Is Volcano Bay a Theme Park or a Water Park?!?

[WDWFantasmicFan]

Universal is advertising Volcano Bay, opening in May, as its third theme park. It is a hot discussion as to whether everyone agrees with this advertising. So I want to know, what do you think? It is a theme park or a water park? Vote in the poll above!

I am truly in the water park camp. You don't see Disney advertising its two water parks as theme parks!!

 

[DLgal]

You have to wear a swimsuit to enjoy it. It's a water park. I don't understand Universal's rationale here. It is CLEARLY a water park. There are no attractions that can be enjoyed in regular clothes.

 

[damo]

I'll wait until it opens to make a decision.

Just because WDW labels something one way, that doesn't make it the rule.

 

[Amelia :)]

I'll wait until it opens to make a decision.

Just because WDW labels something one way, that doesn't make it the rule.

Agree (love your profile pic btw, Cavalier? )

 

[damo]

Agree (love your profile pic btw, Cavalier? )

American Cocker special snowflake.

 

[chmurf]

i didn't find the "I don't care" option for the poll

waterpark, theme park, well as long as I have a good time in there, you could even call that a *shoe box* or a *candy shop* , I'd be fine with it.

let's just meet in the middle and agree it's a "park" , or even a *themed water park*

 

[wilkeliza]

If 90% of the attractions require you to get wet it is a water park. With that said a water park does not necessarily equal no theming. You can have a very well theme water park but it is still a water park.

 

[pcstang]

i didn't find the "I don't care" option for the poll

waterpark, theme park, well as long as I have a good time in there, you could even call that a *shoe box* or a *candy shop* , I'd be fine with it.

let's just meet in the middle and agree it's a "park" , or even a *themed water park*

I'm with you! As of last week it looks like it will have lots of theming. The place looks bad ***! I've only been to blizzard beach but from the looks of it VB will be WAY better. BB was a dumpster fire in my opinion.

 

[damo]

According to their website, Universal is labelling this as ... "Universal Orlando Resort's water theme park is a tropical paradise with amazing thrills, relaxing indulgence and no standing in long lines."

 

[WDWFantasmicFan]

According to their website, Universal is labelling this as ... "Universal Orlando Resort's water theme park is a tropical paradise with amazing thrills, relaxing indulgence and no standing in long lines."

Yes, but they are promoting it in their ads as a new theme park and a third gate...

 

[Metro West]

I'll wait until it opens to make a decision.

Just because WDW labels something one way, that doesn't make it the rule.

I'll do the same.

 

[damo]

Yes, but they are promoting it in their ads as a new theme park and a third gate...

I have no issue with that. They make it very clear that it is a water park. Even the logo says, "Water Theme Park"

 

[Annchristine65]

Good grief. It's a theme park. It's a water park. It's a water park with a theme. It's a theme park with water rides. Who cares what they call it. Why do they have to call it a water park because Disney does?

 

[keishashadow]

Good grief. It's a theme park. It's a water park. It's a water park with a theme. It's a theme park with water rides. Who cares what they call it. Why do they have to call it a water park because Disney does?

We like WPs, a nice option, but will likely stick with disney offerings since i can purchase discounted tix.

If VB is priced the same as the other two 'gates', it's a theme park; otherwise it's a water park

If U increases the price of their APHs and multiday tickets dramatically, using justification of VB being mandatorily included as a 3rd park, it'd be something else entirely

 

[cschaaf]

I don't care for water parks, so I'll probably never go. But, it's clearly a water park with a theme, to me, Water Theme Park is exactly what it is.

So I think it's accurate to call it a new theme park and a third gate.

Disney didn't use those terms only because they didn't think of it first. We'll see how long it takes for them to re-brand.

I really don't understand the 'not a theme park' arguments.

To me:
An Amusement Park has rides with no central theming.
A traditional water park, like Wet n Wild fell into that category. Heck, I think one might be able to argue that 'water' was the theme.

A Theme Park has rides and has a central theme. It may also have sub-themes (lands)
The Disney water parks and VB would both fall into that category for me.

What's the fear here? That people will show up at VBs gate without their bathing suits thinking there are coasters inside? If so, is that really Universal's fault for using the word 'Theme'? Or is that the fault of the people that haven't bothered to take the minimal effort of opening a web page?

 

[PulsarIII]

Something about lipstick and pigs comes to mind...

IT’S A WATER PARK

G’day
III

 

[Squirlz]

Where is this "hot discussion"? This is the first I've heard of it.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

The definition of a theme park is: an amusement park with a unifying setting or idea.

The definition of an amusement park is: a large outdoor area with fairground rides, shows, refreshments, games of chance or skill, and other entertainments.

I dunno, Volcano Bay sounds an awful lot like it fits the definition to me. Hard to argue with that. Some people seem to vehemently believe a theme park involves a majority of non-water rides so whatever. But I'll call it a theme park.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Where is this "hot discussion"? This is the first I've heard of it.

It's been a discussion in multiple places here on the DIS (I've seen more on the WDW side versus the Universal Side of the DIS) since they started promoting it as their 3rd park with people weighing in on Universal's advertisement of it and original speculation of pricing.