Ripsaw Falls & Bluto's Rat Barges vs. Splash Mtn & Kali River Rapids

[Disney1fan2002]

Universal wins this competition hands down!

We are Disney people. We took a break after our Disney cruise and spent 2 days at UA/IOA. Having never done RipsSaw Falls, we tried it, and being that it is comparable to Disney's Splash Mountain, it was by far a better ride!!! I love how it shoots you across after landing at the bottom!

Bluto's Rat Barges was AWESOME! I never got so wet on a ride. The fact that you get 50 tons of water dumped on you 2 seconds into the ride sets the tone. Kali is a nice ride, but Bluto ROCKS!

 

[damo]

I agree. I think Popeye's is the best rapids ride anywhere.

 

[RAPstar]

I love Splash and Dudley equally, but Dudley gets the slight upper hand cause I love the cheesy humor/jokes. I haven't ridden Kali so I can't compare it, but I do love me some Popeye.

 

[wheezywhizzy]

Dudley is super fun. When I first road it I was wowed!! Though, I really love Splash Mountain too. They both have awesome storylines.

I've not ridden the other two. After all the times I've been to Universal I haven't been able ride Bluto's. Every time we would go to ride it would start to storm. I'm making it a priority when I go back. Keeping fingers crossed to beat the rain. LOL.

 

[keishashadow]

i applaud the theming of kali, just nothing elsepopeye rules

splash mt is quiet tame compared to dudley (even with the new lapbars)

wanna geek? knew Dudley was more extreme, googled:

SMt: 52 ft drop, 45% angle, max speed 40 mph

vs

Dudley: 75 ft drop, 45% angle segueing into a 50% by the end, max speed 45 mph

i'd swear dudley is double the above-posted speed

 

[bumbershoot]

The fact that you get 50 tons of water dumped on you 2 seconds into the ride sets the tone.

It does, doesn't it?


********

I personally probably like Grizzly River Run at DCA better than the Barges...it's a good combo of length of ride, pretty scenery, and the *chance* of getting soaked (vs the absolute knowledge that you will, even if you're wearing a poncho), and I like that combo.



And Dudley was great! My son wanted to go a million times in a row, and nearly did!

 

[Harry Potter]

Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges easily wins the contest of the rapids. As Damo says, it is the best rapids ride anywhere. Better than Kali River Rapids, Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure (Universal Singapore), Congo River Rapids at Busch, Grizzly River Run at DCA...all of them pale into comparison to Bluto's Barges.

Now, the flume rides well that is not as clear cut. I love Ripsaw Falls, but let's be honest, Splash Mountain is IMMENSE, and it lasts for 9 minutes at the WDW version. You don't get that wet but I don't think that was ever intended by the Imagineers.

Personally, I like to judge water rides by the boat size, so in that case Splash Mountain (WDW) would be similar to JPRA at IOA, and perhaps other shoot-the-chutes rides, including Journey to Atlantis at SWO, Escape from Pompeii at Busch Williamsburg, Takanyika Tidal Wave at Busch Tampa, and Pilgrim's Plunge at Holiday World.

Ripsaw Falls is more similar to a traditional 'log flume' ride, with 4/5 seats in single file log-shaped boats. In this regard, the theming to Ripsaw Falls is better than any other kind like it, PLUS it has a left and right drop and a double unloading station, which is unique as far as I know.

 

[Clifton]

Splash Mountain has better theming and length of ride while Dudley has a better drop.

 

[Lou Holtz]

Come on now, Ripsaw Falls is not in the same league as Splash Mountain as a ride. Yes, thrill wise it is somewhat better, but that's it.

 

[rpbert1]

I like Ripsaw , but Popeye is by far the coolest and the wettest ride i have been on. And like pp said , even if you wear a poncho you are still going to get soaked.

 

[Friendly Frog]

Ripsaw and Splash are like apples and oranges. I like both (Splash better) but they don't seem in the same catagory to me.

 

[JAL2525]

we actually set an afternoon aside to go on and we dress down...We go on each of the rides a few times and head back to the hotel. We had to the past couple of years because it's been a bit chilly.

 

[Rip]

Come on now, Ripsaw Falls is not in the same league as Splash Mountain as a ride. Yes, thrill wise it is somewhat better, but that's it.

This.

Personally, and as a PP noted, I think Splash Mountain should more appropriately be compared with Jurassic Park, in which case I'd call it a tie with respect to the technical and visual aspects of each. Overall, though, I prefer Splash Mountain. I have to admit my bias, Brer Rabbit has always been my favorite character even as a child, I still have several hardbacks of both the Disney as well as the original stories not in the movie.