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

[crostorfer]

Reminder for AP holders planning to visit in September, there is an AP discount on cabanas and premium seating this month. It’s an AP Appreciation Month deal.

 

[Sehsun]

We will be there the first week of Feb, will this park be open? Is it too cold to go then?

The park is scheduled to be open in February. As far as when we get to the actual day of your visit, it depends on the weather. If the high is around 60 or so, check UO's social media posts. They will keep guests updated on whether or not the park opens.

Thinking to go next Monday, September 16, the morning after HHN if we are not too exhausted. Staying at Aventura so will be convenient. Do you think on a Monday we can do everything by midday?

It is very possible, esp. since you will have Early Park Admission (if offered that day) and are very close to the entrance. Crowds feel like they are gradually getting smaller.

 

[Artygal90]

Thinking to go next Monday, September 16, the morning after HHN if we are not too exhausted. Staying at Aventura so will be convenient. Do you think on a Monday we can do everything by midday?

We arrived there today around 9:15 and finished up our last ride about 3 pm. We did everything except Punga Racers and the Kala/Tai Nui body slides, and spent plenty of time lounging, getting lunch and drinks, and hanging out in the lazy and fast rivers. Hardly any lines until about 1 pm. If you arrive early to Early Park Admission and move faster than us it should be very doable to do almost everything by midday.

 

[blakefamily]

We were at Volcano Bay today for the first time and LOVED it. Low crowds. We didn't arrive until around 11 or 1130. Got a covered seating area for the 6of us in the rainforest area. Very quiet back there. The aqua coaster was a 10minute wait!!! Which was excellent since later in the day it was at 90. Otherwise everything else was ride now or 10min for the drop slides. We loved the fast river and spent a good amount of time in that! Will definitely be on our list of must do for future visits!

 

[Minniemedic]

First timer possible going on Veterans Day (Monday in November)... park hours are listed as 10a-5p. How big of a deal will not having early access (staying at Disney) be if we get there at 10a? Easy to find a semi-shady area? Just two adults

 

[soniam]

First timer possible going on Veterans Day (Monday in November)... park hours are listed as 10a-5p. How big of a deal will not having early access (staying at Disney) be if we get there at 10a? Easy to find a semi-shady area? Just two adults

It probably won't be very busy in November. Plus, there seems to be a lot of seating, even with shade. 10am won't be busy yet either.

 

[nikkita]

Has anyone used this company before? Seems like a great deal!
http://fb.magicalgetaway.com/volcan...=banner&utm_content=volcano-bay-tickets-2019#

 

[Erica_Haley]

If anyone has an annual or seasonal 2 park pass, there’s a new discount for Volcano Bay throughout the end of the year

 

[Meldev]

Hi There - First timers planning to go either 11/21 or 11/22. Very excited to visit with the AP discount, will be a total surprise for the kids. Anyway, my question is, can we reserve premium seating - Just one set for the 6 of us to share, or will they require us to book two sets anyway? I know it says up to 4 accommodated, but if it's just for us to hold our towels and stop by for a drink, do we have to book the second set?

Also, can you be in only one line at a time. I'm trying to understand the system is it only tapu tapu, or are there "standby" lines as well?
Can you bring in Yeti water bottles?

 

[June V]

If temps are in the 60s in the morning is it to cold for volcano bay

 

[vandrbrg]

Hi There - First timers planning to go either 11/21 or 11/22. Very excited to visit with the AP discount, will be a total surprise for the kids. Anyway, my question is, can we reserve premium seating - Just one set for the 6 of us to share, or will they require us to book two sets anyway? I know it says up to 4 accommodated, but if it's just for us to hold our towels and stop by for a drink, do we have to book the second set?

Also, can you be in only one line at a time. I'm trying to understand the system is it only tapu tapu, or are there "standby" lines as well?
Can you bring in Yeti water bottles?

