Volcano Bay
I wrote this post after the grand opening of Universal Orlando’s third theme park, Volcano Bay. The first day was set aside for media, and I was able to go on all of the rides and slides that I wanted to. The second day was opening day, and I was there when the first visitors arrived. I’ve since returned four times, including in March 2023, and I’ve kept this post updated with everything that’s changed. If you notice anything that doesn’t seem to be up-to-date, please let me know!
A Quick Guide to Volcano Bay
Volcano Bay is a water theme park based around the legend of the Waturi people, and it surrounds (literally and figuratively) the Krakatau Volcano. If you walk around the park counterclockwise from the entrance, you’ll immediately see the volcano with Waturi Beach and its wave pool in front of you. The volcano itself holds three trap door slides that drop you very quickly down to the pool/beach. The Kala and Tai Nui Serpentine Body slides are visible on the left and twist and turn to the bottom. The blue slide twists a little more than the green slide. The Ko’okiri Body Plunge is visible is right in the middle of the volcano and basically drops you 125 feet straight down through the waterfall. Well, it looks straight, but it’s actually at a 70-degree angle.
As you continue around the park at Volcano Bay, you reach the Runamukka Reef and Tot Tiki Reef kid play areas and then the Honu ika Moana multi-person slides (each raft holds 4-5 people depending on weight). Don’t worry about carrying your raft up the stairs – there’s a conveyer belt that takes the rafts to the top.
Just past the slides is the entrance to the Kopiko Wai Winding River – basically a lazy river – and then the Krakatau Aqua Coaster, a four-person canoe ride that feels more like a roller coaster than any water park ride I’ve experienced before.
At the back of the park (in relation to the entrance) are the Taniwha Tubes – four twisting slides that you experience on two-person rafts – and right next to the Tubes is the entrance to the TeAwa Fearless River, rougher and more adventurous than the Winding River. You’ll then see the Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides, with six-person rafts, on your right and the Punga Racers on your left – four single-mat slides that come out of the back of the volcano. Continuing on you then reach the park’s last attraction, the Ohyah and Ohno drop slides, relatively standard waterslides but with drops of four feet (Ohyah) and six feet (Ohno) into a pool at the end. Note: you should be a strong swimmer to go on Ohyah and Ohno.
My Favorites
I’ve gone on virtually all slides/rides at Volcano Bay multiple times. My absolute favorite ride is the Aqua Coaster. Unfortunately it usually has the longest wait time, but it’s worth it. My favorite slide is the Honu half of Honu ika Moana, which sends you up two massive walls and is nicely scary. I’ve done the Tai Nui trap door slide from the volcano and am glad that I did it, but trap door slides really aren’t my thing – I prefer longer raft-style rides than ones that shoot you down to the bottom in 7 to 15 seconds. And I love the TeAwa Fearless River. So fun to just float around without a tube.
The Food at Volcano Bay
There are five restaurants and a bar throughout the park, as well as many smaller food and drink stands. The food, at least everything that I tried, was excellent. That’s true in Universal Orlando’s other parks as well. I loved the jerk shrimp mac n’ cheese at Whakawaiwai Eats. The Waturi Fusion ice cream at the end of the day was enjoyable as well, although I had to eat it quickly before it melted – probably my fault for taking photos of it first.
The TapuTapu Wristband
When you arrive at the park, you’re given a TapuTapu wristband to keep throughout the day. This acts as your placeholder for rides. Just tap it to the volcano icon near any ride and you’ll be given an estimated return time. Then head off to the beach, pool, kids areas or winding rivers and relax (no waiting for those attractions), or grab something to eat, and the wristband will vibrate when it’s time to return to the ride. You can return to the ride at any time after the TapuTapu vibrates – no need to jump off a tube on the lazy river or leave lunch right away. Note that you can be checked in for only one ride/slide at a time. The wristband also serves as on-site payment (as long as you’ve linked a credit card) and it lets you reserve and open a locker.
Kids can choose to wear standard TapuTapu wristbands or get lighter, thinner versions that have the same technology. Make sure your kids go in search of interactive TapTu Play experiences throughout the park.
