Universal Volcano Bay Overview
Volcano Bay is Universal Orlando Resort’s newest park. This massive waterpark with a Pacific Island theme brings visitors a taste of the tropics through its many attractions, including water rides, lazy rivers, a wave pool, and the centerpiece of it all, the active water volcano, Krakatau.
As there is so much to do and see at Volcano Bay, you may feel overwhelmed if you have never been to the park or are visiting for the first time.
Questions you may ask are, how many rides are at Volcano Bay, what are the wait times for the rides at Volcano Bay, what are the height requirements for each ride, or is it possible to go to Volcano Bay if you or your child doesn’t know how to swim?
This ultimate guide will answer all of the above questions and much more! The focus of this guide will be on the Volcano Bay rides and attractions, and will cover details including wait times, height requirements, ride experience, and more.
After reading this guide, you’ll have all the necessary knowledge and more for your next trip to Volcano Bay!
Without further ado, this is the Ultimate Guide to Universal Volcano Bay!
#1 – Waturi Beach
Beneath the massive Krakatau volcano in the center of Volcano Bay is the Waturi Beach wave pool. At Waturi Beach, you can relax in the sand under an umbrella or swim in the wave pool, which starts shallow but gets deeper the further in you go. Listen for the drums coming from Krakatau because when they start, that is when the waves are about to begin.
It’s at Waturi Beach, where you can relax the most comfortably at the park. You can nap, read a book, listen to music, and more when lying on a beach chair underneath the sun. Volcano Bay’s only wave pool will make you feel as if you are on a tropical beach getaway.
How deep is the water in Volcano Bay Waturi Beach?
The wave pool at Waturi Beach starts shallow but progressively gets deeper the further you go. It begins at 0.0 ft at the start of the pool, then reaches a depth of 2 ft 6 inches around 1/4 of the way into the pool.
Around 3/4 distance into the wave pool, right before the lifeguard stand, the pool reaches a depth of 4 ft 3 in; however, it is here where the waves will start to be strong.
Closest to the volcano is a rope that blocks off the entrance for visitors; however, as the pool continues, it gets even deeper. Directly under the volcano and where the waves begin and are strongest, the pool reaches depths of 6 ft 6 inches marking the deepest section of the wave pool.
Should you wear a life jacket while swimming at Waturi Beach?
If you or your child are not comfortable swimming, you can wear a life jacket provided nearby Waturi Beach. The lifejacket comes in multiple sizes from XS-XL. Depending on how far out you go, wearing a life vest would be in your best interest as the waves can get high.
#2 – Puka Uli Lagoon
Puka Uli Lagoon is a small pool area on the other side of the drop point pool for Ohyah and Ohno water slides.
This kid-friendly pool contains fun activities for kids to play with, like drums and water fountains. Though the Puka Uli Lagoon is not deep enough to swim in, it’s a great pool to sit in and relax.
It’s also a great area to stay in if someone in your party is riding the Ohya or Ohno slides. You get a great view of the drop zone for those two slides.
Since this is an open pool area, there are no wait times to get into the Puka Uli Lagoon.
#3 – Ohyah of the Ohyah and Ohno Drop Slides
Out of all the water slides at Volcano Bay, the OhYah and the OhNo intertwining water slides are the only ones that require you to know how to swim.
The OhYah water slide, the green colored one, and the OhNo water slide, the purple colored one, are both drop slides. Drop slides are water slides that have a drop above water. In the case of the OhYah water slides, when you drop from the exit, you’ll drop four feet into the pool below before you have to swim across to the other side back to land. In the case of the OhNo, you’ll drop six feet before reaching the pool water below.
How deep is the pool for the ohNo and OhYah Drop Slides at Volcano Bay?
The drop zone pool for the OhYah and OhNo water slides is one of the deepest in the Volcano Bay at 10 ft deep. Because you cannot wear a life jacket on the waterslide, it is essential to know how to swim if you want to ride either of the slides. You are dropped into the middle of the deepest pool in the park with the only exit being across the pool.
If you cannot swim, do not ride either slide. Many more water slide options do not require you to swim. The OhNo and OhYah are not one of those. There are no places to stand if you get uncomfortable swimming, and you a dropped a fair distance from all pool walls to hold for safety. Your only option is to swim across to the exit.
Remember, safety first.
Height Requirements for the OhYah and OhNo Drop Slides
You must be at least 48″ to experience the OhYah and OhNo drop slides.
Wait Times for the OhYah and OhNo Drop Slides
Though the ride experience for both slides besides the final drop is identical, the queues are not. Often, the line for the OhNo drop slide is much longer than the queue for the OhYah.
