Congo River Rapids - General Discussion

General discussion regarding the UK's No.1 Theme Park. Talk about anything and everything Alton Towers here.
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D-Man
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I've been thinking that when I have been on the river rapids I haven't got that wet compared to when I was on the rapids at port aventura. Does anybody else think that they need to try and make the rapids a bit bigger so that you get a bit wetter?, and what happened to the water jets at the end of the ride before you go up the lifthill. They were really good and got you quite wet!
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seanyboyuk
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the current layout of the ride is great the throughput is very good too, probably one of the best in the park. The boats seem to be in good condition most of the time too.
Id like to see more effects added to the ride for surely that get you wet. The waterfall
section doesnt seem as good as it used to be and something in the tunnel would be good
to suprise you like some breif hose sray etc.
The downhill section at the beginning of the ride is a bit slower so that could be sorted too.
Due to the ride being built into the land in a concrete run it will be around for a long time i think and i hope the ride gets a sponser to bring it upto standards as back in the day was a great ride.
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Jelka
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Well really it is alright to be soaking in Port Aventura, warm weather, you will be dry in no time. However imagine a cool day at Alton Towers with a wind and so on. When I went on in scarefest 2008 I loved it and it was alot of fun, however the people with me got quite wet and were very cold after wards.

But I suppose if you don't want to get abit wet you dont go on really do you? To be honest I like the rapids how they are. I think you get wet enough if you sit in the right seat as well. :)

Just my views. :)
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Luke

The older red boats were much better for getting you wet. Unfortunately since they placed those yellow covers over them in 2003 it seems that you have to have a very heavy boat to get a decent ride out of it. They also used to have the legendary 'pipe' at the end of the ride preceding the lift hill, which would fire water every 20 seconds or so. It made for a great ending to the ride, but for some reason that was taken away too! Please bring it back Alton!
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D-Man
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^ thats what I was talking about with the jet at the end that always surprised me even though I knew it was coming.
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Dogbert
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I have to admit, I got wetter on the red boats than I ever have on the yellow ones. I also remember the pipe, which always make the occasional pile-up at the end much more fun :)

If you ask me, Alton need to add a few pipes, or other 'random' elements to the ride, just to give the old girl a little more life.
What, you were expecting something witty?
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FallenAbyss
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I think maybe it's a case of having effects on there that can be turned off when it's cold in the winter, yesterday being a prime example the rapids certainly weren't wet enough, that said Thorpe's rapids are pretty wet (or at least they were last October) especially when going into one of the tunnels through a waterfall (that didnt turn off ...) it was pretty annoying and could have simply been turned off ....

Theyre great rapids with a good layout so a few effects and features could go a long way !
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davidaiow
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I think it would be nice for a small drop. Disney California had a spin half-way down, it was brilliant.

My friends, who have only been to Alton and Thorpe think that it is tame. Something must be done I agree!
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Jon
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The wetness of the Rapids varies so much. Whereas on the flume it is pretty much dependent only on how many people are in the tub and where the front person is the heaviest, on the Rapids there are loads of factors. Weather makes the water calmer or choppier. If the water level is lower, you are closer to the bumps. If you are lighter, you are more likely to get tossed around. You can get very wet on the rapids and you can also managae to come off bone dry. It's pot luck and part of what makes the ride so fun!

While I agree that a thoroughly bone dry ride can be boring, too wet a ride can put many people off. Though the addition of extra water features would also add nicely to the themeing of the ride as well as adding to the fun/wet factor.

I'd prefer added themeing over added wetness. I wish the tunnel was decked with jungle creepers and animal sounds, and more odd bits of themeing as you go past. Rocks and plants are all very well but I think it needs something a little more.
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AstroDan

All that is needed on Alton's Rapids is theming in the tunnel, a little more scattered theming around the ride and/or queue and a couple of spontaneous jets (not heavy, just lght) of water at the end.

The wetness is fine and the length is superb.
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PeteB
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Who remembers the days when crowds of people would stand on the Katanga bridge and watch as unsuspecting guests were blasted with a water jet?

