Strategy to keep dry on Kali River Rapids?

[Micca]

Don’t ride?

This is my strategy. Too much effort to bring along extra clothes, change clothes, etc.

 

[FastPasser.]

Any tried and true strategy for keeping clothes and shoes dry on Kali River Rapids(AK)?

Good question.

Don’t ride?

And good answer.

 

[FootracerJ]

I think you are rolling the dice unless you show up in a full dry-suit. I've left that ride completely drenched before, like someone had pushed me in the pool. I've also gotten through it bone dry before. Good luck.

 

[stinkpickle]

I don't ride it. I was ALWAYS the one getting soaked...which was NO FUN in February.

 

[skyblue17]

If you don't want to get wet, why go on a water ride? The fun of the ride is the uncertainty of if you're going to get wet and enjoying the waves and splashes without worrying about getting wet. The day we went, it was 80 degrees and the people in front of us put on all weather jackets before getting on the ride. I was hoping they'd get soaked.

 

[KrazeeK120]

Honestly, the best strategy is to not ride. And it’s not really that great of a ride anyway. It’s totally not worth riding if you don’t want to get wet.

 

[DisneyMom93]

I think it's a fun ride even if you don't want to get wet. It's fun watching other people's reactions when they get soaked.

I bring a disposable poncho with me. I wear Keens or Roka Crocs so that I don't worry about my feet getting wet, although I do prop them up on the bar by the feet. The poncho is about 3x3" in a little plastic baggie that I keep in my waistpack. I toss is when I'm done with Kali for the day.

My family loves getting wet on rides and I like being on the rides with them. The only way to not get wet is a poncho.

 

[smmcgarry]

Does anyone know why they removed the container in the middle? I'm sure it was probably for liability reasons.

Also, my wife and I went on it about 2 weeks ago and it was chilly out. We didn't get as wet as we have in the past. I think they may have turned some parts off. Also, my wife and I remember there being 2 big drops, but there was only 1. I assume we just didn't remember correctly.

 

[Babs1975]

Wear ponchos for sure and tuck it under you. They removed the container in the middle awhile ago. It was not there a year ago when we were there. You now have to use the lockers that are outside the ride.

 

[tinkerjo]

Don't sit by my husband!!! He always comes off soaked. We also try and make it the last ride of the day or if it is a winter trip chicken out and wear a poncho. Definitely keep the feet up on the bar or you will have wet shoes

 

[Peppermint Ice]

I think getting wet on Kali works like getting wet on Splash, Frozen, and Pirates with the new boats. You're either lucky or you're not. Sometimes you walk away relatively unscathed and other times you think to yourself why or how did that just happen?!

Frozen and Pirates, too?? Strategies have to be better than luck, surely.

 

[dixielanfan73]

I used to do the poncho thing.. Now I prefer to wait for my family on the bridge with an adult beverage and push the button that sprays the somewhat unsuspecting riders below

 

[deedubb]

Use the force (and wear a poncho).

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

If you don't want to get wet, why go on a water ride? The fun of the ride is the uncertainty of if you're going to get wet and enjoying the waves and splashes without worrying about getting wet.

To me the fun is getting to be in a boat ride on either a drop or going down “rapids” - not getting wet. Splash is in my sweet spot for getting a little wet to cool off but not so drenched that I’m going to be uncomfortable for the next hour or have to go change. So we follow the “don’t ride” advice on Kali. Never been on. I wish I could though. We did make a clear plan at Uni to go on all the water rides and then just squish out of the park (the logistics there are easier than AK). I definitely enjoyed the Bilge Rat Barge ride itself but really didn’t enjoy have buckets of water dumped on my head during it. I wish they didn’t design them to soak you but obviously other people enjoy it. To each their own.

 

[IsThatYouTigger]

Frozen and Pirates, too?? Strategies have to be better than luck, surely.

We've been on them so many times that we have found there to be no rhyme or reason as to why we get wet on Pirates or Frozen. Wear ponchos to keep from getting wet if you don't want to be. On Splash sit in the middle two rows and make whoever you're riding with sit on the right side of the log. On Frozen try to sit in the middle. They have big boulders down at the bottom of the drop that the water splashes off of and hits the boat and sometimes the riders in them. Pirates we've made it through the drop unscathed only to have an ill-timed cannon blast get us. It seems like luck or lack thereof a decent amount of the time. On Kali you just have to hope the raft turns in your favor.

 

[AntJulie]

Use a locker for belongings. Change into waterproof footwear (flipflops, etc.). Pray we don't get soaked. Have only been on when hot outside. For cool or cold temperatures I would either not go on or wear a poncho.

 

[DisneyOma]

Sit across from the heaviest people on the raft. They usually head down the big drop first, and they get soaked. Of course, if you're the heaviest, then you can't do much about it.

 

[KrazeeK120]

Splash is in my sweet spot for getting a little wet to cool off but not so drenched that I’m going to be uncomfortable for the next hour or have to go change.

It’s possible to get totally drenched on Splash. It’s definitely happened to me.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

It’s possible to get totally drenched on Splash. It’s definitely happened to me.

Yes, I’ve read that. It hasn’t happened to me yet. I suspect because DH is thin and we’re bringing 3 kids under 10 on with us so we lower the average weight of a log. That might change as the kids get older.

 

[KrazeeK120]

Yes, I’ve read that. It hasn’t happened to me yet. I suspect because DH is thin and we’re bringing 3 kids under 10 on with us so we lower the average weight of a log. That might change as the kids get older.

I’m 5’3, 112 lbs and DH is 5’5, 140 lbs. So I’m not sure that lowering the weight of the log has much to do with it, unfortunately!