Volcano Bay is my absolute favorite water park, and I've been to many! This was our second visit,…read moreand my husband and I actually go for our anniversary. We like visiting around this time of year, toward the end of September and within the last few weeks before closing, because while it can still be popular, it's nowhere near as busy as the peak summer season.
Volcano Bay is unique because you park in the Universal parking garage, the same garage used for CityWalk. Parking is $35. From the first floor, you go through security before boarding a bus to the water park. This is the only way to get there. Thankfully, both times we visited, the process was very quick. We didn't have to wait for a bus since they were constantly coming through.
The park itself, and the walk up to it, is gorgeous! All the little details throughout the park really make it stand out, which is one of the reasons I especially love it.
We've purchased tickets online before, and this time we purchased them at Guest Services. Online, Florida residents can get a discounted price, while you cannot get that price on site. That said, when we visited, they told us the price was the same that day, so it wouldn't have mattered for us.
The entire park basically functions as one giant circle. We always start to the left because that's where the closest lockers and restrooms are. There are three locker sizes, and we purchased the smallest for around $18. It fit our beach bag and a travel bag with a change of clothes, so I thought it was a decent size. This area also has restrooms, showers, and a standing dryer. For $7, you get three minutes. It didn't completely dry us, but it definitely helped!
Of course, the iconic volcano is the centerpiece of the park. At its base is the wave pool, surrounded by tons of free lounge chairs and umbrellas on soft white sand. Throughout the park are multiple water slides, including single and multi-person slides, open and enclosed slides, inner tubes, and a water coaster. There are also several areas for toddlers and young children, plus a lazy river and the Crazy River, which is my FAVORITE! You wear a life vest and float through a roaring, wavy river. It is SO much fun and surprisingly fast!
There are multiple food locations throughout the park, but keep in mind that each has different menu options. They also have misters throughout the park, including ones that cool the flooring. On especially hot days, this is a lifesaver for your feet!
The slides can be pretty strict about what you can bring. Certain slides don't allow loose clothing or cover-ups, shoes, or cell phones, while others are less strict. Thankfully, they have small open cubbies at the beginning of every ride for belongings you can't or don't want to take with you.
My favorite slide is the OhNo! drop slide, and my favorite ride overall is the Krakatau Water Coaster. SO much fun!
They have also changed their express system since our last visit in 2020. This time, you entered the express line and your band was scanned closer to the ride entrance. The bands are fair because you can only use them once per slide or ride. They also have two types of express passes, one covering all rides and another covering the multi-rider slides.
We grabbed food around 3:30, which worked out great because it wasn't crowded. We had burgers and fries, and both were good. Just be aware that drinks do not have free refills, although I believe there is a cup upgrade for unlimited refills.
You can also bring your own food and water into the park. I didn't realize this and brought an empty bottle to fill, but our friend brought two full water bottles in without an issue.
We were able to ride every slide and even ride some twice, plus enjoy the wave pool and Crazy River multiple times. We had an absolute blast, as always, and I already can't wait for our next visit!