Soaked on POTC!

[ms tom morrow]

Again, I've ridden it multiple times this year and did not get wet.

I've ridden it at least ten times with the new boats, and at least 3 of those times (off the top of my head) were in the first row. We never got soaked, or saw anyone in our boat get soaked. The cannon definitely "sprayed" us a few times, but only enough that we were already dry by the time we got off the ride.

No idea what makes for the "unlucky" boats, but it's definitely still possible to ride without getting wet.

 

[disneyseniors]

I believe it was over the summer. I've read a few posts with the same experience.

We were there the week before Thanksgiving when the area was experiencing record cold temps. We rode POTC and got seated in the front and didn't even get a drop wet. Knowing when it's cold they turn down the water features on Splash, I had suspected they lowered the water level or something like that to minimalize that wave that now comes up in the front row. Hearing OPs story, I'm surprised if they don't do something like that with all the complaints they must be getting. That's certainly a ride you don't expect to get that wet on.

Yes, we were there at that time too, and it was freezing out!!! Took me 3 days to warm up and I'm from No. Minnesota!!! We rode POC, 2nd row, and did not get wet, nor did the people in first row. Don't know why we didn't, but just glad we didn't. Maybe they did do something to the water levels???

 

[Radiorox]

It's hit or miss for me on the getting "wet" on POTC. In May my coworker's right side of her body was soaked after the drop. I was bone dry and we were in the front.

I've written, back, front, left, right, new boat, old boat and I've never been soaked. Most of the time, for me, it's the water left on the seats that soaks me more than the splash.

Now, weirdest thing for me on Pirates was the air cannon from the cannon fire literally hitting me directly. That scared the *bleep* out of me!

 

[hops&dreams]

I wonder how much the boat change has cost WDW between new boats and "no strings" vouchers. When we rode in October, I mentioned to DBF that some people were getting "Splash Mountain wet" on this ride and asked if he wanted a poncho. I carry them in my purse. It was 82 degrees so we took our chances. We rode twice, once in front. We did not get wet but had the row to ourselves. I got splashed in the face by the cannonball scene though. Yuck.

hehe ^ reminds me of the Simpson's episode where they go to Duff Gardens and Lisa drinks the water from the IASW-like ride and starts hallucinating. I think of that scene every time I load onto IASW or POTC. Then I get scared that I’m going to touch the water.

Haven’t been since they changed the boats, but sure am glad I read this before our late Jan/early Feb trip!

We did ride in 2012, before the boat change, and I remember getting wet from a cannon blast. Wetter than a “mist”, but not enough to warrant a change of clothes. Very cold and uncomfortable though. DH thought it was pretty funny. (because it happened to me, not him)

 

[Eastern]

I agree that the soaking is inconsistent, but I think you have a much better chance of avoiding getting wet if you do not sit in the front row.

 

[Jennasis]

Does the weight of the front row passengers seem to make a difference?

 

[ArwenMarie]

Does the weight of the front row passengers seem to make a difference?

Maybe it's the overall weight distribution...maybe if there is an equal distribution across the whole boat you are less likely to get drenched in the first row versus heavier in the front and lighter in the back (like a bunch of little kids or something).

 

[abinormal]

hehe ^ reminds me of the simpson's episode where they go to duff gardens and lisa drinks the water from the iasw-like ride and starts hallucinating. I think of that scene every time i load onto iasw or potc. Then i get scared that i’m going to touch the water.

i am the lizard queen!

 

[Aurora0427]

Rode POTC on Tuesday night. Front row. No one got wet. At all.

 

[Luckybee]

Until reading this thread I had thought it had to be a weight distribution problem. When we rode in Sept having read the threads I was expecting to get wet. We were dry except for our feet with water sloshing in the bottom. The people in the next boat getting off were soaked. So I have no idea why some are, and others are not ??

 

[AngiTN]

After reading the post from the ride attendant I'm wondering if some boats have better drainage holes than others. That or could time of day, ie, how many rides each boat has run that day, has a bearing on how low the boat rides in the water. When we rode front row and did not get wet it was before noon

 

[alvernon90]

Maybe it's the overall weight distribution...maybe if there is an equal distribution across the whole boat you are less likely to get drenched in the first row versus heavier in the front and lighter in the back (like a bunch of little kids or something).

I have not ridden in the new boats, but the principle on all flume rides with floating ride vehicles is the same -- the lower the front of the vehicle is in the water, the more likely that water will wash over the front or side of the vehicle and drench the passengers.

That could come from imbalanced loading, with more weight in the front than the back. But it could also happen if the overall load in the vehicle makes the entire thing sit lower in the water, even if the weight is balance (or even if it is lighter in the front). Having kids in the front row won't guarantee a dry boat if every other row is filled with significantly heavy adults.

If it is important not to get wet, I think the best bet is to look at your potential fellow passengers. Asking to sit in the back of the boat is fine, but if you are getting on with a large number of large people, best to ask if you can wait for the next boat.

 

[hops&dreams]

i am the lizard queen!

And I can do anything!!

Yes! Hahaha. That totally made me laugh out loud!!

 

[bethjones]

I think its cheaper for Disney to buy sweatpants for the few people who demand it than to buy all new boats.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I have not ridden in the new boats, but the principle on all flume rides with floating ride vehicles is the same -- the lower the front of the vehicle is in the water, the more likely that water will wash over the front or side of the vehicle and drench the passengers.

That could come from imbalanced loading, with more weight in the front than the back. But it could also happen if the overall load in the vehicle makes the entire thing sit lower in the water, even if the weight is balance (or even if it is lighter in the front). Having kids in the front row won't guarantee a dry boat if every other row is filled with significantly heavy adults.

If it is important not to get wet, I think the best bet is to look at your potential fellow passengers. Asking to sit in the back of the boat is fine, but if you are getting on with a large number of large people, best to ask if you can wait for the next boat.

We rode in August in the middle and didn't get wet. Not sure what happened to the people in the front. The boat wasn't packed full though, that's a good point.

 

[agavegirl1]

Going with my own experiences, as a couple travelling without children, we were always given our own row an huddled to the middle of the bench. We did not get "splashed at the drop. After seeing these posts popping up on the DIS, I half expected to be wet. There was water in the bottom of the boat but it was minimal. I was only splashed by a "cannon ball". It seems very hit or miss and relates to weight distribution, whether their are any delays in the ride (or the boat in front of you has an incident involving water tends to create weird waves). We did not get wet but were frequently "crashing" into other boats.

I like the idea of strategic weighting of the boat with a treasure chest if they continue to exclude the back row.

 

[samsteele]

I rode in early November and once was badly soaked in the front row. Riding in the early morning when the boats were less than half full was fine. Little to no splash and water. However, one mid afternoon I used a FP and was placed in the front row on the right. A couple were also placed in the front row with me. So three relatively average sz adults in the front row. The boat was packed full save for the empty back seat. We hit the bottom of the drop and a wave of water rose up and over us. I was soaked from the waist down and also got a nice face full of water. The couple on the left were soaked from head to toe. The people in the row behind . . . second row . . . were also wet. I noticed a couple things about that afternoon ride: the boat was packed full, three adults were placed in the front row, the back seat was empty and possibly the water level seemed higher. The higher water observation may also just be an illusion because the boat was full and riding lower. Before I got in the boat, I also saw water on the floor and the seats were wet but in the rush to load, didn't really think much of it. From now on, I will decline the front row unless I am riding shortly after rope drop when the boat isn't full. You expect a soaker on Splash Mountain. You never expect to be that wet and miserable on POC.