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

[Goofyernmost]

Is it maintenance or just conserving water/saving money? I get that it requires upkeep and that it's a somewhat seasonal attraction but I question what extensive maintenance actually need be done annually.

When the park's so few on rides, seems like they should keep it open. Would it be feasible to lower water level and turn off effects that would otherwise splash guests during the Spring/Summer run? Maybe an alternate show could be attainable?

I suspect it is to save money on staffing and electric usage. Based on other posts people willing to go to a water park when the weather is cooler are much fewer in the winter season so operating both during those months is really not worth the effort. Water usage isn't a problem because they use the same water, filtered but the same and even if they didn't one thing that WDW has is a lot of water even if they did lose a river recently. I think I remember that they used to alternate between the two water parks from year to year and do all the maintenance on the closed one during the prime winter months. Since water parks are really a very heavy duty human immersion and cleaning is a big part of it, I hope!

 

[twilight mitsuk]

It must be, at the very least, 20 years since I last visited Seaworld. Do the have a ride that tends to get people wet? I do remember many people getting soaked the the whale show and even at the dolphin show.

infinty falls

 

[Goofyernmost]

infinty falls

I'd be pretty confident in saying that didn't exist the last time I visited.

 

[Touchdown]

infinty falls

Which also closes for multi month refurbs every year.

 

[Jon81uk]

It must be, at the very least, 20 years since I last visited Seaworld. Do the have a ride that tends to get people wet? I do remember many people getting soaked the the whale show and even at the dolphin show.

They opened an excellent brand new rapids ride about three years ago and there is Journey to Atlantis the water coaster thats been around for at least twenty years.

 

[Goofyernmost]

They opened an excellent brand new rapids ride about three years ago and there is Journey to Atlantis the water coaster thats been around for at least twenty years.

OK, so it is probably more like 30 years. Some time in the 1990's was my last visit. At the time there were no rides just shows with trained animals and a penguin exhibit with an odor that would ruin your desire to ever see a live penguin again. And I haven't!

 

[RD DAD!!!]

Kali River Rapids Annual Refurbishment Begins Earlier Than Usual in 2025 at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Kali River Rapids Annual Refurbishment Begins Earlier Than Usual in 2025 at Disney's Animal Kingdom

www.wdwmagic.com

There are way too many closures at the same time. These should have been spaced out better.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

There are way too many closures at the same time. These should have been spaced out better.

Well, they moved this up so that it would be finished before Dinosaur goes down so seems like they were trying to manage around that

Maybe they could have held off a little bit until after Better Zoogether is open?

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

You've still got 2x Avatar rides, Safari, train, conservation station (including the drawing class), walking trails in Africa & Asia, Everest, Lion King, Nemo and Flight shows. Plus characters & other animals.

Counting the train and CS as 2 attractions is a bit generous, IMO. I suppose you could stay on the train without getting off, but that seems somewhat pointless.

The WDW parks are in sad shape right now. People who only go every few years should either hold off for now or make this the year they give Universal a try, imo.

 

[Jon81uk]

Counting the train and CS as 2 attractions is a bit generous, IMO. I suppose you could stay on the train without getting off, but that seems somewhat pointless.

The WDW parks are in sad shape right now. People who only go every few years should either hold off for now or make this the year they give Universal a try, imo.

But longer term from February the only significant closed attraction will be dinosaur, with Kali Rapids and Zootopia open.The off the shelf spinning coaster closed years ago. Animal Kingdom has always had more of a focus on animals and themed environments rather than just attraction counts.

Magic Kingdom is probably the worst for closures right now with no Big Thunder, train (if you count that), riverboat or Tom Sawyer.

 

[FigmentFan82]

Curious what it would take for them to expand Kali so it's not such a short truncated ride.

 

[donaldtoo]

Curious what it would take for them to expand Kali so it's not such a short truncated ride.

No, no, NO…!!!!!
Disney needs that space for their first-ever in-park DVC tower.

 

[James J]

Yes for me coming from the UK in November Florida feels significantly warmer than home!
Shame that Kali will now be closed on our trip, but I'll get soaked at Islands of Adventure and Seaworld!

Sometimes it can feel better than the UK, sometimes not. We went for the last two weeks of November last year, and it was the first time we've felt chilly in Florida! Ended up getting a Lyft to Target to buy some warmer clothing...

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

But longer term from February the only significant closed attraction will be dinosaur, with Kali Rapids and Zootopia open.The off the shelf spinning coaster closed years ago. Animal Kingdom has always had more of a focus on animals and themed environments rather than just attraction counts.

Magic Kingdom is probably the worst for closures right now with no Big Thunder, train (if you count that), riverboat or Tom Sawyer.

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.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

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.

If you focus on the rides, that make sense. Obviously AK is more than just the rides, I could wander the park for hours and not do a ride but if rides are solely your focus, then AK isn't the best park.

That said, even for someone like me, $185 for AK now is pretty darn crazy ... Really think they should offer a free (or at least like minimal cost) hopper to Epcot or DHS if you book an AK day - even moreso after

 

[Jon81uk]

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.

There are over 12 attractions at Animal Kingdom though, its not just about the rides. Same as Epic also has two shows you didn't list. So yes Epic still has more attractions but its more like 13 vs 12.

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

If you focus on the rides, that make sense. Obviously AK is more than just the rides, I could wander the park for hours and not do a ride but if rides are solely your focus, then AK isn't the best park.

Yes and no. I usually go through at least one of the animal trails, but even with stopping to see the animals, the park needs more.

I've seen all the shows, but shows are generally down at the bottom of the 'maybe' list, not the 'must-do' list. The bird show is kinda neat, but the jokes are all very stale now that I have heard them so many times.

Also, I can only spend so much time looking at caged gorillas, elephants, tigers, etc. They don't belong in a box. Wild animals like tigers have large territories. When they live in a box, they never get to actually live. They never get to experience hunting or exploring. Caged animal parents never get to teach their children how to hunt or really do anything that wild tigers do. Watching them do nothing but sleep is sad, IMO. Next time you are there, look into the eyes of the gorillas.

Beyond that, have you ever gone through the animal trails with someone who has to use a scooter? They are often treated very unkindly. Able bodied people just ignore them, don't make space, don't give them room to see. Everyone is just in me-me-me! mode. They will hold the door maybe, but many can't even be bothered to do that small kindness. That too, is a bit troubling to see, IMO.