Before the new waterpark has even welcomed its first paying guest, an executive at Universal Creative has revealed that a 5-acre expansion is already on the cards for Volcano Bay.
The highly-themed waterpark opens on May 25. Giving a preview to a reporter from CNN, Dale Mason, vice-president and executive art director with Universal Creative, let slip that an expansion is in the works. “We have a pretty darn good idea of what we’ll do,” said Mason. “It could happen quicker than we think: it could start in three weeks.”
One of the highlights of the new park is the 200ft Krakatau “icon”, through which several slides and attractions travel. By day, the volcano functions as a giant waterfall. After dark, it flows “lava” in a light show performed up to three times nightly.
The waterpark’s story explains how fictional Waturi islanders journeyed across Polynesia before they discovered Volcano Bay. Along the way, they picked up many cultural influences. Creating a Hawaiian atmosphere, there are totem poles, ukulele music and tropical plants.
Key to the park’s offering are the TapuTapu wristbands – as pictured above – provided to all guests on arrival. With a simple tap at a totem station, they can make ride reservations and trigger special water effects. They can also use the wristbands to pay for items in the park or keep track of photos taken during the day.
In total there are 18 slides and attractions.
Conveyor belts will transport tubes to the top so guests don’t have to lug them up the slide towers.
Attraction highlights include the following:
- Ko’okiri Body Plunge. Guests experience a 70-degree fall through a drop door and are sent plummeting 125ft through the middle of Krakatau.
- Krakatau Aqua Coaster. Propeling guests upwards through the volcano with the use of magnetic propulsion.
- Kopiko Wai Winding River lazy river. An action river and rapids will also be featured.
Volcano Bay, a successor to Wet ‘n Wild Orlando, represents the third park on site at Universal Orlando resort.
Images: Universal Orlando
https://us.cnn.com/2017/05/16/travel/universal-orlando-volcano-bay-opens/index.html