River Rapids Rides

[Big Pooh]

I grew up riding Thunder River at Astroworld in Houston. It's an old attraction but I still love it. I have'nt ridden Kali River Rapids or Popeye & Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges(boy I'd hate to have to say that 3 times real fast:lol: ) yet, and I was wondering what the differences are...Is one more thrilling, are they the same length, are they REALLY wet...etc. On Thunder River, usually 2 people out of 12 get wet. Others may get damp, but not soaked. Thanks

Cheers :wave:

PS...this is my 100th post. :sohappy: Now I feel like an old-timer, being in triple digits and all....:animwink:

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

The two rides are very similar - lots of water !!! - however I think that the scnery and themeing at AK is better than IOA.
I think its down to the luck of the draw as to whether you get damp or soaked. The first time we did Kali the wife and kids were soaked yet I was dry.

 

[Tielo]

I don't think that Kali and Popeye are very alike.
Kali River Rapids Has a lot of plants as decor. There is 1 part of a burning forest and than there is a larg drop. It's short and quite a disapointment. The theming of the quie is very good.
Popeye & Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges is a very large ride with good theming and very exiting twists and turns. You will get soaked! It's more of a story. There is a grotto, a washing part with bubbles and some good drops and lots of speed. IMHO it's the best ride in the world.:sohappy:

 

[EthylCooper]

In my opinion, the Bluto ride is much better than Kali. This is the only ride in Universal that I think is better than its Disney counterpart. The Bluto ride lasts much longer and is better themed (and we didn't have a single person on the raft that wasn't completely SOAKED). IoA's flume ride was very good, too, but not better than Splash Mountain.

 

[The Mom]

BBR is rougher, and wetter, than Kali RR. As mentioned, you will be SOAKED...there's even a section where a giant bucket of water is dumped on you! Also, please note that the height requirement is different. The first time we went to IOA, my son was not able to ride, even though he had been on KRR many times. (I think he was around 7 or 8)

 

[Bobster]

In my opinion as well, Popeye is a much better ride. Kali is ok, but feels to short and there aren't many twist and turns as in Popeye. But as THE MOM mentioned, Popeye is certainly a rougher ride. Hold on tight or you'll be like a rag doll in there!

 

[bearboysnc]

Compared to the old generation of Rapid rides... Bluto's (and Kali) are much wilder. The drops are more extreme, meaning the waves that come over the rafts are higher.

Designers, finally have perfected how to mold the bottom of the water troughs to maximize or minimized how drenched you get.

Once past the burning forest the kali ride is pretty dull.
I don't consider walls of bamboo theme. However the load area is fantastic, extremely detailed.

Bluto's isn't much better. fiberglass figures of the Popeye Characters (that don't move) is pretty dull too. Although the boat wash is pretty exciting.

If you can get off either ride not completely soaked, than Gnesha the Elephant god was smiling on you that day.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Wet? yes you will be I even needed a spare pair of shreddies.

 

[DigitalDisney]

Kali and Popeye are both extremely well themed rapids rides

Kali: There isn't a whole lot in the thrill factor here. There are a couple wet spots, and a fun drop where your raft spins, but that's about it.

The theming, on the other hand, is second to none. The ride takes place in the jungle, so you're surrounded by lush scenery, bamboo, and other jungle theming (statues, temples, etc.).

Popeye: This is, IMO, the best rapids ride in the world. It's thrilling, it's a long ride, and it's well themed. If you don't walk out of the ride absolutely soaked, then something is wrong. Heh

 

[hayuk]

There is the potential to get very wet on Kali depending on where you happen to sit. By very wet I mean down to your underwear, everything in your wallet soaking wet. I would have been no more wet if I had jumped in a pool. Frankly, I though it was a bit much and I will never ride it again unless I have a complete change of clothes with me.

 

[bearboysnc]

Originally posted by hayuk
By very wet I mean down to your underwear, everything in your wallet soaking wet. I would have been no more wet if I had jumped in a pool. Frankly, I though it was a bit much and I will never ride it again unless I have a complete change of clothes with me.

Althought both give you nice dry cubbies to put things in.

 

[Natelox]

Kali takes the cake here. at the top of the lift, the giant gyeser is sure to get 4 people wet, then the fire ball before you go downt the drop is awsome! the themeing is incredible. i got caught on the side that first hit the bottom of the hill, and i was SOAKING wet, like i stood in a shower with my clothes on for an hour. the rest of the ride is short, and doesn't get you super wet, but is alot of fun.

universals needs work, its longer, but lacks strongly in the theming area. i just didn't enjoy it as much.

 

[Eljay]

I don't think there is any possible way to stay dry on the Popeye ride, but I always keep a cheap dollar store poncho in my bag when I go to the parks and that works very well to keep you dry on the Kali ride. When you are done you can just pitch it in a trash can or shake it, roll it tightly & store in a ziplock bag for later. Works for me!

 

[DanStat]

We got so wet the first time we went on Kali River Rapids!, that we went back to the hotel room to change.

Same with the one at IOA.

 

[animegirllover]

We were planning to get wet on Kali River Rapids!!!

 

[Scar Junior]

I agree that Popeye is a better ride that Kali. On a side note, I'm glad most everyone on here agrees. Ain't nothin worse than when Disney fans are ignorant to things that other parks and comapnies do better. But we don't have that problem here. :animwink:

 

[Big Pooh]

Hi everyone...thanks for all the responses so far.:wave: :sohappy: I don't mind getting wet at all. I wear a bathing suit under my khaki's and I'll put everything I can in the compartment in the middle. I really like river rapids rides. I've ridden 6 or 7 of them, at different Six Flags parks, and some are A LOT better than others. I can't wait to ride Kali and Popeye. I found a ride video of Popeye and it looks like a great ride.

Cheers :wave:

 

[Eljay]

A little on the serious side here, while in line for Kali, has anyone ever noticed the sound of chainsaws coming from the woods? I guess it's Disney's way of reminding us that the rainforests are being rapidly destroyed. Of course they repeat the message with the burning trees scene. Nice touch.

 

[kevinwyld]

Just a note on my first experience of KRR - it was Easter 2000, and the park was quite quiet. I was with a family from the UK who were visiting me, and we decided to go on the ride first thing in the morning after the safari. The first time round was pretty dry, and, as there was no line, we decided to stay on and go round again as we all enjoyed it so much. The second time, I caught a huge wave in my lap and was soaked :hammer:
I spent the rest of the (cold) day in wet clothes, and when I got home in the evening, my socks were still wet.
Every time since, I have taken a change of clothes, and put socks and sneakers in the middle under the cover.
Sadly, the same thing happened at IOA, and it was late December - even colder. Will I never learn :hammer: :hammer:
BTW, one great thing at Popeye is to let your 'friends' go on the ride and then go to the ship in the middle of the ride and spray them from above, just in case they haven't got wet enough yet :lol: . BUT, be warned, the water cannons have a pinhole at the 'users' end which sprays water backwards - :hammer: again!

 

[jeffs10]

I'll tell you one thing you get more wet at ioa on popeye. I like ak kali river better you dont get so soaked like we did at ioa

every year on kali we get alitte wet but every year at ioa we get so wet on popeye its to much

jeff