Just how wet is Grizzly River Run?

[Rhonna]

And, does every seat get the same amount of water or is it the luck of the draw?

We don't like getting soaked but kinda wanted to try the ride.

We risked Kali River Rapids in WDW once and while we were very fortunate, two ladies (in skirts, heels, pantyhose and full makeup! we never did figure that one out???) across from us got absolutely drenched from head to toe, soaked to the skin! YIKES! At least they had a good sense of humor - laughed their heads off and said "Wouldn't you know WE would get the worst of it!"

So, how risky is GRR? Anyone been on both rides?

Thanks,

Rhonna

 

[spacemouseneer]

Total luck of the draw. I have escaped the drenching and have come off the ride just soaked to the bone. I've found there aren't HUGE waves coming over and it really feels like they are coming in slowly, but they still can get you pretty wet. I still love the ride. I wouldn't miss it, even if I have to get a little wet.

 

[MouseFaninQueue]

When I first went on Kali I had seen people coming off drenched. So I had thought it was worse than Grizzly Rapids.

I came off Kali, not dry but not thoroughly drenched either. My wife was disappointed.

My wife decided to go again and this time she came off thoroughly soaked like she has never been soaked on Grizzly.

Entirely luck of the draw but in my wife's opinion, it is not worse than Kali.

One tip - don't sit near an entryway on Grizzly and you will get "less" wet... Or at least that has been my experience.

 

[mitchwebb]

we had rain slickers and end up soaked. We got hit by both gushers at the end of the ride

we looked like drowned rats all six of us

 

[twinmom108]

I agree that it is the luck of the draw slightly wet or absolutely soaked. Either way GRR is one of the best water raft rides I've ever been on and my 3 teenagers would heartily agree! In fact there is no comparison to Kali River Rapids. Kali Rivers Rapids is LAME in comparison.
GRR is an absolute must do.

Disney Dreamin'
Sharon

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

I agree, luck of the draw. I've only been on it once (I'm a big chicken with rides that have drops), and I came off SOAKED. A lot more soaked then the others on the same raft too! LOL

 

[RallyMonkey]

(If you are wearing shoes and socks) I have found that if you put your feet up on the...I think it is a bar down in the middle by your feet, that your feet have a good chance at staying somewhat dry.

 

[disneyfan4ever54]

It is luck of the draw, but after riding it over 20 times (my DS's favorite ride ) I agree with the person who said to avoid sitting next to the entries (the 2 "doorways" to the raft). We have gotten drenched at times, and then stayed pretty dry at times.....a lot of it depends on which way the raft spins and where you are sitting when the raft hits a wave. But for the most part, we have stayed much more dry by not sitting where the doorways are because the raft is lower there and the waves can get in easier. It is a great ride and so much fun!

 

[Rhonna]

Wow - a lot of responses so quickly. Thanks

Besides not sitting by an entrance - I have heard in the past (I think I read this years ago on a WDW forum somewhere) that if a really heavy person (or persons) are sitting in your raft, they are most likely to get the soaking and those across from them get spared. Any truth to this theory? Does weight affect the turning of the raft?

 

[kjjlouie]

I've heard that different times of the year have different levels of drench. Summer, late spring = soaked
Fall, winter, early spring = less soaked

Of course, the seating location is the luck of the draw.

 

[Rhonna]

So does disney control the amount of water on the rapids and therefore the amount of soaking? I wonder if the CM's at the ride know?

 

[disneyfan4ever54]

I've heard that different times of the year have different levels of drench. Summer, late spring = soaked
Fall, winter, early spring = less soaked

Of course, the seating location is the luck of the draw.

You do have some control over where you sit especially if your family/group is first to board the raft. Since it only sits 8 people, if you have a family of 4 and you get on first, the kids can sit near the doorways and the adults in the middle. I was able to avoid sitting near the doorway most of the times we went on.

