Volcano Bay

[circus4u]

Sneak peek: First look inside Universal Orlando's Volcano Bay
http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/16/travel/universal-orlando-volcano-bay-opens/index.html

 

[rteetz]

I still don't think everything will be ready but who knows.

 

[umichigan10]

I think it'll be a really big hit as a water park, but I think they could've done better theming the slides into the landscape. Lots of exposed metal tubes, but that's just my take

 

[Madonna3]

Sneak peek: First look inside Universal Orlando's Volcano Bay
http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/16/travel/universal-orlando-volcano-bay-opens/index.html

I actually want to go here

C'mon Disney! Catch up!

 

[Minnesota!]

That is beautiful!!!

 

[nkosiek]

I actually want to go here

C'mon Disney! Catch up!

Seriously? This place isn't even finished being built and Disney has had two successful water parks for the past decade. Does this change things? Probably not much more than a new slide, but is anyone really expecting them to change when we don't even know what this place is going to look like when it's finished?

 

[DLgal]

I still don't think everything will be ready but who knows.

I can't see how this will be done in 9 days. I know they are working 24/7 but still. The park is still a full on construction zone. Are they even testing these slides yet? I am glad I didn't plan to go opening week. I really think they will push it back. Or, they will open the park with a bunch of unfinished work left to be done. And that would stink.

 

[rteetz]

I can't see how this will be done in 9 days. I know they are working 24/7 but still. The park is still a full on construction zone. Are they even testing these slides yet? I am glad I didn't plan to go opening week. I really think they will push it back. Or, they will open the park with a bunch of unfinished work left to be done. And that would stink.

Yes several of the slides have been tested.

 

[DLgal]

I saw a video this morning (it's 10 minutes long and is an overhead view of different areas of the park, under construction). Looks like it's a good month away from being done, to me. There is dirt everywhere...at the bottom of all the slide catch pools and all the slides are filthy! I feel like just the cleanup will take several days, and they are still working on things like staircases, slide construction, building work, etc. It's a total mess right now. I will be shocked if they can pull off opening on the 25th as planned. Shocked.

I question the legitimacy of those photos on CNN. Based on the overhead I saw this morning, it looks NOTHING like that right now.

 

[rteetz]

I saw a video this morning (it's 10 minutes long and is an overhead view of different areas of the park, under construction). Looks like it's a good month away from being done, to me. There is dirt everywhere...at the bottom of all the slide catch pools and all the slides are filthy! I feel like just the cleanup will take several days, and they are still working on things like staircases, slide construction, building work, etc. It's a total mess right now. I will be shocked if they can pull off opening on the 25th as planned. Shocked.

I question the legitimacy of those photos on CNN. Based on the overhead I saw this morning, it looks NOTHING like that right now.

They'll open on the 25th just likely that not everything in the park will be open.

 

[JaxDad]

I saw a video this morning (it's 10 minutes long and is an overhead view of different areas of the park, under construction). Looks like it's a good month away from being done, to me. There is dirt everywhere...at the bottom of all the slide catch pools and all the slides are filthy! I feel like just the cleanup will take several days, and they are still working on things like staircases, slide construction, building work, etc. It's a total mess right now. I will be shocked if they can pull off opening on the 25th as planned. Shocked.

I question the legitimacy of those photos on CNN. Based on the overhead I saw this morning, it looks NOTHING like that right now.

Do you know when the video you saw was actually filmed?

 

[rteetz]

Do you know when the video you saw was actually filmed?

I have recent aerial images in the aerials thread that show there is a good amount of work.

 

[JaxDad]

I have recent aerial images in the aerials thread that show there is a good amount of work.

Are you talking about the video dated 5/3/2017? I'm not sure if that is the date it was filmed or the release date (or both), but based on the CNN article and some reports from people recently staying at Cabana Bay, they have completed a LOT of work since then!

 

[rteetz]

Are you talking about the video dated 5/3/2017? I'm not sure if that is the date it was filmed or the release date (or both), but based on the CNN article and some reports from people recently staying at Cabana Bay, they have completed a LOT of work since then!

I had some recent photos in there too. I still don't think everything will be finished by opening.

 

[Madonna3]

Seriously? This place isn't even finished being built and Disney has had two successful water parks for the past decade. Does this change things? Probably not much more than a new slide, but is anyone really expecting them to change when we don't even know what this place is going to look like when it's finished?

What I meant by my comment was Universal is creating new themed areas at a rapid pace with new technology and immersive storylines. Kinda like when Disney was blazing that trail so many years ago. Ya know?

Universal = no wait on lines
Disney = wait on lines

Universal = no dragging tube up steps
Disney = drag multiple person tubes up steps

Universal = New rides with new technology
Disney = We haven't updated our water parks in a decade, here's a new family raft ride that isn't really very impressive.

 

[rteetz]

What I meant by my comment was Universal is creating new themed areas at a rapid pace with new technology and immersive storylines. Kinda like when Disney was blazing that trail so many years ago. Ya know?

Universal = no wait on lines
Disney = wait on lines

Universal = no dragging tube up steps
Disney = drag multiple person tubes up steps

Universal = New rides with new technology
Disney = We haven't updated our water parks in a decade, here's a new family raft ride that isn't really very impressive.

Disney's water parks are some of the most attended water parks in the world. They added the slide and it uses an animatronic which is something Disney hasn't done before. It also doesn't require you to carry a tube.

 

[jade1]

We will be going for sure. Prob a one and done though. US is too close to not enjoy as well-at least for us.

 

[Madonna3]

Disney's water parks are some of the most attended water parks in the world. They added the slide and it uses an animatronic which is something Disney hasn't done before. It also doesn't require you to carry a tube.

That's one ride out of many. Every other slide you need to lug your tube up the steps (except the OTHER family raft ride located in the same park as the new one). Crush n Gusher you're carrying your multi person tube up the steps. It has ONE animatronic who yells some stuff at you while you go up the ramp. That doesn't impress me. Just because they're the most attended doesn't mean anything. I fail to see how high attendance = quality. McDonald's is the #1 fast food chain in the world, does that mean their product is the best?

 

[Madonna3]

We will be going for sure. Prob a one and done though. US is too close to not enjoy as well-at least for us.

I need to go to all of this at least once. I renewed our passes this year against my better judgment. I wanted to purchase Universal passes this year. Wanna know why I didn't? I don't want to pay to park at their hotels. If I am staying there, I expect free parking.

 

[rteetz]

That's one ride out of many. Every other slide you need to lug your tube up the steps (except the OTHER family raft ride located in the same park as the new one). Crush n Gusher you're carrying your multi person tube up the steps. It has ONE animatronic who yells some stuff at you while you go up the ramp. That doesn't impress me. Just because they're the most attended doesn't mean anything. I fail to see how high attendance = quality. McDonald's is the #1 fast food chain in the world, does that mean their product is the best?

They must be doing something right is they can keep high attendance numbers for this long. I never said there product was the best but in order to keep high attendance some quality must be there. I have only been to one of Disney's water parks that being typhoon lagoon but I thought it was great. It's also just not Disney that makes you carry tubes. Many water parks do. I live in WI, we have the Wisconsin Dells which is considered the Water Park capital of the US. It is also home to one of the largest water parks in the US. I still find the theming and overall quality better at a Disney water park however Disney could innovate/update a bit more at their water parks.