Volcano Bay Water Park is more than just a water park and I am obsessed! I am not a water park fan at all, but spending time at Universal’s Volcano Bay Water Theme Park had me reconsidering that. I had the best day with Dan visiting Volcano Bay Water Park and loved my time here! Volcano Bay is a one-of-a-kind water park and offers fun multi-passenger rides (more than any other water theme park in Orlando!) The best part about Volcano Bay is that you barely wait in lines, you don’t have to carry tubes around the park, and the pools and rides are heated to around 80 degrees year-round!

I LOVE the theme of Volcano Bay. I felt like I had been transported to Hawaii (without having to board an 8-hour flight- HA. HA.) When you visit Volcano Bay, you become part of the Waturi family. The Waturi were voyagers from Polynesia. They traveled from island to island until they discovered the Krakatau Volcano (which is the iconic volcano at Volcano Bay). The Waturi embrace their visitors and display their Polynesian cultures all throughout the park.

As an Annual Passholder, we have free parking at the parking garages at Universal City Walk. There is a parking area designated for guests visiting Volcano Bay. We parked our car at about 9 AM in the garage and walked to the security entrance that is located on the first floor of the parking garage where you will then board the shuttles to Volcano Bay. Early Park Admission starts 30 minutes prior to the official park opening for Volcano Bay. Since we were staying on-site, we also made sure to utilize Early Park Admission (this is a great on-site benefit for Universal guests and I highly recommend it!) Volcano Bay can hit capacity in the mornings, especially during the summer and on weekends, so it is important to use Early Park Admission if you have it or to get to the parks early. If you park at the parking garage, shuttles start running about 15 minutes prior to Early Park Admission starting. Resort Shuttles will also begin running one hour prior to Early Park Admission for guests staying on Universal property to Volcano Bay. It is about a 5-minute ride to Volcano Bay, so we were at Volcano Bay a little before 9:30. After scanning your ticket, you will be asked to show your resort room key so that way you can access the park early. If you don’t have Early Park Admission, you will have to wait in a designated space until the park officially opens. With Early Park Admission, this is a great time to get to a beach chair and select the perfect spot with an umbrella in front of the volcano!

Tickets

You can purchase a 1-Day Volcano Bay ticket. However, if you have a 2-Park ticket (Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure), you can upgrade it to a 3-Park ticket to include Volcano Bay Water Park. This gives you admission to all 3 parks every day that your ticket is valid.

Express Passes

When you stay at a premier resort (Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, and Loews Royal Pacific Resort), Express Passes are included with your stay when you visit Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. However, it does NOT include Volcano Bay Water Park. You have to purchase a separate Express Pass when visiting this park. With the Universal Express Pass at Volcano Bay, you can skip the line at select attractions and you’ll be directed to the entrance of the attraction. You won’t have to use TapuTapu to select your ride times. (More on TapuTapu below!)

TapuTapu Wristband

The TapuTapu wristband is a wearable “watch”  that you will receive when you arrive in the park. When you scan your ticket at the front entrance, your ticket will be scanned and you will be assigned a TapuTapu. The TapuTapu is your Virtual Line reservation system with TapTu ride, can open lockers, create interactive experiences with TapTu Play, a virtual wallet with TapuTu Pay, and can take photos with TaptuSnap.

Taptu Pay

TapTu Pay lets you make cash-free purchases for food and merchandise while visiting Volcano Bay. Each person can create an individual pin code for transactions. To use TapTu Pay, you just link a credit or debit card to your account in the Official Universal Orlando App.

Taptu Snap

There are interactive photo opportunities throughout the park as well as on the water rides. Your TapuTapu will automatically link your photos to your account so you can view, purchase, and share your photos at your convenience. If a ride has photo capabilities, you will receive a message on your TapuTapu.

Taptu Ride

You will be able to wait in line virtually while you are in other areas of the park! TapTu Ride takes away the need to stand in line for long periods of time. To use the TapTu ride system, tap the totem outside of the attraction that you would like to ride. The totem will display the virtual wait time minutes. When it is your turn to ride, the TapuTapu will vibrate to alert you to return to the attraction’s entrance!  You can also hop on a ride that has a “Ride Now” status.  If the park is not busy, a lot of rides can have the “Ride Now” feature, or waits can be low and your return times are 10-15 minutes. Remember, you can only register your spot in a virtual line for one attraction at a time. If you try to reserve another time while you are waiting on another ride, it will give you the option to override the current ride you are waiting for if you choose to switch.

Locker Rentals

All 3 Villages (Wave Villages, Rainforest Village, and River Village) offer small, regular, and family lockers. Locker rentals operate at self-service kiosks in the locker area. You’ll need a credit card or cash to rent the lockers. Lockers are available on a first-come, first-served basis. TapuTupu can be used to access your locker throughout the day.

