Flooded POTC boats

[DrKev]

CMs are pulling the boats out as they get waterlogged and they are dried and then returned to service. The people who dont get very wet are the ones with boats that have not yet gone through enough cycles to be waterlogged. So it's obvious why some people experience the drenching problems while others don't.

 

[ArwenMarie]

CMs are pulling the boats out as they get waterlogged and they are dried and then returned to service. The people who dont get very wet are the ones with boats that have not yet gone through enough cycles to be waterlogged. So it's obvious why some people experience the drenching problems while others don't.

Do you know what they do to dry them? I assume shopvac them? I know that's what people do here if their basements take on water and they don't have a sump pump.

 

[PirateD]

I'm disappointed that this is even a concern. I'm actually really surprised that this is a problem. With all of the technological advances and engineering know-how that exists, I'm amazed that they can't imagineer the ride to work as well as they were able to when it was originally built.

I was ready to cancel our FP's in December, but I was overruled--not because everyone in my family thinks it's an exaggeration--they are just as disappointed in Disney for letting this become a problem as I am--but they are willing to take their chances. It is a family favorite and something we have all been able to enjoy together both young and old for years. I personally think the uncertainty makes it worse because there is the chance that you can ride and not have any problems, but then again it could be bad.

So I guess we will bring extra clothes and/or wear a poncho and see what we get. Hmmm...will it be listing boat...rogue wave in the face...stuck in one spot for 45 minutes...wet feet...slipping and getting an injury...a big splash...a little splash...dry boat...all of the above...who knows? I guess that's part of the adventure. I personally wish we would abandon ship, but I guess I will take one for the team and see what fate awaits us!

 

[larryz]

By all means, still send your complaints to Disney, though don't hold your breath for change.

But definitely hold your breath going down the drop...

 

[Oomiak]

I just got back to the resort from the Magic Kingdom. A couple of days ago I wrote about riding Pirates and my experience was a small splash, no big deal. Well, tonight the same was true...for me. There were two women and a teenage girl a couple of boats ahead of me that were absolutely drenched. The teenage girl got the worst of it and she looked like she had been on Kali River Rapids in the dead of summer. One of the women took her shoe off and poured water out to show the CM how bad it was. My group headed up to the gift shop while they were complaining to the CM. I ended up hanging out in the gift shop for a while because my sister was on the ride and we were waiting for her. While we waited, we saw someone in management I assume escorting the soggy group around as they choose new clothes from the gift shop for them. We ended up waiting there a long time because my sister was stuck one boat away from the dock for about a half hour. After what I saw tonight, and have heard from others I know, it is obvious that there is a big problem here. I wonder how many times per day they are taking people shopping for dry clothes...this is pathetic.

 

[MinnieMSue]

We were nervous Wednesday night to ride. I actually wore sport sandals to the park for this reason. Then we got put in front seat! Just two of us in our row and I looked back and rows didn't seem too packed in. Also there was no water in bottom of boat (up front anyway). We got splashed but only our legs so we were both happy about that!

 

[Boopuff]

While we waited, we saw someone in management I assume escorting the soggy group around as they choose new clothes from the gift shop for them

Gee if this is new policy I'll assume I get a new outfit if I ride SM, Kahli, POC.... great! Or we'll drift into that "this is why we can't have nice things" territory - and we'll all cry when Disney gets too many complaints from people getting wet and closes all water rides....

 

[EvieBug]

I just got back to the resort from the Magic Kingdom. A couple of days ago I wrote about riding Pirates and my experience was a small splash, no big deal. Well, tonight the same was true...for me. There were two women and a teenage girl a couple of boats ahead of me that were absolutely drenched. The teenage girl got the worst of it and she looked like she had been on Kali River Rapids in the dead of summer. One of the women took her shoe off and poured water out to show the CM how bad it was. My group headed up to the gift shop while they were complaining to the CM. I ended up hanging out in the gift shop for a while because my sister was on the ride and we were waiting for her. While we waited, we saw someone in management I assume escorting the soggy group around as they choose new clothes from the gift shop for them. We ended up waiting there a long time because my sister was stuck one boat away from the dock for about a half hour. After what I saw tonight, and have heard from others I know, it is obvious that there is a big problem here. I wonder how many times per day they are taking people shopping for dry clothes...this is pathetic.