Can't speak to the premium seating because we didn't use it, but can speak to ride times, etc. For rides that do have a Tapu wait, there is no standby. But, if there isn't a substantial wait, they post a "ride now" sign and don't have Tapu available for that ride. We arrived around 1:00 p.m. on the Sunday of Veteran's Day weekend. It was a beautiful sunny day with temps in the low 80s. We had no trouble finding chairs up by the wave pool. There were only a couple of rides that had a substantial enough wait that the Tapu system was even in use. Everything else was a "ride now." We never waited more than 10 minutes in a "ride now" line.

 

[chicagoshannon]

If temps are in the 60s in the morning is it to cold for volcano bay

We went last February when it was about 67 degrees. It was a bit chilly but not too bad and there were literally 15 people in the whole park. It was pretty awesome! If it is only 60 degree though they will probably not open the park. I don't know the exact temp they close the park but I would guess under 65.

 

[TotoGogo]

Hi first timers for Volcano Bay here. I'm going to the park with my mom who has been to a waterpark before but is not a swimmer. I'm not a swimmer as well but I know how to doggy paddle and I took a swim class. I did want to try some of the drop rides and wanted to ask if they would be too much for me to handle. I would just imagine I would have to swim up to the surface I just wanted some feedback on that. In addition I did watch some videos and wanted to ask the best way to navigate the park. I did see that I would have to link through the app park tickets and credit card to the Tapu wristwatch.The idea is to have a nice relaxing day at the park where we are mainly going to lounge around, eat, and drink while riding some rides. My mom loves lazy river rides and being at peace. I plan on going to the park December 16th, and it opens at 10 am ( 9 am early entry but I don't know how to get those passes ). I'm looking forward to eating the pork belly burger. What rides do you suggest I do versus my mom and what could we do together?

 

[Dis_Fan]

Hi first timers for Volcano Bay here. I'm going to the park with my mom who has been to a waterpark before but is not a swimmer. I'm not a swimmer as well but I know how to doggy paddle and I took a swim class. I did want to try some of the drop rides and wanted to ask if they would be too much for me to handle. I would just imagine I would have to swim up to the surface I just wanted some feedback on that. In addition I did watch some videos and wanted to ask the best way to navigate the park. I did see that I would have to link through the app park tickets and credit card to the Tapu wristwatch.The idea is to have a nice relaxing day at the park where we are mainly going to lounge around, eat, and drink while riding some rides. My mom loves lazy river rides and being at peace. I plan on going to the park December 16th, and it opens at 10 am ( 9 am early entry but I don't know how to get those passes ). I'm looking forward to eating the pork belly burger. What rides do you suggest I do versus my mom and what could we do together?

Early Entry should be for guests staying at a Universal Hotel. So if you are staying in the resort then you can arrive at 9 and be let in. If you are staying at Cabana Bay they have a dedicated entrance you can use and make the trip easier.

I can not swim. So I avoid the drop slides. You are dropping from 4 or 6 feet into 10 foot depth water. It is recommended for strong swimmers so I would be comfortable not only getting to the surface but swimming to the edge to be able to get out of the pool if you want to try it.

I am not sure there a best way to navigate the park. It is one big circle with the Volcano and Wave Pool in the middle. There are a couple of shortcuts (like cutting through the Volcano) but I usually go clockwise and hit the rides as I go.

Clockwise gets you to the water coaster fastest and it is the best ride. I usually get the VB during early entry and try to get 5 or 6 rides in a row before while it is still ride now with no waits.

There are no bad rides other then personal preference (like me not being a drop slide person). All the slides can be done with two people with the exception of the mat slide, drop slides, and the 3 in the Volcano.

Make sure you choose the right lazy river. There is a fast one that while incredibly fun is not a peaceful relaxing time.

Finally I do not think you have to link up anything to Tapu Tapu. You can but if you want to just go to a locker and get a credit card before buying lunch or swag you can do that.

Locker is recommended. While I keep my shoes/towel/sunscreen on a seat to hold I would not leave phone/money/tickets there. There are three sizes of lockers. If you are not bringing much the small ones in the very back are cheap and can hold wallet/fannypack/clothes if you tetris it in right.

