I seriously can't get enough of Volcano Bay! We have been twice and absolutely love it. The aesthetic makes you feel like you're on a tropical island instead of the middle of Orlando, FL!
You're probably thinking, "water parks are for kids..." NOPE! Volcano Bay is perfect for everyone of all ages! There is always something to do. They even have a full bar! (More details on that below).
You are going to park at the same parking structure as the theme parks, then you take a short bus ride to the Volcano Bay entrance. Ride shares like Uber, Lyft, etc... will also drop you off at the parking structure. NOTE: if you are staying at a Universal Hotel, there is a bus that leaves every 10 minutes or so that takes you straight to the entrance.
Upon entering, you will be given a bracelet called "Tapu Tapu". This is a handy little device that will help you throughout your stay! You can use Tapu Tapu for holding your spot in a virtual queue for rides, paying for food and merch (you can link your cards so you don't have to carry anything around), accessing your locker and more!
A few things to keep in mind are lockers and towels do cost. Towels run for $5 (you can bring your own) and lockers run from $8-$15 depending on the size you want.
There is SO much to do at Volcano Bay - it's really the best place to let loose and play! In the Center of the park is The Volcano that houses four rides and Waturi Beach - an epic wave pool. You can go inside The Volcano and enjoy the interactive play point without riding the rides. My favorite spot to set up is right in front of Waturi Beach so I can have quick access to the waves and catch The Volcano mini show!
Surrounding The Volcano are all the rides, lands and lazy rivers. Our favorite attraction is TeAwa The Fearless River. It's a wild rapid river that tosses you around in some parts, we'll go around 10 times because it's so fun! And of course, the lazy river is a must!
Don't forget to stay hydrated and fed! Volcano Bay offers full bars as well as sit down restaurants. We always get a tropical drink from Dancing Dragons Boat Bar. The employees are so friendly and make the drinks perfect!
There are two hotels that give walking access to Volcano Bay - Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort and Universal's Adventura Hotel. I have not stayed at these hotels but have heard great things about them! We have stayed at Universal's Endless Summer Resort - Surfside Inn and Suites and absolutely loved it!
I highly suggest going to Volcano Bay during off season when it's not so busy. We've been in March and September. And don't forget to check the weather! We got caught in a few rainstorms; they didn't last long but they can be crazy!
For more tips and hacks, check out my Instagram!
-xoxo, Aimee