Wow, that seems crazy to me. I would be pissed to be unexpectedly wet, but expecting Disney to replace my clothing seems a bit much. It's just water, people. I can't imagine how much the prices will keep increasing if this is the way to handle problems. Because rest assured, all that free merchandise will cost us in the end.

 

[DVCcurious]

Have any of the boats ever actually capsized?

Only the one the King and Queen of Arendelle were riding in.

 

[SunnyKYLake]

Wow, that seems crazy to me. I would be pissed to be unexpectedly wet, but expecting Disney to replace my clothing seems a bit much. It's just water, people. I can't imagine how much the prices will keep increasing if this is the way to handle problems. Because rest assured, all that free merchandise will cost us in the end.

I wouldn't care about my clothes getting wet but I would worry about my shoes. Wet shoes and lots of walking definitely do not go together very well. I suppose if I had absolutely no clue that my shoes might get soaked, I may see about a voucher for the very cheapest pair of flip flops - but I probably wouldn't even go that far. But I could see where it might be necessary for some. I wouldn't bother about the clothes.

Gee if this is new policy I'll assume I get a new outfit if I ride SM, Kahli, POC.... great! Or we'll drift into that "this is why we can't have nice things" territory - and we'll all cry when Disney gets too many complaints from people getting wet and closes all water rides....

LOL! If guests didn't know those were wet rides, they'd only have to look at the people dripping past them while they wait in line! Or the massive waves engulfing the flumes and rafts...that might give it away too. I don't think Disney will have to worry about compensation for those rides. Pirates is a little different, but I guess Disney could put up warning signs and be done with it. Wow, a new wet ride in Adventureland, isn't that exciting?!?

 

[SunnyKYLake]

We were there a couple of weeks ago. I'm glad we requested the back seat. I could tell the ones in front got pretty wet. Our boat had some standing water, even in the very back. And every seat was wet.

 

[wdw71]

I have read enough here to make me decide that a POC fp is not in our future. I think this ride is one we will sit outside of and observe the degrees of wetness we see on other riders and just do standby if it looks safe.

 

[larryz]

...and we'll all cry when Disney gets too many complaints from people getting wet and closes all water rides....

I don't think that'll happen. They have two types of rides. As I break it down, please pay close attention; there will be a quiz at the end.

Kali = water ride. Boats designed to deal with being deluged, and most guests get wet, some drenched
Splash = water ride. Logs are designed to deal with wet, but not deluge; some guests get splashed but not usually drenched
Pirates = boat ride. Boats are not designed to deal with deluge, and until the last major refurb, guests may have been hit with drops of water
Small World = boat ride. Boats are not designed to deal with deluge, and nobody gets wet unless they put their hand in the water


Ready?

QUIZ: Match the ride with the type of ride it actually represents.

A. Kali...........................1. Boat
B. Pirates.......................2. Water
C. Small World
D. Splash

 

[Planogirl]

I don't think that'll happen. They have two types of rides. As I break it down, please pay close attention; there will be a quiz at the end.

Kali = water ride. Boats designed to deal with being deluged, and most guests get wet, some drenched
Splash = water ride. Logs are designed to deal with wet, but not deluge; some guests get splashed but not usually drenched
Pirates = boat ride. Boats are not designed to deal with deluge, and until the last major refurb, guests may have been hit with drops of water
Small World = boat ride. Boats are not designed to deal with deluge, and nobody gets wet unless they put their hand in the water


Ready?

QUIZ: Match the ride with the type of ride it actually represents.

A. Kali...........................1. Boat
B. Pirates.......................2. Water
C. Small World
D. Splash

Does this mean that Small World could be next? Maybe some of the dolls could shoot water cannons as you go by.

