VOLCANO BAY.....INFO AND QUESTION THREAD........

[yaya74]

We will be in VB in two weeks. Thanks for all the great info. Right now I'm trying to figure out where we want to grab loungers and set up camp. Don't want to waste a lot of time searching for a good spot during EE.

I have two specific questions:
Are there loungers with a view of Runamukka Reef? (I don't expect us to sit much but DH and I may get a rest while our big kids take our little kid into the play area.)
Are all the loungers in SANDY beaches? (For some reason I hate sitting in sand by the pool. That is the reason why I did not enjoy RPR pool. Which is weird since will live at the beach in the summer.)


ETA:
How strictly do they enforce the 48" height max on Runamukka Reef? If my 54" DS is with his little brother will they let him go down the slide, too? Or no way?

E(again)TA: Anyone no if you can wear a life vest on Ohno and Ohyah? I have kids over 48" that aren't the strongest swimmers.

I don't recall seeing cabanas near Runamukka Reef... but there are many chairs in that area.
My daughter is 54" and she was not allowed on the slide in that section.

Didn't see anyone wearing a vest on the ohyah/ohno slide when we were there last week. The sign does say the slide is for "strong swimmers".

Hi, I have a few questions...

Are water shoes allowed on any of the slides?
What time do the buses start running for 7:30 early entry (staying at HRH)?

Thanks!

Some slides asked you to remove your shoes. There are racks/baskets near by the entrance. Just put your shoes there and go have fun. Shoes are highly recommended though. Flipflop, crocs, or watershoes.. The rough sands on the walkway hurt my feet.

Buses start running 1 hour prior to the start or early entry. If you stay at HRH, the bus loops around Portofino Bay-->HRH---> Volcano Bay.

 

[RalphinSC]

My friend and I are preplanning for next year.... what are all your opinions on going to a water park at the end of March? My friend is interesting in going to VB.

Easter is April 1 next year, so the last weekend in March might be a fairly busy.

 

[123SA]

9 days left!

I'm looking for seating tips. I do not do the slides. When we come into the park, I plan to walk with my kids (11,14,17) to the first slide (the coaster) and make sure they know where to go next, the body plunge. And I'll meet them near the exit.

In the mean time, I'll be dropping off our pool bag somewhere to claim a spot. Just a bag with towels, shoes, shirts. Preferably a shady spot. I'd like to claim two chairs. I'm sure my boys will never sit. Any ideas which way to go?

 

[HMANSION LOVER]

We are planning to go to Volcano Bay in November. That being said, I have been reading reviews on the internet, not here, and they are pretty much 80% horrible. Incredible crowding to the point that by 9:00 - 9:30 A.M. they are not allowing people into the park. Wait times of 200 to 300 minutes. Basically getting on 2 maybe 3 rides in a seven hour day! People getting so disgusted they are just giving up and leaving early. Now I know that when it comes to reviews there are always more people willing to post their bad experiences than those who have had a wonderful time but, I am talking about a huge number of bad reviews. I am hoping my friends here on the Dis can shed some light. I can always count on level headed responses from you guys.

 

[macraven]

I have been reading some posters have had success at Vbay and most of the day was good

The one one I remember most saying is be there early and enter the water park as soon as it opens

(When I say early, be in line before the park opens )

 

[bobbie68]

We are planning to go to Volcano Bay in November. That being said, I have been reading reviews on the internet, not here, and they are pretty much 80% horrible. Incredible crowding to the point that by 9:00 - 9:30 A.M. they are not allowing people into the park. Wait times of 200 to 300 minutes. Basically getting on 2 maybe 3 rides in a seven hour day! People getting so disgusted they are just giving up and leaving early. Now I know that when it comes to reviews there are always more people willing to post their bad experiences than those who have had a wonderful time but, I am talking about a huge number of bad reviews. I am hoping my friends here on the Dis can shed some light. I can always count on level headed responses from you guys.