If you lose your wristband at Volcano Bay, you can go to any Guest Services stand to pick up a new one. You’ll need your ticket. And a tip based on personal experience: make sure you know which of your tickets goes to which TapuTapu! I waited in line to get my daughter a new TapuTapu after she lost hers in the lazy river, but I didn’t know which ticket went with her band. So then I had to walk back to our chairs and get my other child’s TapuTapu so that guest services could figure out which TapuTapu was lost. An annoying process, and one that could have easily been prevented if we had kept track of which TapuTapu was hers.
Note: Be sure to download The Official Universal Orlando Resort App in advance, and set up your profile and credit card information. Then link your TapuTapu to your account when you arrive.
Cabanas
There are cabanas for rent throughout Volcano Bay. They come with towels, water, snacks, a locker and concierge service. And one of the best perks of having a cabana: you can check in for any ride (with your TapuTapu) from the cabana. No need to walk across the park to a ride until it’s time to go on!
There are both standard cabanas (for up to six people) and family cabanas, for groups up to sixteen. Note: reserve one well before your visit! They sell out fast during peak season. For current pricing and information about how to rent a Volcano Bay cabana, click here. Note: If that link doesn’t take you straight to the Cabana section, go halfway down the page and click on Add-Ons.
You can also rent shaded pairs of lounge chairs with padded cushions. Do this well in advance as they sell out quickly as well. They come with a lockbox and food/drink service, but not towels.
Tips
Based on my two days at the park, I’d highly recommend arriving early, grabbing beach chairs under an umbrella and then quickly going on at least one or two rides before they have return times. Then tap your TapuTapu to get a reservation for another ride. As soon as you do that ride, tap again at another ride. As I noted above, you can be checked in for the Aqua Coaster and one slide at any given time.
Bring a book for the beach – Volcano Bay is as much about relaxation as rides.
All-day, multi-entry locker rentals are $16-$20 (depending on size). You can’t have loose articles on any rides, and you can only take a camera onto the Kopiko Wai Winding River, so you’re going to want to leave your things in a locker all day or with someone in your party who’s not riding at the same time.
Volcano Bay Towels
Does Volcano Bay provide towels? Yes, but you have to pay for them ($6 as of 2023). So take your own to avoid having to rent Volcano Bay towels.
Hotels don’t want you to take their room towels to the water park, so I highly recommend traveling with thin linen towels. I talk more about these in my packing post.
And wear flip-flops! You need to remove your shoes for all rides.
Have a question about what you can or cannot bring into Volcano Bay? I’ve received so many questions that I created a separate post: What Can I Take into Volcano Bay?
Volcano Bay Prices
Volcano Bay ticket prices right now (2023) are $80/day for adults and $75/day for kids 3-9 if you purchase at the gate, or $70 for adults and $65 for kids if you buy online in advance. So buy in advance! It’s also part of Universal Orlando’s multi-day, multi-park tickets. The three-day and four-day multi-park tickets make the most sense from both financial and flexibility perspectives. That way you’re covered even if your kids want to do all three parks every day – a possibility, and the parks are so close together that it’s not a hassle to do that.
Hotels Near Volcano Bay
The closest hotels to Volcano Bay, in order, are:
- Cabana Bay Beach Resort
- Aventura Hotel
- Endless Summer – Surfside Inn
- Endless Summer – Dockside Inn
- Loews Sapphire Falls Resort
- Loews Royal Pacific Resort*
- Hard Rock Hotel*
- Loews Portofino Bay Hotel*
If you’re coming to Universal Orlando just for Volcano Bay, stay at Cabana Bay. It’s next door to the park and has a private entrance. If you’re planning on visiting all three of Universal Orlando’s parks though, any of the on-site hotels will work well. I’ve stayed at all of the hotels except for the very newest (Aventura and Endless Summer) and have enjoyed all of them. My personal favorite thus far has been the Hard Rock Hotel simply because it’s closest to the gates of Universal Studios, and my kids love the pool there. Cabana Bay has the coolest theme. Sapphire Falls and Aventura are both short walks to Volcano Bay (under five minutes). But really you can’t go wrong. In this post I compare all of the Universal Orlando hotels.