 

[ArwenMarie]

It's not just water for a couple of reasons...
1) There is no height requirement. Somewhere on this thread someone said their baby got drenched. That's crazy. 2) I do not believe that water is being treated like the water is treated and filtered in real water rides. Someone correct me otherwise if you have information to the contrary. 3) Slip and fall hazards because it wasn't designed as a water ride

 

[Oomiak]

Gee if this is new policy I'll assume I get a new outfit if I ride SM, Kahli, POC.... great! Or we'll drift into that "this is why we can't have nice things" territory - and we'll all cry when Disney gets too many complaints from people getting wet and closes all water rides....

Obviously you do not understand. You are NOT supposed to get soaked from head to toe on this ride. If you think otherwise you are being obtuse.

 

[Oomiak]

Wow, that seems crazy to me. I would be pissed to be unexpectedly wet, but expecting Disney to replace my clothing seems a bit much. It's just water, people. I can't imagine how much the prices will keep increasing if this is the way to handle problems. Because rest assured, all that free merchandise will cost us in the end.

So if you went to the Magic Kingdom one evening expecting to stay for 3-4 hours, and you are wearing a long sleeved shirt because it is cool out, you'd be completely fine with being unexpectedly drenched? Is that some bizarre Disney magic that would make you feel good about being soaked and freezing cold now? Giving them something dry to wear was absolutely the right thing for them to do. If Disney does not want to furnish dry clothes, then they either need to fix this ride or reset expectations. If this has now become a water ride like Splash or Kali, then tell people you WILL get wet. I was there and saw how wet these people were...the teenage girl was shivering she was so cold.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Wow, that seems crazy to me. I would be pissed to be unexpectedly wet, but expecting Disney to replace my clothing seems a bit much. It's just water, people. I can't imagine how much the prices will keep increasing if this is the way to handle problems. Because rest assured, all that free merchandise will cost us in the end.

The PP quoted just posted that the people who got drenched complained - he didn't post that they expected or demanded their clothing be replaced. If I was sopping wet to the point that I had water sitting in my shoe that I could literally pour out, I'd complain to a CM too. That shouldn't happen on POTC. If Disney chooses to handle that complaint by providing vouchers for new clothing, that's their decision. It doesn't mean the guests were expecting Disney to do that.

Disney really needs to address this problem. POTC has never been a water ride the likes of splash and kali. It was always more like iasw, even with the drops. The fact that it's now more like splash indicates a big problem.

 

[Angel Ariel]

It's not just water for a couple of reasons...
1) There is no height requirement. Somewhere on this thread someone said their baby got drenched. That's crazy. 2) I do not believe that water is being treated like the water is treated and filtered in real water rides. Someone correct me otherwise if you have information to the contrary. 3) Slip and fall hazards because it wasn't designed as a water ride

Exactly. After how wet we got at DLR on POC a week and a half ago, and reading the many reports at WDW, I would *not* take a baby on this ride any more. I felt I had to shield my 3 y/o from it and in doing so I got all of it, up to right below my shoulders. it took me hours to dry out, and we'd ridden at sundown so it was getting colder. I'm so glad she didn't get wet!

 

[Collette]

Disney really needs to address this problem. POTC has never been a water ride the likes of splash and kali. It was always more like iasw, even with the drops. The fact that it's now more like splash indicates a big problem.

I agree!

On my October 2013 solo trip, I was placed alone in the first row of a boat. I had ridden POTC many times before without getting much more than a drop or two of water if any. I was VERY surprised to get drenched - like someone just poured a bucket of water in my lap! The young couple behind me said, "Wow! Bet you weren't expecting that!" I wasn't. At least at that time my shoes were dry.

I read the beginning of this thread before we left for our trip that was last week. We disappointedly decided to not ride it - not wanting to be drenched and especially not wanting soaked shoes. We had a first timer with us who would have enjoyed this classic ride.

I REALLY hope they correct this!