Hi my family and I had a great time at VB. I did have an express pass but it didn't work for everything so I had to tap into to ride reservations. I did my research before I left. I knew the park map and where everything I wanted to do was. I got there about 30 minutes before EE. I think the place is great if you have a plan and go in with lower expectations. This water park was not meant to be just go in and do rides all day. I believe their philosophy was to make it a relaxing day incorporated into the go go day. If you go right in and get a seat fast and start the rides you can do quite a bit, I would start with the body slides in the volcano and the aqua coaster. We did see it slow down after 5:00-5:30. If there is a storm try and ride it out. The park clears out and it is very nice. The two rivers are really nice. You have to go in with the mindset that you may not ride every ride twice. It is not set up for that kind of park. We can't wait to go back next year. We will probably not have express pass but will have a plan in place. You need to eat on an off time. We were in line for lunch both times at 11:30 and really had no lines. I did purchase an aqua vault box it was a recommendation from another dis member and it was great. I did not have to wait for a locker and I used it at the hotel pool also.
Good luck and enjoy!

 

[bobbie68]

9 days left!

I'm looking for seating tips. I do not do the slides. When we come into the park, I plan to walk with my kids (11,14,17) to the first slide (the coaster) and make sure they know where to go next, the body plunge. And I'll meet them near the exit.

In the mean time, I'll be dropping off our pool bag somewhere to claim a spot. Just a bag with towels, shoes, shirts. Preferably a shady spot. I'd like to claim two chairs. I'm sure my boys will never sit. Any ideas which way to go?

Hi I took an idea from a fellow dis member on where to sit. We went by the Dancing Dragons Boat Bar. If you go in and straight onto the beach you take a right and walk to you come to the hut. There is a big red sail right near it. There are two cabanas there also. I liked that area because it was off the main path. There was a rest room right across the sidewalk and drink stations. There is also a concierge booth right behind if you need it. There are chairs with big umbrellas over them. I found the main beach to be very busy and not fun. The other place that looked pretty good was towards the back of the volcano near the slides. If you can look at a map and I know there is one on an early page you will get an idea of where the location is.

 

[georgina]

Thanks for all the information Bobbie! I'm going tomorrow and have an unlimited express pass which was very expensive so if it doesn't work I'll be asking for a refund!

 

[bobbie68]

Thanks for all the information Bobbie! I'm going tomorrow and have an unlimited express pass which was very expensive so if it doesn't work I'll be asking for a refund!

Your welcome and I think you will be fine. It seems that they have their stuff together pretty good now with stuff like the EP. I understand about the cost of the ep we paid the same. I don't think we will see ep in this park again, so what we did was make some notes about things we would do without ep. When we go back next year I am sure it won't be there. If you bought your ep when I did back in May you will see that the Aquacoaster was not included. They changed this the week I was there. The aquacoaster is now on the express pass but the three body slides in the volcano were not. Just check when you get them put on which rides are not included. Enjoy! Let us know how it goes

 

[123SA]

Another random question. I'm trying to set up a plan for if we get separated in the park. Do the tapu bands have the actual time? Could tell the kids, if we get separated, keep sliding, but at 10:30, meet me here?

 

[bayportkat]

Are towels available at VB or should we bring them from home? Or from the hotel pool? Just curious what others are doing. We are staying at cabana bay

 

[bobbie68]

Another random question. I'm trying to set up a plan for if we get separated in the park. Do the tapu bands have the actual time? Could tell the kids, if we get separated, keep sliding, but at 10:30, meet me here?

Hi the tapu tapu does not show the time. There have been many guests complaining that they should and I agree. There are minimal clocks around the park. We had to keep asking someone the time. I hope the kids don't mind asking people.

 

[bobbie68]

Are towels available at VB or should we bring them from home? Or from the hotel pool? Just curious what others are doing. We are staying at cabana bay

Hi you can rent towels for $5.00 for the day. They are very nice towels we did rent them one day. The other day we had a cabana so we had towels with that. It is up to you if you want to take the towels from the pool but of course that is frowned upon and not suppose to be done. Have fun!

