Kali River Rapids question

[mjh8955]

I have avoided this every visit so far but my DD is insisting that we experience it when we go in July. Exactly what do I need to do in order to keep my clothes dry? Will it work if I cut head and arm holes in a garbage bag? We did a river type ride at another theme park and I spent the rest of the day extremely uncomfortable walking around in wet shorts and wet underwear that did not dry until we were ready to leave. And is it my understanding you must wear shoes on the ride? I don't want to have to lug our swim suits with us and then deal with carrying wet stuff while we park hop so I am determined to find a way to do this.

 

[Tarheel Tink]

I've had luck wearing a throw-away cheap rain poncho and keeping my feet up on the foot rest/bar thingy.

 

[DisGirl819]

I am planning on bringing a change of clothes...maybe renting a locker to put everything in...otherwise the change of clothes will have to fit in my backpack. I am wearing sandals or crocs that day also so I won't have to worry about wet feet...YUCK. Or, even better, ride this towards the end of the day or before a break (if you do that), that way it is easier to change soon after.

 

[GinaGrumpyDwarf]

in my experience there is no way to avoid getting wet. wear your swim suit uner your clothes, bring a towel and just enjoy the ride!! it really is worth it!

 

[hogwartsdropout]

You should buy a poncho. It's very much like your garbage bag idea, but more like one with arms and a space for your head! You can buy them at the Disney parks or at a Walmart for cheaper. That's your best bet if you don't want to get wet!

 

[sistertrip]

My feet usually come out relatively dry by keeping them up on the bar. It's the rest of me that usually gets soaked (though I have had times when I come out pretty dry). Personally, that's what I love about the ride (and why we always do it last), but I'm sure the plastic bag or poncho would work. Another option is to bring a change of clothes with you to the park.

 

[tiff211]

In july you will be so hot, the water will be a welcomed relief!! LOL!!! Also, there is a chance you may not get that wet. Only a couple of seats get soaked, only thing you don't know which one. I got soaked but I dried very quickly!

 

[Hannathy]

I stayed pretty dry with a poncho, 2 things though- keep it closed with your hand around your neck or the water will pour in and down your back and when you sit down make sure the poncho is under your bottom and up around your legs or when the waves splash up from the water it will get you and if the poncho isn't under your bottom when you sit you will sit in a puddle on the seat.
I totally understand what you are saying I hate to be wet!

 

[TreslovesWDW]

I think a poncho will be fine. We went on , 8 of us all together only my husband got wet and just his shirt and top of his shorts, he dried quick. no one else got really wet. I guess it is all in the luck of the spinning...hehe

 

[LaughinPlace289]

I have avoided this every visit so far but my DD is insisting that we experience it when we go in July. Exactly what do I need to do in order to keep my clothes dry? Will it work if I cut head and arm holes in a garbage bag? We did a river type ride at another theme park and I spent the rest of the day extremely uncomfortable walking around in wet shorts and wet underwear that did not dry until we were ready to leave. And is it my understanding you must wear shoes on the ride? I don't want to have to lug our swim suits with us and then deal with carrying wet stuff while we park hop so I am determined to find a way to do this.

Bring a bag with sandles and ponchos. Change shoes right before riding and wear the ponchos. Of all of the tube rides I've done, I always get twice as drenched on Kali.

 

[Snowy]

I was in the seat that got super-soaked once, and I can't imagine that a rain poncho would have helped much. I was not hit with a mild spray, more like tons of gushing water coming down on my head. I was soaked all the way through for quite a while. Part of the excitement and fun of the ride is who is going to get completely soaked. We laughed a lot and left our mark on the rides we went on after.

 

[poppinspal]

When I was there in December it was a relatively quiet morning and so we got to ride twice without getting off. Both times I got absolutely soaked, so wet in fact that I didn't have a dry inch on me, except maybe my feet. My brother sat across from me and had a few drops on him. So half of it is the luck of the draw. (I actually found it amusing how wet I got and felt bad for the people who sat in my seat at It's Tough to be a Bug after me, I left it soaked.)

I think that a trash bags with holes cut in it wouldn't work as well as a ceap poncho from the dollar store. With the poncho at least it probably has a hood and will be big enough to cover you. I think the person who said ride it before a break or before you're done for the day had the right idea if you are really worried about wearing wet clothes all day.

 

[thunderbird1]

I stayed pretty dry with a poncho, 2 things though- keep it closed with your hand around your neck or the water will pour in and down your back and when you sit down make sure the poncho is under your bottom and up around your legs or when the waves splash up from the water it will get you and if the poncho isn't under your bottom when you sit you will sit in a puddle on the seat.

You sound like a Kali expert! Ditto all that, plus the keeping the feet up. I can't remember whether simply keeping them up will be enough to keep them dry, but I do know that if you leave them on the floor, all the water that comes into your raft ends up in a lake down there. Another alternative is to change into a cheap pair of flip flops for the ride, but then you have to either haul them around with you or dump them. Enjoy the ride--it's a blast!

 

[JRawkSteady]

I don't understand why people do not want to get wet on this ride? It's so hot in Florida...it feels greta to get soaked every once in a while. I try to ride this 3 or 4 times in a row...they usually let you do this in the morning at around 9:30 - 10ish. It's great! (obviously to keep your belongings dry, please place them under the plastic mat in the center of the raft.

 

[mommydawg]

We brought our Walmart Ponchos and kept our feet up on the bar in the middle of the raft. We stayed relatively dry---it is a fun ride--worth doing at least once. Some people were actually giving their ponchos away after the ride. My son and nephew found two just hanging on the rail as we entered the ride.

 

[shyjade]

So there is a place on the raft to keep your belongings dry? I don't care about getting wet myself, and I know my DD8 will love it, but I can't bear the thought of my bag getting wet!

 

[David R]

Dollar store poncho! They come folded in a tiny little square. Unfold it. Ride. Laugh at everyone getting soaked, take your poncho off, marvel at your dryness and throw it away!

Last time I rode this, everyone else in my "boat" made fun of me for the poncho. Then I took it off at the end and said "see? I'm dry! you are not!" Of course a lady ran up me and said "give me a hug!" and got me a little damp, but it was all in good fun.

 

[Goofy4]

I've been meaning to ask... We saw a group of people handing ponchos back to the CM on the way out. What was that all about? I was wondering if they have ponchos available if you ask for them.

 

[David R]

Yes! The raft has a section in the middle where you can store things and they stay dry. But remember that it's not huge and it's shared with everyone else riding with you.

 

[CindyT]

We wear quick dry clothing that we purchased on sale at a local sporting goods store. We also bought quick dry sport shoes from Land's End. I plan to put my socks in my fanny pack. We absolutely love this ride, in the summer most clothing will dry pretty fast.