Visiting Universal’s Volcano Bay is not just about the water rides; it’s a holistic experience combining excitement, quality dining and a festive atmosphere, creating perfect moments to share with family and friends!
Highlights
- Exciting Attractions: With over 30 unique rides and attractions, including the thrilling Krakatau Aqua Coaster and the adventurous Honu ika Moana, there’s something for everyone to enjoy—perfect for families and friends alike.
- Exceptional Dining Options: Savor delicious offerings from multiple restaurants, whether you’re indulging in a Waturi Fusion ice cream cone for a sweet treat or enjoying flavorful meals at Kohola Reef Restaurant & Social Club, catering to all tastes.
- Convenient Access and Amenities: Enjoy a cashless experience with easy transactions, and relax in comfortable cabanas or premium seating for added luxury. Plus, with hotels like Cabana Bay Beach Resort nearby, you can enjoy easy access to Volcano Bay and other Universal parks.
The writer was hosted.
I love adding a water park day to our theme park vacations. It gives us a day to slow down and relax, but we still have tons of fun. After visiting water parks all over Florida, I can confidently say that one stands out above the rest – Universal Volcano Bay water park.
Volcano Bay is a part of Universal Orlando Resort, and its immersive theming, variety of rides and attractions and convenient location (you can actually walk there from some of Universal’s hotels), make it the best water park in Orlando.
Here’s what you need to know before you visit.
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Best Rides
Most thrilling water rides at Volcano Bay
- Must-do: Krakatau Aqua Coaster is the most exciting and unique ride at Volcano Bay. It’s a can’t-miss!
- Must-know tip: Because it is so popular, the line for Krakatau Aqua Coaster tends to be the longest in the park. For shorter waits, get in line first thing in the morning or in the late afternoon.
Krakatau Aqua Coaster is my favorite ride at Volcano Bay. It’s thrilling, but still family-friendly as it twists, climbs and plunges around and through the Krakatau Volcano. My kids love it as much as I do, so I love that we can enjoy it together.
Ko’okiri Body Plunge is by far the most intense ride in the park. After climbing to the top of Krakatau Volcano to reach the slide, the floor drops away and you plunge 125 feet in mere seconds. If your kids aren’t quite ready for this one, they can watch you splash down at the bottom.
Best family water rides at Volcano Bay
- Must-do: Honu of the Honu ika Moana seats up to five riders and sends you hurtling through two massive “waves.”
- Must-know tip: One of the best things about Volcano Bay is that you don’t have to carry your raft or tube up the stairs for most of the slides. The attendants will have them waiting for you at the top!
When I ride Honu of the Honu ika Moana with my family, we cannot stop laughing at each other the entire time. From the “butterflies in your stomach” feeling we get hurtling up the wave walls to the splash down at the end, this ride is so much fun to experience together.
Kopiko Wai Winding River is Volcano Bay’s lazy river. You can pick up a tube at the river’s entrance and float around and through the Krakatau Volcano. The views are gorgeous and there are lots of fun water elements along the way.
Best water rides for kids at Volcano Bay
- Must-do: Runamukka Reef is the biggest water playground for kids I have ever seen. Your kids will love it!
- Must-know tip: Runamukka Reef is only for kids 48 inches or shorter, so it’s best for younger kids.
Runamukka Reef and Tot Tiki Reef are Volcano Bay’s two water playgrounds for kids. Runamukka Reef is larger and designed for older kids, while Tot Tiki Reef is geared more toward toddlers and babies.
Runamukka Reef is large, with several slides and interactive elements like water cannons and buckets that dump over once filled with water. My kids can spend hours playing here, but there are plenty of lounge chairs where I can relax while they splash and slide.
Tot Tiki Reef is a pared-down version with pint-size slides and fountains that kids can splash around in.
Best eats at Volcano Bay
- Must-do: You simply cannot visit Volcano Bay without getting a Waturi Fusion ice cream cone. It combines a rainbow of tasty flavors.
