News Kali River Rapids Closing October 6 for Refurbishment at Disney's Animal Kingdom

[Raineman]

Give the popularity of rapid type rides or log flumes at most parks, i would say you probably are in the minority opinion here as to tides that can get you soaking wet.

I will say for this one, especially in the Florida summers/early fall, I have found its warm enough that unless you get absolutely destroyed/soaked (and it can happen) that you are drying off pretty quickly so that you really aren't walking around for hours with wet clothing. I've experienced more wet time walking around due to rain than from the rapid ride.

I have never liked the feeling of wearing wet clothes, even for a short time, so that plays alot into my avoidance of "wet" rides. And I have been very lucky-5 trips to WDW, and only experienced one rainy day, and it didn't rain that much at all. Does the insane humidity in Florida in the summer affect how quickly your clothes dry?

 

[ToTBellHop]

Give the popularity of rapid type rides or log flumes at most parks, i would say you probably are in the minority opinion here as to tides that can get you soaking wet.

I will say for this one, especially in the Florida summers/early fall, I have found its warm enough that unless you get absolutely destroyed/soaked (and it can happen) that you are drying off pretty quickly so that you really aren't walking around for hours with wet clothing. I've experienced more wet time walking around due to rain than from the rapid ride.

Yes, if anywhere can support a rapids ride, it's Florida. With that said, none of WDW's water rides are as drenching as IoA's. I wear a bathing suit for Ripsaw Falls and Bilge Rat Barges and then go straight to my hotel's pool afterward. Haven't been on Fyre Drill to see if it's similar...

 

[ToTBellHop]

I have never liked the feeling of wearing wet clothes, even for a short time, so that plays alot into my avoidance of "wet" rides. And I have been very lucky-5 trips to WDW, and only experienced one rainy day, and it didn't rain that much at all. Does the insane humidity in Florida in the summer affect how quickly your clothes dry?

If the sun is out, you dry unless your underwear or, especially, socks get wet. I bring spare socks daily during summer trips just because there's always a risk of being drenched and wet socks can ruin my day. Wet t-shirt or shorts dry quickly.

 

[Touchdown]

The solution to water rides is to wear appropriate clothing. That means sandals that don’t get disgusting when wet (and certainly no socks) and dry fit shorts (I actually just wear a swim suit.) I don’t mind my shirt being wet (it feels good usually) but swamp feet are disgusting and wet pants lead to chaffing which is not wanted. If I know a ride can soak me, I only ride with the right gear.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

If the sun is out, you dry unless your underwear or, especially, socks get wet. I bring spare socks daily during summer trips just because there's always a risk of being drenched and wet socks can ruin my day. Wet t-shirt or shorts dry quickly.

To me its the socks/sneakers that can be a killer from Kali. I agree clothes dry very quickly in the Florida sun.

But given the nature of the raft on Kali, sometimes your sneakers are stuck in water in the bottom of the ride for a time and that can definitely take a longer time to dry out than a wet shirt.

If having wet clothes really bothered me, the ride would likely be a skip for me too.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

The solution to water rides is to wear appropriate clothing. That means sandals that don’t get disgusting when wet (and certainly no socks) and dry fit shorts (I actually just wear a swim suit.) I don’t mind my shirt being wet (it feels good usually) but swamp feet are disgusting and wet pants lead to chaffing which is not wanted. If I know a ride can soak me, I only ride with the right gear.

So do you carry around a change footwear for the 1/2 water rides you might go on during a day at WDW? Or do you wear sandals for the entire day? I don't think i could do a full park day in sandals.

 

[Touchdown]

So do you carry around a change footwear for the 1/2 water rides you might go on during a day at WDW? Or do you wear sandals for the entire day? I don't think i could do a full park day in sandals.

AK is a half day park for me, i go back to my hotel and change for the evening. Splash didn’t normally get me wet. At other parks, I bring a change of clothing when I’m done with the water rides for the day.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Yes, if anywhere can support a rapids ride, it's Florida. With that said, none of WDW's water rides are as drenching as IoA's. I wear a bathing suit for Ripsaw Falls and Bilge Rat Barges and then go straight to my hotel's pool afterward. Haven't been on Fyre Drill to see if it's similar...

we rode Fyre Drill and definitely got a bit wet - not as bad as the other two you mentioned but more than the similar ride we rode at Lego Land

 

[Touchdown]

we rode Fyre Drill and definitely got a bit wet - not as bad as the other two you mentioned but more than the similar ride we rode at Lego Land

Every ride that is like Fyre Drill I’ve ridden gets me completely drenched. Sounds like the other boats weren’t into the competitive spirit. Every ride at some point on those things has a good 15-30 seconds where another boats rider is just hitting you full on with their water blaster which ejects a stream that has to be at least a half inch in diameter.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Every ride that is like Fyre Drill I’ve ridden gets me completely drenched. Sounds like the other boats weren’t into the competitive spirit. Every ride at some point on those things has a good 15-30 seconds where another boats rider is just hitting you full on with their water blaster which ejects a stream that has to be at least a half inch in diameter.

