The primary time I visited Common Volcano Bay water park with two teenagers, I had so many questions earlier than we went. May we get a locker, how arduous was it to get chairs, how does the wristband work, do we’d like towels, how can we get to Volcano Bay, may we take an Uber?? You get the concept. I took cautious notes in order that I may share our greatest Common Volcano Bay ideas with you!
Earlier than I get into the ideas, I’ve to say that Volcano Bay is a category aside from each different waterpark I’ve visited. It isn’t typically that I can sit in a waterpark, hearken to light island music, watch the palm fronds sway above, and hearken to the splash of a waterfall and truly loosen up. I’m normally freaked out about germs, traces, security, and the final chaos.
But someway, Common Orlando’s Volcano Bay has created an island oasis subsequent to a freeway and nestled up towards a mega-resort lodge and theme park. There have been even moments once I imagined myself within the islands and never smack-dab in the course of Orlando.
Don’t get me mistaken, you received’t really feel that relaxed all through the entire park — with its crowded walkways, traces that aren’t imagined to be traces, and energetic free-for-all with regards to snagging a tube on the lazy rivers. That half — not so enjoyable. However when you follow Waturi Seashore in entrance of the huge wave pool and namesake Krakatau Volcano, then you definately’re good.
The truth is, of all of the waterparks I’ve been to, each indoor waterparks and different Orlando waterparks, I feel Volcano Bay is one of the best waterpark.
About Common Volcano Bay
Common Orlando’s Volcano Bay opened in late Could 2017 to a lot acclaim and excessive expectations. They turned the water park world on its head with the brand new Tapu Tapu wristband expertise and intensive theming.
The thought behind Volcano Bay is the story of the Waturi folks — a fictional Polynesian-type tradition that “Water is Life and Life is Pleasure.” Common Orlando Volcano Bay strives arduous to increase this theming from the design, meals, experiences, and even music.
With 17 points of interest, Volcano Bay now affords essentially the most rides of any Orlando water park. There are six multi-passenger rides, 5 single-rider riders, and 6 household points of interest. We didn’t hit all of those earlier than the skies opened up and rained out our day (nope, there aren’t any refunds if it rains), however we did discover a number of favorites.
Professional tip: If it does rain, it pays to search out shelter and wait it out. Should you depart the park, you’ll be able to come again later however provided that there may be sufficient capability.
Not being a journey individual, I beloved the Kopiko Wai Winding River that takes you into the volcano and the darkish Stargazer’s Cavern. The TeAwa The Fearless River was additionally enjoyable, however I used to be anticipating a bit extra when it got here to the rapids — actually it was only a wave or barely stronger jets.
Hannah and her good friend Ruby beloved the Krakatau Aqua Coaster, which is a four-person canoe that slides up and down and thru the twists and turns within the volcano earlier than going by a waterfall. It was for much longer than they anticipated and the drops weren’t as massive as they feared. The Honu aka Moana raft rides have been additionally a favourite, with the excessive partitions to journey up and down.
Attending to Volcano Bay
In case you are staying on-site at one of many Common Orlando lodges, you’ll need to take a shuttle bus on to Volcano Bay. Nonetheless, if you’re staying at Cabana Bay, Aventura, or Sapphire Falls, you’ll be able to stroll alongside the trail and thru the parking zone to a particular entrance supplied just for Cabana Bay friends.
Should you aren’t staying on-site don’t be tough and suppose you’ll be able to stroll from Cabana Bay when you aren’t staying there! I attempted this and had our Uber drop us off at Cabana Bay however I quickly realized I’d should take a shuttle from Metropolis Stroll once we have been turned away once we couldn’t present our lodge room key. Don’t make that mistake!
In case you are staying off-site however driving, observe the indicators to Volcano Bay, however be ready that you want to then take a shuttle bus from the parking zone to Volcano Bay.
In case you are staying off property and taking a taxi or Uber, there may be NOT a visitor drop off/choose up space at Volcano Bay. It is advisable get dropped off at Metropolis Stroll, after which take a shuttle bus to Volcano Bay. It’s a ache so construct within the further transit time if you’re making an attempt to get there for park opening.
Getting the Hold of the Digital Queue and TapuTapu Wristbands
What is basically revolutionary at Volcano Bay is the TapuTapu expertise. Every visitor is given a wristband that serves as a digital line. I really like how waterparks (like Margaritaville’s H20) incorporate expertise to enhance the visitor expertise.
You faucet the wristband on the icon on the waterslide you need to journey and it assigns you a time to return to your journey. The clock on the wristband counts down and buzzes when it’s time to return to your choice.
The plus aspect is that you just don’t want to attend in line the entire time, the draw back is that there may nonetheless be an hour or extra wait between rides and you’ll solely faucet separately, so you want to be good about how you utilize it.
In spite of everything, would you quite wait an hour for the Krakatau Aqua Coaster or do three water slides with 15-minute waits for every? Additionally, while you return to your slide at your designated time, don’t anticipate to stroll proper on. There may nonetheless be a brief wait.
TapuTapu additionally opens lockers and could be linked to a bank card for cashless funds if you’re staying in a Common Orlando resort. Plus, it unlocks some enjoyable easter eggs (see extra beneath.)