 

[perditax]

We are planning to go to Volcano Bay in November. That being said, I have been reading reviews on the internet, not here, and they are pretty much 80% horrible. Incredible crowding to the point that by 9:00 - 9:30 A.M. they are not allowing people into the park. Wait times of 200 to 300 minutes. Basically getting on 2 maybe 3 rides in a seven hour day! People getting so disgusted they are just giving up and leaving early. Now I know that when it comes to reviews there are always more people willing to post their bad experiences than those who have had a wonderful time but, I am talking about a huge number of bad reviews. I am hoping my friends here on the Dis can shed some light. I can always count on level headed responses from you guys.

I've been off the forums since spring and came back expecting to see a lot of VB talk since there was a lot of hype before it opened. When it seemed dead here (except for this thread) I went out to TripAdvisor and saw all the terrible reviews. Sounds pretty miserable so far (possibly a victim of its own success/not enough crowd capacity). Won't be bothering next month, but curious to see if they can work out the kinks.

 

[123SA]

I plan to arrive for early entry. We'll get done what we can before regular park opening.

What time can I use the tapu to tap a ride? AT regular park opening? And, since I will not be riding, can I just take my kids' bands and tap for them while they are riding something else? Is it like the old Disney Fast pass where you have to go to the ride itself to tap? Is everyone required to have a band on at all times?

 

[cancun1991]

Are you allowed to wear lanyards on the slides and water coaster?

I was also reading in earlier posts that it is easy to lose your taputapu. Is it still a problem? How do you keep them on if it is still a problem?

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I've been off the forums since spring and came back expecting to see a lot of VB talk since there was a lot of hype before it opened. When it seemed dead here (except for this thread) I went out to TripAdvisor and saw all the terrible reviews. Sounds pretty miserable so far (possibly a victim of its own success/not enough crowd capacity). Won't be bothering next month, but curious to see if they can work out the kinks.

We are going for a day in September. I'm not terribly nervous about it in spite of all the bad reviews. Most people don't research & plan the way I do. Lots of research, realistic expectations, and a good plan of attack. I think we'll enjoy it!

 

[yaya74]

Are you allowed to wear lanyards on the slides and water coaster?

I was also reading in earlier posts that it is easy to lose your taputapu. Is it still a problem? How do you keep them on if it is still a problem?

I wore a cellphone waterproof pouch with a lanyard to the four family slides and was not a problem. I didn't go on the water coaster though.
Yes, TapuTapu falls off easily. I used a small rubber band (those used to tie hair) and it helped.. Just put the rubber band on one side of the band and then slide the other band through the rubberband..

 

[yaya74]

I plan to arrive for early entry. We'll get done what we can before regular park opening.

What time can I use the tapu to tap a ride? AT regular park opening? And, since I will not be riding, can I just take my kids' bands and tap for them while they are riding something else? Is it like the old Disney Fast pass where you have to go to the ride itself to tap? Is everyone required to have a band on at all times?

you will get the band at the entrance. your ticket will be scanned and you will be assigned with a taputapu. you can use the taputapu whenever you want to. If you reserve a spot with a taputapu, you will use that same taputapu when you return to claim your spot. As long as you have the taputapu at the checkin point for the ride, it is up to you if you want to wear the taputapu band or not. I was wearing my son's taputapu most of the time because he tends to loose it.

 

[yaya74]

I've been off the forums since spring and came back expecting to see a lot of VB talk since there was a lot of hype before it opened. When it seemed dead here (except for this thread) I went out to TripAdvisor and saw all the terrible reviews. Sounds pretty miserable so far (possibly a victim of its own success/not enough crowd capacity). Won't be bothering next month, but curious to see if they can work out the kinks.

the park itself is really beautiful. I like the theme better than the two waterparks at WDW. without the crazy mob, I am sure everyone will have a good time at VB. if you go in the late afternoon/evening when the crowd is less, especially during the week or after a storm, I am sure you will have a good time. That's what my family did. The morning crowd was just too much for us.