Details on Universal's Volcano Bay

[Travis B]

I don't really think that because there's a unique water coaster ride makes it a "legit 3rd theme park". Water parks have a much more limited appeal - and to a degree a more limited utilization. (Southerners - folks that can make the drive - still make up the largest portion of Florida theme park visitors, and they won't go near the water when the temperatures drop below 85. This means 4 months of the year this park will be very empty.

Now - it very well could be the best water in Florida - better than Disney's - and that may be the case. The big question will be do they treat it as an equal from a ticketing standpoint. In other words - are regular APs valid there. My suspicion is this will NOT be the case.

100% agree that it won't be a legit 3rd gate.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I don't really think that because there's a unique water coaster ride makes it a "legit 3rd theme park". Water parks have a much more limited appeal - and to a degree a more limited utilization. (Southerners - folks that can make the drive - still make up the largest portion of Florida theme park visitors, and they won't go near the water when the temperatures drop below 85. This means 4 months of the year this park will be very empty.

Now - it very well could be the best water in Florida - better than Disney's - and that may be the case. The big question will be do they treat it as an equal from a ticketing standpoint. In other words - are regular APs valid there. My suspicion is this will NOT be the case.

I agree and also don't see it as a legit 3rd park either but they seem to be pushing it that way so I will find it interesting to see how things really play out

 

[closetmickey]

It sounds fun- but definitely still just a water park.

 

[saskdw]

News

Universal reveals details about Volcano Bay including a new wearable band of sorts to eliminate lines.

http://www.**************.net/2016/...als-new-ride-details-wearable-lines-and-more/

Looks amazing!!

 

[saskdw]

and these types of innovations and especially that coaster do make it seem more like a legit 3rd Park rather than 2 theme parks and a water park.

Has there been any word on pricing? With how they are pushing it as a 3rd theme park I assume entrance will be the same as the other parks and they will create "3-park" passes, right?

It looks like the island of Atlantis resort. Very cool.

 

[Indybill]

Thanks for posting - I saw they were to release some info today. The big ride sounds really neat and will be interested to see how the water coaster works with the linear induction technology rather than the water jets method

We got this technology at Holiday World years ago and it is really cool. Once you go on it a normal water ride becomes pretty boring.

 

[Dis_Fan]

News

Universal reveals details about Volcano Bay including a new wearable band of sorts to eliminate lines.

http://www.**************.net/2016/...als-new-ride-details-wearable-lines-and-more/

Any chance there will be a connecting gate between Volcano Bay and Cabana Bay hotel? When I stayed a couple months ago it looked like Volcano Bay pushed right up to Cabana Bay. It would be awesome to have a entrance from the hotel and be able to go in your swimsuits and get back to your hotel to change with little inconvenience.

 

[rteetz]

Any chance there will be a connecting gate between Volcano Bay and Cabana Bay hotel? When I stayed a couple months ago it looked like Volcano Bay pushed right up to Cabana Bay. It would be awesome to have a entrance from the hotel and be able to go in your swimsuits and get back to your hotel to change with little inconvenience.

Possibly but haven't heard anything.

 

[rteetz]

One thing worth noting is this water/theme park will have a full service restaurant. Something I don't think either Disney water park has.

 

[twebber55]

i think its a game changer because it keeps people at Universal one more day

 

[rteetz]

i think its a game changer because it keeps people at Universal one more day

Yes and no. Universal already has Wet n Wild. Sure this is Universal's first real water park that is their own but they still have had wet n wild to help try and keep people on property.

 

[twebber55]

Yes and no. Universal already has Wet n Wild. Sure this is Universal's first real water park that is their own but they still have had wet n wild to help try and keep people on property.

somewhat agree
this is far better and is on property
we stayed at Cabana Bay this past summer and never once thought about going to Wet and Wild, but when you show me that gigantic volcano thats a different story

 

[Roxyfire]

We got this technology at Holiday World years ago and it is really cool. Once you go on it a normal water ride becomes pretty boring.

