Have you been trying to figure out “how wet do you get on Jurassic Park River Adventure?”. Join me as I run through everything you need to know to avoid getting drenched on this iconic raft ride.
Universal Studios is known for its Jurassic Park section, and it’s honestly one of the best parts about Islands of Adventure.
But have you been seeing tons of wet T-shirts around the park? Do you stay away from raft rides because you don’t want to get drenched?
Well, if you’re trying to figure out “how wet do you get on Jurassic Park River Adventure?”, I’ve got your back.
Not only will I briefly run you through this adrenaline-inducing attraction, but I’ll give you a few tips on keeping dry.
Perfect for cooling down during the brutal summer months, this rapid ride is an unmissable attraction for Jurassic Park lovers.
Now let’s figure out how to protect your clothing and valuables from the major splash at the bottom of this iconic ride!
What is Jurassic Park River Adventure?
Jurassic Park River Adventure is a through and through rapids ride that burst onto the Universal Studios scene in 1999 in Florida.
But in Hollywood, this ride has been kicking around since 1996!
In basic terms, this ride takes you through a prehistoric world of dinosaurs (of course!).
Along the way, you’ll learn about the less intimidating creatures before being chased by velociraptors and meeting a T-Rex.
Don’t worry though – you’ll plunge down an 85-foot drop before you have much time to grapple with that T-Rex.
Throughout the ride, you’ll pass through the following areas:
- Ultrasaurus Lagoon
- Stegasaurus Spring
- Hadrosaur Cove
- Raptor Containment Area
- T-Rex Climax and Drop (okay, not an official name, but that’s what I think about it!)
The total length of the ride is 1900 feet and takes just under 8 minutes from beginning to end.
So, you get a pretty decent ride compared to short and sweet attractions dotted around Universal.
What Are the Ride Restrictions on Jurassic Park River Adventure?
There aren’t many ride restrictions to consider with Jurassic Park River Adventure, but let me quickly fill you in.
You need to be at least 42 inches to ride this attraction, and I’ll say that it can be scary for young kids.
I mean, the giant T-rex? Enough said.
It’s also important to mention that if your child is between 42 inches and 48 inches, they’ll need to ride with a supervising adult.
But honestly, I’d assume they would be anyway!
This ride is eligible for Universal Express. So, I recommend working it into your schedule to take advantage of shorter queue times.
How Wet Do You Get on Jurassic Park River Adventure?
Okay, I’ll be real with you here – you’ll get pretty wet on Jurassic Park River Adventure.
Although you can sit in areas that will keep you slightly drier (I’ll get to this later!), this is classified as a wet and wild rapid ride.
With emphasis on the WET part.
It’s weird though – I’ve come away from some rides utterly dry and have been soaked to the skin on others.
There’s truly no rhyme or reason to it, but placement does help.
It’s not usually the rapids around the ride that get you wet (although you can get batted around as you go!).
But it’s mostly down to the huge splash that you get at the bottom from the sheer velocity of the ride vehicle mixed with stagnant water.
As the ride vehicle is straight and not circular, the splash isn’t focused at just the front of the carriage (like it is in Singapore!).
Instead, the whole carriage gets a taste of the action as the splash encapsulates the entire sides of your ride vehicle.
In short, you’ll get very wet riding Jurassic Park River Adventure.
But honestly, that’s part of the fun and you’ll be dry within an hour if you’re walking around in the Florida sun.
Seriously, I actually recommend queueing for this ride when the weather heats up.
Your wet clothes will keep you surprisingly cool, and the splash at the bottom is incredibly refreshing!
How Do You Stay Dry on Jurassic Park River Adventure?
I’ll say that there’s no way to stay utterly dry on Jurassic Park River Adventure as the splash really gets the vehicle.
But I’d say that guests at the front of the ride vehicle are far more likely to get soaked.
And I’ll explain why right now!
As the vehicle crashes down 85 feet toward unmoving water, the splash starts its focus at the front of the vehicle.
This means that you’re way more likely to get properly soaked in the first two rows of this ride.
I’d say that the further you sit toward the middle of a row, the less likely you are to get wet.
If we have a quick look at basic physics, it’s also fair to say that people sitting around the front will absorb the water splash before it hits the back.
This isn’t always going to happen as you can’t predict where water will splash.
But if you want to stay dry, try and sit in the middle of the back rows or toward the center of the carriage.
It’s your best bet, but no one is truly safe on this ride!
If you really want to stay dry, it’s an excellent idea to wear a poncho and keep your arms by your sides.
Not only will the poncho protect your clothes, but keeping your arms down will prevent water from splashing into your armpits.
Which you know, it always a bonus.
You should get them on Amazon (or eBay!) before you go as you’ll pay a small fortune for them inside the parks.
If you get utterly soaked on the ride, you can pay for the nifty full body dryers at Toon Lagoon and the Jurassic Park areas of the park.
It’s kind of a rip-off if you’re just mildly wet, but it can get you back on the move without chafing pretty quick!
Where Do You Store Your Items on Jurassic Park River Adventure?
To avoid damaging any of your precious belongings (hello, smartphones and wallets!), I recommend using the lockers.
Even with a poncho, water can seep through your clothes and damage your trusty gear.
You can definitely purchase a protective plastic pouch for your most fragile items, but it’s way easier to shove everything in a locker.
Just trust me on that one.
Plus, they’re totally free if you’re heading on the ride!
Going for one of the standard lockers (measuring 14 inches x 5.5 inches x 16.9 inches) are more than enough for small items.
But if you need to store an enormous bag or stuff from your entire family, it’s better to rent the larger lockers.
These clock in at 12 inches x 13 inches x 16.9 inches.
I personally wouldn’t bother renting a locker at the main entrance of the park as you need to pay for them.
It can be useful if you don’t want to cart your bag around all day, but it’s largely a waste of money for most visitors!
FAQs
What are the wait times on Jurassic Park River Adventure?
It’s impossible to say exactly how long the wait times will be for Jurassic Park River Adventure at any one time.
But it’s generally between 15 minutes and an hour.
If it’s really warm out, the wait times can skyrocket to 90 minutes or more.
What can I say, people just want to take shelter from the Florida heat!
How tall is the drop on Jurassic Park River Adventure?
The drop on Jurassic Park River Adventure is an impressive 85-feet!
So, it’s way longer than Splash Mountain’s 52.5-foot drop.
Is Jurassic Park River Adventure closing?
Hell no, Jurassic River Adventure isn’t closing – at least, not permanently. It gets regularly refurbished though, so it may close during your visit.
There you have it: the guide that should help answer the question: “how wet do you get on Jurassic Park River Adventure?”.
If you have any further questions or want to share your experience with this crazy ride, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
And if you can’t get enough of Jurassic Park content, feel free to check out my related posts below!
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