The first time I visited Universal Volcano Bay water park with two teenagers, I had so many questions earlier than we went. Could we get a locker, how exhausting was it to get chairs, how does the wristband work, do we want towels, how will we get to Volcano Bay, might we take an Uber?? You get the thought. I took cautious notes in order that I might share our greatest Universal Volcano Bay suggestions with you!
Before I get into the information, I’ve to say that Volcano Bay is a category aside from each different waterpark I’ve visited. It will not be typically that I can sit in a waterpark, take heed to mild island music, watch the palm fronds sway above, and take heed to the splash of a waterfall and truly calm down. I’m often freaked out about germs, strains, security, and the final chaos.
Yet someway, Universal Orlando’s Volcano Bay has created an island oasis subsequent to a freeway and nestled up in opposition to a mega-resort resort and theme park. There have been even moments after I imagined myself within the islands and never smack-dab in the course of Orlando.
Don’t get me mistaken, you gained’t really feel that relaxed all through the entire park — with its crowded walkways, strains that aren’t presupposed to be strains, and energetic free-for-all in the case of snagging a tube on the lazy rivers. That half — not so enjoyable. But when you stick with Waturi Beach in entrance of the huge wave pool and namesake Krakatau Volcano, then you definitely’re good.
In truth, of all of the waterparks I’ve been to, each indoor waterparks and different Orlando waterparks, I believe Volcano Bay is the very best waterpark.
About Universal Volcano Bay
Universal Orlando’s Volcano Bay opened in late May 2017 to a lot acclaim and excessive expectations. They turned the water park world on its head with the brand new Tapu Tapu wristband expertise and in depth theming.
The thought behind Volcano Bay is the story of the Waturi folks — a fictional Polynesian-type tradition that “Water is Life and Life is Joy.” Universal Orlando Volcano Bay strives exhausting to increase this theming from the design, meals, experiences, and even music.
With 17 points of interest, Volcano Bay now presents probably the most rides of any Orlando water park. There are six multi-passenger rides, 5 single-rider riders, and 6 household points of interest. We didn’t hit all of those earlier than the skies opened up and rained out our day (nope, there aren’t any refunds if it rains), however we did discover a couple of favorites.
Pro tip: If it does rain, it pays to seek out shelter and wait it out. If you permit the park, you’ll be able to come again later however provided that there’s sufficient capability.
Not being a trip individual, I beloved the Kopiko Wai Winding River that takes you into the volcano and the darkish Stargazer’s Cavern. The TeAwa The Fearless River was additionally enjoyable, however I used to be anticipating a bit extra when it got here to the rapids — actually it was only a wave or barely stronger jets.
Hannah and her pal Ruby beloved the Krakatau Aqua Coaster, which is a four-person canoe that slides up and down and thru the twists and turns within the volcano earlier than going by a waterfall. It was for much longer than they anticipated and the drops weren’t as large as they feared. The Honu aka Moana raft rides have been additionally a favourite, with the excessive partitions to trip up and down.
Getting to Volcano Bay
If you might be staying on-site at one of many Universal Orlando motels, you’ll need to take a shuttle bus on to Volcano Bay. However, if you’re staying at Cabana Bay, Aventura, or Sapphire Falls, you’ll be able to stroll alongside the trail and thru the parking zone to a particular entrance provided just for Cabana Bay friends.
If you aren’t staying on-site don’t be tough and suppose you’ll be able to stroll from Cabana Bay when you aren’t staying there! I attempted this and had our Uber drop us off at Cabana Bay however I quickly discovered I’d should take a shuttle from City Walk once we have been turned away once we couldn’t present our resort room key. Don’t make that mistake!
If you might be staying off-site however driving, observe the indicators to Volcano Bay, however be ready that it’s essential then take a shuttle bus from the parking zone to Volcano Bay.
If you might be staying off property and taking a taxi or Uber, there’s NOT a visitor drop off/choose up space at Volcano Bay. You must get dropped off at City Walk, after which take a shuttle bus to Volcano Bay. It is a ache so construct within the further transit time if you’re making an attempt to get there for park opening.
Getting the Hang of the Virtual Queue and TapuTapu Wristbands
What is basically revolutionary at Volcano Bay is the TapuTapu expertise. Each visitor is given a wristband that serves as a digital line. I really like how waterparks (like Margaritaville’s H20) incorporate expertise to enhance the visitor expertise.
You faucet the wristband on the icon on the waterslide you need to trip and it assigns you a time to return in your trip. The clock on the wristband counts down and buzzes when it’s time to return to your choice.
The plus aspect is that you simply don’t want to attend in line the entire time, the draw back is that there would possibly nonetheless be an hour or extra wait between rides and you may solely faucet one after the other, so it’s essential be sensible about how you employ it.
After all, would you somewhat wait an hour for the Krakatau Aqua Coaster or do three water slides with 15-minute waits for every? Also, once you return to your slide at your designated time, don’t anticipate to stroll proper on. There would possibly nonetheless be a brief wait.