You are more likely to find the OhYah slide to be a walk-on, whereas the OhNo slide has a line that starts at the start of the stairs. OhNo’s 6 ft drop is usually the much more popular option than OhYah’s 4 ft drop.
Typically, you can expect a wait time of 10 minutes for the OhYah drop slide and a wait time of 30 minutes for the OhNo.
#4 – Kala & Tai Nui Serpentine Body Slides
The Kala and Tainui serpentine water slides take you to the top of the Krakatau Volcano and race you back down to the bottom during both twisty, fast-paced experiences.
The Kala and Tainui Ride Experience
The Kala and Tainui slides begin with you standing upright on a trap door. A lifeguard will tell you to cross your arms and legs as you enter the drop door. Once you do, ritualistic drumming will begin. As the drumming reaches the peak, the trap door below you will drop, plunging you down the long, twisty slide into a pool 125 feet below you.
For the Kala, the blue slide, (2:51 on the video above) most of the ride involves turning left and right multiple times until you reach the bottom. There are no sudden drops until you exit the tube and are in the pool. It’s a more straight-to-the-bottom experience. The Tainui, the green slide, (3:37 on the video above) is similar to the Kala, except for a few more turns at the beginning of the ride and one drop in the tube right before you exit the pool.
Though you move fast as you go down the slide, the ride duration is pretty long for a water ride of this type. The Kala has a ride duration of approximately 20 seconds from the initial trap door drop to the pool below. The Tainui lasts around 18 seconds from dropping from the trap door to reaching the pool.
Height Requirements and Deepness of the pool for the Kala and Tainui
With these two slides, you do not need to know how to swim like on the OhYa or OhNo. The pool you are dropped into is shallow enough to walk out if you want (though swimming may be faster). The pool’s depth is around 3 ft 6 in. Because you also must be 48″ to ride either of the slides, every rider should be taller than the water they are dropped into.
How many steps is the walk from the bottom to the top of the Volcano at Volcano Bay?
Though both slides might be great, the queue is anything but enjoyable. These two slides require the most walking out of all the slides in Volcano Bay. Expect to walk up more than 250+ steps to reach the start of the ride, which is at the top of the volcano. If there aren’t many people in line ahead of you, you’ll get a pretty good workout before you can get on the ride. If there is a long wait, you’ll be able to take more breaks between walking up 100 more steps.
Wait Times for The Kala and Tainui Water Slides at Volcano Bay
Typically, the wait for both slides are 45 minutes.
#5 – The Ko’Okiri Body Plunge
The Ko’okiri Body Plunge is perhaps the main attraction at Volcano Bay. Located at the top of Krakatau Volcano, this thrill ride is a straight drop to the bottom.
With a 70-degree fall at 125 ft above the water below, Ko’okiri Body Plunge is the ride that requires the most courage from its riders.
The Ko’okiri Body Plunge Ride Experience
Like the Kala and Tainui, you must first take the long hike up the 200+ steps before you reach the top of the volcano. Once you get to the top, the red drop door will be waiting for you. You’ll watch as each guest goes one-by-one into the tube as the drums start beating for each one.
Almost as soon as the drums stop and the door reopens, it will be the next guest’s turn to take the drop. Rather quickly, you’ll realize it’s your turn to drop.
It’s here where the adrenaline for the ride hits you. As you stand atop the trap door and the drums start beating, you’ll be told to cross your arms and legs. You’ll look down through the trap door and realize that the drop is higher than you thought. Your heart will start beating faster and faster until, before you know it, the trap door beneath your feet opens, and you’ll feel like you are free falling. Then, the ride ends.
The Ko’Okiri Body Plunge is by far the shortest ride in Volcano Bay. The ride lasts no more than 7 seconds from the trap door opening to you reaching the bottom.
The Ko’okiri Body Plunge Height Requirement, Weight Limit, and Pool Depth
Even though there is a height requirement for the Ko’okiri of 48″, you do not need to know how to swim for this water slide as the pool that you are dropped into only reaches depths of 3 ft 6 inches, allowing you to walk to the pool’s exit with ease.
However, there is a weight limit. No one who exceeds 300 pounds can ride the Ko’okiri Body Plunge.
Wait Times for the Ko’okiri Body Plunge at Volcano Bay
Typically, the wait time for the Ko’okiri Body Plunge is 40 minutes.
#6 – The Reef
The Reef is a large leisure pool for relaxation and watching your friends and family come down the Ko’okori Body Plunge. Besides a Waturi head fountain that occasionally spits water at guests and a waterfall near the back, this is the most basic pool you will find at Volcano Bay.
