Kali River Rapids is an adventurous river raft ride for big kids, teens and adults that journeys through the rainforest on the churning Chakranadi River in the Asia area of Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park.
Climb aboard a circular, 12-passenger raft and begin a 90-foot ascent past picturesque, lush jungle and jasmine-scented mists. Then drop into gushing geysers and drift under refreshing waterfalls. The Kali River Rapids raft covers some choppy waters, and then there's a startling change in scenery. Hazardous debris left behind by illegal loggers litter the riverbanks. A few infernos blaze through the landscape. Scattered across your path: evidence that renegade logging companies are threatening wildlife and destroying delicate rainforests. Escape the devastation by rushing down a 30-foot waterfall. As your raft floats under the bridge, beware the smiling faces that look down from above-you may get a soppy surprise. There are signs before boarding Kali River Rapids warning that you will get wet. You will. Maybe even soaked. Such a pleasant respite on a hot day.
The Queue
The queue winds through several themed buildings, passing by ancient, decaying statues, shrines, overgrown ruins and lush landscapes. Outside the temple there are many pairs of sandals lined up, reflecting the Asian custom of removing shoes before entering places of worship. In keeping with the theme against illegal logging, chainsaws can be heard in the forest near the queue. While approaching the loading pagoda, one passes through a boathouse and on a television screen the proprietor of "Kali Rapids Expeditions" explains their company's mission: to show visitors the natural beauty of the area. She also warns of illegal loggers, and the dire ecological impact their actions have.
The Ride
Moving into the brightly coloured wooden pagoda, decorated with Tibetan prayer flags, riders are loaded from a rotating platform into 12-person rafts. The rafts have names such as "Banyan Bay", "Kali Bumper Car" "Manaslu Slammer" and "Sherpa Surfer".
As the rafts leave the dock, riders begin their adventure on the Chakranadi River, firstly ascending a 90-foot lift hill through jasmine and ginger scented mist. Once at the top, the raft floats through the path of gushing geysers, along the river past a waterfall, through dense tropical jungles where countless animal and bird calls can be heard.
The water becomes choppier, and riders hear the sound of chainsaws and the smell of smoke. Around the bend, the lush vegetation gives way to charred tree stumps, and a fully loaded logging truck which has slid perilously into the river tries in vain to drive itself out.
Moving further into a gargantuan pile of charred tree trunks, the raft passes through a flaming bridge of felled wood and then plummets down a 30-foot slide, soaking everyone in the resulting waves. Careening down the rapids, the raft passes waterfalls cascading down a granite rock face, before spinning and bumping its way along the whitewater.
Passing through a cave, riders are dampened further by dripping water, and by statues of water-carriers which spray water jets. Finally, the raft passes beneath a wooden bridge and past statues of elephants which also shoot water; these jets are controlled by park guests standing on the bridge. At this point the raft returns to the loading pagoda and riders disembark.
Touring Tips
- Kali River Rapids is a FASTPASS attraction. Get your FASTPASS, then take a walk through the nearby Maharajah Jungle Trek while waiting for your FASTPASS window to open.
- You will get wet! Trust me! If you don't get wet enough going through the actual ride.....guests standing on the bridge as you approach the disembarking station will shoot water at you through the elephants!
- There is a plastic-enclosed, zippered *protective area* in which you can place your belongings, however this is not really very protective. As the day goes on, this area gets wetter and wetter. My advice is to bring a small garbage bag or 2 gallon Ziploc bag with you so your items can be placed in there and then put into the protective area in the raft. There is not a lot of time once you enter the raft to store your items, so be prepared.
- If you're planning to go on Kali River Rapids, bring a large garbage bag with you and put your things inside before you put them in the holder on the raft. That way everything will stay dry even if there is some water in the holder, and you can easily gather everything when it's time to get off.
- The drop is not very steep; similar to the Pirates of the Carribean boat ride in the Magic Kingdom.
Facts
- In keeping with Animal Kingdom's message of conservation and environmental protection, this attraction deals with illegal logging and habitat destruction.
- Before the ride opened in 1999, the ride was originally going to be named Tiger Rapids Run.
- This was Disney's first attempt at a river rapids type ride, it has since been joined by Grizzly River Run at Disney California Adventure Park.
- The ride was briefly closed on May 29, 2007 after five visitors and one employee received minor injuries as a result of a loading platform malfunction.
- There are 19 rafts named "Banyan Bay", "Kali Bumper Car" "Manaslu Slammer", "Sherpa Surfer", "Bhaktapi Bubbler", "Delhi Donut", "Java Jumper", "Khatman-Doozi".