Few questions about Kali River Rapids?

[LAWalz23]

Hi, my niece and nephew, 8 year old twins have decided that they want to go on Kali this trip. My sister has successfully kept them away up until now but they read maps and look at the guide books, so they have discovered it. I have only been on it once back in 2001 and got soaked! My questions are: I am pretty sure it opens later than the rest of the park, about 10 am right? Do you need a fast pass to ride it around noon, figured we would ride it just before we went back to SSR for lunch and pool break? How many seats are there in a typical boat, I think I remember 8 but it could be more? Where do I put my digital camera? I know there is a space in the middle but is it big enough for multiple backpacks and does it really keep things dry? Thanks for any and all information.

 

[sk8bug72]

What time of year are you going? Make sure that you ride it while the sun is out, so you dry off quickly.

Your camera should be fine in the middle compartment, but sometimes it is hard to fit all of the backpacks in it.

Also, they do not let you take off your shoes, so to keep them a little dry, keep your feet on the foot rest.

The "soak factor" depends on where you sit. Its just the luck of the draw.

 

[cruise-o-matic]

I always take a couple of ziplock baggies to keep my camera from getting wet.

 

[LAWalz23]

Thanks for the info! We always pack a ton of ziploc bags, you never know when they might come in handy!

 

[helenk]

The boats seat 8, the space in the middle is not too big, it will hold a few back packs though. What I do, the day I know I'm going on Kali, I put a plastic bag in my back pack and a sandwich bag in as well. Before I get on the ride, I put my camera in the sandwich bag and then put my back pack in the plastic bag and that keeps everything dry. One other thing I do, I take flip flops with me. I take off my sneakers and socks and put on flip flops before I get on, that way I am not walking around in wet socks and sneakers.
When I was there this past week Kali Rapids opened at 9:30 on the non early entry day, and then at 9:00 on the early entry day.
I got to Kali rapids just shortly after 9:30 and the posted time was 5 minutes so I walked right on. Later in the day around 11:30 or so there was a posted wait time of 50 minutes.
When we've gone in December the lines were not as bad in the afternoon, in the summer I'm sure they get pretty long.

 

[LAWalz23]

Thanks, helenk, the flip flops are a great idea!

 

[InstImpres]

I carry a heavy duty garbage bag that we can fit 2-3 backpacks in no problem. We also usually wear the disposable ponchos and still get plenty wet but not totally soaked.

 

[LAWalz23]

InstImpres, thanks for the suggestion! How do you tie the garbage bag and where do you put it? (Yes, I am being obsessive but my sister wants to know also, lol)

 

[ReggieB]

Big tip, never sit next to me on Kali....I am always the one that gets the wettest. Basically if you are going backwards over the big drop...you are in trouble. There are a few seats that don't get nearly so wet, but it's not something you can predict I don't think.

My DS4 loves this, even the wet underwear that he still has with him a couple of hours later (I'm not so keen on that) Not that I am suggesting taking dry underpants, but at least it gives you an idea of how wet you are going to get. Luckily we have always been on it when it's a nice and sunny day, and have dried out pretty quickly (though not so much the underwear) Taking off socks is a good idea. The middle storage thing is pretty good, but ziploc bags for phones and cameras is a must, just to be safe. Plenty of people wear the yellow ponchos, it at least would keep your top half dry. Take a waterproof camera (one of those disposable ones) I have some great pics of my son on the ride, one just as the water hits. It's great fun, I love this ride.

 

[Alice's Mom]

I also did the flip flops on Kali river rapids it was great, my fellow passengers who wore tennis shoes and put there feet in the middle still ended with soggy shoes. I also made a point of not dressing my daughter or myself in denim.

I highly recommend on a hot day getting soaked, feels like air conditioning in your clothes.

 

[twinklebug]

I saw people in their bathing suits at AK last summer (they looked a bit out of place I thought) but it could be a decent idea if you change right before and after the ride, or have a cover-up that makes it looks like a summer dress.

I like the ziplock idea for the camera etc. It's useful just for those occasional afternoon downpours FL is famous for.

 

[KangarooRat]

Big tip, never sit next to me on Kali....I am always the one that gets the wettest. Basically if you are going backwards over the big drop...you are in trouble. There are a few seats that don't get nearly so wet, but it's not something you can predict I don't think.

My DS4 loves this, even the wet underwear that he still has with him a couple of hours later (I'm not so keen on that) Not that I am suggesting taking dry underpants, but at least it gives you an idea of how wet you are going to get. Luckily we have always been on it when it's a nice and sunny day, and have dried out pretty quickly (though not so much the underwear) Taking off socks is a good idea. The middle storage thing is pretty good, but ziploc bags for phones and cameras is a must, just to be safe. Plenty of people wear the yellow ponchos, it at least would keep your top half dry. Take a waterproof camera (one of those disposable ones) I have some great pics of my son on the ride, one just as the water hits. It's great fun, I love this ride.

WOW - I have never heard of this ride. I will certainly abandon my wife for an houur or so and do this one (she hates wet). It sounds just like a Snake River rafting trip I took about thirty years ago. Great fun !!!! I love the wet.

 

[InstImpres]

InstImpres, thanks for the suggestion! How do you tie the garbage bag and where do you put it? (Yes, I am being obsessive but my sister wants to know also, lol)

I carry a two gallon zip lock with asst. size ziplocks inside. I buy the heavy duty 30 gallon bags. I usually fold up 2 and put them in my "bag of bags". Through everything into the garbage bag and tie a big note. It makes it easy to carry the bag. On the raft, the seats are in 2's with a small space in between. Depending how much we have, it usually goes under my legs, (helps keep me dry) and off to the side. When we are done, I rip it open and through it out.

I carry the extra as I have used on a heavy downpour day.