Bring back old times... :(
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mezza
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[quote=""AstroDan""]
The wetness is fine and the length is superb.[/quote]

That's what she said. :D
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Rob L
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One of the things that I love about the Rapids is that you really don't know how wet you are going to get, there is always that element of surprise. You could come off after having a few spots of water hit you, or you could come off fairly wet. It makes every ride different, and in my opinion it is more fun this way. It's also nice to know that you can go on a water ride where you are not going to get completely soaked.

Saying that, it would be nice if they added a couple of water jets along the course of the ride, and these could be turned off when the weather isn't great anyway. Then of course a bit more theming wouldn't go a miss, but that can be said about more than just the Rapids! So overall it could be improved, but to be honest there isn't that much that needs to be done.
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Im in agreement with Astro Dan. The tunnel need theming with some king of waterfall at the end of the tunnel. This could be turned off if the weather is cold etc. I do seem to remember the waterfalls being more powerful back in 97 when i first visited. That could just be me getting older and memory being rose tinted.

I also think that there should be a new surprise element within the tunnel and then move the camera in there.
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stretchy
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What I would like to see is

1. As you enter the tunnel there are a mass of laser beams. (ala mission impossable) Some of these when broken trigger water jets.

2. When the rmt goes through the tunnel a series of small fountains spurt water into the rapids section, drenching any passing boat.

3. The spitting frogs from towers street placed randomly around the track (or similar)

a 'GET ME WETTER' button on each of the boats which soups up nearby effects
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Gloomy Dude
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[quote=""stretchy""]

2. When the rmt goes through the tunnel a series of small fountains spurt water into the rapids section, drenching any passing boat.

[/quote]

I love this idea! That is perfect. It would add a cheeky edge to the already beautiful interaction between the two rides (or sets of riders should that be). Plus, it would be exciting as only about 1 in 10 boats (at a rough guess) go through the tunnel at the same time as the train. I'm imagining it, and visually it's brilliant too.

Get on it Alton!
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Dogbert
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2. When the rmt goes through the tunnel a series of small fountains spurt water into the rapids section, drenching any passing boat.
That is an awesome idea! I love the interaction of the two rides, and this would only improve it!

ofc, while they are installing the fountains, they could theme the tunnel a little bit more, possibly making it look more like a mine-working than a simple tunnel......
What, you were expecting something witty?
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Mattt
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[quote=""stretchy""]What I would like to see is

1. As you enter the tunnel there are a mass of laser beams. (ala mission impossable) Some of these when broken trigger water jets.
[/quote]

lmao, your joking right? :lol: Laser beams on a ride that is Indian American themed. :?

[quote=""stretchy""]
2. When the rmt goes through the tunnel a series of small fountains spurt water into the rapids section, drenching any passing boat.[/quote]

Yeah, good idea. Quite costly to do though considering it would on add a little effect.

[quote=""stretchy""]

3. The spitting frogs from towers street placed randomly around the track (or similar)

a 'GET ME WETTER' button on each of the boats which soups up nearby effects[/quote]

Spitting frogs? On a rapids Indian ride? :lol: They say Rita clashes!

Buttons, on a water ride? Way too expensive.
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Sam
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[quote=""Gloomy Dude""][quote=""stretchy""]

2. When the rmt goes through the tunnel a series of small fountains spurt water into the rapids section, drenching any passing boat.

[/quote]

I love this idea! That is perfect. It would add a cheeky edge to the already beautiful interaction between the two rides (or sets of riders should that be). Plus, it would be exciting as only about 1 in 10 boats (at a rough guess) go through the tunnel at the same time as the train. I'm imagining it, and visually it's brilliant too.

Get on it Alton![/quote]
So they'd spend considerable money on an old ride for something that only 1 in 10 CRR riders would even see? Unlikely. I'd much rather they add in some more subtle theming, some more tropical plants here and there.

One thing that would be nice is some subtle water jets here and there, nothing major that shoots up into the air, just lots of little bits here and there that gives a scaled down version of the feeling in Cariba - all these various little devices and pipes and sprayers that add to the overall effect of watery anarchy!
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Chris W
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I'd like to see water misters added to the entrance and exit of the tunnel.
Would be cheap and add to RMT and CRR.

I wouldn't change much though, the money would be better spent in other areas of the park.
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