What’s Next for Universal Orlando’s New Water Park, Volcano Bay (VIDEO)

honu at universal volcano bay

Universal Orlando Resort in Florida just released new details on its upcoming water park, Volcano Bay, which is set to open June 1, 2017. 

The 28-acre park will offer a new queue experience aimed at making things easier for guests. Notably, guests will not have to carry their own rafts up the slides. 

There will be 18 attractions spanning four primary park areas. Krakatau, a 200-foot volcano, which will lie at the heart of the park, will be home to a yet-to-be-announced marquee attraction. Three body slides at the rear of the volcano will start off with surprise doors that drop out from beneath guests: Ko’okiri Body Plunge, a racing, 70-degree, 125-foot drop through the center of the volcano, as well as the two intertwining, 124-foot Kala and Ta Nui Serpentine Body Slides. The Ko’okiri Body Plunge will be the world’s first slide to travel through a pool filled with guests, Universal said. Additionally, the volcano will house Punga Racers, a high-speed race through four different enclosed slides with manta-shaped mats. 

Wave Village, at the base of Krakatau, will be home to Waturi Beach, a multi-directional wave pool with private one- or two-story cabanas, as well as The Reef, an adjacent leisure pool with calmer waters and views of riders on the Ko’okiri Body Plunge. 

River Village is named for the Kopiko Wai Winding River that snakes through it, traversing caves in the volcano, as well as spontaneous water effects and special nighttime lighting. Also here is Tot Tiki Reef, a toddler play area with Maori fountains, slides and a kid-size volcano, as well as Runamukka Reef, a three-story water playground inspired by coral reefs with twisting slides, sprinklers and more. There will also be two multi-passenger raft rides here: Honu, which soars across two giant, sloped walls, and Ika Moana, which glides across bubbling geysers. 

The fourth area, Rainforest Village, will be home to Maku, which Universal says is North America’s first “saucer ride,” sending multi-passenger rafts speeding around three saucer-shaped curves. Puihi is a multi-passenger raft ride that will plunge guests into darkness before bursting into a funnel and launching into a zero-gravity drop, and the Ohyah and Ohno Drop Slides launch guests four and six feet above the water at the end. TeAwa The Fearless River is a racing torrent river with guests in inner tubes, and the Taniwha Tubes are four Easter Island-inspired slides with rafts for single or double riders. Finally, the Puka Uli Lagoon offers a spot to swim and relax. 

Throughout the park, guests will be able to take advantage of resort-like amenities, such as concierge locations and lockers. There will also be themed restaurants and bars, with details to be announced later. 

The will be located on-site at Universal Orlando, adjacent to Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort and a short walk from the area’s two other theme parks, Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure, as well as on-site hotels and Universal CityWalk

Universal Orlando said it will soon introduce a new, 3-Park Explorer ticket for guests for travel dates beginning June 1, 2017. Tickets will soon be available, and additional ticket options will be announced later. 

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