Animal Kingdom

Opened: March 18, 1999

Location: Asia

Extra Magic Hours: Evening (may not be included during winter, depending on weather)

FASTPASS: Yes

Type: Rafting ride

Similar To: Grizzly River Run at Disney’s California Adventure

Requirements: Must be 38” tall to ride

Scary Factor: Low to medium.  The ride starts off with a 90 foot uphill ascent, but there are no drops any more significant than the initial drop at Pirates of the Caribbean.

When To Go: Kali River Rapids opens 30 minutes after the rest of the Park (9:30am) so you may be able to walk right on if you go to Expedition Everest first in the morning and then Kali immediately after.  On chilly mornings, you may want to wait until later in the day when it warms up due to how wet you’ll get on the ride.  I would recommend riding after 4pm unless you’re looking to get wet or cool off in the middle of the day, in which case I would use a FASTPASS because the line will likely exceed 30 minutes if it’s warm.  The nearby Maharajah Jungle Trek trail is a good way to spend time until your FASTPASS time arrives.

Expect to Wait: Waits typically peak at about 30 minutes in the afternoon.  Before lunch, waits of 15 minutes are common.  If it’s colder out, waits will be significantly shorter.

Length: 5 minutes total, but most of that is spent in the ascension to the top of the Rapids.  Expect about two minutes of actual rafting down the river.

What to Expect: Kali River Rapids follows a story about the destruction caused by illegal forestry.  Riders board large rafts that seat 12 people in a single row around the outside perimeter of the raft.  In the middle of the raft is a covered compartment where you can store personal belongings.  Your raft will be pulled up a 90 foot hill and then be released to freely float down the rapids.  Your raft will pass through geysers, waterfalls, and beautiful tropical jungles before plummeting down a 30-foot waterfall.  The drop isn’t fast or particularly thrilling, but it is still fun.  Expect to get drenched on Kali.  The ride itself won’t get you very wet until you go down the drop, but at the end of the ride there are a number of “water-shooters” that will be manned by other Park guests.  They will aim at your raft and shoot buckets of water at you.  Most riders leave soaked to the skin.  On the other hand, depending on where you’re sitting and the aim of the water-shooters, you may emerge only slightly soaked.

How to Stay Dry: The compartment in the middle of each raft is handy, but it isn’t waterproof and there may be a puddle of water on the bottom of it from previous rides.  You’ll want to bring Ziploc bags for electronics, purses, or other items that might be damaged by water or go into the nearest shop and ask for a shopping bag to wrap your belongings.  Either of these should provide enough protection from the water and banging around inside of the compartment.  If you have a backpack, you will still want to put important belongings in a Ziploc because the backpack may soak through.  A large garbage bag will also do the trick and be easy to retrieve after the ride is over.  The biggest problem people run into on Kali, other than ruined electronics, is the fact that you can’t go barefoot on the ride.  You’ll have to bring sandals to wear if you want to remove your shoes and socks.  Even if getting wet feels good in the summer, wet socks and shoes aren’t usually pleasant.  I don’t recommend wearing sandals or “water-shoes” the entire day because they don’t offer enough support for all-day walking.  A cheap poncho should keep your body dry, but you’ll have to bring those too if you don’t want to pay exceptionally high Disney prices.  You can also store your belongings in a locker at the front of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, but they aren’t particularly convenient to Kali so you’ll have to walk to the front entrance to deposit or pickup items.  You could bring an extra set of clothes, shoes, and socks and store them in a locker to retrieve if you become too uncomfortable.

Rating: 6/10

Commentary: Kali River Rapids is a fun ride, but it’s short and you’re probably going to get drenched.  Some people do walk off the ride mostly unscathed, but it’s impossible to guarantee that will happen.  It’s such a hassle to bring ponchos, sandals, and worry about getting expensive electronics ruined that I’ve been known to skip it altogether, especially during cooler seasons.  In summer, getting wet will cool you down and cover up the fact that you’re sweating profusely in Florida weather, but wet shoes and socks are never fun.  You’ll at least want to bring sandals or try to keep your feet off the bottom of the raft, even if you want the rest of your body to get wet.

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