What to do at the Reef at Volcano Bay?
The main feature of the Reef is that towards the back of the pool, there is a clear, plexiglass tube connected to the Ko’okori Body Plunge that you can stand on and look at each person coming down the massive slide at high speed.
How deep is the Reef at Volcano Bay?
The deepest part of the Reef is 5 ft 5 inches, though most of the pool is around 3 ft.
Is there a wait time for the Reef at Volcano Bay?
Since the Reef is an open pool, there is no wait time to enjoy this attraction.
#7 – Punga Racers
Punga Racers is a fun activity that puts you against three others as you race down a large, twisty water slide with your body mat.
There are four slides that you can choose to ride on Punga Racers. Besides the color, each slide gives a nearly identical experience for the rider. That should be expected because the point of the slides is a race against the other riders to see who reaches the bottom first.
On a body mat slide like Punga Racers, you use something similar to a yoga mat to go down the slide. The body mat helps increase the rider’s speed as they make their way down the slide. To use the body mats, you lay on your stomach and hold onto two plastic bars connected to the mat. However, because of the size of the mat and the speed that the mat can take you, there is a strict weight limit for Punga Racers that must be adhered to for your safety.
Volcano Bay Punga Racers Weight Limit and Height Requirement
To ride Punga Racers, you must weigh less than 300 lbs. That is a very strict limit due to the potential for injury on this ride. As you lie face first on a body mat, the more you weigh, the faster you will go. The faster you go down the slide, the more likely injuries will occur.
There have been many reports of injuries from people who have gone on Punga Racers because of the bumps and bounciness of the slide and the strong impact that the water creates with your body during the exit of the slide. The minor injuries include whiplash, scrapes, nosebleeds, and joint pain. There is even one case where a guest became paralyzed after riding the ride. The most important thing you can do if you plan on riding Punga Racers is to follow the instructions and rules given to you by the lifeguard on duty.
The minimum height requirement for Punga Racers is 42″.
#8 – Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides
The Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides are two waterslides which share a queue that allow six people to go down at once on a single raft.
Maku Waterslide Experience
The Maku, the yellow slide, is a mixed tube and outdoor experience. It’s a relatively calm waterslide if you go down with less than six people. To make the ride more fun, try to ride with the full six-person limit to make it faster. Otherwise, there are only a few turns during the ride, no drops, twists, or high speeds. The more people on the raft with you, the faster you will go down the slide, making it a much more fun experience overall.
Puihi Waterslide Experience
The Puihi, the green slide, is much more exciting than the Maku because it has the “toilet bowl” element right at the beginning of the ride. Because of the toilet bowl that takes you up, then down, then through a descending hole, the Puihi becomes a faster slide experience whether you ride with a big or small group. Then a second toilet bowl experience at the end of the ride completes it.
Do you need to know how to swim if you ride the Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides?
You do not need to know how to swim if you ride the Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides. Both slides drop you into a shallow catch pool less than 3 ft deep. You can easily walk to the pool exit to leave the ride.
Height Requirement For the Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides
You need to be at least 42″ to ride the Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides, but supervision is required if you are under 48″.
Weight limit for the Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides
The weight limit per raft is 850 lbs.
Can you ride the Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides Solo?
If you are a single rider, you will be placed with another party that does not have six members. A minimum of two people must be on the raft. Therefore, you cannot ride the Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides alone.
Wait Times for the Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides
Typically, the wait times for the Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides are 30 minutes, but it may be as short as 15 minutes if you are a solo rider.
#9 – TeAwa The Fearless River
TeAwa, the Fearless River, is Volcano Bay’s lazy river, the only attraction in the park where you can lay on your back, float, and let the water take you around the park and through the Krakatau Volcano.
However, although the TeAwa is technically classified as a lazy river, it’s not precisely that calm of a river. Volcano Bay calls TeAwa the “Fearless River” for a good reason.
The TeAwa River contains rapids and waves that will quickly move you around the park. Because of the speed of the river and the random nature of the rapids, you must put on a life jacket to get into this lazy river. You will not be allowed in the TeAwa without one.
Do you need to know how to swim to get in TeAwa The Fearless River?
Although you must wear a lifejacket to float in the river, you should know how to swim if you plan on getting in. At some points, the water will move fast, and a wave will come from behind you, so to be safe, being able to swim is much safer than going in without that ability.
How deep is TeAwa the Fearless River at Volcano Bay?
The main entry point for TeAwa, the Fearless River, is 2 ft 3 in, but most of the river is 3 ft 6 in.
Height Requirement for TeAwa The Fearless River
Although no one checks, as the entry point is just an opening in the park, the minimum height requirement to enter the river is 42″, but supervision is required for all those under 48″.