Common Orlando Volcano Bay Suggestions
All of those options have made Common Orlando’s Volcano Bay extraordinarily common! Listed here are some Volcano Bay ideas you need to have in mind to squeeze essentially the most enjoyment out of your keep.
1. Get there early!!
This is probably not earth-shattering however it’s crucial tip to recollect. In excessive season, the park could attain full capability by late morning. That implies that even when you’ve purchased a ticket upfront, when you aren’t on the park by the point they attain capability, you aren’t getting in. Tickets can be found on the gate, in the event that they haven’t bought out for the day. Reservations aren’t required right now so be certain to get there early.
Simply take into account that the hours (and opening days) change relying on the season so at all times test the web site for present hours and social media accounts for any capability alerts.
2. Keep at Cabana Bay Seashore Resort or Aventura Resort
Observe: This submit could comprise affiliate hyperlinks. Should you click on a hyperlink and make a purchase order, I’ll obtain a small fee. All opinions are my very own.
These “prime worth” resorts now have an enormous benefit over the opposite properties and that’s quick access to Volcano Bay, positioned simply behind the resort. These are the ONLY resorts the place you will get to Volcano Bay with out getting on a bus (see extra beneath.) It’s also possible to stroll from the Sapphire Falls resort, however it’s a longer stroll. Test charges and evaluations.
3. E book your cabana or premium seating upfront
If you wish to be assured a main seat with an umbrella, two chairs, and chair service; you’ll be able to pay an upcharge to order them. However don’t be like me and wait till 10 days earlier than your journey to name, solely to search out them bought out.
And positively don’t anticipate to have the ability to do it onsite. You will have to name to make the reservation (simply test the “add-ons” choices.) Simply take into account that these upgrades are expensive!
There are a number of completely different choices for leases together with:
- Single cabanas that maintain as much as 6 folks (higher degree or decrease degree cabanas)
- Household suite cabanas that maintain as much as 16 folks
- Premium seating chairs with cushions and a secure
4. Convey your individual towels
Towels can be found for lease however Volcano Bay isn’t like a lodge pool that provides towels to make use of free of charge. A simple approach to save is just by bringing your individual. We attempt to journey with thinner seashore towels that don’t take up lots of area in our baggage and might at all times get left behind if they’re soaking moist.
Or, we purchase low cost towels at a memento store once we arrive. Another choice is to order some from Amazon to be shipped to your lodge however test first together with your lodge to see in the event that they cost for bundle deliveries.
5. Are you able to deliver meals into Volcano Bay? Looks as if.
I additionally noticed quite a few folks with their very own meals and drinks. Nobody was carrying coolers in however safety appeared to let by luggage with meals and snacks. So so long as you don’t overdo it, or attempt to sneak in alcohol, try to be okay.
If anybody in your get together has meals allergy symptoms, you can even let the safety guard know that you’re bringing in meals for them as a result of they’ve allergy symptoms. Common Orlando is sweet about that.
6. First cease: safe your chairs
While you first arrive, the very first thing you need to do is use some open chairs. The prime spot can be Waturi Seashore on the large wave pool that fronts the volcano.
Nonetheless, when you don’t see one thing there, don’t panic. There are literally loads of chairs round in several areas. One of many different good choices can be again by the doorway to the TeAwa Fearless River (the marginally much less lazy river.) There’s a mixture of adjustable lounge chairs and smaller upright, low seashore chairs.
I do know while you stroll in it may be tempting to gawk on the Volcano and stroll round to scope out the rides however belief me, you need to safe handy, prime seating to your group as quickly as doable. There can be loads of time to hit the rides after.
7. Second cease: get your Volcano Bay lockers
There are locker buildings/loos scattered all through the park so it shouldn’t be arduous to search out some close to your chairs. However they’ll promote out quick, particularly the large ones. There are small, medium, and huge.
As soon as rented, you’ll be able to go out and in of them all through the day. It’s simpler to make use of a bank card than money, simply faucet your TapuTapu, insert your bank card, and the locker pops up. Return later and faucet your wristband and your locker will pop open (so so long as you keep in mind your locker station, you don’t even actually need to recollect your quantity.)
8. Flip your TapuTapu into Seamless Fee
What’s even simpler than paying by bank card on the lockers and eating institutions is to show your TapuTapu right into a seamless fee possibility. To do that, obtain the Common Orlando App and arrange your bank card fee methodology. Join the TapuTapu to make use of at lockers, present outlets, and meals institutions all through the day.
9. Take into account Shopping for an Specific Move
One approach to skip the traces at Common Parks is with an Specific Move. There are two methods to safe an Specific Move. You may both keep at one of many Premium Common Orlando Resorts that embrace Specific Passes for Friends (at the moment Loews Portofino, Laborious Rock Resort, and Loews Royal Pacific) or, you should buy an Specific Move as an ADD ON to your theme park ticket.
