when to do Kali River Rapids??

[nkereina]

Trying to fit Kali River Rapids into my touring plans. In anticipation of getting drenched, do you bring a change of clothes with you on this day? Particularly if you're going somewhere right after? I have a full day at AK planned and plan going to MNSSHP right after, with little time to go back to the resort in between due to a dinner ADR (which we may cancel). We also have a morning planned at AK and then plan on spending the afternoon at HS before our Fantasmic dinner package at 4pm so not a lot of time to go back to the resort there either. I'd hate to be wet and look a hot mess with wet hair the rest of the night for either! But I'd also like to avoid bringing a giant bag and renting a locker.

If you bring a bag, is there a place to leave it at the entrance/exit of the ride until you get off so it doesn't get wet?

Thanks!!!

 

[Robo]

Trying to fit Kali River Rapids into my touring plans. In anticipation of getting drenched,

1- do you bring a change of clothes with you on this day? Particularly if you're going somewhere right after?

I have a full day at AK planned and plan going to MNSSHP right after, with little time to go back to the resort in between due to a dinner ADR (which we may cancel). We also have a morning planned at AK and then plan on spending the afternoon at HS before our Fantasmic dinner package at 4pm so not a lot of time to go back to the resort there either.

2- I'd hate to be wet and look a hot mess with wet hair the rest of the night for either! But I'd also like to avoid bringing a giant bag and renting a locker.

3- If you bring a bag, is there a place to leave it at the entrance/exit of the ride until you get off so it doesn't get wet?

Thanks!!!

1- Some do.

2- Assume that at least one of you will be completely drenched (Swimming pool-in-your-clothes wet.)

3- Nope. I recommend putting a dry set of underwear, socks, etc. in a backpack and put that in a locker
at the entrance of the park when you arrive.

BTW, wearing sandals or flip-flops DURING the ride will save your shoes (sneakers, etc.) from becoming
soggy sponges for the rest of the day.

 

[GoMegGo]

I always ride Kali right before heading back to the resort so I don't have to bring a change of clothes/be wet for the rest of the day.

There is a restroom/locker room right next the ride where you can store a a small bag. I've never used them but if my memory serves we right, they aren't nearly as large at the lockers for rent at the front of the park.

You might be able to stay relatively dry if you pack a heavy-duty poncho to wear. Change in to some cheap flip flops and you might just make it out in one, semi-dry piece!

 

[dpmfloyd]

tough call, honestly there are some that get soaked and others that leave with only wet shoes. there isnt a place to leave your stuff outside of the vehicle, however on the vehicle is a compartment with a very flimsy cover to put some items, but depending on who you ride with it could be easily filled and you're stuck holding on to it.

unfortunately, for you, i'd suggest renting a locker and bringing a change of clothes. with everything you're jamming into your day anything else might not work out too well. hopefully someone has a better suggestion than mine, sorry! good luck!

 

[KayLuvsMickey]

So many awesome picture ops at MNSSHP! I would take the time to go back and freshen up. My kids and husband love to get wet, but even they complained about how they smelled three hours later. We always wear flip flops, and breathable clothing on AK day. The family rides as much as they want...then we go back to the resort and shower! Have fun!

 

[KayLuvsMickey]

Let me add that my boys ALWAYS get drenched. So, no way would they make the late night at Magic Kingdom all smelly and sticky!

 

[growinupdisney]

On AK my dd14 will wear swim trunks witha t-shirt and flip flops, DD16 will wera bathing suit with soffees and a tank top and flip flops they also use a poncho they still get a little wet and their clothes dry quick!

This year we will all ride because my dd3 will get to so I will probably wear some quick drying shorts or sun dress with bathsuit underneath and flip flops, DH will do the same as DS and my dd3 the same as me or dd16.

We will all probably wear ponchos too unless its really hot...but I will bring underwear for everyone! We are flip flop people so being in the all day won't really matter to us!

As far as time...when the wait is shortest! We will dry so not too big of a deal especially with the ponchos!

 

[CurtisCandy]

My son and I ALWAYS do Kali regardless of the situation because it's one of our favorite rides. The girls, however, tend to take into account such things as temperature and what our immediate plans are after the ride.

You definitely run a pretty good chance of getting drenched, so the best bet is to assume that you will, and make your plans with that in mind.

