Yes! Volcano Bay at Universal Resort Orlando is reopening on February 27!
This is such good news, and I’ll tell you why. I have to be honest, I’ve never been a big water park fan. Long lines in the scorching sun, burnt feet, confusing layouts, lugging tubes and rafts around and always needing something that’s in your locker that is 18 miles away (or feels like it) … no thanks! UNTIL I visited Volcano Bay.
It was two years ago, when my husband and I were escaping winter in New England with a stay at the incredible Hard Rock Hotel Orlando. After enjoying our morning at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, we decided to hit Volcano Bay and check it out. Seriously, I didn’t want to leave. Here’s how Volcano Bay solved the water park conundrum for me, and for you too:
- Virtual lines! The TapuTapu wristband (more on that in a minute) makes it so instead of standing in the hot sun waiting for a turn to slide, you can enjoy other activities like …
- TeAwa, the Fearless River. I mean, there’s always the beloved lazy river for floating gently by on a tube, and we love that too. But in TeAwa, or as we called it the crazy river, you don a floatation jacket and immerse yourself in rapids for an exhilarating ride. No waiting, and you can hop out after one or two or ten circuits.
- Locker rooms throughout the park. This may seem like not the biggest deal, but Universal got this right. Instead of the only locker/changing room being at the entrance, far from all the fun, Volcano Bay has three. We picked the River Village locker room at the back of the park as everyone else seemed to hit the first one they came to. So my advice is check out the map and pick the locker room closest to the activities you’re most interested in.
- Lush theming. From the centerpiece volcano to the myriad tropical trees and plants throughout the park, this is not your typical concrete jungle water park! There are even misters strategically placed to keep your toes cool as you navigate the park.
- TapuTapu. Best for last! This nifty gadget is wearable technology that is placed on your wrist as you enter the park, and it is the key to all of the other awesome features of Volcano Bay. With your TapuTapu wristband linked to your Universal account, you can:
- Pay for food and drinks throughout the park
- Open and re-lock your locker
- Enter a virtual line for a ride and be alerted when it’s your turn
- Activate little themed surprises around the park
- Take and save photos at the various photo-op locations
One last note about Volcano Bay—it’s just one component of a fantastic stay at Universal Orlando. Universal has a variety of hotels, so whether you want the European refinement of Portofino Bay, the South Pacific vibes of Royal Pacific, Sapphire Falls’ Caribbean flair, feeling like a rock star at the Hard Rock, or feeling the groovy retro feels of Cabana Bay and Endless Summer (Dockside and Seaside) resorts, or the sophisticated feel of Aventura, you can find what you’re looking for. With your stay at any of these resorts you’ll have easy access to Universal Studios Orlando, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay, as well as CityWalk, the place to be for food, drink, shopping and entertainment. We had an absolute blast, and you will, too.
Cheers!