At Common Orlando Volcano Bay, Specific Passes are barely completely different than on the different two parks. You may both buy a 1-Park Common Orlando Specific Move, which solely will get you Specific Move entry to Choose rides and might solely be used as soon as per points of interest, or, you should buy a 1-Day Specific Move PLUS, which lets you skip the digital line in any respect points of interest, however nonetheless solely use it as soon as we attraction.
Pricing varies as a result of it’s primarily based on demand, so you can see increased pricing on days when the park expects excessive demand. Simply take into account that the Specific Move permits you to skip the VIRTUAL line. This doesn’t imply that while you get to the journey you’ll be able to stroll previous all of the folks ready. It simply implies that you don’t have to scan your TapuTapu and wait to be assigned a time to journey that journey. You may be part of any line you need (primarily based in your cross degree), however nonetheless want to attend your flip.
Friends who buy Specific Passes for Volcano Bay will obtain a wristband separate from their TapuTapu.
10. Third cease: Decide a journey
That is the place it actually helps to do a little analysis forward of time and work out what you need to journey essentially the most. Simply keep in mind, the “massive” rides just like the Krakatau Aqua Coaster would be the hottest so attempt to get these in earlier than the most important crowds arrive.
What you’ll need to do is use the journey (strive studying the journey descriptions and taking a look at a map upfront to be ready.) Exterior of the doorway can be a TapuTapu kiosk. Merely faucet your wristband and you can be assigned a time to return to the journey.
Don’t fear about maintaining a tally of a clock. The wristband counts down for you and can buzz when it’s time to journey.
11. Don’t anticipate “no traces”
They promote TapuTapu as a approach to do away with traces. It positively helps, however don’t suppose you’re going to stroll proper onto the rides.
For a lot of rides, as soon as it’s your “flip” within the digital queue, you’ll nonetheless have a little bit of a line while you arrive on the journey earlier than you’ll be able to take your flip. Additionally, don’t be shocked to have “digital” wait occasions of 60-120 minutes for the most well-liked slides.
In between, you’ll need to cool off within the wave pool, Winding river, or Fearless River (the lazy river that has some waves and a stronger present.)
12. Not each journey has a wait
If the very first thing you faucet has an extended wait time, don’t surrender but. Take a stroll by the park. There could also be some rides that don’t have a line so they’re “No wait” and you’ll board instantly when you wait to your different journey.
Because the park will get extra crowded, that received’t be doable so that you’ll want to sit back out in one of many rivers, the wave pool, or loosen up on the seashore for some time.
13. Eat early
Volcano Bay has completed an incredible job with its menu choices and the eating places get packed at lunchtime. Should you get there somewhat earlier than 12, you received’t want to attend. Chances are high the solar, water, and train are going to make you hungry anyway and you can be able to eat earlier than midday.
You may additionally discover some good choices at a number of the shacks across the park. For instance, the Feasting Frog affords nice Rooster Mole Tacos and Poke Poke bowls.
In case you are searching for cocktails, head to the Dancing Dragons Boat Bar.
14. Purchase a refillable cup
Similar to within the different Common parks, you should purchase a refillable, insulated cup (they’re cheaper when you purchase a couple of) and refill it all through the day.
It’s a little tougher to search out the Coca-Cola “Freestyle” stations in Volcano Bay (actually simply within the eating places), however you’ll be able to deliver them to different huts they usually can refill them from the fountain.
We introduced our personal water bottles to refill at water fountains however the water will get scorching so quick within the warmth. So we purchased one refillable cup to get entry to ice and took turns refilling it with no matter we needed (and simply grabbed a few common straws so we may share.)
Simply notice you can solely refill sometimes so sharing received’t work if you’re all tremendous thirsty and have to refill too ceaselessly. It’s also possible to get common water and ice from these machines in addition to sodas, iced teas, and lemonades.
15. Put on your flip flops
Volcano Bay does a great job of cooling the sidewalk with water mist, however you’ll nonetheless be scurrying throughout some scorching pavement. However you don’t have to do it in naked ft. There are racks in entrance of every journey the place you’ll be able to retailer your sneakers and coverup in somewhat rope hammock shelf till you might be completed.
I’d additionally advocate bringing a sunhat (listed below are my suggestions for the greatest packable sunhats for ladies), as a result of that Florida solar could be sturdy!
16. Search for easter eggs
TapuTapu doesn’t simply open lockers and safe journey occasions, it additionally unlocks some enjoyable easter eggs across the park. Search for the TapuTapu icons, give it a faucet and see what occurs.
Trace: down by the seashore, faucet the large clam shell to see what occurs.
17. Buy a multi-day cross
Volcano Bay tickets for someday are cheaper than the opposite parks. Nonetheless, if you’re additionally visiting Common Studios and Islands of Journey (and also you positively ought to, particularly if you’re a Harry Potter fan,) it is smart to get a multi-day cross.
Should you get a four-day, three-park cross, it’s virtually like getting the fourth day free. Completely value it if you’re spending not less than three days in Common. In any other case, it’s extra economical to get a one-day cross to Volcano Bay and a one-day park-to-park ticket for Common Studios and Islands of Journey.
You will get discounted tickets to Disney and Common Orlando by my associate Getaway Right this moment!
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Observe: We paid full value for our tickets, similar to everybody else. All opinions are my very own.