Volcano Bay Parking and Arrivals
Volcano Bay doesn’t have its own parking lots. Follow signage to the main parking structure at Universal City Walk and then hop on a shuttle to Volcano Bay from there. Likewise, if you are arriving via taxi or Uber, you need to get dropped off at City Walk and take the shuttle. There are also shuttles from all onsite hotels other than Cabana Bay (which has a gate for guests).
Towels at Volcano Bay Part Two
And just to reiterate, since half the people coming to this page are Googling Volcano Bay Towels: bring your own towels! Towels at Volcano Bay cost $6 to rent.
What am I leaving out? What questions do you have? I’ll continue to update this post so that it’s as complete as possible.
Note: I was invited to cover the opening of Volcano Bay in my role as a Universal Orlando brand ambassador.
Specifics
To Book the Closest Hotels to Volcano Bay: Aventura Hotel | Cabana Bay | Loews Sapphire Falls | Loews Royal Pacific
I personally like Sapphire Falls the best, as it has a ferry to the other parks and is easily walkable to Volcano Bay, and my kids love the pool.
To Look for Flights: Kayak
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For locals, where is the best place to park and enter with minimal walking?
My understanding is that there is no dedicated Volcano Bay parking. You need to park in the regular Universal Orlando Resort parking structure at Universal CityWalk and then take a shuttle over.
You are correct about the parking, Eric. Just confirmed this at Universal training a few days ago.
Thanks Stefanie!
How often do the shuttles run to leave the park
Shuttles run continuously to/from Volcano Bay.
Do you know at what time the shuttle service begins in the morning?
The official response from Universal Orlando: The shuttle starts running roughly a half hour before early park admission.
Dress for water rides
Everyone was in standard swimsuits, and a lot of people had on swim shirts / rash guards as well, although you have to remove those for the trap door slides.
Do you have to remove them only for the trap door slides or for all rides?
I had my rash guard on all day. The only time I was asked to remove it was on the trap door slide. And that makes sense – it would have ended up over my head otherwise!
Hello can I bring birthday decorations to the park if I don’t rent a cabana? They’ are expensive.
No. That’s one of the primary things I list here: https://travelbabbo.com/what-can-i-take-into-volcano-bay/
What about dress code for females having cultural restrictions?? Do they can wear leggings and tops ??? Or everybody must wear a swimsuit????
I saw visitors in alternative swimwear while I was there. It’s definitely not restricted to American cultural norms. Just wear something that can be considered swimwear and don’t have anything that can be considered a loose item. Having been to the beach in a lot of Muslim-majority countries, I know there’s a wide range of appropriate swimwear that’s not revealing.
Did you happen to notice any weight restrictions for the slides?
I noticed that we were weighed for all of the group slides – sometimes we weighed too much and one person had to go on another slide, and sometimes we didn’t weigh enough and we had to wait for another person. But I have no idea what the exact range was that they were looking for.
Can you wear water shoes on the lazy rivers and wade pool? Also, did you notice any problems with single riders being grouped with others?
Hi Richard. Official responses from Universal Orlando Resort:
1) Proper swimming attire should be worn at all times. If the shoes could qualify as swimwear – water shoes, etc. – they should be permitted as long as they don’t interfere with the proper functioning of the ride experience.
2) In order for the multi-rider raft rides to function properly, multiple riders are needed to enjoy the experience.
Can u be dropped off by taxi or uber
No. You can be dropped off at the typical drop-off for Universal Orlando Resort parks, and then follow the signs to hop on the shuttle to Volcano Bay.
Do you know of any weight requirements?
There are weight requirements at each ride, but they’re not posted. Instead there are scales that you step on (discreetly) and the ride attendant makes sure that each raft is somewhere between their minimum and maximum weights. A couple of times we needed to reduce the number of people on a slide (split up onto two rafts), and another time another person joined us to get us over the minimum. It’s obviously based on safety.
