Poncho on Kali?

[kabbie]

What do ya'll think about wearing a poncho on Kali at AK? Would I look like a big dork? Does it keep you pretty dry? I like water rides, but not the part where you get drenched. Especially if taking a bus back to the resort could take awhile.

 

[Robo]

What do ya'll think about wearing a poncho on Kali at AK? Would I look like a big dork? Does it keep you pretty dry? I like water rides, but not the part where you get drenched. Especially if taking a bus back to the resort could take awhile.

I'd say there are a HUGE number of (dorky) guests wearing ponchos on Kali.

Don't be shy (for what little GOOD it'll do ya)...

Kali can be like having a '55 gallon drum' full of water poured on your head.
(Then letting guests squirt water at you from a garden hose, for good measure.)



We take flip-flops with us to AK and rent a locker.
Before Kali, we take off our shoes and sox, put them in the locker, and wear the flip-flops on Kali.

Keep your nomal park shoes DRY!!

 

[Hoops&YoYo]

I've seen guests go as far as wearing garbage and shopping bags...so a poncho wouldn't be dorky.

 

[seashoreCM]

The poncho needs to be long enough so you sit on it completely and the edge goes off the seat under your knees. This keeps the water that gets on the seat from going up your pants. Put on the hood and bend over. Then you extend your legs as the water pours over you so the water doesn't drip down your calves into your socks. After the deluge push yourself up to let the water that accumulated in the seat go out the little hole in the middle.

Now you will have some experience on managing the poncho they give you when you volunteer to be an actor at the start of the MGM Studios backstage tour.

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[stitchlover]

I have read where there are some tour guides who insist their guests wear ponchos. They say you are miserable without!

 

[MOREMICKEY4ME]

Been there- Done that.
My kids thought I looked like a dork, but they were COMPLETELY drenched when they got off the ride. I am not the type of person who likes to wear wet clothes around the park.
I actually took it off when we got off the ride and handed it to another woman in line who was VERY greatful for it after seeing how soaked my kids got!!

 

[mm_ja]

I have to say I am concerned about this ride. Our next trip is scheduled for December. On our last trip we did not get a chance to ride Kali and bummed about it. I know you get pretty wet on rides like this, and the family loves them, but even with a poncho I am afriad it will be too much even for a mild central florida winter.

 

[kabbie]

I rode Grizzly River Rapids at DLR and was completely drenched and miserable so I was thinking a poncho was the way to go. I watched the ride for awhile and never saw anyone with a poncho except one smart family. Maybe ponchos are more common at AK. DLR did offer complimentary lockers there for 1 hour for bags/cameras. Does AK have the same?

 

[ncbyrne]

All of my family takes along the disposable ponchos. They are pretty long. I kept the hood pulled around my head with my hand so that just my center face was exposed. It kept us pretty dry. We always leave the ponchos draped over the ledge on for others to take (and they are always taken within seconds!)

 

[nowellsl]

After 2 trips on it without a poncho I wouldn't ride it without one anymore. I love the ride but getting drenched from head to foot is not worth it (been there had to leave to go back to the hotel)! We buy the cheap 2/$1.00 at the dollar tree and then just give them away when we get off!

 

[Robo]

DLR did offer complimentary lockers there for 1 hour for bags/cameras. Does AK have the same?

Nope.
All the AK lockers are just inside the main gates, to the left, as you walk in.

 

[bopper]

I, too, hate wet clothes. My strategies:

1) on colder days, I wear the poncho
2) on warmer days, I wear shorts out of quick-drying material (Lands End has them for example)
3) I sit next to DD13 who really really wants to get wet...since she really really wants to get wet, she doesn't, and either do I since I am sitting next to her.

 

[Robo]

...3) I sit next to DD13 who really really wants to get wet...since she really really wants to get wet, she doesn't, and either do I since I am sitting next to her.

Been there.

Done that.

Didn't work.

 

[snowman]

We wore ponchos on our January, 2003 trip, but only because it was colder. DNephew didn't wear one because he enjoys being soaked. That's the boy in him I guess...

Poncho or not, if you are female, please remember not to wear white to AK if you plan on doing Kali. On our very first trip, after walking past dozens of signs saying "this is a wet ride, you will get wet...very wet...no, we aren't kidding, you will be drowned on this ride" we got on our raft with a couple who appeared to be on their honeymoon. Well, she had on a white cotton top....and she got soaked...she looked sooooo peeved when she got off and practically yelled "NO! I don't want to go again" at the CM and her male partner. Pretty funny to us, since we were both in more modest colors (when wet).

 

[luvthemouse71]

I usually go to WDW when it's still hot there, so getting drenched on Kali is part of the allure. Someone in a previous post mentioned a guidebook that told people to wear the ponchos at all costs. LOL, I think I bought that book this week..Lots of info, but I could do without the whining tone that is present in this book, ie. "I got too wet on that ride" or "the florida sun is so hot". My favorite one was "we had to walk too much at the resort" Sheesh! I'm seriously considering writing the authors of this book and asking them if they seal themselves in plastic hazmat suits when they go to WDW. That being said, when it's cooler at WDW, I can see where being wet could be bad-I've seen many ponchos on that ride and many people take their shoes off too.(I wear Crocs, so again, not an issue)

 

[blessedby3]

Would you rather look like a DRY DORK or a DROWNED RAT? That should answer your question. You can get VERY WET on Kali. We always buy the dollar tree ponchos and throw them in our backpack. We use them once and trash them. I buy lots of packs. Even with the ponchos you will still probablyl come out wet somewhere.

 

[NotUrsula]

I can warn you that if you are overweight, a poncho probably won't keep your tush dry.

Gravity being what it is, when the "heavy" side of the raft hits the bottom of a drop, it isn't unusual for water to pool *inside* right up to the gunwales for a minute or so, before it drains through the bilge ports. Even with a poncho, I usually end up with a wet rear.

For those of us who are less svelte, bringing a change of shorts and undies is usually a wise idea. I've taken to wearing a pr. of men's plain swim trunks on AK days so I'll dry out quickly.

 

[donald&daisy]

I agree with everyone else...you'll need a poncho anyways since it rains alot and it does help a bunch to keep dry. I hate walking around in soggy clothes.

 

[loriandmatt]

agreeing with Robo on the flip-flop thing. i drag them along and we all put them on before Kali - we leave our "real" shoes and socks in the bottom of the stroller and put them back on when we are done with Kali and any fountains in the area. Wet tennies and socks + walking the park the rest of the day = blisters in our family.

 

[LYNSUE]

I never do Kali without one! People can scoff all they want. But I know I will be a lot more comfortable in dry shorts the rest of the day. Everytime I get off the ride, I remove the rain slick and offer it to anyone waiting in line to ride. I actually hold it out in my hand walking past the waiting line saying "Anyone, Anyone". Someone takes it every time. Last October when we were there an older gentleman indicated he wanted the slightly used rain slick. He barely waited for me to get it over my head before he grabbed it. Another time there was a dad waiting with young teen boys. The dad was quite dressed up so I assume he may have been a convention goer just meeting up with his kids for a while. He was very happy to accept the rain slick. Try it, its kinda fun to see people's reaction.