 

[georgina]

Hi first timers for Volcano Bay here. I'm going to the park with my mom who has been to a waterpark before but is not a swimmer. I'm not a swimmer as well but I know how to doggy paddle and I took a swim class. I did want to try some of the drop rides and wanted to ask if they would be too much for me to handle. I would just imagine I would have to swim up to the surface I just wanted some feedback on that. In addition I did watch some videos and wanted to ask the best way to navigate the park. I did see that I would have to link through the app park tickets and credit card to the Tapu wristwatch.The idea is to have a nice relaxing day at the park where we are mainly going to lounge around, eat, and drink while riding some rides. My mom loves lazy river rides and being at peace. I plan on going to the park December 16th, and it opens at 10 am ( 9 am early entry but I don't know how to get those passes ). I'm looking forward to eating the pork belly burger. What rides do you suggest I do versus my mom and what could we do together?

To reinforce a few things Dis_Fan said, there is a lazy river with tubes, and a 'fearless' river without tubes and life jackets required. I suggest you avoid that one, as well as the OhNo and OhYah drop slides.

The Krakatau water coaster is a lot of fun, and you are in the boat the whole time.

The Taniwha Tube slides aren't too bad. There are 4, all somewhat different, some fully enclosed and some partially open. Water is not deep at the end.

I love the family raft rides, but some of them are pretty wild. You and mom can look at them and decide. One set is tamer than the ones near the coaster. I think Honu & Ike Moana are the wilder ones.

There is a head first mat slide (starts with a P? i think. Not my favorite.

The drop slides high up in the volcano don't require swimming, but they are far from relaxing also! I did one of the serpentine ones once and that was enough.

As opposed to Dis_Fan, I always go to the right and find a chair under an umbrella in front of the Dancing Dragons bar, then continue on to the water coaster counter-clockwise. I leave my phone at the resort and use a waterproof lanyard to hold my ticket, room key, ID, and credit card. That way I can avoid getting a locker. If I had a phone or camera I woudl get one.

 

[TommyJK]

Sorry if this has been asked before, but how does on-site transportation work to get to VB (particularly from RPR). Do you go to CityWalk and then get a bus from there to VB?

Is it easier to walk from RPR to VB? I'm thinking walking via the end of the Convention Space at RPR over through to Sapphire Falls and then walk over via Aventura. Is this an easy and quick trek?

 

[soniam]

Sorry if this has been asked before, but how does on-site transportation work to get to VB (particularly from RPR). Do you go to CityWalk and then get a bus from there to VB?

Is it easier to walk from RPR to VB? I'm thinking walking via the end of the Convention Space at RPR over through to Sapphire Falls and then walk over via Aventura. Is this an easy and quick trek?

There are buses from RPR to VB. RPR and Sapphire Falls should still share a bus. You can’t walk to VB, unless you are staying at Cabana Bay. There’s no walk way.

 

[WaterLinds]

We’re hoping to head to VB on our trip in 1.5 weeks, weather permitting. I’ve read the last few pages but haven’t gone very far back in this thread yet—I’ll keep poking further back as we finish planning!

I’m curious about what people’s experiences have been with smaller kids. My oldest is 8 and tall enough for everything, and will want to do it all, but my youngest is 4 and probably only about 40 inches. I was disappointed to see that even most of the “family fun” rides are 42 inches and up, so he won’t be able to do very much. He would enjoy the things he can do but would likely feel pretty left out—his big brother is his favourite person and he wants to do everything brother does!

My stepmom is not a big swimmer either, so one option would be to have the two of them hang out and do something else while my dad, big kid, and I head to VB. Or maybe they could come join us partway through the day after we’ve done more of the thrill rides and we can all hang out a bit doing the lazy river, etc. But I’d love to hear about what others have done with their young kids.

 

[macraven]

Hope some will post and guide you

I don't do the water parks but my friends do

 

[ILuvDisney78]

We went to VB in September and had a great time. But, even as a swimmer, I have to say I was unprepared for the Fearless River. We were told life jackets were mandatory; I've actually never worn one. Both my husband and I have muscular build and were barely floating above the water. I think we would have fared better without the life jacket. And those waves..... Anyone know if the life jackets are actually mandatory?