- Must-know tip: If you have a cabana or premium seating, you can have your food delivered straight to your seat.
There are food carts and restaurants situated throughout Volcano Bay, so you are never far from a bite to eat or a cool cocktail.
That said, Kohola Reef Restaurant & Social Club tops my list because of the variety it offers. I can get something flavorful like coconut curry, even if my kids want to play it safe with cheese pizza.
For a tasty vegan option, go for the Chick’n Katsu Bowl at Bambu. It’s made with plant-based chicken and fresh vegetables.
If you are in need of a tropical beverage to cool off, head to the Dancing Dragons Boat Bar. They have an extensive menu of beer, wine and cocktails, but my personal favorite is the Kalarita, an orange-flavored margarita.
Best hotels near Volcano Bay
- Must-do: If you stay at Cabana Bay Beach Resort, reserve a Volcano Bay room with a view of all the fun you have to look forward to at the park.
- Must-know tip: Not only can you walk to Volcano Bay from the hotels listed here, you can also walk to Universal’s other parks via the tree-lined Garden Walk.
Cabana Bay Beach Resort is the closest hotel to Volcano Bay. You can actually see the towering Krakatau Volcano from much of the resort. Even if you don’t book a Volcano Bay view room, you can get a peek at the water park from Cabana Bay’s pool area.
Volcano Bay is connected to Cabana Bay via a walking path from the back of the hotel’s pool area. It’s a short and convenient walk.
Aventura Hotel is almost just as close as Cabana Bay, and is also connected to Volcano Bay via a short walking path.
If choosing between the two, Cabana Bay is slightly more affordable than Aventura and has a water slide and lazy river, but Aventura has amenities like a rooftop bar and restaurant and slightly larger, more upscale rooms.
Universal’s Volcano Bay Basics
- Must-do: There are several interactive elements inside the park. Look for “tap-to-play” spots and give them a tap to see what fun surprises they trigger.
- Must-know tip: You can’t drive directly to Volcano Bay. You need to park at Universal Orlando’s main parking garage and board a bus to Volcano Bay.
Volcano Bay Tickets
You can purchase individual Volcano Bay tickets or add Volcano Bay admission to a multi-day, multi-park ticket that includes access to Universal’s other theme parks. Tickets start at $80 per day for adults and $75 per day for kids ages 3-9. Kids under age 3 are free.
Volcano Bay also hosts seasonal after-hours events called Volcano Bay Nights. Tickets to these events are closer to $100 per person, but include nighttime access to Volcano Bay with lower crowds, complimentary snacks, character meet-and-greets and more.
Volcano Bay Add-Ons
The lines for the slides at Volcano Bay are mostly manageable, but if you don’t want to wait at all, you can purchase a Universal Express skip-the-line pass. I haven’t found it necessary, but it all depends on the crowd levels during your visit.
The add-on I much prefer to splurge on is a cabana rental. The cabanas provide shade, comfortable loungers, a refrigerator with water and a fruit plate and concierge service for food and drive delivery.
If you want some of those amenities, but don’t plan on spending much time in your seats, premium seating is available at a lower price point.
Volcano Bay Hours
Volcano Bay’s hours vary per season, but the water park is typically open from 9 a.m. or 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. in the summer, and closer to 5 p.m. in the fall and winter months.
The park also occasionally closes for seasonal maintenance, so be sure to check the park hours before your visit.
How to Get to Volcano Bay
If you are staying in one of Universal Orlando’s official hotels, you can take a shuttle bus from your hotel to Volcano Bay.
Three of Universal’s hotels – Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Universal Aventura Hotel and Loews Sapphire Falls Resort – are within walking distance of Volcano Bay.
If you are driving to , you will park in the main parking garage near CityWalk and board a bus to Volcano Bay. The parking attendants will direct you toward the parking area nearest the bus depot.
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