Will we ever dry off after Kali River Rapids?

[Nanajo1]

We rode KRR back in 1999! It was a soft opening. We had no idea what it was. CMs were outside the ride urging people to ride. It was by comparison to today a much tamer ride but we got wet and loved it.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

I don't know how they could change it either, because I don't think the splash at the bottom of the drop is enhanced by sprayers. I always presumed it was from the boat hitting the water at an angle. The only thing I can think of is that my wife and I noticed the water level seemed significantly lower (and water flowed slower) than years past. Perhaps they lowered the level which makes for a much smaller splash.

Maybe they did it because people complained about getting wet. Which if so, totally boggles my mind. It's a ride in the water, specifically designed to get you wet. Each to their own, but I don't understand the mentality behind going on a water ride hoping NOT to get wet, or wear a poncho so you don't (I suppose if you don't like water and are with a big group??). But that's just me.

Because there's wet and there's soaked. We ride the flume rides at Six Flags or Splash because we are ok with getting pleasantly wet, but I don't want to be soaked. That isn't fun to me. If a ride gets you so wet that a poncho won't even help you it's not on my agenda. I've never ridden Kali and I wish I could because it looks like fun. I wish it were a "better" ride (as defined by me of course ) but I wouldn't go complain to Disney about it. Obviously enough people love being soaked on a ride to give it long wait times so they don't need to change it for me (but if they wanted to, I'd be ok with that ).

 

[georgina]

Do people bring a complete change of clothes? Seems smart, but the only problem with that is then you have to carry around the wet clothes the rest of the day.

I usually wear my one-piece bathing suit and nylon shorts on the ride, along with flip flops. (I also usually bring a small hand towel.) I bring a complete change of clothes, and after the ride I carry my bathing suit, shorts, towel, and flip flops around for the remainder of the day. I usually do Kali toward the end of my day, but I don't like walking around wet.

 

[bdiddy]

We wore ponchos and took our shoes off (or had flip flops on) and put them in the center storage area and we were fine. Only our faces and bottom of our legs got wet. If you make sure your ponchos are the big ones, they'll be long enough that you are sitting on them so when the water comes down or spills over your rear is still protected from the water.

 

[whitney37354]

I was the person on the ride who got soaked (wearing denim capris, no less) & my drawers were still wet when I went to bed late that night. Next time we'll be wearing swimsuits under fast dry clothes on our AK day!

 

[serenitynow]

Just don't wear cotton underwear!

 

[tsme]

Sorry if these have been mentioned, I didn't read the whole thread. Use a poncho on the ride. If you do get wet there are hand driers in the bathrooms next to the ride. I took off my shorts & dried my pants. My DD was horrified. LOL. But since the water hit right in my lady area, it looked like I had an accident, so I dried them.

 

[redsbe]

Going to AK next Friday with 10 family members, and I've come to accept that this is a "might get drenched" ride. In the Florida heat and humidity, how fast do you dry off? Are we going to be soggy for the next 4 hours, or bone dry after 30 minutes?

While we could all bring a change of clothes (or wear quick dry stuff), it's much easier if walking around will naturally get us dry. I don't want to be that guy telling people what to wear just for one ride...

Thanks!

In June with 95F humid weather our shorts (and under) were still wet hours later, we ended up leaving AK in late afternoon to change back at the resort. So I would plan the Rapids around the weather and definitely later in the day. We did not use a rain jacket or other coverup which I doubt would have helped much in our case as it was like having a bucket of water poured over us! Not all rides end up with that much water but this time we certainly got hit in a major way.

 

[GillianP1301]

Sandals and quick drying clothes are key. You'll dry pretty quickly then. Heavy cotton and running shoes, not so much.

Tip: I keep my feet slightly elevated (against the centre section of the raft and not flat on the floor and that helps a lot with the feet).

 

[heidijanesmith]

I really hate walking in wet clothes! I have tried several different ways to stay dry on the wet rides. I use two cheap ponchos. The 1st I put on upside down like shorts, then gather up the "bottom" which is now around my waist and tie it off. Then I put the 2nd poncho on the right way.

