At the center of the park is "Krakatau," a 200-foot-tall (61 m) volcano. Its slides includewater coasters and capsule plunge slides.[3] As the park's main icon, Krakatau is featured in thelogo.
In February 2015, Universal Orlando Resort officials submitted plans for a new water park attraction to be located on their property near theCabana Bay Beach Resort.[4] Construction was already underway when Universal Orlando Resort officially announced the project and its name on May 28, 2015.[4] In June 2015, it was revealed that the park would replace the Universal-ownedWet 'n Wild water park, which closed on January 1, 2017.[5]
Volcano Bay was constructed on approximately 53 acres (21 ha) of the resort complex's overall property and took an estimated US$600 million to build.[4][6] Artist's concepts included awave pool, a thrill slide coming from the park's central volcano, and other water slides.[4] Alazy river and rapids slide were also shown on the plans, although park officials stated they would reveal all of the park's planned attractions at a later date.[4][7]
On June 21, 2016, Universal Orlando Resort officials revealed additional details on Volcano Bay, including its debut attractions and its planned opening date of June 1, 2017.[8] On January 25, 2017, Universal Orlando Resort revealed that the Grand Opening ceremony would be on May 25, 2017.[2] On May 25, 2017, Volcano Bay officially opened to the public.[9][10]
Volcano Bay's first few months of operation were met with mixed reviews on social media sites such asYelp andTripAdvisor, with visitors praising the park's appearance and theming, while criticizing the lines and the TapuTapu ride reservation system.[11] Visitors complained about the long lines for the slides that could be reserved, which they say resulted in overcrowding in attractions that could not be reserved.[11] However, other visitors noted that they had better experiences arriving well before opening or later in the day.[11] A park spokesperson claimed that their internal surveys indicated guests were generally happy with the park.[11]
On May 1, 2025, Universal Orlando Resort announced that the TapuTapu system and all of its functions will no longer be available on October 1, 2025.[12]
Volcano Bay's attractions are located in four themed areas, each inspired by variousPolynesian islands and cultures.[13] The centerpiece of the park is "Krakatau", (under the name ofThe Volcano), a 200-foot-tall (61 m) volcano that will have waterfalls during the day and lava flows at night created by the French company Aquatique Show.[8][13]
The area located in the park's signature volcano also includes a first-of-its-kind slide attraction.[8][13]
Krakatau Aqua Coaster: Awater coaster taking riders inside the heart of the Krakatau volcano, before plunging through a shimmering waterfall. It featureslinear induction motors to propel riders uphill.
Ko’okiri Body Plunge: A near-vertical (70-degree drop) speed slide with a trap-door start, that passes through the Krakatau volcano, falling 125 feet (38 m) through one of the pool attractions at the base of the volcano. As the second tallest body slide in America. It is described by the park as a "world's-first" feature, and the first to travel through a pool full of guests.[14] Along with the Kala and Tai Nui Serpentine Body Slides, the Ko'okiri Body Plunge is the second tallest drop capsule slide in the world.[15] It is also the second tallest body slide in the world to send riders out of a drop capsule the entire height of the slide in one continuous descent.[8]
Kala and Tai Nui Serpentine Body Slides: A pair of high-speed twisting body slides with trap-door starts. Along with the Ko'okiri Body Plunge, Kala and Tai Nui Serpentine Body Slides are the second tallest drop capsule slides in the world at 125 feet, followingThrillagasgar and Junglejammer at 142 feet tall.
Punga Racers: A four-lane racing body slides (formerly the attraction used mats).