If someone in your party is smaller than 42″ and insists on getting in the river, tell them to grab a tube to float with and wear the mandatory life jacket (just to be extra safe).
Wait Times for TeAwa the Fearless River
There are no wait times to get into TeAwa the Fearless River as the entryway is always open.
#10 – Raki and Tonga Taniwha Tubes
The Raki and Tonga Taniwha Tubes are a set of four twisting waterslides.
Taniwha Tubes Ride Experience
The Raki slides, or the two blue slides, are completely inner tube experiences that turn you consistently as you make your way from the top to the bottom. Both Raki slides are high-speed experiences whether you take on the rides solo or with someone else in a double rider tube.
The Tonga slides, or the two green ones, are mixed outdoor and inner tube rides. Like the Raki slides, the Tonga slides’ main feature is the constricting turns throughout the ride. However, unlike the Raki slides, the Tonga turns are wider, making for a slower ride.
Do you need to know how to swim to ride the Taniwha Tubes at Volcano Bay?
You don’t need to know how to swim to ride any of the four Taniwha Tube slides. The maximum depth of the catch pool at the end of the slides is 3 ft, allowing you to safely walk to the exit.
Height Requirement for The Taniwha Tubes
To ride the Taniwha Tubes, you must be 42″, but all under 48″ must be supervised at all times.
What is the Weight Limit for two Riders on the Taniwha Tubes at Volcano Bay?
For single riders, the weight limit is 300 lbs. For Two riders, the weight limit is 450 lbs.
Wait times for the Taniwha Tubes
You can expect to wait 30 minutes for the Taniwha Tubes.
#11 – Krakatau Aqua Coaster
The Krakatau Aqua Coaster is Volcano Bay’s main attraction. It’s the most technologically advanced ride in the park due to the jet propulsion system that allows the rider to go up the slide at high speeds rather than just go down like on regular water slides. It’s also one of the largest water coasters in the world, making it not only the best water ride at Volcano Bay but one of the best water rides in the world as a whole.
Krakatau Aqua Coaster Ride Experience
The Krakatau Aqua Coaster differs from every other Volcano Bay water ride. First, your ride vehicle is not an inflatable tube like on Taniwha Tubes or Maku Puihi. Instead, you are put on a six-seater canoe-like boat. As you sit down in the canoe, you place your feet in front of you to the sides of the person sitting directly in front of you. If you are in the first position, you put your feet near the front of the boat. Once you are situated, the ride begins.
The conveyor belt takes the canoe to the edge of the entrance, which then becomes an immediate high-speed drop. The jet propulsion system then shoots you up an incline at an even faster speed, taking you inside the Krakatau Volcano.
Inside the volcano, you ascend another incline that takes you inside a tube. You descend at high speeds leftwards inside the inner tube until you are brought out of the tube and to a slight drop. The drop becomes another incline into a covered tube, leading to another small drop. The drop becomes an even taller incline that takes you inside a tube. This tube twists left and right and leads to the exit of the volcano to the coaster’s largest and final drop. The drop then becomes the last incline that leads into a catch pool tube, signifying the end of the ride that brings you back to the conveyor belt and the entrance.
Do you need to know how to swim to ride the Krakatau Aqua Coaster at Volcano Bay?
You do not need to know how to swim to ride the Krakatau Aqua Coaster. There are no parts of the Krakatau Aqua Coaster that actually puts you in water. You sit in the canoe the entire ride from the beginning to the end. You exit the ride back at the start as if you were on a rollercoaster.
Height Requirements for the Krakatau Aqua Coaster
You must be 42″ to ride the Krakatau Aqua Coaster; however, all under 48″ must be supervised at all times.
Weight limit for the Krakatau Aqua Coaster
Due to each canoe being capable of holding six passengers, the weight limit for each boat is 700 lbs (317 kg). However, because of the smaller size of each seat in the canoe, some people may not be able to ride the Krakatau Aqua Coaster because of their body size or shape.
Wait Times for Krakatau Aqua Coaster
Typically, after you are alerted on your Tapu Tapu that your Krakatau Aqua Coaster spot is available, you can expect to wait for an additional 40 minutes in a physical line.
#12 – Runamukka and Tot Tiki Reef
Runamukka and Tot Tiki Reef are fun play areas made for kids. It’s the perfect play area to bring your little one to if they do not know how to swim or are too small to ride most rides. There are jungle gyms you can climb, water squirters you can shoot people with who are floating down the Kopiko Lazy River, multiple slides you can go down, splash pads, drop buckets, and much more.