Was everyone wearing some form of footwear to walk around the park when you went? We are going in about 2 weeks. I shudder at walking around barefoot, plus the factor of the Florida heat on the pavement, but I believe the last two times I went to waterparks (long ago), we did not wear shoes. Did it seem like everyone was wearing shoes and then using the areas to store them before entering the ride?
Just to test things out, I walked around barefoot one day and in flip-flops the next day. The pathways were warm but never felt too hot to me so it’s doable, but still I was happier in flip-flops. There are stands near the entrance to every slide/ride where you can leave your shoes. The only annoying thing is that from the end of a slide/ride sometimes it’s a little bit of a walk back to the front of the ride to pick up your shoes. I noticed that some people were figuring that out and leaving their shoes closer to the exit pools.
Did you notice any of the large 16-person family cabanas?
No. I wanted to explore all of the cabana areas, but they were still finishing construction on some cabanas (media day into opening day). All of the cabanas that I was able to see up-close looked to be standard 6-person layouts.
Did you notice if there was any showers?
Yes, there are showers in the locker rooms.
Hi great report thank you! I am going in July/August and staying at Cabana Bay. I read in here that there is a private entrance. Can you explain in detail more?
Thank you!
Yes, there’s an entrance to the side for guests staying at Cabana Bay Beach Resort. It’s to the right of the banners that spell out Volcano Bay at the front entrance.
Can anyone use this route or do they have to be staying at Cabana Bay?
Anyone staying at one of the five on-site hotels can use the Cabana Bay entrance.
Are you allowed to bring coolers in to the park like at Disney water parks?
No, coolers aren’t allowed at Volcano Bay.
Once your wristband buzzer goes off to let you know your ride is ready, how long do you have to get there?
You can ride anytime you want after the TapuTapu vibrates.
My understanding is that you have an hour to get back to the ride, according to this article. https://orlandoinformer.com/universal/volcano-bay-touring-plan/
Nope, that article is incorrect. Just verified with Universal Orlando that there is no official time limit to return to a ride. You can relax or dine as long as you want before returning and riding. The only downside is that you can’t join another queue until you ride, so you don’t want to wait too long.
hi.. do you know if the changing room has safety lockers to store our valuable stuff? I would like to go today.. thanks
Yes, there are lockers for rent at several locations. You access them with your TapuTapu. I used one during my first visit and it worked well. I’ve heard they fill up fast though, so get one early.
what slides can you bring a go-pro camera on?
Unfortunately none. If you see footage it’s because they had a couple of go-pro mounts for us to use on Media Day, but there’s no way that they could make that work when the park is crowded.
what about holding the camera with your hand
No, for safety reasons. A lot of the slides are wild and you don’t want to let go of the camera. At least we were told that we weren’t allowed to have cameras on any rides/slides. Not sure if they’ll loosen that restriction on the lazy river and things like that…
Hello , what about a Go Pros on my head with head band holding it ?
You can try. I’ve always been told no, but maybe with the right (small) Go Pro and a good headband a ride operator will be convinced it’s not a loose item. If it works, let me know!
Is there a weight limit on the individual rides too?
No. Well, the official language is: “This attraction may not accommodate certain people due to
their body shape or size”, but I checked the official weight restrictions for Punga Racers, Ohno and Ohyah and I don’t see any minimums/maximums like on other rides.
Thank you very helpful we are heading there today and with our two kids 8 and 5!
Hi- do you know the cost of renting a locker at Volcano Bay?
A locker right now is $14.99 I believe.
Thanks for this! What about wait times? My cousin said that they were 2 hours or longer!
Yep, I saw some estimated wait times of over two hours on opening day. I would guess things will consistently get better over the first couple months as Universal Orlando is figuring out visitor behavior (ride preferences) and where the balance is between visitor numbers / park capacity and visitor satisfaction. That’s not an official answer or anything, but Universal’s full of smart people, and given their investment in Volcano Bay they’re going to want everything to be as perfect as possible.
I hope so, because this was the worse part of our experience the long waits for rides. My family and i spented 12 hrs. at Volcano Bay and still didn’t get to ride three rides.
Amazing photos, Eric! And that’s one brave slide model you’ve got there 😉
Great getting to hang out with you again!