I found Fyre Drill to be weird as there weren't many spots where you were really able to hit the other boats (it was just some odd times when you weren't expecting it), it was more a bunch of targets around to hit but they didn't really do much - it was more competing that way vs spraying each other directly

honestly I didn't find it as much fun as like the pirate one at Lego Land

 

[ToTBellHop]

So do you carry around a change footwear for the 1/2 water rides you might go on during a day at WDW? Or do you wear sandals for the entire day? I don't think i could do a full park day in sandals.

We don't ride Kali in the winter. In the summer, we do and we bring sandals every day due to the threat of downpours. Just goes in our day bags...

It's definitely harder at Universal because of the locker situation.

 

[Touchdown]

We don't ride Kali in the winter. In the summer, we do and we bring sandals every day due to the threat of downpours. Just goes in our day bags...

It's definitely harder at Universal because of the locker situation.

Yeah Epic will be a little bit more problematic since my hotel isn’t nearby. Strongly considering just driving to Epic and leaving the change in the car.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

We don't ride Kali in the winter. In the summer, we do and we bring sandals every day due to the threat of downpours. Just goes in our day bags...

It's definitely harder at Universal because of the locker situation.

That would make it alot easier!!!! Maybe my feet are just too sensitive, or I am not buying the right sandals, I just can't wear them for that long when walking. I just throw an extra pair of sox in the backback and hope

 

[Disstevefan1]

Oh good, another attraction closed in AK Actually its a good idea to close and refurbish as many things as possible now since they are losing guests to EPIC so in the quarterly reports they can blame the lower attendance on all of the building and maintenance in WDW and not EPIC.

And there is a element of truth to it, there are so many walls in WDW that folks may skip WDW in 2026, 2027

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Oh good, another attraction closed in AK Actually its a good idea to close and refurbish as many things as possible now since they are losing guests to EPIC so in the quarterly reports they can blame the lower attendance on all of the building and maintenance in WDW and not EPIC.

And there is a element of truth to it, there are so many walls in WDW that folks may skip WDW in 2026, 2027

Kali needs annual Maintenace, they just moved it up for this year so that it would be back open before Dinosaur goes down - so get that aspect

I think for the other parks there is still plenty to do despite the walls, but for AK, once Dino goes down and that entire quadrant of the park is closed they should provide guests with like free park hopper to EPCOT or DHS for days they start at AK ... while I certainly can spend a full day at AK anyway, it would be hard to say it is providing a complete Disney parks experience currently

 

[Disstevefan1]

Kali needs annual Maintenace, they just moved it up for this year so that it would be back open before Dinosaur goes down - so get that aspect

I think for the other parks there is still plenty to do despite the walls, but for AK, once Dino goes down and that entire quadrant of the park is closed they should provide guests with like free park hopper to EPCOT or DHS for days they start at AK ... while I certainly can spend a full day at AK anyway, it would be hard to say it is providing a complete Disney parks experience currently

Free park hoppers would be a super smart, guest friendly, and a good business move to make.

Will they do it? Of course not. Its too smart and it makes too much sense.

 

[mattpeto]

Kali needs annual Maintenace, they just moved it up for this year so that it would be back open before Dinosaur goes down - so get that aspect

I think for the other parks there is still plenty to do despite the walls, but for AK, once Dino goes down and that entire quadrant of the park is closed they should provide guests with like free park hopper to EPCOT or DHS for days they start at AK ... while I certainly can spend a full day at AK anyway, it would be hard to say it is providing a complete Disney parks experience currently

It’s a great idea but that will never happen.

 

[JD80]

The last part of my comment was directed to WDW on the whole, collectively across all 4 parks and the hotels, there are many closures, rehabs, and refurbs.

Mind, I'm not against quality updates. Hotels and theme parks need upkeep.

I enjoy AK, but AK has always been underdeveloped. That's why it has the shortest park hours + lowest attendance of WDW's parks. Reducing attractions in AK= not worth the asking price.

A 1day AK ticket for 11/25 is $185 for the 8 rides you listed.
The same day, Epic =$201: carousel, Werewolf, Racer's Rally, Fyre Drill, Ministry, Wing Gliders, Mario Kart, Mine-cart, Monsters, Stardust, and Yoshi's - 11 NEW rides.
For the same day, IoA is $180 and =Dr. Doom, Spiderman, Ripsaw Falls, Hippogriff, Forbidden Journey, Storm Force, One/Two Fish, Carousel, River Adventure, Bluto's, Kong, Cat in Hat, Seuss Trolley, Hagrids, Velocicoaster, and Hulk -16 rides.

That's more the way I think about the parks at least.

2017 through 2020 AK had higher attendance than EPCOT according to TEA reports.

Just shows what new attractions can do for a park.

 

[Ayla]

I have never liked the feeling of wearing wet clothes, even for a short time, so that plays alot into my avoidance of "wet" rides. And I have been very lucky-5 trips to WDW, and only experienced one rainy day, and it didn't rain that much at all. Does the insane humidity in Florida in the summer affect how quickly your clothes dry?

KRR is a gamble. Typically, 2 people get soaked (like down to their underwear drenched) and everyone else in the raft is pretty much dry.

 

[ToTBellHop]

KRR is a gamble. Typically, 2 people get soaked (like down to their underwear drenched) and everyone else in the raft is pretty much dry.

Then there's Bilge Rat Barges. I brought body wash and a loofah to kill two birds with one stone.