Runamukka and Tot Tiki Reef Rules and Restrictions
As this is a kid’s area, some rules must be followed. You must be no taller than 54″ to ride any of the slides. However, to ride the slides, toddlers or kids must be able to support themselves as there is no lap sitting allowed on the slides. In addition, for those not potty trained, diaper-age kids must wear swim diapers at all times covered by their swimwear. Finally, no shoes or life jackets are allowed on any slides.
#13 – Kopiko Wai Winding River
The Kopiko Wai River is Volcano Bay’s lazy river that allows you to sit back and relax in your inflatable tube as you float around the park and soak up the sun.
Unlike the TeAwa Fearless River, the Kopiko has no rapids, no sudden waves, and is, most importantly, very slow-moving. Trees, plants, and vegetation will surround you for most of your trip down the river. During this lazy river, it’ll feel like you’re floating in a Polynesian jungle.
You’ll come across waterfalls and water fountains that gently splash you as you float beneath them. Then, you’ll drift into a dimly lit cave that takes you out of the heat for a brief time. Altogether, it creates one of the most relaxing experiences in Volcano Bay.
How deep is the water in the Kopiko Wai Winding River at Volcano Bay?
The water depth in the Kopiko Wai Winding River is 3 ft at all times.
Do you need to know how to swim to get into the Kopiko Wai Winding River?
For your safety, you should probably know how to swim if you plan on going into the Kopiko Wai Winding River; however, it is unnecessary. Life jackets are allowed in the lazy river, so if you or someone you know feels uncomfortable swimming, it may be best to wear one.
In addition, inflatable tubes are always floating in the river. Grabbing onto one or sitting in one as you float may make your experience more enjoyable.
Height Requirements for the Kopiko Wai Winding River
There are no height requirements for the Kopiko Wai River; however, those under 48″ must be accompanied by a supervisor and wear a life jacket while in the lazy river.
#14 – Honu ika Moana
The Honu Ika Moana is a pair of multiple-rider inflatable raft slides that give two very different experiences.
The Honu of the Honu Ika Moana is the blue slide representing the turtle. While you may immediately think slow moving when you see the word “turtle,” the Honu is anything but slow. Out of all the tube water slides at Volcano Bay, the Honu may be the most thrilling of the group.
The Honu of the Honu Ika Moana Ride Experience
The Honu starts with an unexpectedly steep drop that builds up your speed so that you are brought to the area that explains its name, “turtle.” After the first drop, you arrive at the turtle shell. This part of the slide is shaped like a turtle shell standing up. You’ll slide up to the top edge of the “shell” approximately 20 ft (or more) into the air.
You’ll come back down with even greater speed to reach another “shell,” which lifts you even higher. As you come down, your speed is slowed by gushing water on the slide, which helps take you to the catch pool, which ends the ride.
The Ika Moana of the Honu Ika Moana Ride Experience
The Ika Moana, the green slide, represents the whale. Though this slide does not take you to the heights that the Honu does, and it is also not as fast, it has some unique characteristics that set it apart from the rest.
Though the Ika Moana is a mixed inner and outdoor tube slide, throughout the entire ride, a heavy mist is sprayed on the slide. This mist makes it so that you have difficulty seeing where you are going, when a turn will happen or when a drop is coming.
Most of the slide’s elements involve descending at high speed while turning and twisting. At points, you’ll sway left and right on the inner tube walls as you make your way to the catch pool at the end of the ride.
Weight Limit for the Honu Ika Moana
The Honu (blue) slide has a weight limit of 700 lbs total for the five-person raft, whereas the Ika Moana (green slide) has a weight limit of 750 per five-person raft.
Height Requirements for the Honu Ika Moana
You must be 48″ to ride the Honu slide and 42″ to ride the Ika Moana slide. However, those 48″ and below must have supervision at all times.
Do you need to know how to swim to ride the Honu Ika Moana?
You do not need to know how to swim to ride the Honu ika Moana slides. The depth of the catch pool at the end of the ride is 3 ft deep. Therefore, you should be able to stand and easily walk to the exit. However, life jackets are allowed on the ride if you want to wear them.
Wait Times for the Honu ika Moana
You can expect a 30-minute wait for the Honu and ika Moana slides.
Volcano Bay is only one part of Universal Orlando Resort
Volcano Bay is one of the best water parks in America, yet it’s only one part of Universal Studios Orlando Resort. On the other side of Universal, you can go on many thrill rides at Islands of Adventure or lose yourself in the film worlds of Universal Studios Florida!
Click on one of the buttons below to discover everything else you can do on your trip to Universal Orlando Resort!