Kids and JP River Adventure

[JOCAmom]

My grandson is finally tall enough to ride JP River Adventure and he really wants to ride. Unfortunately, he dislikes water splashing on his head and face. Any advice? I've thought about wrap around sunglasses and a sun hat with a drawstring under the chin. But I'm not sure if the hat would be permitted.

 

[TwoMisfits]

It's the least wet of the water rides, so don't sit in the front row or have him on the edge and he'll be fine...

 

[schumigirl]

Disagree with PP.

It varies so much on that ride you can never tell. We have been on that ride hundreds of times and have sat in every seat on those boats over the years. So, depending on how the boat is loaded and how heavy it`s loaded, you can be anything from lightly sprinkled with water to completely drenched, and anything in between.

We have been in the front row and the folks behind us were drenched and we only had a few splashes. There`s no guarantees on that ride, so if he truly is completely averse to getting wet, I wouldn`t take him on it.

 

[mom2rtk]

We were in the middle on the second row and my face and head got drenched. My clothes were dry.

 

[AuroraluvsPhillip]

There is a viewing area where you can watch the boats come down the slide (just watch out for the splash zone area!) That way you and your son can see how wet people get and make a more informed decision. And yes, it varies, with crowded or heavier boats you might get more water displacement and end up wetter. Maybe buy a cheap poncho for him to throw up over his head before the drop?
Also frequently there is a few small puddles on the seats/floor of the boats as you get in as well.

 

[JOCAmom]

Disagree with PP.

It varies so much on that ride you can never tell. We have been on that ride hundreds of times and have sat in every seat on those boats over the years. So, depending on how the boat is loaded and how heavy it`s loaded, you can be anything from lightly sprinkled with water to completely drenched, and anything in between.

We have been in the front row and the folks behind us were drenched and we only had a few splashes. There`s no guarantees on that ride, so if he truly is completely averse to getting wet, I wouldn`t take him on it.

It's not so much getting wet in general but water in the face. He wants to ride Popeye as well and I know he can wear a baseball cap on there. I know he can't wear that type of cap on JP. And yeah, we've ridden it before and sometimes we are soaked and other nothing more than a few drops. I'm just trying to figure out a way for him to ride and yet be comfortable.

There is a viewing area where you can watch the boats come down the slide (just watch out for the splash zone area!) That way you and your son can see how wet people get and make a more informed decision. And yes, it varies, with crowded or heavier boats you might get more water displacement and end up wetter. Maybe buy a cheap poncho for him to throw up over his head before the drop?
Also frequently there is a few small puddles on the seats/floor of the boats as you get in as well.

I'm thinking we may have to resort to a poncho. It's just they are my pet peeve on water rides....LOL (I know it makes no sense but when do pet peeves ever make sense)

 

[ClapYourHands]

Hats are permitted on JPRA.
Another option is a face shield like the kind used during COVID. I saw some at a dollar tree recently, so it would be a cheap and easy buy

 

[CAPSLOCK]

You know that several non-water rides have a spritz of water, right?

 

[AuroraluvsPhillip]

I know, ponchos are such a pain, but maybe a cheap one that you can toss after the ride? Also, as @CAPSLOCK mentioned, the dilophosaurs inside the building squirt water at you too and it's dark. My daughter got hit in the eye last time as she forgot to put her head down and she wasn't happy.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Also, as @CAPSLOCK mentioned, the dilophosaurs inside the building squirt water at you too and it's dark.

True, but I meant more the spritz's of water on Spiderman, Kong, etc....

 

[Julie Amber]

Show him video and let him make his own decision. If he gets wet, his world won't end. He'll just experience something that was uncomfortable to him for a minute. We as adults understand that sometimes we have to do hard things in order to get what we really want in the end.

 

[JOCAmom]

Hats are permitted on JPRA.
Another option is a face shield like the kind used during COVID. I saw some at a dollar tree recently, so it would be a cheap and easy buy

Thank you! I couldn't remember about the hats because we always take ours off and I thought team members said you had to take them off.