We visited yesterday. Arrived early and managed two rides. Then had to use booking system. Waiting time 190 minutes! In between you cant use any other rides. Nothing to do. Crew member suggested we go for something to eat – very helpful! Another suggested lazy river. My 8 year old got knocked over in the ‘bun fight’ to get a tube as there is no queue (line) just a mad fight. Absolutely disgusted and felt really ripped off. How do I request refund?
I’m a member of Universal’s Blog Squad, but I can’t help with this. I suggest calling Universal Orlando Guest Services at 407-224-4233.
if you have your phone in a water proof pouch, can you take it with you on the rides? or are you going to have to go back and forth from your locker to the rides?
Free-flowing articles must be stowed in lockers or left with a non-rider. I just left my phone in a locker all day.
Can you bring in yeti cups or water bottles?
Yes, they’re allowed.
Hello, the Universal Cups with chip can use there paying refill?
Thank you
Yes, the refillable cups from the other Universal parks work at Volcano Bay.
Can boys/men wear fast dry water shirts on rides?? Ty
Yes, just not on the three trap door slides. At least those are the only slides where they were asking that people remove them. Seemed to be good everywhere else.
hi can hop, using the shuttle from Universal Studios to Volcano bay during the day or vice versa , thinking a few hours in Universal then a cool off in the Bay would be perfect
Sure, you can do that. Not sure about how long it would take to leave Universal Studios, walk to the shuttle, take it to Volcano Bay and then wait in line to get in? I know Volcano Bay has been hitting capacity lately, so you would want to check at Universal before going over just to make sure that you can actually get in.
What is the cost of lockers and towels?
Prices vary, but the current cost for a locker is $14.99 and a towel rental is $4.99.
Can you wear goggles or sunglasses on the water rides?
In general yes if they are secured and not considered loose articles. Goggles/sunglasses may not be permitted on intense attractions like the trap door slides though – they didn’t want us to have anything at all.
Food? Can you bring your own food/snacks?
The official response from Universal: “Yes, food is permitted if you have a food allergy/intolerance. Items should be contained in a soft-sided cooler; glass is not allowed.”
On June 1st, I asked a similar question in this feed: “can any food or coolers be brought in to the park?” and the answer was no. Has the policy changed? Do they require any medical documentation of a food allergy?
Just verified that the policy hasn’t changed. Still no coolers allowed – the only exception is for food brought in by people with food allergies. No, no documentation is required.
It says right on their website “snacks are allowed” in their restrictions/policy section. They just say no picnic foods. So basically not this big lunch. But DISNEY doesn’t hassle people about it. I mean what’s the definition of a snack? Maybe a 12″ sammich is a snack to me. And the allergy thing could be played too. I got allergies to evrythang right. So I bring my own stuff. I think this is why Disney doesn’t say much either b/c they don’t want to fight with those people that are intent on not buying their food.
Keep everything in moderation. I’m sure they won’t hassle people about a little food especially because, like you say, anyone can make up a food allergy. Just don’t bring in a cooler, picnic basket or the entire breakfast buffet from your hotel. If security has an issue with anything, they should tell you when you get on the shuttle, so you can run things back to your car.
Is there a size restrictions for tote bags? We’re going tomorrow and I would like to bring a bag to hold towels, a water bottle, and snacks. The bag measures 22″ wide x 16″ (deep).
It’s already Friday evening and I wouldn’t be able to get an official answer for you until Monday, but I can’t imagine that that would be a problem. Seems like a reasonable size for a beach bag. Be aware that officially snacks aren’t allowed unless you have a food allergy/intolerance.
1). RE-ENTRY? I want to hang out then come back for the night show. How do they handle that? And I assume your cabana is held for you too. I guess it’ll be an issue checking in again b/c they won’t let you leave with Tapu Tapu.
2). Is there very little shade? I was looking at a cabana just b/c of this. DIsney’s waterpark has a lot of trees. I don’t want to be in full sun for 6-8 hours. And those canopy’s won’t cover your legs or feet. Aquatica has monster umbrellas over their chairs… like all of them.
