hippoblog

The Water Elevator

I was watching The Travel Channel today and saw the world's only water elevator, at the Grand Wailea Resort in Hawaii. At the bottom of the water slides there's a big cylinder with a raft inside. They drain the cylinder to let people in at the bottom, then close the door and fill it back up. You don't have to climb the 3 stories back up, and you don't even have to leave the water. The elevator itself is straightforward and clever, but the odd thing, to me, is that it's the only one of its kind in the world. First thing I do when I make my retirement mansion is install a water elevator. Yup, first thing.

* Ray, 9/27/2004 09:06:00 PM

Comments

Hey! I've ridden that thing. It's like being in a big elevator in your bathing suit. And it makes a big tidal sound. Makes you want to pee.

* posted by david : 1:39 PM

But I've been in a big elevator in my bathing suit... it didn't feel that strange. Does it feel like you're moving, or is it like the walls are sinking into the water?

* posted by Ray : 2:28 PM

I was part of the team that designed and built the water elevator. Its cool. The water moves up and down so slowly there is not much feeling of moving

* posted by Anonymous : 9:28 PM

I have been on the water elevator!! It is amazing, except you feel for the guy who has to give you that extra push to get up...i thought he may have gotten caught under all the water. Once the elevator lifts you to the top, you swim out and there is a slide to your right! So you never get out of the water! What a great invention, they need to build some more, at say... Blizzard beach, (Walt Disney World) where you have to climb 50 stories to get to the top of the slide!

* posted by Eliza : 10:31 AM

HAHAHA I just saw that same thing on the travel channel yesterday and I thought the same thing. When i'm rich i want that in my mansion. HAHAHA great minds think alike -Jason

* posted by Anonymous : 10:00 AM

i've been there! it spins you around and fills it up with water and you float up. there was a big fat guy on it and and i was afraid it wasn't going up!

* posted by Izzy : 5:16 PM

i've been there! it spins you around and fills it up with water and you float up. there was a big fat guy on it and and i was afraid it wasn't going up!there was a cute guy working there ;)

* posted by Izzy : 5:19 PM

Oh yes. The water elevator. You would think water parks all over the world would have these. Very simple idea. Rode the one at the GW a bunch of times...wasn't even a hotel guest...managed to sneak in - not telling anyone how either.

* posted by Cindy : 4:12 PM

The water elevator at the GW is great. You sit back, enjoy the ride to the top. The guy/girl turns it as it goes up so that no one person is always under the waterfall. It makes it easier to get to the top where you get to choose a mild slide or the tiles slides. They do have one slide you do have to walk up to. The water elevator will not take you there. It is great though and I recommend it to anyone.

* posted by Anonymous : 5:44 PM

I've been on the water elevator many times! we go to The Grand Wailea every year! its so cool! but it kinda takes awhile to come down after it went back up! but ya the water like lifts you up and your in this big raft! and the people who work it can hold their breath for a long time =]

* posted by Cori : 8:35 PM

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