The last time I visited a water park, the year began with 19. I was in middle school, and we visited Wild Waters Waterpark in Ocala, Florida, home of The Hurricane, my favorite water slide. We visited at least once a year, usually when school was out, and I have a lot of fond memories of the now-demolished water park. I became a Universal Passholder in 2019 and, while Volcano Bay called to me, I didn’t have the urge to visit the water park until recently. Lured by an invitation to a Single Riders of UOAP get-together, I finally made a point to visit the beautifully themed water park. Here is a recap of my adventures as a solo traveler to Volcano Bay in beautiful Orlando, Florida.
Waterpark Wanderer: My Strategy
For my first visit, I took a nomadic approach. What do I mean by a nomadic approach? I mean I didn’t rush to grab a lounge chair in the shade or on the beach like most people do when they first get there. Instead, I went to the locker rooms, stashed my stuff, and grabbed my first ride reservation of the day, the Krakatau Aquacoaster, using the taputapu wristband you get upon entry. While I waited for my time to ride, I rode some of the smaller slides that had little to no waits (posted as “Ride Now”) or grabbed a drink or snack and sat in the shade at the bar or dining areas. My nomadic route made a clockwise loop around the park every two hours, bringing me back to the lockers where I took a break and reapplied my sunscreen.
The reason why I decided on a nomadic route is because, as a solo traveler, it didn’t make sense for me to set up a “base camp” in the seating areas. If I had the family or small kids with me then yes, this would have made more sense. But since I was alone and no one would be around to watch my stuff, the nomadic approach felt like the way to go. I have also heard stories about people with sticky-fingers or people who will move your stuff when you aren’t there, and, although rare, I didn’t want to take a chance. If VB allowed guests to bring in personal lock cases, I would have, but alas they do not allow them anymore. I felt better with all my stuff secured in a locker, which allowed me to roam without worrying about someone touching my stuff. I went on a Saturday, towards the end of summer, and the crowds were mild-to-moderate; the early-access perk for Universal hotel guests definitely helped in those first few early-morning hours.
Like Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios, Volcano Bay also uses single riders to meet the weight requirements on tube and float rides. When I approached the scale (yes, they weigh you) and signaled that I was a single rider, the ride operator would ask me to step to the side. I would then wait for a party that, one, needed an extra person, and, two, was okay with a stranger joining their party. Most people were okay with me riding with them, for which I thanked them. Once, an older gentleman scoffed, shook his head, and gave me the stink eye when the rider operator asked if I could ride with him and his son. That’s okay, sir. I didn’t want your foot fungus anyway.
A Footnote on Feet
Speaking of feet, let’s talk about something that might give some of my readers the ick. On group rides like Honu, you will be asked to put your feet in the middle of the float, in very close proximity to other people’s feet. There was no shortage of gnarly-looking toes in the park and it made me glad that I wore water socks and brought hand sanitizer. For those of you who are grossed out by feet or germs in general, you have been officially warned.
I remember 10-year-old me barefoot and running across the burning pavement of Wild Waters (ow, ow, ow, ow!) to get in line for slides or food. Before my first visit to VB, I would sometimes look down at the park from my hotel room at Cabana Bay and feel bad for the people walking on those sidewalks barefoot on a scorching hot day, which was another reason why I invested in a few pairs of water socks. To my surprise, however, VB has a sprinkler system specifically for their sidewalks, and it keeps the pavement cool and your tootsies safe from roasting – absolutely ingenious! I would still recommend water socks, however, for those of you who are self-conscious about your feet or who need a little padding and arch support. For the amount of walking I did during my time at the park, I was pleasantly surprised that my water socks kept my feet from aching. If I had gone barefoot, it would have been a different story, not to mention the calluses I would have at the end of the day. VB allows water socks on all the float and raft rides, but body slides like Ohno and Ohyah will require that you remove your foot coverings and any loose articles and put them in a storage hammock at the start of the queue.
My Must-Do List
Out of all the rides and experiences at Volcano Bay, a few favorites stand out as must-dos. Krakatau is at the top of that list. Even if you’re not a coaster fan, this state-of-the-art aqua coaster is a must. It certainly took my breath away and piqued my engineering-obsessed curiosity. How do they propel the rafts uphill without a chain lift or a track? I seriously considered that it might actually be magic and had to research. Nerd alert! Krakatau uses linear induction motors (LIMs), to push the rafts uphill against gravity. Similar technology is used on steel coasters like Hagrid’s and Velocicoaster, employing electromagnetic fields to push ride vehicles down the tracks. Magnets under the fiberglass tubes and in the bottom of each raft react against each other and propel the riders skyward and over the next hill.
