Questions About Kali River Rapids

[nblake05]

Ok... we have never done this ride... we were going to last year but it was SO COLD when we were there it didn't seem like a good idea. This year we are going at the end of Sept... so hoping the weather will be better. I've read up on it and it sounds like you get pretty wet. My ?s are:

1. How wet do you get...on a scale of to ten...ten being drenched.

2. Does wearing a poncho help at all?

3. Where does your stuff go? I've watched videos but can't figure it out. We carry a backpack with us... is there anyplace to put it and how wet will that get?

4. It it a fun enough ride to justify getting very wet. I mean, I'm not made of sugar... I don't desolve when wet... but just so I can be prepared. I hate sloshing around in wet clothes for hours. Thanks for any input... I really appreciate it!

 

[cleophus12]

Depending on where you sit and how the raft comes down the rapids, you can get drenched at a solid 10.

Yes a poncho does help. I always wear one. Be sure to tuck it in around your legs. DH decided to tough it out and not wear one last time. He came off the ride with a 10 soaker!

Stuff goes in the middle covered with a piece of heavy plastic.

Yes, it is fun. But if it is cool, as you said before, it may not be worth it if you are going to be miserable for the rest of the day. We always ride it last so we can leave the park after getting wet.

 

[LA PIG]

1. I, too, hate walking around soggy. However, every time I ride Kali, I get drenched. It doesn't matter which side of the raft I sit on, I look like a drowned rat when I get off. Not everyone in the raft gets drenched, but everyone does get wet.

2. I have never worn a poncho (maybe I should ). I have seen people walk off the rides in ponchos and it seems the ponchos kept their clothes fairly dry. Their hair is a different story.

3. There is a compartment in the middle of the raft with velcro clear flaps. You put your stuff in there. It is not fool proof. The compartment itself is usually a little wet. You may want to wrap your backpack in a poncho and then put it in there. That being said, I have put stuff in the compartment and it faired well without being wrapped in a poncho.

4. I wouldn't wait on line for the ride for more than 45-60 minutes. The ride is fun, but it is short. It is quite refreshing on a hot day and you do dry fairly quickly. Try a poncho if you are concerned about being soggy. I often wonder why I don't wear one!

 

[siskaren]

The compartment in the middle isn't very big though, especially when you consider that the rafts have seating for 12. I always wear a poncho on the ride and I just put my backpack on my lap underneath my poncho.

 

[tinkandpan]

I rode it twice back to back one morning while waiting for my party to get off Evererst. FIrst time ds and I rode and i got a little wet, and he was drenched. Second time everyone on the raft including me was drenched beyond belief. Luckily it was a 90 plus day but it was still about lunch time 11:30 or so and the AC in the restaurant made it rather chilly. I don't bring anything on with me, but i did note that others wrapped their belongings in ponchos. I too wouldn't wait online (more than 20 minutes or so) for the ride. ANd i wouldn't ride at all if it is a cool day.

 

[delaneyc52]

I've only one thing to add - if you are wearing regular shoes or sneakers, take them off and put them in the middle compartment. I can handle wet clothes, but I can't handle soggy sneakers!

 

[minnie mum]

Ok... we have never done this ride... we were going to last year but it was SO COLD when we were there it didn't seem like a good idea. This year we are going at the end of Sept... so hoping the weather will be better. I've read up on it and it sounds like you get pretty wet. My ?s are:

1. How wet do you get...on a scale of to ten...ten being drenched.11! Seriously, you Will get pretty well soaked.

2. Does wearing a poncho help at all?Somewhat. At least the top half will stay fairly dry. Problem is the water can slosh in the sides of the poncho, and the seat of my pants always gets wet

3. Where does your stuff go? I've watched videos but can't figure it out. We carry a backpack with us... is there anyplace to put it and how wet will that get?As the PPs have said, there is a covered storage compartment that stays relatively dry. We put any electronics (cell phone, camera) in ziplocks and then into our backpack which goes into the compartment. Everything's been fine. If you had a large plastic shopping bag, you could put a backpack in it as extra insurance.

4. It it a fun enough ride to justify getting very wet.We think so, although we only ride when it's warm. Warning: don't ride this just before you plan on going into an air conditioned restaurant or attraction-you'll freeze your chummies off! And don't wear denim or anything heavy that will take forever to dry. Some people will bring extra clothes and store them in the park lockers near the park entrance. I think it's overkill but that's JMHO I mean, I'm not made of sugar... I don't desolve when wet... but just so I can be prepared. I hate sloshing around in wet clothes for hours. Thanks for any input... I really appreciate it!