3). Were the TABLETs in the cabana’s removed for technical reasons? I read they have tablets for Tapu Tapu ride check-in so you don’t have to walk around.
Universal says “there are totems in the cabanas so that cabana users can check-in remotely”. Not sure where you heard that they had been removed?
Part of the confusion is that their website, I checked again just now, has ZERO mention of these at all. So I was assuming it was one of those things that they’re working on like the long lines.
4). But at same time…. is a cabana too much shade? What if you want to lay in sun does the cabana offer some option for that, or a separate tanning area in front of cabana with private chairs?
I didn’t see private (reserved) chairs in front of the cabanas, but there are chairs all around if you want to grab some to split your time.
Yes, you can re-enter throughout the day. You’ll just need a new TapuTapu when you come back in.
I’m used to being in the sun at theme parks, so I didn’t think too much about sun vs. shade when I was there. I definitely saw plenty of places in the park to be in the shade though, and obviously a lot of beach and pathway space in the sun. Not sure if someone else who’s been recently wants to chime in on this?
I think UNIVERSAL is being very shady about cabana & chair prices. Website says chairs $29.99 and single cabana $159.99…. “from”. Ok I thought this meant variations are due to supply and demand, location of seating (ie closer to the wave pool etc). The “FROM” prices don’t even begin until after November. I think it’s just shady to not let people see pricing at all like you would for a hotel… or how like ANYTHING else would. So I call and they’re like Cabana’s are sold out “single ones” and if they weren’t they’re starting at $399.99. There are some canopy chairs but they’re not 29.99… they’re $59.99 and up. It’s like some bait-and-switch car salesman game. They probably got a screen there with some range and if you protest they’re authorized to knock $5 off etc. It’s very DISHONEST.
OH OH… )5. What’s deal with this seasonal times and stuff. So tix are not set for a day? If you show up too late they may tell you it’s full? I bought mine thinking it’s for a specific day and I plan on coming that day. But there are no dates on the tickets.
6). I didn’t see anything anywhere about Volc Bay Universal Express passes. Not sure it’s a good deal for $40 more but.
5) Call Guest Services to double-check. Their number is 407-224-4233.
6) Express Passes aren’t currently being offered for Volcano Bay.
Another big deal right now with this , and I hope will chg as crowds die down, you MAY not be able to GET IN PARK, or even RE-ENTER either. They are at capacity every day. So if you get there too late you may be turned away. DEF make a lot of people angry. Tickets DO NOT have a specific date on them. If you LEAVE and try to RETURN … you are even more likely to NOT be allowed re-entry. The only way around this, I’m told, is to reserve seating and then it’s there for you all day. They do take Tapu Tapu when you leave. I want to come back later at night and check out the nighttime stuff. I’m going to make one more phone call and do a 2nd verification of this too. NOT a big deal for me b/c I’ll be at Cabana Bay and going 1 hour early. But can you imagine a guy with a car full of kids thinking he has tickets and parking, busing over there… and TURNED AWAY. Lot of angry people. I still can’t believe they are doing this. So I need to verify with a 2nd person. With this and the FISHY premium seating scam it’s pretty obvious Universal is more interested in making as much money as quick as they can on this park and putting guests 2nd…. or even 3rd or 4th.
Technically I’m guessing it would be easy to get away filming a GoPro or Sony action cam?
Good luck sneaking one on. They were very careful not to let us take on anything that could be considered a loose article or a safety concern. If you had a camera in your swimsuit pocket and started on a ride, you would barely be able to get it out and start the recording before the end of the ride? I doubt there’s any way to get a full ride video unless you get special permission or really embed it in your clothing so that it’s safe. The official policy is that cameras aren’t allowed on any rides other than the lazy river.
I had called to request a cabana rental for August and they told me that they are on a first come first serve basis. Do you know this to be true or should I call again?
Yes, they are on a first-come, first-serve basis. As crazy as it sounds, August could be sold out already. It might be worth another call to get the non-cabana premium seating / shaded chairs.
