Strategies for GRR and SM

[Jaina]

when highs are in the 60's? (Like next week...) They are must-do's for my kids (and, okay, me...) but we don't want to be soaking. I am planning flip flops to wear on the ride and ponchos. Is that lame? Any other tips?

 

[DLRExpert]

Splash Mountain Tips
- If you ride by 1030am you will not need a Fastpass
- The front is where you will get wettest
- The middle you will get wettest from the sides
- Very back you will get wet, but not so much.
- Once the sun goes down the wait-time will drop, but it will be cold.

Grizzly River Tips
- Ride before 1030am and you will not need a Fastpass
- Fastpass seems to last all day
- Use the free lockers behind the DVC sales area and near the bear statue
- Getting wet seems to be more random, but expect to be soaked if you sit near the stairs
- Watch out for the drains at the bottom of the raft. Water tends to shoot up from there and can get your feet wet.
- Use the small step under your seat to prop your feet from getting soaked.
- Ride this at night as the attraction, in my opinion, is better. It can get pretty dark at the top since there are minimal lights.

ME

 

[cruisehopeful]

I was completely soaked on Grizzly Rapids a couple weeks ago. Our raft slowed down to a snail's pace at the 2 geysers near the end of the ride and the geysers didn't turn off like they normally do. The rafts before and after ours did not do that. As a result, it was like being in a very high powered shower. We didn't have ponchos and I think those would have helped a bit, but based on how soaked we were (wringing out our hair and our shirts), I think we would have been totally soaked anyway. I suggest wearing clothing that will dry quickly and even bringing extra clothes. There are free lockers before the ride and you'll want to store your stuff in there. My purse was soaked and my daughters backpack was drenched. She had to carry her cell phone in her hand the rest of the day because the backpack and her pockets were so wet. That was an unusual experience, but just letting you know that it can happen.

 

[Canuck16]

The trend is to be in the mid 50's has the high right before we get there in 2.5 weeks.....that will be too cold for us to ride GRR but we will definitely be going on Splash at least once.

 

[fsjking]

Granted it was Uni Florida and not DL, but we wanted to ride the 3 big water rides but didn't want to be soaked or cold all day. So we just saved them for the end and rode them back to back. The same should work here. Or if you are staying at a nearby hotel, just plan to ride them then head back to the room for a break and change clothes.

 

[Rabb it]

If you don't want to get wet on Splash sit in the back. I mean, you'll still get wet but not as wet.. On Grizzly the only advice for not getting wet would be to cover the circular grate on the ground right below your seat, water will shoot up from there when you go down each drop, once you get down the drop, uncover the grate so water can GET OUT lol..

 

[rentayenta]

We are bringing our ponchos. I love both those rides but also hate to be cold. I will change into flip flops before we ride.

 

[Congo Queen]

My two cents of advice is to ride right before your midday break (if you are a family that takes such a break.) That way if you are soaked it is no big deal because you are next on your way back to your hotel room. This will require getting a FP for a time frame that works for this strategy, but it can easily be done. We do this every visit.

 

[Jkpark]

My other GRR advice is to keep your back against your seat. When you lean forward your whole back (and backside) can get soaked but I seem to stay drier if I sit against the chair the whole time. I also cover the holes with my feet and change into flip flops for the ride itself.

 

[Winnowill]

I have had success on GRR spinning the raft on the big drop so that neither of the openings is pointed straight down, which reduces the amount of water that gets in. We don't stay perfectly dry, but neither do we get drenched.

 

[lk2500]

My two cents of advice is to ride right before your midday break (if you are a family that takes such a break.) That way if you are soaked it is no big deal because you are next on your way back to your hotel room. This will require getting a FP for a time frame that works for this strategy, but it can easily be done. We do this every visit.

This. Our trip last July we timed SM and GRR so it was either right before lunch or dinner break so our next move was back to the hotel immediately afterwards. It could still be a chilly walk depending on where you are staying though....

 

[Kirbie]

I agree with everyone suggesting the free lockers nearby. Especially for electronics! I'm not sure a poncho would be much help on GRR - water just seems to come from everywhere on that ride. Like others have mentioned, for SM - sitting in the back will mean less water, so a poncho could be useful on this ride. I usually switch to flip flops before GRR as well, so I don't have soggy shoes the rest of the day. I usually get a locker for the day and then stop by when I'm ready to go on GRR.

Have fun!

 

[queso2992]

I love riding GRR in the evening, especially as it starts to get cool. Like everyone said, flip flops, ponchos/jackets, but I'd suggest taking off sweatshirts or warm jackets and putting those in the lockers. Then when you get off, you can throw a warm sweatshirt over your wet clothes. It's not a perfect solution, but I found it keeps you warmer than any other option.

 

[coaches24]

Yea I bring sandals so my shoes dont get soaked though I have had good luck keeping my feet up during the ride and not getting too wet (socks were dry) when I didnt have sandals. And I will definitely have a poncho on when we go in Dec. Love the ride but its going to be too cold to be walking around wet.

 

[GatorChris]

If you go on GRR, you're going to get wet. We will plan to ride that right before we go back to the hotel. If we don't have a planned return to the hotel, we won't ride. It's a fun ride for sure, but like alcohol, it's not close to being worth it afterwards.

As for Splash, you don't get soaked....unless you put the biggest in the party up front. The more weight up front, the bigger the splash. We usually have our little kids up front, so the splash is minimized. PLUS, they love the wet factor a lot more than we do.

 

[PHXscuba]

I have been there when they don't even open GRR because it is so cold out (California cold ) The wettest I ever got on Splash Mountain was during a December trip!

PHXscuba

 

[fsjking]

Do they have the whole body driers outside the rides like some parks have?

 

[lilmissfoodie]

Try to avoid being next to the "door", that's where a lot of the water comes in. Make sure you're on the side of the vehicle with the least amount of weight. Keep your feet up on the center thingee above the floor. At least you won't have to worry about a line.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Do they have the whole body driers outside the rides like some parks have?

No.

 

[Jaina]

Try to avoid being next to the "door", that's where a lot of the water comes in. Make sure you're on the side of the vehicle with the least amount of weight. Keep your feet up on the center thingee above the floor. At least you won't have to worry about a line.

Um, yeah, no line! Yesterday morning was freezing, but thankfully it warmed up a little and by about 2 the kids convinced me to try it. We all wore ponchos, and got wet (me, especially) but not soaked. We rolled our jeans up to mostly under our ponchos and changed to flip flops. The only fail was forgetting one daughter's flip flops and her shoes ended up pretty wet. Her brother is a trooper though, and let her wear his tennis shoes while he stayed in his flops the rest of the day.