Hope this helps. Have fun!

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

You could waterproof your backpack like we do...........

We pack a tall kitchen trash bag in it along with a twist tie. While waiting in line we put the backpack inside the plastic bag and close it up wth the twist tie. This ensures our bag stays dry even if part of it is peeking out the edge of the center storage compartment. After the ride we pull out the backpack and throw the bag away.

As far as you are concerned.........plan for the worst--that means wet feet, a wet bottom, and wet hair.

It is absolutely no fun walking around the park wet, and if your feet get blisters..............it can ruin other days of touring.

We often either change our clothes (at least some of them) in the park or we do Kali last and then depart for our hotel. This will often coincide with our mid afternoon break anyway.

PS You are required to wear some type of footwear on the ride. They are not supposed to let you do it barefoot.

 

[love~disney]

We would carry a ziplock bag in our backpack for the water rides. This helped to make sure that our things stayed dry.

 

[Dis_Fan]

Yep, You'll get drenched. I would recommend wearing clothes that dry quickly, and definitely do not wear jean shorts...they take forever to dry!

 

[Mrs K]

I always wear a poncho even though my kids make fun of me. I bring a cheap clear one from home. I get one for a dollar or so and toss it after the ride. I always bring a ziplock bag for the camera and cell phones too. It is such a fun ride, but I hate walking around wet afterward. Also, don't wear white shorts or a white top because poncho or no poncho, you do get at least a little bit wet and I have seen a lot of embarassed women in white!

 

[nytimez]

I've come off the ride without a drop of water on me... and without a dry spot on me. It's all luck.

 

[cleophus12]

I so agree with the PP about the shoes. We always carry flip flops in our backpack. Another thing we carry is a hand towel from the hotel to dry off.

 

[BigKid45]

We would carry a ziplock bag in our backpack for the water rides. This helped to make sure that our things stayed dry.

We bring Ziplocks of all size to our resort for food, ice packs, etc. and we always bring sandwich size bags for water rides to keep the phones and cameras dry...everything else dries out pretty quick in the summer months.

Always keep your feet on the foot bar and off the floor where the water sloshes about

If you think you need a poncho and don't want to get wet...try some other ride!

 

[Bethpremier]

You could waterproof your backpack like we do...........

We pack a tall kitchen trash bag in it along with a twist tie. While waiting in line we put the backpack inside the plastic bag and close it up wth the twist tie. This ensures our bag stays dry even if part of it is peeking out the edge of the center storage compartment. After the ride we pull out the backpack and throw the bag away.

I second this! Its the best thing today because depending on how big your party is, you may not get the coveted spot under the plastic.

 

[Lumiere Lover]

On a scale of 1 to 10, you can get a 10. If the water flips over the top/back of the raft, you will get soaked. A poncho may help, but your shoes will still get quite wet (keep you feet on the bar). There is a covered section in the middle, but it isn't water-proof.

It is really a fun ride. We usually do it right before we go back to our room for a mid-day break, so we can change clothes.

 

[redc]

Poncho-schmoncho.
Ride it get, and get wet!
That's what the ride is all about.
Don't ride if you don't want to get wet!

 

[carolinesc7]

I was there last week, and actually just rode for the first time (as I am not a big fan of getting wet!) It was an awesome ride, and me, my husband and girls aged 4 and 7 all loved it! Most of the people on our raft stayed about half dry WITHOUT ponchos, but me and my 4 year old got lucky and were in the "Super Soaker" seats. We were both VERY wet WITH ponchos. My shirt was dry, but that was about the only thing dry. We will definitely ride again, but next time, I might consider bringing a change of clothes, or wearing flip flops. Nothing like walking around in soaking wet shoes and socks while your toes turn into shriveled prunes!!!
.....But, you should ride it!!! It's a lot of fun!

 

[nytimez]

Poncho-schmoncho.
Ride it get, and get wet!
That's what the ride is all about.
Don't ride if you don't want to get wet!

 

[laurie31]

When we rode, it was like we jumped into a swimming pool wearing our clothes. But it was early October and wicked hot. I went into a nearby bathroom and used the dryer to mostly dry my clothes (while wearing them!!) and I didn't stay damp long in the heat.

On a scale of 1-10, I've always come off an 11! Dripping wet! But it really is a fun ride.