Splash Mountain vs. Jurassic Park Drop

[maui2k5]

I have a question about the difference between the Jurassic Park ride at Islands of Adventure and how that compares to Splash Mountain. I know the theming is a lot different and I think from what I remember that Splash mountain is a longer ride. I did ride Jurassic Park in Universal Hollywood last summer and it was fun, but my memory is rusty on Splash Mountain since I have not been since 1999. Any comments? Looks like the info I found is the drop on Splash Mountain is 50 ft. vs. 85 ft. for Jurassic Park...

 

[Grand Canyon]

Jurassic Park is more scary and violent

 

[Princess Michelle]

LOL, you may get different opinions on this one. I think the drop on JP isn't as bad as Splash. It's longer but the big boat and the lap bar make it seem "safer" and not as thrilling to me. Splash is a much better drop in my opinion as far as "scary" goes, it feels faster to me and the no restraints thing adds to the excitement. If you really want a thrill go on Ripsaw Falls at Islands of Adventure. Awesome!

 

[Gupsmom]

LOL, you may get different opinions on this one. I think the drop on JP isn't as bad as Splash. It's longer but the big boat and the lap bar make it seem "safer" and not as thrilling to me. Splash is a much better drop in my opinion as far as "scary" goes, it feels faster to me and the no restraints thing adds to the excitement. If you really want a thrill go on Ripsaw Falls at Islands of Adventure. Awesome!

LOL...I guess your right about different opinions. I LOVE both rides, but I definately think the drop on Jurassic Park is more intense than the drop on Splash Mountain.

Jess

 

[maui2k5]

I am looking forward to comparing Splash Mountain and Kali River Rapids to the water rides in Islands of Adventure when we take a day from WDW and head to Universal/IOA. From what I hear, IOA is a cool park that offers thrills that you cannot get today in WDW. How does Kali River Rapids compare to Bilge Rat Barges? I have heard some negative things about Kali River Rapids, but I have not ridden it so I am not sure how the ride actually is in comparison...

 

[Gupsmom]

I am looking forward to comparing Splash Mountain and Kali River Rapids to the water rides in Islands of Adventure when we take a day from WDW and head to Universal/IOA. From what I hear, IOA is a cool park that offers thrills that you cannot get today in WDW. How does Kali River Rapids compare to Bilge Rat Barges? I have heard some negative things about Kali River Rapids, but I have not ridden it so I am not sure how the ride actually is in comparison...

On Kali you MAY get soaked (some people get a little wet and some get drenched). On Rat Barges, everyone WILL get soaked. I've never had more water dumped on me in my life than on Rat Barges. Both rides are great fun.

Jess

 

[java]

Everyone gets Soaked!!! on the rat barges. It made dd never want to ride those type of rides again, she thought she was going to drown. I have to agree that Jurassic is way more intense and a bigger drop than Splash Mountain. DS(10) will NOT do Jurassic again but his sister(7) who thought she would drown on the rat barges loves it. There are usually 4 people in Kali rapids that end up getting the drenching..but it is more of a dumping of water through the side of the boat where you get in..while rat barges water pours over your head!

 

[mortimor]

We always go on Kali and wherever I sit that is the side that goes down the drop first and gets wet. Like previously said, on Bilge Rats everyone will get wet. Imagine standing under a waterfall and that is what it will be like. From what I remember, Bilge Rats seemed like a lot longer ride that Kali, probably due to the constant flow of water. We always wear ponchos on the water rides and have been extremely lucky in keeping our shirts/shorts dry. Only the uncovered parts get wet, legs, head etc. Oh, and bring sandals of some type on Kali bacause they require you to keep your shoes on. Last time I was on Bilge Rats they had a storeage area in the middle portion of the raft to store your shoes in and they did stay dry.

 

[Miranda Danda]

In my opinion, Jurassic Park was WAY worse than Splash Mountain! I think part of it has to do with not being able to see the actual drop in Jurassic Park. Plus, the themeing is much scarier with Jurassic Park!

 

[Tiggerlover91]

In my opinion, Jurassic Park was WAY worse than Splash Mountain! I think part of it has to do with not being able to see the actual drop in Jurassic Park. Plus, the themeing is much scarier with Jurassic Park!

