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

[Disxuni]

I have a few questions...

1. How long do you typically wait now when it's your time to ride?
2. Is EP really necessary for VB?
3. Anyone with cabanas have experiences to share? I remember when VB first opened some of the functions didn't work for the cabanas.
4. Is the season for cabanas price's being the most inexpensive is the same season for the hotels?

 

[123SA]

So, I just went to universal site to see if express passes were available for Volcano Bay in July - specifically 30, or 31. I checked a few weeks ago and the calendar wasn't out. I see the select express is available, but not the plus pass. I really only it want it for the body slides

Does it seem likely that it's already sold out?

 

[soniam]

So, I just went to universal site to see if express passes were available for Volcano Bay in July - specifically 30, or 31. I checked a few weeks ago and the calendar wasn't out. I see the select express is available, but not the plus pass. I really only it want it for the body slides

Does it seem likely that it's already sold out?

I doubt it’s sold out. More likely they just haven’t put them on sale yet. I would just call. Unlike Disney, you are more likely to get a straight or correct answer from Universal.

 

[123SA]

I doubt it’s sold out. More likely they just haven’t put them on sale yet. I would just call. Unlike Disney, you are more likely to get a straight or correct answer from Universal.

Thanks!

 

[Sehsun]

Thanks. Still trying to figure out where those cabana/shade structures are, if anyone knows. If not, we will just plan to head straight for a bunch of chairs under umbrellas in the morning.

I just found another place that had these shade structures. There are three of them near Waturi Marketplace (gift shop near the front of the park), more towards Rainforest Village.

I have a few questions...

1. How long do you typically wait now when it's your time to ride?
2. Is EP really necessary for VB?
3. Anyone with cabanas have experiences to share? I remember when VB first opened some of the functions didn't work for the cabanas.
4. Is the season for cabanas price's being the most inexpensive is the same season for the hotels?

1. Around 11:30 today, the only rides that had wait times were Ohno (25 minutes), Ohyah (15 minutes), and Krakatau (10 minutes). These do vary a lot (depending on time of day, attendance, weekday vs. weekend), but this is just a snapshot of what I saw around this specific time of day when I was looking at the wait time board.
2. I would actually think during peak season (like when the park closes at 9:00), it might not be a bad idea to get Express Pass. The wait times get so long, so the EP would really maximize your day.
3. Unfortunately I have not rented a cabana before, hopefully someone with this experience can chime in.
4. I would think this is true.

 

[ariel53098]

Wondering if anyone knows this answer.
I’m chaperoning a high school trip and we are supposed to do a day at Volcano Bay. However, no one has mentioned the TapuTapu.
Does every guest get one? I was wondering because when we went to Disney we had paper tickets instead of magic bands.
I’m just thinking it would be nice to tell the kids to download the app and they can put their card info in to pay if every guest gets a TapuTapu.

 

[123SA]

Every guest gets a TapuTapu

 

[jerseygal]

Wondering if anyone knows this answer.
I’m chaperoning a high school trip and we are supposed to do a day at Volcano Bay. However, no one has mentioned the TapuTapu.
Does every guest get one? I was wondering because when we went to Disney we had paper tickets instead of magic bands.
I’m just thinking it would be nice to tell the kids to download the app and they can put their card info in to pay if every guest gets a TapuTapu.

When I think of high school trips to areas around water, my mind goes back to a community we lived in, a student drowned on a school sponsored end of water trip. Personally would never want to take on the huge responsibility of chaperoning a trip that involves water. When this happened many years ago, I was quite upset about the situation and wrote a letter to the Board of Ed, asking them to re consider the policy of trips surrounding water and swimming. Of course, "fell on deaf ears". There are SOME high school students who can't swim, feel awkward and embarrassed and might get themselves into a situation of peer pressure and attempt to swim when they can't. That is exactly what happened in that incident. Very tragic and sad.

 

[ariel53098]

When I think of high school trips to areas around water, my mind goes back to a community we lived in, a student drowned on a school sponsored end of water trip. Personally would never want to take on the huge responsibility of chaperoning a trip that involves water. When this happened many years ago, I was quite upset about the situation and wrote a letter to the Board of Ed, asking them to re consider the policy of trips surrounding water and swimming. Of course, "fell on deaf ears". There are SOME high school students who can't swim, feel awkward and embarrassed and might get themselves into a situation of peer pressure and attempt to swim when they can't. That is exactly what happened in that incident. Very tragic and sad.

I have no control whatsoever over the trip and the plans. I just wanted to know if the kids get a TapuTapu so they can familiarize themselves with the features.