TapuTapu additionally opens lockers and will be linked to a bank card for cashless funds if you’re staying in a Universal Orlando resort. Plus, it unlocks some enjoyable easter eggs (see extra under.)
Universal Orlando Volcano Bay Tips
All of those options have made Universal Orlando’s Volcano Bay extraordinarily widespread! Here are some Volcano Bay suggestions you must have in mind to squeeze probably the most enjoyment out of your keep.
1. Get there early!!
This will not be earth-shattering however it’s crucial tip to recollect. In excessive season, the park could attain full capability by late morning. That signifies that even when you’ve purchased a ticket prematurely, when you aren’t on the park by the point they attain capability, you aren’t getting in. Tickets can be found on the gate, in the event that they haven’t bought out for the day. Reservations aren’t required at the moment so be certain that to get there early.
Just remember that the hours (and opening days) change relying on the season so at all times verify the web site for present hours and social media accounts for any capability alerts.
2. Stay at Cabana Bay Beach Resort or Aventura Hotel
Note: This publish could comprise affiliate hyperlinks. If you click on a hyperlink and make a purchase order, I’ll obtain a small fee. All opinions are my very own.
These “prime value” resorts now have an enormous benefit over the opposite properties and that’s quick access to Volcano Bay, positioned simply behind the resort. These are the ONLY resorts the place you may get to Volcano Bay with out getting on a bus (see extra under.) You may stroll from the Sapphire Falls resort, however it’s a longer stroll. Check charges and critiques.
3. Book your cabana or premium seating prematurely
If you need to be assured a primary seat with an umbrella, two chairs, and chair service; you’ll be able to pay an upcharge to order them. But don’t be like me and wait till 10 days earlier than your journey to name, solely to seek out them bought out.
And positively don’t anticipate to have the ability to do it onsite. You might want to name to make the reservation (simply verify the “add-ons” choices.) Just remember that these upgrades are dear!
There are a couple of totally different choices for leases together with:
- Single cabanas that maintain as much as 6 folks (higher stage or decrease stage cabanas)
- Family suite cabanas that maintain as much as 16 folks
- Premium seating chairs with cushions and a secure
4. Bring your individual towels
Towels can be found for lease however Volcano Bay isn’t like a resort pool that provides towels to make use of free of charge. An straightforward approach to save is just by bringing your individual. We attempt to journey with thinner seaside towels that don’t take up a number of house in our baggage and may at all times get left behind if they’re soaking moist.
Or, we purchase low-cost towels at a memento store once we arrive. Another possibility is to order some from Amazon to be shipped to your resort however verify first together with your resort to see in the event that they cost for package deal deliveries.
5. Can you carry meals into Volcano Bay? Seems like.
I additionally noticed a lot of folks with their very own meals and drinks. No one was carrying coolers in however safety appeared to let by baggage with meals and snacks. So so long as you don’t overdo it, or attempt to sneak in alcohol, you have to be okay.
If anybody in your celebration has meals allergy symptoms, you can even let the safety guard know that you’re bringing in meals for them as a result of they’ve allergy symptoms. Universal Orlando is sweet about that.
6. First cease: safe your chairs
When you first arrive, the very first thing you need to do is locate some open chairs. The prime spot can be Waturi Beach on the large wave pool that fronts the volcano.
However, when you don’t see one thing there, don’t panic. There are literally loads of chairs round in numerous areas. One of the opposite good choices can be again by the doorway to the TeAwa Fearless River (the marginally much less lazy river.) There is a mixture of adjustable lounge chairs and smaller upright, low seaside chairs.
I do know once you stroll in it may be tempting to gawk on the Volcano and stroll round to scope out the rides however belief me, you need to safe handy, prime seating in your group as quickly as potential. There can be loads of time to hit the rides after.
7. Second cease: get your Volcano Bay lockers
There are locker buildings/bogs scattered all through the park so it shouldn’t be exhausting to seek out some close to your chairs. But they are going to promote out quick, particularly the large ones. There are small, medium, and huge.
Once rented, you’ll be able to go out and in of them all through the day. It is simpler to make use of a bank card than money, simply faucet your TapuTapu, insert your bank card, and the locker pops up. Go again later and faucet your wristband and your locker will pop open (so so long as you keep in mind your locker station, you don’t even actually need to recollect your quantity.)
8. Turn your TapuTapu into Seamless Payment
What is even simpler than paying by bank card on the lockers and eating institutions is to show your TapuTapu right into a seamless fee possibility. To do that, obtain the Universal Orlando App and arrange your bank card fee methodology. Connect the TapuTapu to make use of at lockers, reward retailers, and meals institutions all through the day.
9. Consider Buying an Express Pass
One approach to skip the strains at Universal Parks is with an Express Pass. There are two methods to safe an Express Pass. You can both keep at one of many Premium Universal Orlando Resorts that embody Express Passes for Guests (presently Loews Portofino, Hard Rock Hotel, and Loews Royal Pacific) or, you should buy an Express Pass as an ADD ON to your theme park ticket.