Show him video and let him make his own decision. If he gets wet, his world won't end. He'll just experience something that was uncomfortable to him for a minute. We as adults understand that sometimes we have to do hard things in order to get what we really want in the end.

He has watched the videos and that is where his concern comes in. And you are right, as adults we do understand about doing hard things to get what we want. And as adult, if there is a way to alleviate stress in a situation, I think most of us would use it. He's six and is finally tall enough to ride and if I can find someway to make it easier and more enjoyable for him, I'm gonna do it.

 

[blana]

My son(15) hates getting wet at all on rides. He's successfully ridden it by ducking his head behind the row ahead during the drop. That would at least keep the water from hitting the face.

 

[Cuchman]

Interestingly, I'd say the most likely part of you to get wet on JP is your face!
Same as with other posters above, I have ridden it and gotten nothing and I have ridden it and gotten fairly wet (I wouldn't say drenched, but I don't doubt it can happen).
I will say that I feel like I have successfully ducked to the side a bit for the splashdown (as long as I wasn't on the ends) and minimized the actual water in my face - similar to blana's suggestion above. But it is an improvement, not a solution.
As an additional note, the Popeye ride is a TOTAL DRENCHER. There is NO chance of not getting wet on that ride, IMHO. Though might be a little less "one big plash to the face" than JP is.

One last note - There's a definite risk of losing a hat (or face mask) on the JP ride. The end creates a pretty big wind and splash. Make sure if you go that route it is something that ties on or he holds it. I have first hand seen people lose caps on that ride twice - and I can't have ridden it more than maybe 10 times.

 

[JOCAmom]

My son(15) hates getting wet at all on rides. He's successfully ridden it by ducking his head behind the row ahead during the drop. That would at least keep the water from hitting the face.

Thanks...that's actually a pretty good suggestion.

Interestingly, I'd say the most likely part of you to get wet on JP is your face!
Same as with other posters above, I have ridden it and gotten nothing and I have ridden it and gotten fairly wet (I wouldn't say drenched, but I don't doubt it can happen).
I will say that I feel like I have successfully ducked to the side a bit for the splashdown (as long as I wasn't on the ends) and minimized the actual water in my face - similar to blana's suggestion above. But it is an improvement, not a solution.
As an additional note, the Popeye ride is a TOTAL DRENCHER. There is NO chance of not getting wet on that ride, IMHO. Though might be a little less "one big plash to the face" than JP is.

One last note - There's a definite risk of losing a hat (or face mask) on the JP ride. The end creates a pretty big wind and splash. Make sure if you go that route it is something that ties on or he holds it. I have first hand seen people lose caps on that ride twice - and I can't have ridden it more than maybe 10 times.

Thank you for all your help. We are skipping Dudley because we know he's not ready for that. And he's fine with Popeye even if he gets drenched because he can wear a regular baseball cap and sunglasses. This is the type of hat I was looking at for him. That would be allowed? And of course, one of us would stick our hand on top of his head to make sure it doesn't fly off.

 

[JOCAmom]

sorry, double post

 

[Cuchman]

That would be allowed? And of course, one of us would stick our hand on top of his head to make sure it doesn't fly off.

I think they do allow you to wear hats - though I definitely remember being warned about the possibility of losing them. But I'm not totally sure, sorry!

 

[JOCAmom]

I think they do allow you to wear hats - though I definitely remember being warned about the possibility of losing them. But I'm not totally sure, sorry!

No problem. You have been really helpful along with a bunch of others. I think we will be ok and he will get to ride.

 

[GoingSince1990]

..

 

[mikeyg1479]

Yeah, best I can say its its a water ride and the amount of how wet you get varies, its just water physics- these things work in unpredictible ways based on the water at the time, the weight distribution on the boat.

All I can say, is you will get wet (maybe a little, maybe a lot) and if you are adverse to that but still want to ride, I'd pack along a poncho.