Are Canoes currently running?

[Huff]

Wondering if the Canoes are in operation during the spring break season? Kids love them but I know they're often closed except summer and some holidays.

 

[Tinkerbelle's Mom]

They were in operation this past weekend. This has become my dds new favorite!

 

[Susie63]

Are these real canoes or do they ride on a rail? ROA was drained when we went last year.

 

[Huff]

Are these real canoes or do they ride on a rail? ROA was drained when we went last year.

They are real, not on a track and powered by all the guests in it paddling. I've always wondered how they get this to work since some won't paddle at all while other paddle much harder than some. Must be tough for the CM that steers.

 

[Susie63]

Okay...gonna stay away from those

 

[KBelle5]

They are real, not on a track and powered by all the guests in it paddling. I've always wondered how they get this to work since some won't paddle at all while other paddle much harder than some. Must be tough for the CM that steers.

Have you seen some of the CMs that work it? Hellooo gorgeous!

The canoes aren't my favorite, mostly because they do want you to paddle, and I don't want to "work" while I'm at Disneyland. The CMs are pretty good about making sure you don't run into the Mark Twain or Columbia, Susie, so if that's what you're worried about, don't be.

 

[purplecrush]

My kids liked it...I , on the other hand, did not. My son 14, sat in front of me and decided it would be funny to keep splashing me with that icky water lol ....gross!!

 

[pigby]

Glad you asked this question - we LOVED these last summer but it was around 90 degrees plus that day

It was fun to 'paddle' the canoes but it was really the CM doing the work. We are back in just over 2 weeks and looking forward to trying these again - but only doing part of a day on a weekend - other days are midweek so hope they are running. Unsure if we will want to do if its cool and wet outside though.

 

[vew-tori]

We did the canoes twice during our visit last week. On Saturday they didn't begin operation until 11 am. The other day we rode them late in the afternoon so I'm not sure if 11 is the standard start time or not. Have fun!

 

[JH87]

I have never been on the canoes!! No one ever wants to go with me

 

[Minuet888]

I HATE the canoes. Hubby and I decided to try them on our honeymoon in 2001 and NEVER did them again.
First of all I was constantly scared that we would tip over. There were a couple of larger people in the boat (I myself am Pooh sized but these people were much much larger) and anytime they just shifted their weight or adjusted themselves in their seat the whole canoe rocked. FREAKED me out.
Second I had the great unfortune of sitting behind a little kid who couldn't quite get his paddle all the way in the water, just skimming the top of the water and getting me all wet (Due to the tipping over fear I would NEVER take my kid on this, but that's my personal phobia not saying anything bad about anyone else)
Third it KILLS your arms. Remember I am pooh sized so I am not exactly athletic. My shoulders and arms were killing me for the next two days.
My hubby is agreeing with everything I am typing (that's a first)

 

[pixiewings71]

I have never been on the canoes!! No one ever wants to go with me

I'd go with you!

I HATE the canoes. Hubby and I decided to try them on our honeymoon in 2001 and NEVER did them again.
First of all I was constantly scared that we would tip over. There were a couple of larger people in the boat (I myself am Pooh sized but these people were much much larger) and anytime they just shifted their weight or adjusted themselves in their seat the whole canoe rocked. FREAKED me out.
Second I had the great unfortune of sitting behind a little kid who couldn't quite get his paddle all the way in the water, just skimming the top of the water and getting me all wet (Due to the tipping over fear I would NEVER take my kid on this, but that's my personal phobia not saying anything bad about anyone else)
Third it KILLS your arms. Remember I am pooh sized so I am not exactly athletic. My shoulders and arms were killing me for the next two days.
My hubby is agreeing with everything I am typing (that's a first)

Even if you did fall over the water is about chest deep.........but yes, I agree with the nasty water. LOL
That said I'm in shape enough (Thank YOU Jillian Michaels!) that my arms don't hurt at all after doing this ride. In fact it's one that we actually very much enjoy, but we try to wait for a canoe that maybe doesn't have as many kids and we like to put our kids in front of us, that way if they are splashing we can tell them to stop paddling. LOL
Also, there are life jackets available for anyone who wants them. We've done the canoes quite a few times (not every trip, but quite a few) and we've never worried about hitting the Mark Twain or the Columbia, the CM's who "run" the canoes are really good at that, they will actually say "stop paddling, let us take it from here" if the canoe gets off course.

 

[ksucats]

We just got back today & I saw them going on Tuesday & Wednesday. I had absolutely no interest in doing it & when my son noticed, I quickly distracted him with a Mickey Ice Cream bar.

I am worn out enough with all of the walking. No way would I want to add on a canoe trip.

 

[KBelle5]

I had absolutely no interest in doing it & when my son noticed, I quickly distracted him with a Mickey Ice Cream bar.

That's totally me, and I'm sure my future children will be exactly the same way. Bribe with ice cream, and whatever you want will be done.

And if you fell in, at least the water only has about a year's worth of "gross" to it, since it was drained last year this time, instead of 5-10 years worth, or however often it's drained. I think there is a way to circulate the water a little, but not all that well. I believe you would also come out dyed a bluish-green, unless it was that they *don't* dye the water...I can't remember!

 

[sonnyjane]

And if you fell in, at least the water only has about a year's worth of "gross" to it, since it was drained last year this time, instead of 5-10 years worth, or however often it's drained. I think there is a way to circulate the water a little, but not all that well. I believe you would also come out dyed a bluish-green, unless it was that they *don't* dye the water...I can't remember!

You never know what you'll find in RofA! I remembered reading this last year after they drained it: http://ocresort.ocregister.com/2010/04/29/workers-find-unusual-items-in-disneyland-river/42683/

"Disneyland last drained its Rivers of America seven years ago, so workers found a lot of accumulated stuff when it drained the green-dyed waterway in January.

But the most unusual item by far was a computer tower, said Dan Chambers, a project manager at Disneyland. Workers are unsure how the plastic box for plugs and discs got in the water path around Tom Sawyer Island.

Here are some of the other items found:

* Half of a canoe from Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoe ride.
* Plastic swords.
* Mardi Gras beads. The items were part of Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee, a show on the Mark Twain Riverboat on the rivers in the fall.
* Hundreds of cellular phones and walkie-talkies.
* Hundreds of baby pacifiers.
* Mickey Hats.
* Sunglasses.

Chambers said there was a rumor that a bowling ball was found, but that was false.

Workers also discovered a bunch of fish, including koi, which were relocated to the Bear Creek area, another body of water. Some of those fish have now made their way to the moat around Sleeping Beauty Castle. Oysters and clam shells also accumulate in the rivers.

The eggs are carried on ducks’ feet, so fish and other creatures end up growing in the rivers, said Kim Irvine, art director for Walt Disney Imagineering in Anaheim.

When the water was last drained in 2003, crews found a toaster and full bottle of rum.."

 

[Susie63]

Do they EVER tip over?

 

[sonnyjane]

Do they EVER tip over?

Found this old thread from 2008: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1740933

 

[Shimmer]

I LOVE when the Canoes are open!

It is hard to tip a canoe. Depending on the size and number of people you really have to work at it.

 

[KBelle5]

^^Nice! I laughed at the one post that mentioned the guests all just sitting there patiently, thinking it was part of the attraction! If I were on it and it started sinking, I wonder if I would sit there in hopes that somehow it sinks in a way I don't get too wet, or take the once in a lifetime chance and bail for a swim in Rivers...

 

[Albort]

Do they EVER tip over?

Canoes are actually really hard to tip over... i was a boy scout and trust me, we tried very very hard to tip it over...

ps, they were runnign today...