and I do not feel the effects as much. I also stand a lot at work, which helps too.

I agree with everyone above. I think you can workout using multiple machines - elliptical or treadmill, but walking is the best because you need that "impact" to allow the muscles in your lower leg to get accustomed to being on your feet. If you know you have a trip coming up, I would also consider walking up and down stairs at work or mall as well. Another thing to consider, even though you may think you have the appropriate shoes, you may need a better insole that gives your arches more support. You can buy insoles that best supports your feet. Once you are out and about on your trip - I would do some light stretching while you are sitting down eating or resting - similar to what they recommend you do in the airplane during flights.

Ugh! Shin splints are the worst! When I start upping my training runs to quickly I get them and I'm down for the count for a few days.

I agree that walking training is the best answer, and I would also google for stretches to do for shins like CCP said. Your legs take a beating in WDW, so working up to an hour or two of walking per day before you go might be the best answer.

Also...book a shin massage in WDW!

Add me to the cross-training group. I'm the queen of the treadmill and have never had issues walking around WDW. The elliptical is great for no-impact but because your foot is basically stationary, your shins won't get "targeted" like they will on a treadmill. If you have access to a treadmill that has a negative incline (downhill/decline) that's even better because it stretches the shins a little more. Best of luck and have an awesome time!

I also concur on getting great insoles! I have some that I got from an orthopedist/podiatrist, not the retail variety. They cost about $40, replace the insole in your shoe, and are simply amazing. It totally changes the way my back feels, etc. I am so hooked on them that I will wear my athletic shoes around the house instead of my slippers just because of the support.

And I am fairly sure that you cannot install them in any shoes that are STOOPID.

Drink water!!! I find when I don't drink enough water at Disney I get very sore legs and joints. Carry a water bottle and keep sipping around the world. It makes a real difference for me and my husband.