Flooded POTC boats

[Murron]

This thread has been thoroughly entertaining for me. Completely. Carry on.

here. Have some popcorn and enjoy yourself.

 

[wilkeliza]

I think the difference between Jungle Cruise, Its a Small World, Living With the Land, etc is that there is no drop. With Pirates there is a decent drop. Heck at the Disneyland one we almost took on water after the drop because someone decided to shift away from the cannon blasts and the boat listed to one side. It was about a half an inch from water pouring over onto all of us.

 

[ArwenMarie]

This is Pirates at Disneyland when it opened. Do these people look like they are dressed for a water ride?

 

[littleblackegg]

Reports of boat work were just rumors - there was no official communication prior to or during the refurb that the boats were going to be replaced.

DLR ordered the lighter boats, didn't like them, and sent them over to WDW.

I personally didn't notice people start to complain about water on Pirates until the refurb was announced and speculation started, though that may have just been a side-effect of frequency illusion. I do believe that something they did to the drop has made the splashing more problematic than before.

Me too. Since it's almost a flume effect, I would think the standard physics would explain the splashing-the mass distribution has a greater effect on the splash than the overall mass. Front heavy boats will splash more. Perhaps the loading of the boats is the factor here, because it isn't happening consistently. I'm sure they've had enough queries to research it.

 

[wilkeliza]

Well the photo I found can't be posted but the new attraction signs do indeed say you may get wet.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Me too. Since it's almost a flume effect, I would think the standard physics would explain the splashing-the mass distribution has a greater effect on the splash than the overall mass. Front heavy boats will splash more. Perhaps the loading of the boats is the factor here, because it isn't happening consistently. I'm sure they've had enough queries to research it.

We rode several times last week and never had anyone in our boat get soaked. But I also noticed that they were loaded to be heavier in the back...for instance, on one ride the front two rows had one female adult and three small children in each row and families with bigger dads in the back.

 

[littleblackegg]

Yes, but you see, you are not allowed to state your experiences here on the dis boards, because someone else didn't get wet, so too bad you are wrong. !!!!!
Yes, the ride is on water, but it is not a designated "water ride", and your experience is real, no matter what someone else says. I'm going to WDW in 2 weeks, and will surely be looking out for the water on the floor and I will definitely ride in the back. Been going to WDW for years and rode POC many, many times and never had to even think about getting this wet. It is a problem, as others on this thread have stated, even if some try to dismiss it.

Who is saying you are wrong? Maybe someone says this situation was not particularly problematic for them personally, but I am not getting a "you are wrong if you experienced a soaking" kind of vibe. I think everyone agrees that there is increased splashing. Try not to take offense to people's different experiences with this. It's all OK.

 

[littleblackegg]

Well the photo I found can't be posted but the new attraction signs do indeed say you may get wet.

Do they have those ominous words "you may get wet and possibly soaked?"

 

[wilkeliza]

Do they have those ominous words "you may get wet and possibly soaked?"

haha no possibly soaked. When I see you may get wet I figure soaked is apart of that. Wet is wet to me be it a little or a lot. For the past few years we have always done Pirates then Splash later in the evening so we aren't walking around all day soaked. I think this year we will bring a backpack with a change of clothes and rent a locker. That way if anyone gets super soaked on either Splash or Pirates we have a back up.

 

[littleblackegg]

haha no possibly soaked. When I see you may get wet I figure soaked is apart of that. Wet is wet to me be it a little or a lot. For the past few years we have always done Pirates then Splash later in the evening so we aren't walking around all day soaked. I think this year we will bring a backpack with a change of clothes and rent a locker. That way if anyone gets super soaked on either Splash or Pirates we have a back up.

All of the big "wet rides" warn you may be soaked. If there is a soaking involved and I am not in a spa, I very politely request I be warned. I beg them. I have that crazy curly hair that requires a gallon of product a day. I require maintenance! A locker system would be perfect. I hate dragging my bag around.

 

[agavegirl1]

I have a photo of the sign from last October somewhere.