Another ride that had me screaming – in both terror and delight – was Honu. Honu has you speeding down the flumes into two towering slopes, the float going almost vertical against a steep bank. For a moment, you think the float will flip, but you catch just enough hangtime to take your breath away before you finish with a splash. I rode this one several times, the rotating float sometimes making me go backward, but no matter which way it spun, it was exhilarating – a must-do!
The wave pool at Waturi Beach at the base of the volcano was another favorite, and I highly recommend paying homage to the great mountain spirit, Vol, when he starts making waves. You can also explore inside the volcano by taking the walkway above the pool through the waterfalls. Explore the dark caverns and use your wristband to bring the various water and light features to life – a great way to escape the sun and kill time until your next ride.
Volcano Bay also boasts not one but two rivers, one “lazy” and one not-so-lazy. I use “lazy” in quotations because, unlike the advertisements, the Kopiko Wai River is anything but lazy. Around every other riverbend, you have to navigate a waterfall, a fountain, or a kid on a bridge shooting a water cannon, leaving only a few minutes between water features to close your eyes and relax. I enjoyed the not-so-lazy river TeAwa and was fascinated by how park designers used the turns and water features to produce raging rapids. So long as you stay towards the middle of the rapids, you won’t be thrown into the wall (like I was) and the current will take on an adventure under the volcano. By comparison, the lazy river at Cabana Bay resort is much more relaxed, and after a long day at VB, this is where I found myself, snoozing in a floaty and listening to groovy tunes.
Stairs, More Stairs, and Accessibility
One thing I admittedly was not prepared for – despite being an HHN veteran – was the sheer amount of stairs required to reach the top of some of the slides. You will certainly get your daily steps in after a few hours of slide hopping, and, if heights bother you, keep in mind that some of the slide towers are 4-5 stories tall. Heights never used to bother me and I have no problem riding tall coasters, but it’s funny how as you get older weird stuff like escalators and spiral staircases start to bother you. Anyone else?
I was also surprised by the lack of elevators for guests who use wheelchairs. According to Universal’s Rider Safety and Accessibility guide, the only rides that have an elevator are Krakatau and Maku Puhi. Riders must be able to transfer from their chair to the ride raft under their own power or with the help of a companion (ride operators are not allowed to assist with transfers). The wave pool and both rivers have access ramps and the Reef pool has a chair lift, but sadly there is a lack of accessibility-friendly slide options for guests who are wheelchair-bound. Something to keep in mind.
Reflections on My Solo Day
While I’m on the fence about upgrading my 2-park annual pass to a 3-park to include Volcano Bay, I plan on making it a regular stop when I’m in the area on longer stays. If I lived closer, sure, I would make a point of visiting the water park more regularly, especially during the “winter” months when it is less crowded. For those of you living outside of the state of Florida, we rarely get winter temperatures (50 and below) until February-March; for the rest of the year, the waters at Volcano Bay are heated to a perfect 80 degrees. In the future, I also might consider renting a premiere cabana – a two-person covered cabana that includes a personal locker, adjustable shade cover, and dedicated wait staff to take food and drink orders. While prices vary from day to day, it might be worth the extra dough if I wanted to take a non-nomadic approach, work on my tan, and read a book on my next visit.
If you’ve been on the fence about visiting this tropical paradise, I hope my review has swayed you to consider it. Whether you’re going solo or with the family, there is something for everyone here, and in true Universal style, the theming is thoroughly immersive. You’ll soon forget that you’re in the middle of a bustling metropolis – this is probably as close as I’m ever going to get to Hawaii, and I’m okay with that. Overall, this water-loving Pisces enjoyed visiting Volcano Bay at Universal Orlando, and I highly recommend it if you are in the area and looking for a way to beat the heat.
What I packed:
UV shirt, water socks, sandals, sunscreen (I recently became obsessed with Korean skincare, and IsnTree sunscreen is my new go-to), fanny pack, waterproof phone case (allowed on most float and tube rides)
What I ate:
Loaded Nachos and Carne Asada Tacos from The Feasting Frog – tasty and filling! The rum punch at the Kunuku Boat Bar – refreshing, but strong!
Where I stashed my stuff:
River Village lockers. Most people go for the Wave Village lockers because it is closer to the park entrance, the wave pool, and the kiddie area. I walked the extra three minutes to the River Village lockers which were less crowded throughout the day. The Rainforest lockers are a good option for people who visit later in the afternoon as this section of the park is not open during the early morning rush hours and thus they are less likely to be sold out.