How to improve Kali?

[Marc Davis Fan]

Are there any feasible ways to improve KRR?

The first enhancements should of course be bringing back the fog on the lift and the fire explosions (and adding new ones!) in the logging scene.

In addition, perhaps more statues would improve the lift, and perhaps large temple ruins (including something the boat goes under) would add to the "forest" segment before the logging area.

Finally, I suppose there is no economically feasible way to lengthen the ride itself... If there is, perhaps that could end up on the drawing board for once Avatar opens, considering that waiting for Kali and being really dissapointed might have a net negative impact on many guests' AK experience.

 

[slipperalwaysfits]

It's definitely a short ride and I was surprised at how small the main drop is (I guess I was thinking more dramatic, like Splash Mtn) but it's not like the drop won't provide a nice wall of water! I don't know what people are expecting. I think a fair amount of rides at DW are short, especially when you factor in how long people are willing to wait for them (or use a fast pass on). Kali does a great job telling the story and providing amazing themeing which are both hallmarks of Disney.

 

[FigmentForver96]

Oh where to begin. It needs to be closed for a long time and basically tore out and extended. All the details in the world won't fix the problem of its length. Ok once that it done then yes more details like temple ruins Asian villages I don't know. Then it might be a decent ride.

 

[beast]

Change this attraction into a boat ride themed to "The Jungle Book". One part of the ride would be indoors with audio animatronics
from "The Jungle Book". The second part of the ride would be outdoors. You would pass by animal exhibits along this part
of the attraction.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

The answer to improving Kali is Tiger River. As stated no amount of added scenery can correct the ride's short length or make it feel like a disappointment next to the Tiger River concept. Kali isn't an ugly ride and already has appropriate scenery for what they were going for, there's just not enough room to improve it without making it larger. It needs the blessing of size (and budget/ambition). Here for example should outline the problem-

They'd basically have to rebuild the ride from scratch to get it in order. Make it a lengthy water safari going alongside actual animal exhibits as originally intended. The disorienting ride system in Kali also makes enjoying scenery hard as well. Tiger River used more raft-like boats rather than the generic circular boats currently used. It is also said that the ending of the ride would still have utilized a rapids segment with some drops for a big finish. Sounded like a good idea to me.

 

[Jon81uk]

I think the main issue with the Tiger River concept was integrating the animals with the ride, thats why they made the tigers a walking trail? But Kali could be extended at the top before the drop there is plenty of land. Remove the logging theme and make it a nicer ride. But don't make it as wet as Bluto's at IoA!

 

[copcarguyp71]

It's definitely a short ride and I was surprised at how small the main drop is (I guess I was thinking more dramatic, like Splash Mtn) but it's not like the drop won't provide a nice wall of water! I don't know what people are expecting. I think a fair amount of rides at DW are short, especially when you factor in how long people are willing to wait for them (or use a fast pass on). Kali does a great job telling the story and providing amazing themeing which are both hallmarks of Disney.

I think in essence the build up with the long and elaborate queue is really what sets the ride up for failure. Much like VOTLM it sets the bar higher than the ride can deliver. I myself was underwhelmed the one time we rode the ride and we only waited 20 minutes for it. I cannot imagine a first time rider waiting and hour and a half to two for this. It's like sitting at a fine restaurant and waiting an hour only to be served a Big Mac slider. The ride is not really terrible but, as what I would consider an "anchor ride" that is supposed to cement one of the main themes of the park it falls short for me.

 

[marni1971]

Remove and rebuild it?

As said, the queue is better than the attraction. Look at Blutos barges for an interesting, diverse ride layout. Even Grizzly has two drops.

 

[SyracuseDisneyFan]

Make the line more interesting.

 

[Glasgow]

Send everyone on individual tubes

 

[Chef Mickey]

Kali is like a microcosm of what was wrong with Disney during the era when it was constructed (and in some ways still today) - the original plan would have been infinitely better than Bluto's, and a shining example of how Disney differs from the alternatives thereto, and instead we got exactly the opposite, with Disney being clearly inferior (a phenomenon that would have been inconceivable to many just a few years earlier).

Presumably there's no chance of Kali being replaced in the conceivable future, and if its length prevents meaningful improvements, I guess we're just stuck with a remnant of that era...

Yeah, it's still the same. What's the last amazing attraction we've gotten at any park? I'd say Tower of Terror and Expedition Everest when the Yeti worked...

In about the last year years, we've gotten New Fantasyland with a disappointing 7DMT and Voyage of the Little Mermaid, and kind of a good, but "lazy" Toy Story Midway Mania. I say lazy because it's essentially a computer game on a large screen. Fun, but not engineering or a great story.

I hope these new projects completely buck the trend.

