Rafts to Tom Sawyer island-can they capsize???

[GalDisney]

A few yrs ago at Tom sawyer island at Disenyland there was somekind of an incident with one of the rafts that somehow "sunk" a bit with guests on them.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Are the rafts to Tom Sawyer Island on a rail or are they free moving??
. . . free moving

Can these capsize?
. . . physically possible
. . . highly improbable
. . . they are pontoon boats
. . . the center of gravity is way outside of either pontoon

Have there been any raft accidents??
. . . sometimes they bump the dock hard
. . . sometimes they miss the dock and have to make another approach

 

[LuvsTinker]

LMAO!!! I agree they are little deathtraps! Took DD on it last time & I swear--the whole time I'm thinking "I'm going to die on this stupid ride, wth?" I love roller coaster, but that ride FREAKS me out! Plus I agree--I think I had to help DH out! Still laughin!!!

Too funny. That ride scares me to death!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll go any of the roller coasters but I feel like I'm going to fall out that stupid rocket.

 

[DisDarling]

Why would you worry about such a thing? Sorry, but Im sure Disney knows what they are doing.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Why would you worry about such a thing? Sorry, but Im sure Disney knows what they are doing.

I am sure that is what monorail riders thought.

 

[ilovethisplace]

Did a Keel Boat capsize once which led to the ride closing?
Or is that myth?

At about 5:30 p.m. on May 17, 1997, the Disneyland Gullywhumper boat began to rock side to side. It capsized, dumping a full boatload of passengers into the Rivers of America. The boat was removed from the waters for inspection and neither the Gullywhumper nor the Bertha Mae returned for the next operating season. The Bertha Mae was put up on Disney's eBay Auction Site and pocketed $15,000 for it. It was billed as an unseaworthy craft. The Gullywhumper returned to Disneyland's Rivers of America as a prop and was moored on Tom Sawyer Island where passengers on the Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes, the Sailing Ship Columbia, and the Mark Twain Riverboat could see it while passing. Eventually, hull damage caused the boat to flood and sink, and it was finally removed from public view in April 2009.

A former Mike Fink Keel Boat from the Magic Kingdom's version of the attraction today sits as a non-functional prop on the banks of Tom Sawyer Island.

 

[Robo]

At about 5:30 p.m. on May 17, 1997, the Disneyland Gullywhumper boat began to rock side to side. It capsized, dumping a full boatload of passengers into the Rivers of America. The boat was removed from the waters for inspection and neither the Gullywhumper nor the Bertha Mae returned for the next operating season. The Bertha Mae was put up on Disney's eBay Auction Site and pocketed $15,000 for it. It was billed as an unseaworthy craft. The Gullywhumper returned to Disneyland's Rivers of America as a prop and was moored on Tom Sawyer Island where passengers on the Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes, the Sailing Ship Columbia, and the Mark Twain Riverboat could see it while passing. Eventually, hull damage caused the boat to flood and sink, and it was finally removed from public view in April 2009.

A former Mike Fink Keel Boat from the Magic Kingdom's version of the attraction today sits as a non-functional prop on the banks of Tom Sawyer Island.

Is this a quote?

 

[charity]

There are rafts that go to Tom Sawyer Island? Where have I been?

Too funny! I have been going to WDW from the time I was 1 (1971 at least 2 times a year) and I have never been on the rafts!!

 

[Jillisa]

LMAO!!! I agree they are little deathtraps! Took DD on it last time & I swear--the whole time I'm thinking "I'm going to die on this stupid ride, wth?" I love roller coaster, but that ride FREAKS me out! Plus I agree--I think I had to help DH out! Still laughin!!!

For some reason I, too, have been terrified of those stupid rockets. I can ride any roller coaster but not those terrible rockets. I grew up a few hours from WDW, so we went all the time and I could never ride those. I finally did, once, and it was horrible but I was very nervous the whole time. I have some strange phobia. When we went last month, my 14 yr old son went on them and I had to explain why I would not and there was nothing that could make me. lol

 

[limace]

This thread kind of cracks me up. I have the vision of a sinking ferry from a third world nation-hundreds of people lost at sea.

I'm pretty sure you're significantly more likely to choke to death on your popcorn at WDW than be endangered by your raft .

But you SHOULD definitely start worrying about plummeting to your death from Soarin'.

 

[doconeill]

Is this a quote?

It seems a reworded version of what is on Mike Fink Keel Boats at Yesterland

 

[d_lairson]

If you actually look at the floor of one of the raft, there are a couple of hatches that lead ?under? the deck. When the raft is really full you can watch them and water will actually come up through the hatch when it is moving.

That said given the way they cram people on the rafts when they are crowded, I think you would be more safe on a crowded raft then a not so crowded raft, given the distribution of weight.

I know people comment on how safe the rafts must be designed, and I would trust one of the rafts over any of the roller coasters, but I always have flashes of one trip we took to Disney on a regional commuter jet and they rearranged where people were sitting to balance out the plane... a multimillion dollar plane...

 

[kirsangel]

I started this thread more out of curiosity than fear. I was just wondering if they were free moving or on a rail or chain. I figured it would be hard to capsize, which is why the raft captain didn't really seem to care. I hope I haven't scared off any island goers, but I am glad we had let some people know that these rafts actually exist! I will definitely taking my kids to Tom Sawyer Island on our next visit in March!

 

[wdwtweets]

Sometimes I think it would make more sense to just swim the short distance. I have to agree with the poster who said that piloting one of those rafts has got to be the worst job in WDW.

 

[Searching4Neverland]

Does anyone know how deep the water is around the island? Just in case someone did fall off?

 

[afcgirl]

Well now I am scared of almost everything there is to be scared of, but I have never worried about these rafts. It is like a 20 foot ride to the other side. Am I missing something???

 

[shafke]

Does anyone know how deep the water is around the island? Just in case someone did fall off?

I think the water is only about 6-8ft.

 

[skywaywaver]

I think the water is only about 6-8ft.

Darn, too short to walk over. Maybe my husband could put the baby on his shoulders.

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

I can't believe this thread is 1 week old and has 3000 views!