Side/OT question, is Holiday World still around? I went there a few times in middle school and hadn't heard much of it since I moved.

 

[jpeden]

I mean Volcano Bay looks neat, don't get me wrong. But at the end of the day it's still a water park. They're calling it their third gate and trying to say it's a Water Theme Park, but it's not a third gate in my opinion. If it's a third gate, then Disney has six gates with their two water parks. The bands are neat and I like the fact that it's a virtual quene but I just don't see this being the game changer that Universal expects. Sure, people will go, but they may go here instead of Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon. I don't see this drawing anyone away form the four main parks at Walt Disney World.

 

[PuppyJonathan]

I mean Volcano Bay looks neat, don't get me wrong. But at the end of the day it's still a water park. They're calling it their third gate and trying to say it's a Water Theme Park, but it's not a third gate in my opinion. If it's a third gate, then Disney has six gates with their two water parks. The bands are neat and I like the fact that it's a virtual quene but I just don't see this being the game changer that Universal expects. Sure, people will go, but they may go here instead of Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon. I don't see this drawing anyone away form the four main parks at Walt Disney World.

Technically seven if you count DisneyQuest

 

[rteetz]

Technically seven if you count DisneyQuest

I could see maybe counting Disney Springs but in no way shape or form would I see anyone counting disneyquest.

 

[atricks]

A few things on this, the volcano is absolutely huge and impossible to miss on I-4. At night with the eruption effects it'll catch everyone's eye. This park is a collection of the best of the best of the water type rides, and the fact there are actual interactive show scenes in some of the rides (and lazy river when you go under the volcano) is pretty unique, and I think why they are calling it a water theme park. The wave pool is going to be very different from a typical one too, and I've seen some video of the volcano effects tests (not online unfortunately), it works amazingly well.

It'll have a full service dining option, which I think is a first for a park like this. The fact it's in easy walking distance of 3 of the hotels (cabana, Sapphire, and Royal Pacific) is just too much to ingore. (Boat or tram ride from everywhere else, and even the other hotels are walkable) All the other water parks in Orlando are distant from the main action more or less, so I have a feeling this will easily become the most popular of the water parks.

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

somewhat agree
this is far better and is on property
we stayed at Cabana Bay this past summer and never once thought about going to Wet and Wild, but when you show me that gigantic volcano thats a different story

I completely agree. Never considered going to Wet and Wild, and UO did not seem like a full week's vacation spot. But now with VB, I already booked a seven night stay for next fall- and I'm not even a big fan of water parks in general. I am really looking forward to seeing if this one can live up to the hype. It certainly seems to make the theme park resort experience more complete.

 

[kristenabelle]

...I have a feeling this will easily become the most popular of the water parks.

Agreed that it will probably become the most popular water park, but it's still a water park IMHO. I think it looks neat, and I'd like to spend a day or less here, but I'm not going to make multiple visits or forgo main parks on a shorter trip.

I get that Magic Bands are intrinsically linked to FPP, and 60 day booking isn't stress-free, but it's interesting that the band concept is often reviled at WDW and welcomed here.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Agreed that it will probably become the most popular water park, but it's still a water park IMHO. I think it looks neat, and I'd like to spend a day or less here, but I'm not going to make multiple visits or forgo main parks on a shorter trip.

I get that Magic Bands are intrinsically linked to FPP, and 60 day booking isn't stress-free, but it's interesting that the band concept is often reviled at WDW and welcomed here.

well, at least from my conversations the people that don't liked Magic Bands is because of either technical issues or they hate the pre-planning aspect and that for locals or people who book trips not too far our or just don't like heavy planning it makes getting on the popular attractions hard as all the FP slots are gone

This seems like using the new technology but with the other paper FP format - so just get a slot for the next available time now rather than scheduling your ride 2 months in advance ... so I think that is why people like this idea more