Hey Thrill Seekers,
Yesterday CNN got a behind the scene look inside Volcano Bay and it didn’t disappoint. Universal’s new water theme park which opens on the 25th May and covers 50 acres is set to be the most immersive experience Universal have every produced.
Getting Started
Universal’s commitment to this immersive experience starts at the turnstile… well when I say turnstile I mean no turnstiles. Yep that’s right replacing turnstiles are totem poles, a concierge area and greeters welcoming guests with a big “Kia Ora” and a TapuTapu.
Obviously the major attraction at Volcano Bay is none other than the Volcano, Krakatau stands at 200-feet due to its slightly elevated position it dominates the skyline, so much so that it can be seen from Interstate 4.
Dale Mason, Vice President & Executive Art Director of Universal Creative told CNN;
The park is designed to go into the evening and that waterfall will do a show changing from waterfall to firefall to lava flow every night. Actually, the show may happen multiple times a night.
Rides
As cool as all the immersive features are you’ll ultimately be judged by your attractions and Universal have us covered.
- The Ko’okiri Body Plunge. – Guests experience a 70-degree fall through a drop door and are sent 125 feet through the middle of Krakatau. Universal says it is the world’s first slide to travel through a pool filled with guests.
- Nearby are the Kala and Ta Nui Serpentine Body Slides, which intertwine and have guests falling freely along 124 feet of twists and turns.
- Punga Racer, a high-speed ride where guests race along on manta ray-shaped mats.
- The park’s Krakatau Aqua Coaster propels guests upward with the use of magnetic propulsion and then shoots them downward. It’s all thanks to linear induction motor technology.
There are 4-passenger rafts in line that are pulled along by magnets There is a big steel plate in the bottom of the raft and we cycle magnets through the ride. Unlike all the other slides, which are gravity fed where you have to start at the top and make your way down, this allows you to be pulled up hills and down and around corners. It means you don’t have to climb a ride tower to get to it. It’s very fast and exhilarating
Where’s the Wave Pool?
You can’t have a water theme park without a wave pool and Volcano Bay being Volcano Bay its got one but with a twist. You didn’t know you wanted it but once you’ve tried it you’ll wonder why other parks don’t have a multi-directional wave pool. It pumps out nine different types of waves from traditional rolling waves to choppy waves to crisscross waves that slam into each other.
If Volcano’s, Slides and wave pools aren’t enough for you Volcano Bay also has blowhole geysers, water-drenching photo spots and the Burping Tiki, which when prompted by a TapuTapu band squirts water from its ears, nose and makes a belching sound. There’s also an area near the leisure pool where water turbulence created by spring vents below causes swimmers to get buoyed up and over to the grotto area. Here, guests can take a breather at the base of the volcano and sit beneath waterfalls.
Volcano Bay opens on the 25th May and entry is included when you purchase the 3 Park Explorer Ticket
Smiles included…
Jamie
