View source for Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges

{{Short description|Attraction at Islands of Adventure}}
{{Infobox water ride
| name                 = Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges
| image                = Popeye and Blutos Bilge-Rat Barges 11.jpg <!--Use ONLY the filename, not a full [[File:]] link-->
| caption              = The sign at the ride’s queue entrance.
| location             = Universal Islands of Adventure<!--Must not be linked.-->
| section              = Toon Lagoon <!--Must not be linked.-->
| coordinates          = <!--Use {{coord|display=inline,title}}-->
| type                 = Raft <!--Must be "Flume" or "Raft", nothing else. Must not be linked.-->
| status               = Operating
| opened               = {{Start date|1999|5|28}} <!--Use {{Start date}}-->
| closed               = <!--Use {{End date}}-->
| manufacturer         = Barr Engineering <!--Must not be linked, will auto-categorize the ride.-->
| height_ft            = <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| height_m             = <!--Must be expressed in metres and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| drop_ft              = <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| speed_mph            = 11 <!--Must be expressed in miles per hour and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| duration             = 6 minutes 
| angle                = 
| restriction_in       = 42 <!--Must be expressed in inches and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| boats                = <!--Must only contain numeric values-->
| custom_label_1       = Capacity
| custom_value_1       = 12 per raft<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/things-to-do/rides-attractions/popeye-and-blutos-bilge-rat-barges|title= Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges|author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website= Universal Orlando|publisher= Universal Studios|access-date= August 15, 2023}}</ref>
| virtual_queue_name   = [[Express Pass|Universal Express]]
| virtual_queue_image  = Universal Express availability.svg
| virtual_queue_status = available
| single_rider         = available <!--Should be "available" if available-->
| custom_label_2       = Theme
| custom_value_2       = [[Popeye]]
}}
'''Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges''' is a [[River rapids ride|river rafting]] ride at [[Universal Islands of Adventure|Islands of Adventure]] in [[Orlando, Florida]], inspired by the character [[Popeye]] created by cartoonist [[Elzie Crisler Segar]]. Opened on May 28, 1999, it is one of the park's original attractions and was the first river rafting ride [[Universal Destinations & Experiences|Universal]] constructed in its parks.

==History==
Initial plans for what would become Islands of Adventure featured an entire park themed to cartoon-based intellectual properties that was to be named "Cartoon World". The park plans contained a section called "Popeye's Island", which was split into two subsections, "Sweethaven Village", themed after the [[Popeye Village|town of the same name]] featured in the 1980 [[Live action|live-action]] film ''[[Popeye (film)|Popeye]]'', and "The Docks".<ref name="History">{{cite web|url= https://orlandoparkstop.com/feature/unbuilt-attractions/universals-cartoon-world-before-it-was-islands-of-adventure/|title=Universal's Cartoon World – Before It Was Islands of Adventure|last=Stella |first=Alicia |date=June 1, 2020|website=Theme Park Stop |publisher= Theme Park Stop LLC|access-date=August 17, 2023}}</ref>

Two rides were planned for Popeye's Island. Sweethaven Village was to feature an indoor boat ride called "Popeye's Adventure", while the Docks was to feature a rafting ride called "Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges". When Cartoon World was redeveloped into Islands of Adventure, Popeye's Adventure was scrapped, with Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges being re-themed to feature both characters.<ref name="History" />

==Queue area==
The attraction's queue emulates that of a ferry, with dock pilings placed along the pathway in the outdoor portions. Early on, guests pass a sign welcoming them to "Popeye's Paradise Cruises", but as they approach the boat load, they find that the entrance is closed off. This leads to a detour into a queue building for “Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges”, setting up the main story of the ride.

==Operations==
The attraction experiences an average queue time of 15 minutes throughout the year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thrill-data.com/waits/attraction/islands-of-adventure/popeyeblutosbilgeratbarges/ |title=Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges Wait Time Profile |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=Thrill Data |publisher= |access-date=August 25, 2023 |quote=}}</ref> Like all primarily outdoor attractions at [[Universal Orlando]], it is closed when there is a risk of thunderstorms or during other severe weather events.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://insidethemagic.net/2021/04/universal-closes-outdoor-attractions-ad1/ |title=Many Universal Attractions Close Due to Severe Weather |last=Dunn |first=Alessia |date=April 11, 2021|website=Inside the Magic |publisher= JAK Schmidt, Inc. |access-date=August 25, 2023 |quote=}}</ref> The attraction, along with the other water ride in the park, [[Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls]], is typically closed during the colder months of the year, often from mid February to mid March, for maintenance and refurbishments.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wdwnt.com/2022/03/popeye-blutos-bilge-rat-barges-closed-for-refurbishment-at-universals-islands-of-adventure/ |title=Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges Closed for Refurbishment at Universal's Islands of Adventure |last=Mackey |first=Jade |date=March 1, 2022|website=WDW News Today |access-date=August 25, 2023 |quote=}}</ref>

===Incidents===
During the morning of February 12, 2021, a fire broke out along one of the ride's channels, with a thick plume of smoke visibly rising from the attraction. The attraction was closed at the time for its annual winter refurbishment, and no guests or workers were harmed in the incident. It was later revealed that the fire was the result of a construction worker overfilling the fuel tank for an external pump that was being used to remove water from the channels.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://wdwnt.com/2021/02/more-details-emerge-on-fire-at-popeye-blutos-bilge-rat-barges-in-universals-islands-of-adventure/ |title= UPDATE: Cause of Fire at Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges at Universal's Islands of Adventure Revealed |last=Phillips |first=Michaela |date=February 12, 2021|website=WDW News Today |access-date=August 25, 2023 |quote=}}</ref> The fire caused minimal damage and the ride finished its refurbishment, returning to standard operation on February 20, 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://wdwnt.com/2021/02/photos-popeye-blutos-bilge-rat-barges-reopens-at-universals-islands-of-adventure-after-fire-refurbishment/ |title= Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges Reopens from Refurbishment at Universal's Islands of Adventure Following Fire |last= |first= |date=February 20, 2021|website=WDW News Today |access-date=August 25, 2023 |quote=}}</ref>

==Voice cast==
* [[Popeye|Popeye the Sailor Man]]: [[Keith Scott (voice actor)|Keith Scott]]
* [[Bluto]]: Keith Scott
* [[Olive Oyl]]: [[Sandy Fox]]<ref>{{cite web|last1=Scott|first1=Keith|title=Popeye's Bilge-Rat Barges|url=http://voicechasers.com/database/showprod.php?prodid=75|access-date=September 25, 2016|archive-date=May 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525153246/http://voicechasers.com/database/showprod.php?prodid=75|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Popeye and Blutos Bilge-Rat Barges 01.jpg
File:Popeye and Blutos Bilge-Rat Barges 09.jpg
File:Popeye and Blutos Bilge-Rat Barges 13.jpg
File:Popeye and Blutos Bilge-Rat Barges 10.jpg
File:Captain Amerika - panoramio.jpg
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Universal Islands of Adventure}}
{{Popeye}}

[[Category:Amusement rides introduced in 1999]]
[[Category:Water rides manufactured by Barr Engineering]]
[[Category:Universal Islands of Adventure]]
[[Category:River rapids rides]]
[[Category:Universal Destinations & Experiences attractions by name]]
[[Category:Water rides]]
[[Category:Amusement rides based on television franchises]]
[[Category:Popeye]]