I just called few days ago and nothing was left for first week into August except some canopy chairs and they were NOT $29.99. They were DOUBLE. And guy said IF Cabana’s were open they are not $159… but “starting” at $399.99. Crazy. I complained about all of this and I’m waiting for upper level management to get back with me. As far as I know… if it’s “at capacity” and you leave you will NOT get back in. And your tickets DO NOT have a date on them. So you are NOT guaranteed entry on a specific day.
Thanks Marlie. I assume you’re correct – if it’s a normal non-capacity day and you want to leave and re-enter you can, but if it’s at capacity and you give up your TapuTapu and leave the park, you can’t get back in.
I don’t understand the pricing either, other than supply/demand.
If I buy my ticket online and get to the park and their already at capacity am I able to get refunded? Or can I use the ticket for another day since they aren’t date specific ?
The tickets aren’t dated so you can use them another day. But I’m sure Guest Services would be flexible on a refund? Universal is obviously struggling with having a new very popular park and trying to balance attendance with offering a good guest experience. I’ve only heard good things about Universal making things right when guests aren’t happy. Guest Services is at 407-224-4233. Keep me posted.
Hey! Great post lots of information I have a quick question. I am staying at a universal hotel how do I get early admission do I have to bring anything with me ? And if I have multiple people in my room how does that work ?
Thank you!
Check with the Concierge desk, but I’m fairly certain that I’ve only needed my room key to get early entrance at the Universal parks? Every person in your room will get his/her own room key for use at the parks.
Do children have to wear life vests and are they supplied for free or is there a charge?
Some rides require life vests. They’re provided for free.
This sounds like a super millennial-y question, but what did you do with your phone all day? I am hardly able to go on vacation, so I really want to take pictures throughout the day and be able to remain in contact with others, considering my mom is a nervous wreck when I’m away, etc. So, a locker wouldn’t be too convenient for me, and I’m not going with anyone who could hold my phone for me while I’m on a ride because everyone would be going at the same time. So how should I tackle this situation? Am I just going to have to tough it up and forget about taking pictures and such?
Yep, I had the same problem, especially since I wanted to take photos to be able to write about the experience. What I did was walk around the park both mornings with a camera and phone, take pictures, and then put everything in a locker for the rest of the day. It was kind of nice not having my phone even during down time on the beach, and just reading instead. But the lockers are relatively convenient if you want to run back there and check messages during the day.
For a single day ticket, when is the expiration date for that ticket?
The expiration date should be on the back of the ticket. You can call Guest Services to verify: (407) 224-4233
Upon entering the park. Are they searching beach bags?
Yes. No matter which park you go to, or where you enter from, bags are searched. This includes beach bags.
Do guests staying at a cabana receive a special wristband to be identified?
No, they receive a TapuTapu like anyone else.
I wear prescription glasses. Are these permitted on the rides? I don’t own contacts… :/
Yes. You can’t have loose items on rides, but glasses are fine.
So I called Universal this morning so I could arrange for premium seating while we are there in August. First the person I spoke with wasn’t sure if they were releasing seats that far in advance. She checked and I was able to get seating for both the days I requested but I was never quoted $29.99 as per the website. The first day was $64.99 and the 2nd day was 69.99 I assume it was higher since it was a Friday. I didn’t question the prices because she did say it does guarantee entry even when they are at capacity so I’m also going to assume since we have the 3 park, park-to-park tickets I’ll be able to come and go since those chairs are ours for the day. Hope we have a great time and hope this helps.
Thanks for the comment! That makes sense that they guarantee entry if you have any sort of an advance reservation (chairs, cabanas), but that’s great to hear it in so many words.
We lucked out and was able to rent a cabana for our visit next week. Do they restock the water in the fridge throughout the day and is there wifi available?
Wow, finally questions that I can’t find the answers to! From what I can find, the fridge is not re-stocked – only prestocked. I’m also unsure about the wi-fi. These would be good questions for Guest Services – 407-224-4233.
If you think about it after your visit, please leave a note here with what you find and any other advice for people.
If I am staying at a universal resort, will they provide me with towels to take to Volcano Bay so I won’t have to pay to rent them?
