Attraction Type: White water rafting adventure.
Location: Grizzly Peak is located on the western side of the park near The Grand Californian Resort; the ride’s entrance is on the western side of the mountain.
General Description: Board an extreme white water rafting adventure through the wild California wilderness!
Will’s Review: The towering half wolf/half grizzly bear atop Grizzly Peak has been the visual icon for the park since opening in 2001. Logging in at just over six minutes, this ride is widely known as one of the longest and most intense raft rides in North America. In keeping with the park’s pre-2009 overall contemporary theme, Grizzly River Run was themed as an “extreme sports” adventure, where a group of twenty-something thrill-seekers had set up a white water rafting company offering tours of the peak. Departing from the company’s headquarters, the eight-person rafts climb a wooden lift and then drop into the water flume, culminating in a gravity-powered twisting and turning journey through caves and the outcroppings of Grizzly Peak. The finale of the ride is a 21-foot tall spinning drop into a flume full of geysers.
This is one of the most thrilling attractions in the entire Resort, and one that will be getting you wet. Guests can buy ponchos before riding (if they wish) at the gift shop near the ride’s entrance. The views from the top of the peak are fantastic, and are a great place to grab a couple of quick pictures (providing you have a water proof camera!). Be sure to hang on though on the spinning drop; it is quite a thrill to be sitting backwards when the drop hits then land facing forward!
On a side note, the extreme sports-theme of this attraction will eventually be reconsidered after Phase 1 of the California Adventure renovation is complete in 2012. This first phase is focused on the entry plaza and Paradise Pier, primarily. It is has been rumored that the mountain may eventually be renovated with a mine car attraction or some incorporation of a relocated Country Bear Playhouse (from Disneyland’s Critter Country), but the inherent design of the mountain will prove this to be a potentially cost-prohibitive task.
Touring Tips: Crowd-wise this attraction gets the most attention during the heat of the day. Unfortunately, this is also the top time when you’ll probably want to ride this attraction – as you may not want to get wet in the early morning or night. A little-known benefit here, however, are that this attraction’s Fastpass machines are rarely hooked up to the park-wide system, meaning that most often you can hold a Fastpass for this ride, and another. To that end, swing by Grizzly River Run in the morning after riding Tower of Terror and obtaining a Soarin’ Fastpass, grab a Fastpass for Grizzly, and then explore some attractions either in Hollywood Pictures Backlot or Paradise Pier before returning at the designated time on your Fastpass (which should be about mid-day).
Warning: This attraction has been known to aggravate heart, back, and neck conditions of some guests. In addition, expectant mothers are urged not to ride.
Family Info: Everyone in the family seems to enjoy this attraction; however as it is a thrill ride, use caution with children and seniors. Please note that guests must be at least 42” to ride.
Variations: This attraction is unique to DCA.
Soarin’ Over California - Grizzly River Run - Redwood Creek Challenge Trail - Walt Disney Imagineering Blue Sky Cellar - Mission Tortilla Factory - Bakery Tour