At Universal Orlando Volcano Bay, Express Passes are barely totally different than on the different two parks. You can both buy a 1-Park Universal Orlando Express Pass, which solely will get you Express Pass entry to Select rides and may solely be used as soon as per points of interest, or, you should buy a 1-Day Express Pass PLUS, which lets you skip the digital line in any respect points of interest, however nonetheless solely use it as soon as we attraction.
Pricing varies as a result of it’s primarily based on demand, so you’ll discover greater pricing on days when the park expects excessive demand. Just remember that the Express Pass means that you can skip the VIRTUAL line. This doesn’t imply that once you get to the trip you’ll be able to stroll previous all of the folks ready. It simply signifies that you don’t must scan your TapuTapu and wait to be assigned a time to trip that trip. You can be a part of any line you need (primarily based in your move stage), however nonetheless want to attend your flip.
Guests who buy Express Passes for Volcano Bay will obtain a wristband separate from their TapuTapu.
10. Third cease: Pick a trip
This is the place it actually helps to do a little analysis forward of time and work out what you need to trip probably the most. Just keep in mind, the “big” rides just like the Krakatau Aqua Coaster would be the hottest so attempt to get these in earlier than the foremost crowds arrive.
What you’ll need to do is locate the trip (strive studying the trip descriptions and taking a look at a map prematurely to be ready.) Outside of the doorway can be a TapuTapu kiosk. Simply faucet your wristband and you may be assigned a time to return to the trip.
Don’t fear about maintaining a tally of a clock. The wristband counts down for you and can buzz when it’s time to trip.
11. Don’t anticipate “no lines”
They promote TapuTapu as a approach to do away with strains. It positively helps, however don’t suppose you will stroll proper onto the rides.
For many rides, as soon as it’s your “turn” within the digital queue, you’ll nonetheless have a little bit of a line once you arrive on the trip earlier than you’ll be able to take your flip. Also, don’t be shocked to have “virtual” wait occasions of 60-120 minutes for the most well-liked slides.
In between, you’ll need to cool off within the wave pool, Winding river, or Fearless River (the lazy river that has some waves and a stronger present.)
12. Not each trip has a wait
If the very first thing you faucet has a protracted wait time, don’t quit but. Take a stroll by the park. There could also be some rides that don’t have a line so they’re “No wait” and you may board instantly whilst you wait in your different trip.
As the park will get extra crowded, that gained’t be potential so that you’ll want to sit back out in one of many rivers, the wave pool, or calm down on the seaside for some time.
13. Eat early
Volcano Bay has performed an excellent job with its menu choices and the eating places get packed at lunchtime. If you get there slightly earlier than 12, you gained’t want to attend. Chances are the solar, water, and train are going to make you hungry anyway and you may be able to eat earlier than midday.
You can also discover some good choices at a number of the shacks across the park. For instance, the Feasting Frog presents nice Chicken Mole Tacos and Poke Poke bowls.
If you might be searching for cocktails, head to the Dancing Dragons Boat Bar.
14. Buy a refillable cup
Just like within the different Universal parks, you should purchase a refillable, insulated cup (they’re cheaper when you purchase multiple) and refill it all through the day.
It is slightly tougher to seek out the Coca-Cola “Freestyle” stations in Volcano Bay (actually simply within the eating places), however you’ll be able to carry them to different huts they usually can refill them from the fountain.
We introduced our personal water bottles to refill at water fountains however the water will get sizzling so quick within the warmth. So we purchased one refillable cup to get entry to ice and took turns refilling it with no matter we wished (and simply grabbed a few common straws so we might share.)
Just word you can solely refill sometimes so sharing gained’t work if you’re all tremendous thirsty and must refill too continuously. You may get common water and ice from these machines in addition to sodas, iced teas, and lemonades.
15. Wear your flip flops
Volcano Bay does job of cooling the sidewalk with water mist, however you’ll nonetheless be scurrying throughout some sizzling pavement. But you don’t must do it in naked toes. There are racks in entrance of every trip the place you’ll be able to retailer your sneakers and coverup in slightly rope hammock shelf till you might be performed.
I’d additionally suggest bringing a sunhat (listed below are my suggestions for the greatest packable sunhats for girls), as a result of that Florida solar will be sturdy!
16. Look for easter eggs
TapuTapu doesn’t simply open lockers and safe trip occasions, it additionally unlocks some enjoyable easter eggs across the park. Look for the TapuTapu icons, give it a faucet and see what occurs.
Hint: down by the seaside, faucet the large clam shell to see what occurs.
17. Purchase a multi-day move
Volcano Bay tickets for sooner or later are cheaper than the opposite parks. However, if you’re additionally visiting Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure (and also you positively ought to, particularly if you’re a Harry Potter fan,) it is sensible to get a multi-day move.
If you get a four-day, three-park move, it’s virtually like getting the fourth day free. Totally price it if you’re spending not less than three days in Universal. Otherwise, it’s extra economical to get a one-day move to Volcano Bay and a one-day park-to-park ticket for Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.
You can get discounted tickets to Disney and Universal Orlando by my companion Getaway Today!
Visiting Orlando? Read More:
PIN THIS FOR LATER
Note: We paid full value for our tickets, identical to everybody else. All opinions are my very own.