Have you heard? Universal opened a brand NEW water park in Orlando called Volcano Bay on May 25, 2017. Fortunately, I happened to visit the park shortly after the opening during a special event with the TODAY Parenting Team hosted at Universal Orlando and I got to learn a little bit more about what this AMAZING Universal Orlando Water Park has to offer. You guys… it is like NO other water park you have EVER visited before. Volcano Bay rides are truly some of the most unique water slides you will ever go on in your entire life. Not to mention, this groundbreaking water “theme park” has even found a way to get rid of lines & the hassle of carrying tubes up to the top of the slide! Read on to learn more about the INCREDIBLE Volcano Bay Water Park.

Everything YOU Need to Know about Volcano Bay Rides, Food, Cabanas & More

courtesy of Universal Orlando

Universal’s Volcano Bay is the first Water Theme Park- setting it apart from any other water park experience in the world! Spanning 28 acres, Volcano Bay offers a complete immersion into a lush, tropical oasis inspired by the Pacific Isles (much like the experience at Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter). Best of all, Universal Orlando has introduced ground-breaking technology to enhance the fun & remove the hassles that typically come with a water park experience. It is truly one of the best water parks in Orlando, if not the Best!

courtesy of Universal Orlando

TAPUTAPU = NO LINES for Volcano Bay Rides!

You heard us right, these perks are real! First of all, no more standing in long lines or carrying cash or credit cards through the parks and secondly, you don’t even have to fumble for a locker key thanks to Universal Volcano Bay’s Virtual Line made possible by the TapuTapu Wearables made exclusively for Volcano Bay.

courtesy of Universal Orlando

How Does It Work?

Guests receive a TapuTapu wearable upon entry (no additional costs involved) which allows you to participate in the new virtual line technology. To utilize the virtual line all you do is walk up to the totem located at the front of the attraction and tap your TapuTapu band on it. It’s similar to the poles you tap your magic band on at Disney World. However, with the TapuTapu when it’s your turn to ride, you receive an alert you to head over to the attraction. No carrying tubes, no standing in long lines, no hassles.

courtesy of Universal Orlando

TapuTapu also allows you to explore various TapTu Play experiences throughout the park. You can control streams of water spurting from whales in Tot Tiki Reef or shoot water cannons at other guests snaking down Kopiko Wai Winding River. In fact, you can even illuminate images in the volcano’s hidden caves. Just like below!

courtesy of Universal Orlando

Still have questions? Watch the TAPUTAPU in action below-

courtesy of Universal Orlando

Do More with Your TapuTapu Band

The TapuTapu wearable does more than just assist you with queuing. Check out these three awesome ways your TapuTapu wearable will assist you during your stay at Universal’s Volcano Bay.

TapTu Pay: With TapTu Pay, you can make purchases throughout the entire park with the TapuTapu wearable on your wrist.

Click below for My Most Popular Universal Orlando Tips

NEW! TapTu Snap/My Universal Photo Access: I love this one. You can take advantage of special interactive photo ops throughout the park (even on select Volcano Bay rides). You must link your wearable so that it can automatically link your photos to your account. Then you can view, purchase, and share your photos at your convenience.

NEW! Locker Access: I hate locker keys/codes, which is why I love this feature. After you rent a locker, you’ll be able to access it with just a touch of your TapuTapu wearable. Woot! Woot!

*NOTE: You do NOT need a free account to take advantage of TapTu Play, Virtual Line, TapTu Snap or Locker Access. But you DO need it to have a digital ticket and to enable TapTu Pay.

Volcano Bay Rides

Let’s get to the good stuff. For all the thrill-seekers out there, get ready to speed down 18 slides including the first-of-its-kind aqua coaster, called Krakatau. 

courtesy of Universal Orlando

Volcano Bay Rides in Krakatau:

Krakatau Volcano

Volcano Bay is centered around the massive 200-foot-tall Krakatau Volcano. By day this gigantic volcano features beautiful waterfalls streaming down its sides. But, at night it turns to fiery lava! The center point structure is also the starting point for four different water slides. These are some of the most intense of the Volcano Bay Rides

• Krakatau Aqua Coaster sends guests in a four-person canoe UPHILL on the 200-foot-tall Fire & Water Volcano. Guests then race through dark twists and turn within the volcano. For a grand finale, the canoe is sent plunging through a waterfall! This was my daughters favorite of the Volcano Bay Rides

courtesy of Universal Orlando

• There are also three distinctive body slides found at the rear of the volcano, each of which starts off with surprise doors that drop out from beneath you!
  • Ko’okiri Body Plunge: A racing, 70-degree drop that will plummet riders 125-feet through the center of Krakatau. It will be the world’s first slide to travel through a pool filled with guests! This is by far the scariest of the Volcano Bay Rides.
  • Kala and Ta Nui Serpentine Body Slides: Two intertwining slides.
• Punga Racers: This one the munchkins will LOVE! A high-speed race through four different enclosed slides on a mat.

Once you mastered the Krakatau I think it’s only fitting to get yourself a delicious beverage in one of these “I conquered the Krakatau” bottle cooler.

*Did you know you can buy Universal Orlando Merchandise online? Click Here.

