Universal Lights Up Volcano Bay!

Quick pop quiz: What’s better than an Orlando water park? How about an Orlando water park after dark? And, yes, it is coming to a Universal Orlando water park this month!

Volcano Bay Nights is the new programme in question and it promises to take all the watery fun of its South Seas-themed park and kick it up several notches with a whole different approach from 7pm to 10pm (but with park access from 4pm) on select nights in April and May.

It’s the first time Universal has offered this neat alternative to the regular daytime programme of Volcano Bay, but it follows in the footsteps of Walt Disney World, with its H2O Glow after-hours festivities at Typhoon Lagoon (which started a few years ago and now runs annually from May 23 to September 13), and Aquatica, with the SeaWorld water park featuring its AquaGlow event on select nights from May 16 to September 27.

In many ways, Volcano Bay is the ideal park for night-time watery fun and games as it is jaw-droppingly beautiful by day but even better at night, especially around the central feature of the Krakatau volcano itself, which towers 200ft over the park and provides a magnificent focal point. The many dazzling lighting effects also work best once the sun goes down.

What IS Volcano Bay?

OK, let’s back-track and discuss Volcano Bay first of all. This dramatic addition to the Universal Orlando complex – the first water park at any Universal resort worldwide – was first announced in May 2015 as a direct replacement for the old Wet ’n Wild water park on International Drive, which Universal had bought two years earlier and then revealed plans to demolish and devote to two new moderate-priced hotels, the Surfside Inn & Suites and Dockside Inn & Suites (combined as the Endless Summer Resort).

Wet ’n Wild officially closed on December 31, 2016, but it wasn’t until May 25, 2017, that the new water park first opened its gates, with Universal proudly proclaiming it as “a water theme park.” Slipping in the “theme” part of that title was purely aimed at allowing the company to insist it now had three “theme parks” on site, but no-one else was buying that particular piece of advertising material!

Volcano Bay DID have some unique features to mark its arrival, though, not least the Tapu Tapu ride reservation system, a free-to-use wearable device that allows guests to reserve a virtual place in line for all the main rides and attractions. It took a while to make it run smoothly, but it quickly became a highlight of the park, especially as it adds a few interactive touches – like activating one of the Tiki faces to squirt water!

What are the main rides and slides at Volcano Bay?

The park is effectively split into four sections, The Volcano, Rainforest Village, River Village and Wave Village, each with its own style and motifs. The latter is part of the entrance area to Volcano Bay, featuring the main pool areas, Waturi Beach and The Reef, at the base of Krakatau, while the Volcano itself is home to four of the main attractions, including two immense body slides (both with trap doors!).

River Village is where you’ll find the standout ride of the Krakatau Aqua Coaster, a water-driven coaster system that shoots four-rider “canoes” around a twisting, turning track that runs right through the volcano, as well as the lazy river feature and children’s play areas. Rainforest Village completes the set with a series of high-energy slides, plus a secondary beach area, a relaxation pool and – for those who really like Roa’s Rapids at Aquatica (as we do!) – there is TeAwa the Fearless River, which offers white-water sections and rapids that add up to a lot of fun as you swirl along the river.

Dining is another highlight of Volcano Bay, with some distinctly upmarket and grown-up tastes and drinks at six distinct bars and eateries, plus the tasty treats of Koka Proka Ice Cream Kona, where the must-try item is the Waturi Fusion, a mix of banana, blue raspberry, orange and strawberry flavours. Yum! When you’re ready for lunch (or dinner), the imaginative chicken and seafood dishes of Kohola Reef are an excellent choice, while The Feasting Frog serves up some tasty tacos, in addition to poke bowls and nachos.

What does Volcano Bay Nights add?

Now, if you’re ready for the extra fun and entertainment of the new evening programme, here’s what Universal have told us about it so far. Just to start with, it is a separately ticketed event after normal park hours (9 or 10 am to 5 or 6pm), with tickets now on sale ($99 plus tax per person) and a limited capacity to ensure queues are much shorter than usual.

Guests are invited to embrace the Waturi culture under the stars, all while enjoying lower wait times and exclusive access to the top attractions, including Krakatau Aqua Coaster and the famous body slides of Ko’okiri Body Plunge and Kala and Tai Nui at the top of the volcano. Live entertainment is provided at Waturi Beach, where a live DJ spins popular tunes and there are classic games, like hula hoops and limbo, all set against the backdrop of the towering Krakatau.

Ready for more? How about the chance to meet some of Universal’s beloved characters from hit DreamWorks Animation films? In addition to the usual rides, there will also be each of Shrek, Fiona and Puss in Boots from the Shrek movies, plus King Julien and Alex from the Madagascar series, and the trio of Poppy, Branch and Guy Diamond from Trolls. It should be the ideal time to get those all-important character photos.

Complimentary treats, too

Then there will be complimentary treats available for guests on the beaches, including Spicy Island Shrimp and Cheesy Cliffside Seashell Pasta. They can be washed down with more than 100 drink choices and refills throughout the event, with Coca-Cola beverages in a free Volcano Bay Freestyle Souvenir Cup. Additional speciality food and drinks will be available for purchase at Kohola Reef Restaurant and Social Club, Dancing Dragons Boat Bar and Koka Poroka Ice Cream Kona.

Need some personal space to go with the watery fun? You can even hire a private cabana for the event, starting at $249.99. Cabanas must be booked in-park at the concierge huts on the day of the event and are first come, first served. So far, the Volcano Bay Nights dates are April 12 and 26, and May 3,10 and 17. Will there be more this summer? There’s no word as yet, but it makes sense that if these trial five dates are a success, we will see more of them in June, July and August, so stay tuned for even more South Seas frolics in future!

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