Cabana Rentals

Cabanas offer padded lounge chairs, a small refrigerator that includes bottled water, a welcome basket filled with fruit and snacks, complimentary towel service, and a locker. Each cabana includes a cabana attendant to make sure you receive a concierge service. Your food and drinks will be delivered directly to your cabana after you order from an exclusive menu! Each cabana also offers wifi and comes with outlets.

One-story and two-story cabanas are located throughout the park. A single cabana can hold up to six people. Upper-level cabanas have great views of the park. The ground-level cabanas are great for convenience and accessibility. Both ground and upper-level cabanas also come with two chairs with padded seats and a small table.

A family cabana can hold up to 16 people in a stand-alone cabana. Family cabanas come with two chairs with padded seats and a table with four chairs.

The best part of booking a cabana is that you can schedule your ride times on a virtual reservation tablet instead of walking to and from each individual ride. It’s a great perk to having a cabana and will spend less time walking around to each ride and more time enjoying the park and your cabana.

Cabanas can be booked in advance or the day of your visit, but it is first come first serve and availability is extremely limited (especially during the summer and on weekends!)

Premium Seating

Dan and I splurged and booked premium seating for our day at Volcano Bay and it was SO worth it.

The Volcano Bay Premium Seating includes two padded loungers with an adjustable umbrella and a built-in locker for storage. All the premium seating loungers are in the beach areas. There will be a food and delivery attendant in the area who you can order directly from. OR, you can use the Offical Universal Orlando Resort app and mobile order from the premium seating location. You’ll be given a select QR code and will be able to enter the cabana number you have in order to have your food and drinks delivered directly to your seat.

Villages at Volcano Bay

Volcano Bay is split into 3 different villages and offers 18 different attractions throughout all the villages.

Wave Village

Ko’okiri Body Plunge: The tallest speed slide in the US that travels through a pool full of guests. This drop door slide plunges you 125 feet from the top of the volcano (This one is too scary for me lol!)

Waturi Beach Wave Pool: Located at the base of Krakatau Volcano. You will hear a gong every 20 minutes or so at the volcano alerting you that the waves will start

The Reef: Leisure pool with a waterfall

River Village

Krakatau Aqua Coaster: First-of-its-kind water coaster using magnetic propulsions to catapult four person canoes through Krakatau Volcano! (This is my favorite ride at all of Volcano Bay! It is SO fun!!)

Kopiko Wai Winding River: Drift along the lazy river through a tropical landscape

Honu and ika Moana: Five-person raft sends you up two massive walls

Runamukka Reef: A great children’s play area

Rainforest Village

Kala and Tai Nui Serpentine Body Slides: Intertwining, twin drop door slides from atop the volcano, that has a free fall of 124 feet

Ohyah and Ohno Drop Slides: A slide launching you four feet above the water into a ten-foot-deep pool

Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides- A six-person raft ride offers two different slides

TeAwa The Fearless River: Whitewater river with rapids and waves

Tonga and Riki Taniwha Tubes: Twisting one or two-person green water slides with two different slides to try

Punga Racers: Race through four individual lanes of single-rider body slides through underwater sea caves

Puka Uli Lagoon: Pool with interactive elements

Dining at Volcano Bay

Kohola Reef Restaurant & Social Club (Wave Village)

Koka Poroka Ice Cream Kona (Wave Village)

Dancing Dragons Boat Bar (Wave Village)

Whakawaiwai Eats (River Village)

Bambu (Rainforest Village)

The Feasting Frog (Rainforest Village)

Kunuku Boat Bar (Rainforest Village)

What to Pack When Visiting Volcano Bay

Towels: If you don’t bring your own towels, you can rent towels from the Concierge Hut for a nonrefundable cost of $6.

Sunscreen

Sunglasses: Bring a strap to wear if you are afraid of them falling off on group rides (You can wear them on the raft rides)

Hairbrush/Detangler: My hair was very matted after riding some of these rides. The water is filled with tons of chlorine, so your hair can get tangled easily

Waterproof Phone Case: If you want to keep your phone with you on rides, keep it in a case along with a cord/chain so that way you can wear it around your neck.

Refillable Water Bottle: I packed our big refillable water bottles for each of us. You can bring them full into the parks so that way we did not have to worry about finding water when we were thirsty. Remember to hydrate, even at a water park!

Snacks: Pre-packaged snacks are allowed

A Book: If you plan to relax on the beach and not ride all the rides, bring one to read while you listen to the Hawaiian music

Water shoes: I went barefoot,  but if you are uncomfortable walking around with no shoes, bring these to wear on the rides

Volcano Bay Water Park is not just a water park. It offers so much more for everyone in your family! There are so many fun things to do like run rides, dining, and entertainment. You’ll definitely want to be sure to visit here when visiting Universal! If you’re looking to visit Universal Orlando in the future, I’d love to help you! Remember, my services are always free!

Love and travel dust,

Molly