My sentiments EXACTLY!

 

[calena]

I always close my eyes on the way down anyway! The drop is longer at Jurassic park and the theming scarier, but there is only one drop there, where at Splash Mt. there are several smaller drops. Splash Mt is a great ride. It is a shame some people shy away because of the drops, since the whole theming is great.
Both are good rides. Jurassic Park was not as scary as I anticipated though - except for the drop!

 

[swtnikki]

I didn't like the drop in Jurrasic Park at all - maybe 'cause it went on an angle a bit, while in Splash Mountain it just goes straight down. But I do agree that JP is worse than SM, 'cause you don't expect that big drop at the end.

 

[BonnieA]

I think that Jurassic Park is also wetter at the bottom. The water splash is a lot bigger. I don't get that wet on Splash Mtn usually but always seem to get pretty wet on Jurassic.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

I've ridden both over 100 times.

I believe that if you look up the figures, JPRA is actually a steeper/higher drop than Splash. However, since in JPRA you are in a larger boat and you don't see the drop until you are already going down it it doesn't feel as big. In a two-by-three seating arrangement at Splash and the view of the Castle, etc., Splash may actually feel more "scary".

For the OP who wanted to know about JPRA, yes, it's much shorter thank Splash (and shorter than the version in Hollywood as well). It goes like this :

1) Ride through JP gates
2) Outdoor lagoon with brotosaurus, etc.
3) Hammer-headed dino pushes you "off the track"
4) Approach "restricted" area - sometimes the spark effects are down here, raptor cage above the tunnel
4) Upward tunnel bringing you into building, several dinos on the way up behind the chain link fences (sometimes they are down as well - it's almost more creepy when they are just back there, barely visible in the dark, LOL)
5) At the top of the climb the spitting dinos squirt you
6) You turn the corner, T-Rex is there
7) Drop

It's pretty wham-bam-thank-you-t-rex. I do love the ride, but it's nothing compared to the artisry of Splash Mountain.

As to the wet factor, yes, you usually get more wet at the end of JP - the added weight of the vehicle makes the splash bigger. I actually get more wet on Splash during the ride than at the end - at several points (like the drop into the the laughing place) the backwash tends to come over the front of the log and onto my lap.

N.E.D.

 

[Ilovestitch]

Jurassic Park is scary- especially riding it at night in the dark

 

[Uncleromulus]

Irrespective of any height/length stats, we found the drop at Jurassic to be pretty tame--(ho-hum actually) compared to Splash. Maybe it's the not so steep angle--maybe the larger boat. Or maybe we were so bored with the Jurassic ride we weren't doing much except wanting the ride to be over!!

 

[pouncingpluto]

Irrespective of any height/length stats, we found the drop at Jurassic to be pretty tame--(ho-hum actually) compared to Splash. Maybe it's the not so steep angle--maybe the larger boat. Or maybe we were so bored with the Jurassic ride we weren't doing much except wanting the ride to be over!!

Yeah, I agree... in retrospect I hardly even remembered the Jurassic Park drop. I guess I never realized it was supposed to be a major feature of the ride, rather than just a small part. I think the angle is a lot less steep than Splash Mountain's, and I don't think it's scary at all, whereas I'm always at least slightly nervous for the Splash drop.

 

[ReninDetroit]

Jurassic park only has one big drop, at the end. It's not scary because you go so fast but you get REALLY wet.

Splash mountain has 3 small drops before the big one that go much slower and IMO are much worse than the final plunge.

 

[LoudMelissa]

I'm a sucker for the log flume rides. When I was growing up, in Brooklyn, we had one terrible, water slide looking log flume (that's still running) that I always wanted to go on. When I got a chance to go on Splash Mountain and Jurassic Park..oh goodness! I didn't care how steep, how long, how scary, how sing-songy... I wanted to ride fancy log flumes! Now I'd have to say JP is scarier for me, because even though I know that as soon as that t-rex breathes on me, I'm halfway down, I still can't prep myself. Wish Splash Mountain, I can time it to the music and the final ascent.. but that's just me!

 

[SplashMo]

I greatly prefer Splash Mountain to Jurassic Park. Both are fairly tame. Jurassic Park drop was no big deal.