 

[SV24]

I would definitely prepare to go on that ride as early as possible. We made the mistake of going on it shortly before we went back to our hotel. I was soaking wet on the bus. You should probably go on it at least a few hours before going home. Preferrably in the morning because the sun will dry you off faster. That will probably work out better for you anyway as you are more likely to get a fast-pass in the morning anyway.

That being said, make sure you go on it! It was great! There's no bad time to go on this ride if you enjoy this sort of thing.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

We have 2 main strategies for Kali.

One is to ride it the last hour of AK get drenched (once we got to ride it 8 times in a row without getting off - slow season) then get into the car, sit on towels and head for the resort (AS Music is for the record 2 minutes from AK).


The other is to bring bathingsuits and a spare shirt. We change into our suits before the ride and just wear bathingsuit and t-shirt (with flip flops). then change post ride. Hair is wet but not a biggie IMO. If you do this remember to bring plastic bags to put the wet stuff into.

 

[skifast22]

I usually make sure I wear sandals to the park when I plan on riding Kali, and also wear a poncho on the ride. The poncho works well for me. My head and my butt still get wet, but my body and the front of my shorts stay pretty dry. The sandals take away the issue of soggy socks, sneakers, and resulting blisters. Just gotta make sure all the snaps on the poncho are done, and tuck yourself into your poncho as best you can. One open edge and it's all over

 

[nkereina]

Thanks for all the great suggestions! Based on your replies, I'm considering heading to AK on our "off day" just for this ride after our breakfast ADR at Chef Mickey's. After breakfast, we were planning on just lounging at the pool anyway. We'd probably get to AK between 11-11:30, what do you think the chances are of there being a huge wait or much later FP return time? We'll be there last week of September. A friend of mine who went this time last year said there was about 5 minute wait during the day when they went on it. What's your experience?

 

[elainesj]

This is what I did.

1. I made sure we were all dressed in things that would dry easily. (e.g. shopped for a cute nylon skirt for DD, basketball shorts for DS, etc)

2. brought ponchos - this was the #1 reason we stayed relatively dry

3. brought sandals/flip flops. We wore sneakers to the park that day and I just tucked lightweight flip flops (the cheap ones are the smallest and easiest to pack) into our backpack. Got everyone to change out of their socks and sneakers before getting on the ride. We changed back at some point later on in the day when the flip flops started hurting LOL.

4. brought an extra extra extra large ziplock bag - we stuffed all our park bags into this. was GREAT for keeping our stuff dry as the thing in the middle isn't all that big and there's always a pool of water at the bottom.

we got slightly damp after the ride and it wasn't an issue at all. BTW, if you go first thing at 10am, no lines to deal with

 

[2Tiggies]

I would definitely prepare to go on that ride as early as possible. We made the mistake of going on it shortly before we went back to our hotel. I was soaking wet on the bus. You should probably go on it at least a few hours before going home. Preferrably in the morning because the sun will dry you off faster. That will probably work out better for you anyway as you are more likely to get a fast-pass in the morning anyway.

That being said, make sure you go on it! It was great! There's no bad time to go on this ride if you enjoy this sort of thing.

I agree with this approach. Sitting on the cool air conditioned bus in soaking wet clothes is no fun. We prefer to do it when we are really hot and just let our clothes dry in the sun as we walk around. It only takes half an hour in the warmer months.

 

[SV24]

Thanks for all the great suggestions! Based on your replies, I'm considering heading to AK on our "off day" just for this ride after our breakfast ADR at Chef Mickey's. After breakfast, we were planning on just lounging at the pool anyway. We'd probably get to AK between 11-11:30, what do you think the chances are of there being a huge wait or much later FP return time? We'll be there last week of September. A friend of mine who went this time last year said there was about 5 minute wait during the day when they went on it. What's your experience?

I heard that September is among the least crowded times so you should be fine. We went in June and the fast passes were used up pretty quickly. I remember it being one of the few rides that ran out of FP's before noon. We were only at AK for one day so it will vary. September should be much less crowded than June. If it ends up being busy, just grab your fast pass as soon as you get there. We only went on KRR once and it was during Extra Magic Hours so I can't really say how bad the daytime lines get.

 

[CTmommyx3]

my dd and I went on almost right before we were done for the day.
thank god we did! her and I were the ones swimming pool soaked while everyone else just got a little sprinkle it seemed!