Pin for Later-

Volcano Bay Rides in Wave Village:

Wave Village is a perfect place to soak in the sun and relax on the sandy shores. You will find this area at the base of Krakatau and it includes:

courtesy of Universal Orlando

• Waturi Beach: A beach lined wave pool where you can rent one and two-story cabanas and lounge around in luxury.
• The Reef: A calm leisure pool with exciting views of riders speeding through the Ko’okiri Body Plunge.

courtesy of Universal Orlando

River Village:
River Village offers several family-friendly attractions and experiences:

courtesy of Universal Orlando

• Kopiko Wai Winding River: First off, check out this gentle river, which winds through the volcano’s hidden caves, featuring fun water effects and a journey through the cave of starlight.
• Tot Tiki Reef: An adorable toddler play area with spraying fountains, slides and a kid-size volcano.
• Runamukka Reef: A three-story water playground inspired by the coral reef overflowing with twisting slides, sprinklers and more.
• Honu: Honu is also a must-do. It’s an adventurous, multi-passenger raft ride that will soar across a dual wall.
• Ika Moana: A twisting, multi-passenger raft ride that will glide across bubbling geysers.

courtesy of Universal Orlando

Rainforest Village:
Rainforest Village features a bunch of exciting attractions including and my favorite Volcano Bay Rides including Ohyah and Ohno Drop SLides

• Maku: A unique “saucer ride”, which takes multi-passenger rafts speeding around three saucer-shaped curves.
• Puihi: A multi-passenger raft ride that will drop guests into darkness before tossing them into a funnel and launching them into a zero-gravity drop.
• Ohyah and Ohno Drop Slides: Two twisting, adrenaline-pumping slides that launch guests four- or six-feet above the water at the end.
• TeAwa The Fearless River: The action-packed river for thrill-seekers where guests have to hang tight in their inner tube amidst roaring, whitewater rapids.
• Taniwha Tubes: Four unique slides with rafts for both single or double riders. The slides were inspired by Easter Island.
• Puka Uli Lagoon: A serene pool where guests can swim and relax.

The Food

Guys, I am SOOO EXCITED about the island-inspired food at Volcano Bay. At our special event night with Universal Orlando & the TODAY Parenting Team, we were able to sample a bunch of the items that will be featured at Volcano Bay and they were AMAZING!!! I honestly wanted to eat the entire pan of Red Curry Shrimp & Plantains. Even the craft beer selection was on point!

courtesy of Universal Orlando

With over 60 scrumptious food options to choose from you may want to do some research before you head to the parks. Here is a rundown of the different eateries at Volcano Bay for your planning purposes.

Wave Village

Ticket Options for Volcano Bay

There are a variety of options to choose from when you book your visit to Volcano Bay. *Pricing below was current on May 22, 2017 as stated on the Universal Orlando Website.

Universal Orlando 3-Park Multi-Day Tickets

• All 3-Park Multi-Day tickets offer guest admission to Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure AND Universal’s Volcano Bay Water Theme Park
  • Options available from 2 to 5 days in duration
  • Starting at $92 per day (3-day ticket)

*Tip- Keep in mind that to visit all 3 Universal Orlando Theme Parks you will need a minimum of 3 days.

Universal Orlando 3-Park Annual Pass

• Includes admission to Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure AND Universal’s Volcano Bay Water Theme Park, plus special benefits exclusive to Annual Passholders including discounts and perks, free admission to special events and more!
  • Four different pass options are available, starting at
  • FlexPay option is also available with low monthly payment rates after one initial down payment

*Tip- we purchase an annual pass even as Southern CA residents and we try to make two trips to Orlando during our year to get as much bang for the buck as we can. For example, we visited last fall around Thanksgiving and are headed back this June 😉

Florida Resident 3-Park Multi-Day Tickets*

• The Florida Resident 3-Park Multi-Day ticket entitles one guest admission to all three of Universal Orlando’s theme parks: Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure AND Universal’s Volcano Bay Water Theme Park
  • Options available from 2 to 3 days in duration
  • Valid up to 180 days after purchase
  • *Proof of Florida residency required

Universal’s Volcano Bay 1-Day Admission Ticket

• One-day admission to Universal’s Volcano Bay
• $62 child/ $67 adult + tax

Universal’s Volcano Bay Express Pass * Currently Not Available*

• With Universal Express, guests can bypass the Virtual Line experience and enjoy Volcano Bay’s rides at their convenience. Valid one time at each participating attraction.
  • Cost $19.99 per person/ per day/ + tax
• Universal Express Unlimited. It offers unlimited Express ride access at participating rides within Universal’s Volcano Bay.
  • Cost $39.99 per person/ per day/ + tax

NOTE: The included express pass that comes with some of the on-site resorts is only valid for the dry parks and does not work with Volcano Bay.

Cabana Bay Beach Resort courtesy of Universal Orlando

Premium upgrades, such as Cabanas are available at Universal’s Volcano Bay too. Prices vary depending on the day

Single Cabana $159.99 & Up – Holds up to 6 people. Choose from upper-level cabanas for spectacular views, ground level cabanas for convenience and accessibility, or stand-alone cabanas that offer a bit more privacy.

Family Cabana $299.99 & Up- Holds up to 16 people. Relax with your group in a large, private stand-alone cabana.

courtesy of Universal Orlando

Grab Coloring Pages for Your Kids on the Universal Orlando Blog here. Or want more great Volcano Bay Tips? Check out Crazy Family Adventure’s tips right here.

Start Planning Your Trip Today!

Also, if you are looking for more great water parks to visit or more tips on Volcano Bay check out these posts from my fellow family travel writers-

*The information contained in the above post appeared first on the Universal Orlando Blog and Volcano Bay press releases. Photos are courtesy of Universal Orlando.

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Mama Munchkin

Amber is not only the dynamic CEO and founder of our team but also a dedicated mother of six and savvy entrepreneur. Her extensive travels with her family have not only created lasting memories but have also led to their tight-knit bonds. Helping you bring your family closer together and finding community with all of you is what gets her out of bed everyday (although her toddler plays a role in this as well).

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