 

[kbelle8995]

Love Volcano Bay. I just love the atmosphere in general

 

[Sehsun]

Wondering if anyone knows this answer.
I’m chaperoning a high school trip and we are supposed to do a day at Volcano Bay. However, no one has mentioned the TapuTapu.
Does every guest get one? I was wondering because when we went to Disney we had paper tickets instead of magic bands.
I’m just thinking it would be nice to tell the kids to download the app and they can put their card info in to pay if every guest gets a TapuTapu.

Yes, as @123SA said, every guest gets a TapuTapu. They receive it at the turnstiles (tapstiles?).

That's a great idea to share about the Universal app with the students. Makes it a lot easier to add a payment method to the TapuTapu when renting a locker and buying food at the park.

 

[karaintn]

I understand that the Express Pass options at VB change often, but assuming I can get one for our trip in July - how does it work? I understand that for VB rides you tap into the virtual line using the tapu tapu. If you have an EP, do you NOT do that? Do you just walk up and get straight into the EP line?

 

[Sehsun]

I understand that the Express Pass options at VB change often, but assuming I can get one for our trip in July - how does it work? I understand that for VB rides you tap into the virtual line using the tapu tapu. If you have an EP, do you NOT do that? Do you just walk up and get straight into the EP line?

Yes, just show your pass to the team member at the ride entrance, and they should direct you to the EP line.

 

[prncssmel]

I just found another place that had these shade structures. There are three of them near Waturi Marketplace (gift shop near the front of the park), more towards Rainforest Village.

Thank you! I will check all these out when we go in May and will hopefully have some good experiences to report back.

 

[DadtoPrinceNoah]

Thanks. Still trying to figure out where those cabana/shade structures are, if anyone knows. If not, we will just plan to head straight for a bunch of chairs under umbrellas in the morning.

I know that a few have already responded to this, but the video (from TheTimTracker) below shows some of the free "cabana's" and he gives you a little indication of the location of three groups of them. There may be more, but that's all that he highlighted. Just thought the visual might help.

 

[prncssmel]

I know that a few have already responded to this, but the video (from TheTimTracker) below shows some of the free "cabana's" and he gives you a little indication of the location of three groups of them. There may be more, but that's all that he highlighted. Just thought the visual might help.

Thank you! This was so helpful.

 

[georgina]

I have no control whatsoever over the trip and the plans. I just wanted to know if the kids get a TapuTapu so they can familiarize themselves with the features.

Yes, as @123SA said, every guest gets a TapuTapu. They receive it at the turnstiles (tapstiles?).

That's a great idea to share about the Universal app with the students. Makes it a lot easier to add a payment method to the TapuTapu when renting a locker and buying food at the park.

Also, it is easy to share a locker, and set it up so everyone using the locker can open it with their own Tapus. We discovered this in November.

 

[iona]

Can someone walk me through the advantages of a cabana over the premium seating please? There’s only two of us so the cost difference is quite significant. Thank you!

 

[MC0810]

Yes, just show your pass to the team member at the ride entrance, and they should direct you to the EP line.

Wait, now I am confused. I thought there was no Express Pass entrance at volcano bay? I have been reading that with volcano bay express pass you do not need to preschedule your ride however when you walk up with express they mark the ride off the wrist band and you join the regular line and dont get to skip anyone?

We are going the weekend before memorial weekend (may 18) and im trying to determine if our family should get express or not. We will be staying at cabana bay and will get to the park an hour early. we will not be doing any of the extreme body slides.

any help or advice appreciated.

 

[Sehsun]

Wait, now I am confused. I thought there was no Express Pass entrance at volcano bay? I have been reading that with volcano bay express pass you do not need to preschedule your ride however when you walk up with express they mark the ride off the wrist band and you join the regular line?

We are going the weekend before memorial weekend (may 18) and im trying to determine if our family should get express or not. We will be staying at cabana bay and will get to the park an hour early. we will not be doing any of the extreme body slides.

any help or advice appreciated.

I'm sorry for the confusion I caused with my previous post (please disregard what I said about the EP line, whoops!). Upon further reading, I believe with Express at VB you skip having to wait in a virtual line and you just join the regular line immediately. You are correct.

If you have Early Park Admission, you may be able to knock out a bunch of rides before the park opens at 10:00 AM. If you are not doing any of the extreme body slides (I'm assuming the ones like Ko'okiri, Kala and Tai Nui - the ones at the top of the volcano), then I would not get Express Plus (that includes Express Pass for all the rides at VB). The Express Pass is available for select rides at VB, and it excludes all the drop slides in the volcano, plus Ohno and Ohyah. The wording is a little confusing, but I found the details on Universal's official site.