 

[sndral]

POTC opened in DL in 1967 - the last attraction Walt personally oversaw construction of. It was and remains a favorite of mine, thus I rode it multiple times on the annual DL pilgrimages of my youth. It was added to WDW MK in 1973 and I began riding that version as well when I started alternating w/ WDW for annual pilgrimages circa 1990. I can safely say I've ridden both versions 100s of times in the 47 years since the DL version opened. It has never been a get drenched sort of ride, Walt did not design it to be a get drenched sort of ride, the fact people are getting drenched means some idiot redesigned something wrong.
Re: the 'it's a ride on water, expect to get wet, so it's ok' logic - should I expect to get wet on Ellen's energy ride - it's on water and that **** dinosaur squirts me every time as it is. IASW? Nemo? Little Mermaid? Jungle cruise? The raft out to Tom Sawyer's island? The riverboat? Living with the land? I shudder to think what they've turned Maelstrom into, etc..
Whatever they 'fixed' needs to be 'unfixed' IMO.

 

[shannon006]

We went on POTC at Disneyland, probably 14-16 times earlier this month. We sat in every row at least once. Never did we get soaked. I was observing how the boats were loaded, wanting to notice anything that could potentially cause a problem. Not one time did we soaked, or did we see anyone on any boats get soaked. A bit of a splash sometimes yes, however that splash would be completely dry when we got off. The problem at WDW started when the new boats came in IMHO. I dread going on POTC now, and it is one of my favorites.

 

[BC1836]

Based upon the numerous posts of those who have shared their unexpected unfavorable experiences on POTC, the attraction has a problem; in fact, one that needs to be addressed with all deliberate speed by either maintenance actions, boat redesign, passenger limitations or a combination of all three. POTC is a classic ride, a wonderful attraction filled with memorable images and a joyous sing-a-long music track, one that should be pleasurable, enjoyable and fun. It's present state of operation is, at best, inconsistent; at worse: negligent.

 

[srferson]

The sign isn't new, is it? I honestly can't remember. Let's talk about your "warning."

At Kali Rapids: Sign says 'You WILL get wet. You might get SOAKED!' And it's an outdoor ride so you can get some idea what you're getting into.

At Splash Mountain: It's called Splash Mountain. If that's not enough for you, it's clear as day what you are getting into because it happens outside and everyone can see. Plus, I believe there are signs with a bunny absolutely dripping wet.

At Pirates: The sign does say you may get wet from the "short waterfall." And you can't see it even when it's happening to you.

Assuming I am remembering correctly and that Pirates sign has been that way for a long time...

If every year you go to your doctor to get a shot, you can't see the needle and the doctor says 'this might sting' and then gives you the shot and it does sting a little but hey, he did warn you. After several years of that you go for another shot. Doc says 'this might sting' and then shoves a needle the size of a chopstick in your arm. Would you think, 'well he did warn me it might sting' or do you think 'why didn't he tell me it was going to be that different!?'

 

[Kaimo]

I think the solution is that there IS a possibility you will get wet. If you don't wish to get wet don't ride. Lessens the risk. If you don't care one way or the other, enjoy it for what it is. A classic water ride at WDW.

 

[DVCcurious]

Can someone describe this "6 inches of water" on the floor phenomenon?

Splash never has inches of water on the floor. The few times I've ridden Kali it hasn't had inches of water on the floor. How does Pirates get "inches of water" on the floor? How do they empty the water out of the boats at the end of the day? Do you sit there with your feet in 4 inches of water for the entire 20 minutes? Do you take off your shoes and socks? I need more details.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Can someone describe this "6 inches of water" on the floor phenomenon?

Splash never has inches of water on the floor. The few times I've ridden Kali it hasn't had inches of water on the floor. How does Pirates get "inches of water" on the floor? How do they empty the water out of the boats at the end of the day? Do you sit there with your feet in 4 inches of water for the entire 20 minutes? Do you take off your shoes and socks? I need more details.

Maybe because the Pirates boat weren't made to take on water
I assume the Splash and Kali rides have some sort of drainage system
They shop vac the water out of the Pirates boats I believe

 

[Enjoying Life]

I heard from a reliable source that there will be a couple of NEW rides coming to Disney World. The first is The Shaker. You go into a room and a cast member shakes you repeatedly, as if trying to awaken an overdose victim, until you feel sick. The other ride is called The Soaker. You go into a room and a cast member throws a bucket of water on you. There is a sign outside that says you may get wet on this ride, so no harm no foul.

 

[melana]

We were going to ride POTC today but it was down both times we went and I was not going to try it again. Have no idea why it was down. The first time was