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Volcano Bay will open in just nine days – which means it’s about time to learn some new information about Universal Orlando’s water theme park, yes?
Luckily for us,
CNN has been given an exclusive tour around the facilities, and its write-up has provided tons of new little clues about what experiences await us when we enter Volcano for the very first time. While most of these details aren’t big, earth-shattering revelations, they’re still cool little tidbits that help answer some lingering questions – and, of course, to help us get even more excited for our impending Polynesian-flavored vacation.
(Note: there
is one reveal that will turn heads…)
1. Entering the park
A private cabana at Universal’s Volcano Bay (image source: CNN)
The entrance area has no ticket booth or turnstiles; instead, it features a heavily-themed area with totem poles, water features, and ukulele music. A concierge area sits nearby, which is actually vital to the park’s infrastructure – all those guests who have rented either a
private cabana or Premium Seat will be personally guided to their home-away-from-homes for the day by a concierge.
Another little nugget: team members will greet visitors with the Maori saying
kia ora, which literally means “be well” but which colloquially serves as a salutation, farewell, and expression of thanks, according to the all-knowing
Wikipedia. This, of course, fits into the park’s
elaborate backstory, which sees the Waturi people – the fictitious founders of Volcano Bay – travel all across Pacifica in an effort to find Kunuku, the legendary fish goddess, who will lead them to a new home.
Finally, before departing this introductory section, guests will need to grab their
TapuTapu wearable, which they’ll do by scanning their fingerprints – the very same process, it sounds like, that annual passholders already engage in every time they visit the two theme parks.
2. There’s already an expansion being planned
Tiki water jets at Universal’s Volcano Bay (image source: CNN)
Just in case the 30-acre Volcano Bay isn’t enough for you, Universal is already planning on a five-acre expansion.
Says Dale Masion, Vice President and Executive Art Director of Universal Creative: “We have a pretty darn good idea of what we’ll do. It could happen quicker than we think – it could start in three weeks.”
looks like a lot to do in 8 day