Nope – the pool and hotel towels should stay at the hotel. They’re not supposed to be taken to Volcano Bay.
Hi , are coolers allowed with food and snacks in the park?
Lots of discussion about this further up in the comments. Coolers aren’t allowed. Water is allowed. Food officially isn’t allowed unless you have an allergy, but you likely won’t be hassled if you bring a few snacks.
i am staying at a non universal resort across the street from volcano bay, what time do you suggest i get to volcano bay , since the other resorts are letting people in an hour early, im scared they will reach their capacity before others are allowed in, what do you suggest I do and what time
They’ve been hitting capacity a lot this summer, especially on weekends. I haven’t heard of anyone getting there when they officially open and being turned away, so I think that’s your best option – be in line when they open to the public.
830 at least
Hi, i have a GoPro wrist strap , would this be allowed on slides since it is technically not a loose artifact?
You can try, but I was told no.
Do you think i would be allowed to wear denim shorts above my bathing suit in the park?
You can wear shorts over your swimsuit in the park, but not on the rides. Only “proper swimwear” is allowed on the rides/slides.
Are you allowed to take floaties in?
What kind of floaties? Life vests? Arm floaties for your kids? Or rafts/tubes? In general the answer is no – Volcano Bay has kids’ life vests park-wide available for free, and large pool toy floaties aren’t allowed. But let me know if you mean something else by “floaties”.
Hi Thankyou for doing this it’s really helpful to know stuff before you go so thanks for that .I’m going in a couple days , my husband and two children go on most slides and I take the photos as not too keen on water rides. Am I ok to wonder round with my phone and take pictures and is there just normal sunbeds that you can pay a small fee to sit at with your bag. Instead of using the lockers ?
You are welcome to wander and take all the photos you want. There are normal sunbeds throughout the park for free – a lot of which have umbrellas for shade. You just need to get there early to grab a couple.
Do you know if what the water temps are in the Fall / Winter months?
Thanks
Nope. Universal will only say: “The pools are temperature controlled to ensure a great experience no matter the season.”
Hi, do you know if there are life jackets available for adults?
Yes, I remember seeing adult sizes.
Can I wear shorts with a zipper I was not allowed to do anything because of it i just want to know if I am allowed to wear shorts with a zipper
Proper swimwear is preferred/expected on all rides. When I asked about t-shirts and shorts I was told: “The only rides at Volcano Bay that t-shirts are not permitted on are the three trapdoor drop slides that start at the top of the Krakatau Volcano: Kala and Tai Nui Serpentine Body Slides and the Ko’okiri Body Plunge. T-shirts and shorts should be fine otherwise. Avoid wearing any attire with buckles, rivets, or any sharp adornments.” Are you saying that you were not allowed to go on rides with shorts with a zipper?
Hi, do you still have to rent the towels for $4.99? Thanks.
You’ve never had to rent towels. They have them available for $4.99, but take your own towels to save money.
hey, I’m looking to go next month for my birthday, do you have to know how to swim to attend this water park? Thanks
No, you don’t have to know how to swim. Most slides end in shallow water and you can walk out of the pools. Much of the lagoon is shallow, or you can get a life vest and go out as far you want. Ohyah and Ohno require a strong swimming ability since they drop you into deep water, but those are the only slides that are like that (as far as I can recall).
Hello are there many stairs for the rides?
In general, yes. Some rides like the Aqua Coaster have fewer stairs, but for a lot of the slides you have to walk up several stories.
How are the stairs for the rides? I can’t climb a lot of stairs especially going high up I get vertigo it is very weird. I had this problem at adventure island not as much at aquatic. Are there stairs or ramps or alternative ways up to the rides?
Yes, there are a lot of stairs, as the slides leave from platforms that are several stories up. I didn’t see alternate ways up.
Is it warm enough in late November to go to Volcano Bay?
Sure. Average high in November is 78. It may be cool in the mornings and late in the day, but the water is warm, and there are fewer people.
Can I take beach toys ? The basic shovel and bucket ?
Officially, things made of “hard plastic” are not allowed into Volcano Bay. Leave them at home to be safe.