Hey Travellers,
We spent the day at Volcano Bay and wanted to share our experience with you, especially if you’re a first-time visitor!
Volcano Bay is a captivating tropical-themed water park right in the heart of Universal Orlando that made its grand debut on May 25th, 2017. But Volcano Bay isn’t just an ordinary island. It was found by a band of voyagers traversing the vast ocean. Guided by a mystical fish, the Waturi, which are the native islanders of Volcano Bay, were directed to this oasis of thrill and relaxation. Grateful for their newfound haven, they established an exhilarating water paradise, crafting towering water slides and delightful aquatic recreations in homage to their profound connection with the water.
What Time Does Volcano Bay Open?
Volcano Bay hours range from 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM depending on the day. The full schedule of operations fluctuates between four schedules depending on the season. These four schedules will fluctuate based on the month and day you plan to visit. So, it is important to note these changing Volcano Bay times during the time of year you’re visiting. We suggest checking on Universal Orlando’s website or app for park hours!
Is Volcano Bay open year-round?
Yes, Volcano Bay is open year-round and does not have any scheduled weeks or months off for the seasons. Instead, Universal will make the call depending on the weather and if it is too chilly to swim.
Volcano Bay Map – How to Get to Volcano Bay
Getting around the actual the water park is quite easy. The path essentially forms a full circle around the perimeter of the park. An easy guide to finding your way around the park is to find the central icon of the park, the Volcano of Krakatau. The main icon of Universal’s Volcano Bay is easy to spot throughout the park topping out at 200 feet tall.
Where is Volcano Bay?
Volcano Bay is located right on the Universal Orlando Resort campus, however if you’re driving in, you’ll be required to park at the main parking garages for the Universal Theme Parks/Citywalk and take a complimentary bus to Volcano Bay! If you’re staying at Cabana Bay, you can also walk to the water park!
What are the Volcano Bay Rides?
Universal’s Volcano Bay is packed with a mix of rides perfect for the entire family! You will find adrenaline rush inducing Volcano Bay attractions like drop slides, rapid wave pools, and even an aqua-coaster or you can kick back and relax in the lazy river or on one of the family raft rides. So, whether you’re seeking some serious thrills or some serious chills, Volcano Bay has something for everyone to stay entertained. Here is a list of the rides/attractions at Volcano Bay:
- Krakatau Aqua Coaster
- Ko’Kiri Body Plunge
- Wave Village
- Ohyah and Ohno Drop Slides
- Honu of the Honu ika Moana slide
- ika Moana of the Honu ika Moana slide
- Kala & Tai Nui Serpentine Body Slides
- Kopiko Wait Winding River
- Puhihi of the Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides
- Puka Uli Lagoon
- Punga Racers
- Raki of Taniwha Tubes
- TeAwa the Fearless River
- The Reef
- Tonga of Taniwha Tubes
Krakatau Aqua Coaster
A must-do family-friendly slide that’ll pull a four-person canoe through an exciting journey throughout the volcano.
Ko’kiri Body Plunge
Not for the faint of heart. This thrilling slide plunges riders down 125 feet through a cool splash-worthy pool. We did this ride and you definitely need to be brave to do it! It’s very exciting though!
Wave Village
Located at the bottom of Krakatau Volcano, Wave Village is the perfect space for parkgoers to swim and hang out by the sand. There’s plenty of seating for those looking to veg out, and the wave pool itself is plenty big for everyone to have some fun in the ongoing waves.
Ohyah and Ohno Drop Slides
Race someone to the pool with these two twisting slides! Plan to cannonball directly into the pool from four to six feet above the water. Recommended for strong swimmers seeking a thrill.
Kopiko Wai Winding River
You can’t visit Volcano Bay without telling you to take a lap around the lazy river! This breathtaking journey passes through hidden caves and features fun water effects, as well as beautiful evening lighting.
Volcano Bay Lockers and Towel Rentals
If you’re planning on spending a lot of time at Volcano Bay Resort, you might be wondering if there is a place to store your things. Volcano Bay luckily comes equipped with rentable lockers and other amenities for a small feel for guests visiting. If you’re wanting to save some money, we’d recommend bringing your own towels!
Tapu-Tapu
At Volcano Bay, they have an interactive wristband system, also known as TapuTapu. Once you enter the park, you’ll be provided with your complimentary TapuTapu. The wristband can be used in multiple different ways which we will discuss below:
TapTu Ride
The original and most well-known use of the TapuTapu system is the TapTu Ride Virtual Line.
- Each Volcano Bay guest is given a TapuTapu wristband once they enter the park.
- Next to the entrance of all the water slides, there will be a bunch of screens showing the virtual wait time for that ride. (If there is no wait the screen will say Ride Now)
- Guests simply tap their TapuTapu on the screen and they will be added to the virtual queue. Your TapuTapu will track which ride you are on a virtual line for and how much time remaining.
- You will then be notified when it is your time to ride!
- If you’ve joined a virtual line and you see another ride that says “RIDE NOW”, you can enjoy it without losing your place in line for the other ride.
TapTu Pay
The TapuTu Pay system will act as your wallet for the day.
Simply follow these steps:
- Create your Universal Orlando account using the official app before you go.
- Link all members of your family to their Volcano Bay Universal Studios tickets.
- Enter your credit card information and set spending limits for each member if you wish to.
- Create a pin the whole family will remember.
You’re all set! Once you enter the park and receive your TapuTapu your account will be linked for the day.
TapTu Snap
In addition to the usual attraction photos, TapTu Snap introduced three different photo ops throughout the park. Your TapuTapu wristband automatically uploads them to your account, where you can choose to buy them. Even if you don’t purchase anything, you can still enjoy taking the photos!
TapTu Lockers
Accessing your lockers is also included in the TapuTapu wristband. You do have to pay to rent a locker, and you can link the same locker to four different wristbands.
How much are the lockers at Volcano Bay?
- Mini lockers – $10 – 14.11 in. x 5.52 in. x 17.72 in.
- Regular lockers – $16 – 16.25 in. x 12 in. x 16.9 in.
- Family lockers – $20 – 12 in. x 16.9 in. x 24.3 in.
There are three different sizes of lockers at Volcano Bay, with the mini costing $10, the regular size at $16, and the family size at $20.*
*Prices are subject to change.
What are the Volcano Bay Orlando restaurants?
There are plenty of eateries and bars around Volcano Bay, with something that will appeal to everyone in the family! Here are the restaurants at Volcano Bay:
- The Feasting Frog
- Kohola Reef Restaurant
- Bambu
- Kanuku Boat Bar
Volcano Bay Premium Seating
Premium seating is located near the wave pool and lazy river. Guests can enjoy padded lounge chairs with an adjustable umbrella for shade. The best part is guests can book their TapuTapu reservations from the comfort of their seats. All premium seats come with a storage lock box for valuables, and have access to a wait service that can serve you food and drinks.
Volcano Bay Cabanas
A private family suite cabana offers guests the experience of a lifetime. You can choose from your choice of one or two-story cabanas with VIP concierge service. These family units include padded loungers, privacy, and complimentary water and snacks. You will also have access to special food and drink items delivered directly to your cabana, all while you enjoy access to all of the amazing Volcano Bay water rides.
Universal Studios Orlando On-Site Hotel Benefits For Volcano Bay
By staying at a Universal Orlando Resort, you’ll be granted one hour Early Park Admission to Volcano Bay! At this time, there will be barely any wait times for the water slides so you’ll be able to get so much done before the regular crowds enter! Also, if you’re staying at Cabana Bay or Sapphire Falls you can easily walk over from your resort!
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