 

[fairycat]

I am not a CM but as I have been told in the past at other parks they tend to flood the ride "track" more in the hot weather when people would prefer to get wet and bring down the water level in the cooler weather to keep people riding but not let them get as wet.

I don't know if Disney does this but many big parks do. I don't ride Grizzly as often as other rides but I have noticed that on the whole we got a lot less wet off season.

Also yes weight does make some difference on wetness, just look at Splash Mountain if the weight distrubution on that ride effects the "soak" as much as it does why wouldn't it on Grizzly?

 

[CanadianPaco]

One tip - don't sit near an entryway on Grizzly and you will get "less" wet... Or at least that has been my experience.

We road it three times in a row last week and each time DD sat near the entry way. Each time DD got SOAKED. I sat next to her and just got the reminants! Bring a change of clothes!

 

[Tigger girl]

So does disney control the amount of water on the rapids and therefore the amount of soaking? I wonder if the CM's at the ride know?

Yes, they do. Less water in the cooler months, more in the summer. I have a few family members that work there and have asked this exact question to them in the past. Have fun it's a great ride!

 

[Sk8Leigh]

I just rode this last week and got DRENCHED. I had come into the park to eat at Taste Pilot, and then I was so hot that I wanted to get wet. So I went and stood in the line for an hour (totally not thinking about a single-rider line!!!) and then rode it and didn't get that wet. Until the end when the geyser thing shoots up. We went right through it and I just got soaked. A little wetter than I had planned. My suitcase hadn't made it the day before, so I was wearing the only clothes I had, which was capris instead of shorts, so that made it even worse. But luckily when I got off the guy was calling me trying to deliver my suitcase, and so I walked back there and got to change and dry off.

And thanks to whoever recently posted about the lockers they have there! I had no idea, but that was great! I put all my stuff in the locker before I rode, so it all stayed dry, and for free! (Plus I loved the way the locker worked, all automated. I'd never used one like that. )

 

[EmEyeSeeKayEeWhy]

GRR is one great reason my family has stayed at GC. You ride it and get drenched, and all you have is a short walk back to your room to change real quick We've come off completely dry, but other times uncomfortably wet....and we still can't wait to ride it again

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

And, does every seat get the same amount of water or is it the luck of the draw?

We don't like getting soaked but kinda wanted to try the ride.

We risked Kali River Rapids in WDW once and while we were very fortunate, two ladies (in skirts, heels, pantyhose and full makeup! we never did figure that one out???) across from us got absolutely drenched from head to toe, soaked to the skin! YIKES! At least they had a good sense of humor - laughed their heads off and said "Wouldn't you know WE would get the worst of it!"

So, how risky is GRR? Anyone been on both rides?

Thanks,

Rhonna

Kali has one spot that gets you wet. If you're downstream and next to the opening when you hit it, you're soaked. If you're not, you're not. We've come off Kali completely dry.

GRR has far more opportunities to get soaked over the side. And in some cases, the spray will come in through the side and soak the people across the raft. I can't remember a single time we came off completely dry. We shove our socks and shoes in a back pack and wear sandals for this one. Also at the end there is a geyser. It's intermittant but if you hit it, right there is no escape. The entire raft gets soaked. Count on getting wet on this ride. But it blows away Kali by far. This one is everything you could want in this type of ride and if you like this kind of ride you will have a blast.

 

[Rhonna]

Thanks for the comparison of both rides. This gives me a clearer picture. We managed to be the ones who didn't get wet hardly at all on Kali but apparently GRR is a whole different beast. If we ride it, we will have to time it to go back to the room and change.

thanks for all the replies.

 

[Another^Dimension]

the luck of the draw

GRR at DCA is a real gamble... the unpredictible and sometimes cruel river.


One of the reasons I love it so much.


Do ya feel lucky?


GRR is a wonderfully fun ride!


...and yes, GRR does switchable 'summer mode' and 'winter mode' settings.
The 'summer mode' does run with a higher water level, a bit faster rapids-creating hydrolators and the geysers are set to soak.



Have fun!!