 

[Chef Mickey]

I'd say Kali needs to be made to not get someone soaked. I don't ride it because i don't want to get completely wet.

 

[KrazyKat]

Change this attraction into a boat ride themed to "The Jungle Book". One part of the ride would be indoors with audio animatronics
from "The Jungle Book". The second part of the ride would be outdoors. You would pass by animal exhibits along this part
of the attraction.

I was thinking the same thing with the new Disney movie coming out next year. Although I would still keep it a tube ride since Avatar is going to have a boat ride when it opens. Possibly make it longer so you can add new scenes from the movie. I don't think it will matter if the movie is a hit or not since it takes place in India anyway.

 

[Coaster Lover]

It will be interesting to see how Roaring Rapids at Shanghai Disneyland turns out... with their third attempt at this type of attraction and (seemingly) a pretty good budget, I'd hope to see something that combines a good length, good story, and good thematic elements... as for Kali, overall, it's not a terrible attraction, and I thought the queue and set-up to the attraction was done quite well, it's just overall too short.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

Yeah, it's still the same. What's the last amazing attraction we've gotten at any park? I'd say Tower of Terror and Expedition Everest when the Yeti worked.

I would place Kilimanjaro Safari on that list, probably the one ride that did not receive noticeable or devastating budget cuts at the park.

I think the main issue with the Tiger River concept was integrating the animals with the ride, thats why they made the tigers a walking trail? But Kali could be extended at the top before the drop there is plenty of land. Remove the logging theme and make it a nicer ride. But don't make it as wet as Bluto's at IoA!

I don't see any issue with integrating animals, Kilimanjaro Safari does it and even allows a lot of the animals to cross the jeep path (they have even been known to block traffic at times). The only difference would have been the use of boats instead of jeeps, and creating hidden barricades to keep the animals from crossing over. So it would arguably be a less troublesome set up than the African safari. You can also still have a walking trail as well, Africa has both the safari and a trail.

 

[Jon81uk]

I don't see any issue with integrating animals, Kilimanjaro Safari does it and even allows a lot of the animals to cross the jeep path (they have even been known to block traffic at times). The only difference would have been the use of boats instead of jeeps, and creating hidden barricades to keep the animals from crossing over. So it would arguably be a less troublesome set up than the African safari. You can also still have a walking trail as well, Africa has both the safari and a trail.

I think the issue would be that between the water and the hidden barriers and then the ability of the animals to wander off, in a fast moving Rapids ride you won't actually see the animals. Whereas on the Safari, as you say, the animals can walk right up to or in front of the vehicle path, also the driver is free to slow right down for a better view.

 

[Flippin'Flounder]

I would place Kilimanjaro Safari on that list, probably the one ride that did not receive noticeable or devastating budget cuts at the park.


I don't see any issue with integrating animals, Kilimanjaro Safari does it and even allows a lot of the animals to cross the jeep path (they have even been known to block traffic at times)

"Giraffic Jams" I thought I was on The Jungle Cruise for a second when I heard that one.

 

[Miss Heinous]

Make the line more interesting.

The queue is amazing, what are you talking about?

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

I think the issue would be that between the water and the hidden barriers and then the ability of the animals to wander off, in a fast moving Rapids ride you won't actually see the animals. Whereas on the Safari, as you say, the animals can walk right up to or in front of the vehicle path, also the driver is free to slow right down for a better view.

From descriptions i've read of Tiger River, only the ending would have included rapids and gone fast, likely no animal exhibits in those parts. Most of the ride sounds like it was going to be very slow and calm, probably much slower than Kilimanjaro Safari's jeeps and providing plenty of opportunities to view the animals. The concept art also backs this up as well, showing the boats travelling through very calm waters past one off the exhibits-

Hidden barriers are used in a lot of areas at Animal Kingdom already, including on Kilimanjaro Safari to keep the more dangerous animals in check. Not an issue.

 

[beast]

I was thinking the same thing with the new Disney movie coming out next year. Although I would still keep it a tube ride since Avatar is going to have a boat ride when it opens. Possibly make it longer so you can add new scenes from the movie. I don't think it will matter if the movie is a hit or not since it takes place in India anyway.

I meant the animated "The Jungle Book", not the new live/CGI movie coming out next year.

Another idea is if it's raining people would still be able to ride the "Jungle Book" portion of the ride. Inside of the show building there would be a switch track just before exiting the building that would keep you inside of the show building.

The ride would look like this:

Good weather - load inside of the building; "The Jungle Book" (part 1); outside cruise; "The Jungle Book" (part 2); unload

Bad weather - load inside of the building; "The Jungle Book (part 1); "The Jungle Book" (part 2); unload

This "bad weather" version of the attraction would also be used in the evening when it's dark outside.