This way I am covered from top to bottom and always stay dry. I usually get a couple funny looks at the beginning, but then at the end of the ride, the looks change to wow you are dry!

 

[Klayfish]

Because there's wet and there's soaked. We ride the flume rides at Six Flags or Splash because we are ok with getting pleasantly wet, but I don't want to be soaked. That isn't fun to me. If a ride gets you so wet that a poncho won't even help you it's not on my agenda. I've never ridden Kali and I wish I could because it looks like fun. I wish it were a "better" ride (as defined by me of course ) but I wouldn't go complain to Disney about it. Obviously enough people love being soaked on a ride to give it long wait times so they don't need to change it for me (but if they wanted to, I'd be ok with that ).

Agreed, which is why I think it's great WDW has both...Splash Mountain where you'll get kinda sorta wet, and Kali where you can get soaked. I guess I just don't understand being unhappy about it. Then simply don't ride it if you don't want to get really wet. To me, it's almost like riding RnR and complaining that it flips upside down or that Test Track goes too fast in the outside part.

 

[ZoZo]

I am not an expert, but I know one thing - denim never dries. Ever. Even in hot weather. It's not pretty.

I once wore denim shorts on a water ride and got soaked. As stated above, it never did dry, and caused absolutely horrible chaffing!

I say wear quick-dry clothes, if you have the, or bring a change of clothes. And wear flip flops!

 

[Jules76126]

I also do not like to walk around the parks wet. I have ridden KRR and the Popeye ride at Universal many times and have been soaked. As others have stated, it usually is impossible to get completely dry - ie socks, underwear, sneakers. However, one time my parents, sister and i were in the park and I did not want to ride KRR as I did not want to be wet. I begrudgingly went on as they were all wanting too. Well my parents and the rest of the raft got completely drenched. My sister and I on the other hand walked away completely dry - not one drop. I could not believe it, so you never know.

 

[oceanmarina]

AK is the one park where we all wear flips/sandals etc. wet socks and sneakers is no fun. We also wear "dry fit" clothes. I usually don't ride. If that is the case, I hold everything until they get off.

This is why KRR is our last ride for the day when we go to AK. Head back to the resort, change clothes, and go to dinner.

Yep to this!! Also, I agree with other posters that Keen (or other type) sandals are the way to go. Never been on Kali because i'm a ride wimp and the drop looks a little much to me, but we go every August and one year we sat in the first row of Pirates of the Caribbean at the MK , my DH's feet got soaked! He was wearing sneakers and was so annoyed to walk around with them, they were still not dry even the following day - despite the blistering heat of Orlando in late August!!

 

[FTJbyAllie]

I always wear a poncho. And carry a plastic grocery bag to stick my feet in. I probably look like a nerd, but I hate being in wet clothes.

 

[TexasPrincess1]

We rode it twice last night before we went to watch the jungle book show. Knowing I was going to get drenched helped prepare me mentally. I think it is good to save it till the end of the day. Plus no lines later.

My shoes were squeaky. It was kinda refreshing. I felt cool watching the show.

 

[Andrea Wright]

Is it awful to just skip this ride? The thought of lugging around extra clothes and wasting time changing or having to walk around wet sounds awful. Skipping it would free up a fast pass and time for other stuff. But is it just too good to miss?

 

[GaryDis]

It doesn't have much to offer besides the chance of being drenched, so skip it if you want. Never let FOMO drive your decisions of what rides to go on.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

I barely got wet except this one huge splash to my back and my undies were soaked he entire day - and it was hot.

 

[TexasPrincess1]

I barely got wet except this one huge splash to my back and my undies were soaked he entire day - and it was hot.

It is definitely a ride that can be skipped if you don't want to get wet. I think it feels too short. The thing is that animal kingdom doesn't have so many rides compared to magic kingdom so this one gets a lot of attention. I find the fun in the suspense of who is going to get wet and by how much more than the motion of the ride.