Originally Posted By plpeters70 <<Dean, it's a nice white water raft ride. It wasn't intended to be a showstopping spectacle.>> Agreed. Sadly though, as has been pointed out here before, if the original park had actually had a few more "showstopping spectacles", then this ride could have just stood on its own fine as a "nice water raft ride". But, since the park was so short on Disney-quality rides, every attraction got overscrutinized - so that even the most lavishly themed area in DCA just came off as "not good enough". Glad to see it's gettings some love now - and hopfully a few show scenes.
Originally Posted By plpeters70 <<you're hating on something just because it's not Disney>> I haven't heard ANYONE hating on any of those rides - they've just said they prefer GRR. What's the big deal? Not everyone has to like the same things.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 < It loses that community feeling that you get on all other raft rides, where that random guy across from you gets soaked and you stay dry.> Thank you. Exactly. But unfortunately, it's not ALL other raft rides. I've ridden others that have this same design flaw where everybody gets soaked every time. BGW has a pretty-well themed one in the Italy section, for instance. The rapids themselves are pretty well designed (as you said, it's better when there are some rapids areas, then some calmer areas), but then they ruin it at the end by having geysers go off that drench everybody uniformly.
Originally Posted By Daannzzz I never got that strong of a story from Popeye and Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges but I do think it is much more fun and interesting than GRR and MUCH, MUCH more fun than Kali, which has half a strong story.
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>Poor ride does not get its due because Disney fanbois choose to ignore it.<< Since I probably am as much a "Disney fanboi" as anyone here (and what a charming, charming way to entice others into a conversation, btw), I'll address this one. Poor ride in IOA gets NO NOTICE from me because I've never experienced it, and never will. Why? Because the point of the ride (as I have been assured again and again) is to get soaking wet. Fine. My kids will love it. Others clearly love it. Me... not at all. That doesn't make it a bad ride, just not one for me. And whether I was a Disney fan or not, that would mean it doesn't "get its due" from me. I do like GRR. I seldom ride, and try to stay away from the doors (where the water sloshes in) and wear some sort of a poncho. I don't mind getting a bit wet (especially on a warm sunny day), but I don't like to get soaked. So, no Popeye's river ride for me! GRR is good! That's all!
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>I hate it when people make absurd assertions and they are so self "un"-aware that they can't see they're just rationalizing their Disney-only love rather then giving something else the credit it is due.<< Too true. It's terrible, TERRIBLE when people make absurd assertions, and are so very, very UN-aware in making them that they rationalize away any other points of view with absurd assertions. Couldn't agree more.
Originally Posted By CuriouserConstance Ohana, I'd run to the store and get you a whole case of it if I was in LA.
Originally Posted By TP2000 I didn't go on Popeye's when I was at IOA. The kids coming off that ride were SOAKED, and I didn't want to get my watch/wallet/phone that wet, not to mention myself. I have gone on Kali at Animal Kingdom a few times over the years though. That's a pretty lame little ride if you ask me. It's relatively short at 4:30 minutes long, including the lift hill, and the cheesy 1990's eco-message about logging just seems forced and corny and totally lost on the other folks from New Jersey in the raft. It's got one tame drop and not many other effects besides the unattractive burning logging scene. Grizzly River Run seems a much better ride compared to Kali. Grizzy is longer at 6:30 minutes, it has two drops and seemingly more water effects and more theme and prettier scenery. It just seems more upbeat and fun. And the extra two minutes of ride time are a big plus.
Originally Posted By mousermerf TP - they sell ponchos, and there's a waterproof area in the center to hold your valuables, and most also toss their shoes in there.
Originally Posted By TP2000 "there's a waterproof area in the center to hold your valuables, and most also toss their shoes in there." Sounds utterly charming. I'll pass.
Originally Posted By DouglasDubh We buy ponchos at the Dollar Store or at a sports store before we go to theme parks. Then, if we want to ride a water ride and don't want to get wet, we wear them then give them away when we're done. Sometimes we'll ride all the water rides in a park, then give our ponchos away. I remember doing that at IOA and BGT.
Originally Posted By mousermerf There's no reasoning with them Douglas - personal responsibility of any sort is foreign to them. They'd rather never set foot on the ride then be forced to wear a poncho if they personally don't want to be wet. And in their minds, that's somehow rational.
Originally Posted By DlandDug It's terrible, TERRIBLE when people make absurd assertions, and are so very, very UN-aware in making them that they rationalize away any other points of view with absurd assertions.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 I've worn ponchos on GRR and Popeye; onGRR it kept me dry but on Popeye I still got drenched, albeit not as bad
Originally Posted By oc_dean Hey mousermerf ... thanks for the 411 on Island's of Adventure raft ride. I've never been to Islands of Adventure. (Haven't been to Florida since '95). The pictures prove ... detail is what make IOA's version a "MUST see" when in Florida. And a Top Rated version - period!
Originally Posted By SpokkerJones Yeah, I outgrew water rides. I would ride Splash Mountain but only in the back. "Dean, it's a nice white water raft ride. It wasn't intended to be a showstopping spectacle." Well, it was built inside and around the centerpiece of the park. I'm disappointed that it didn't turn out to be a multi-layered experience such as the famous Western River Expedition concept, but more Sierra Nevada and less Southwest. If DCA was more ambitious, that would have been a real spectacle.
