Welcome to Volcano Bay! Of the many water parks in Orlando, Volcano Bay is this author’s pick for the best one around. The park is divided into four villages: Wave Village, River Village, Rainforest Village, and The Volcano— each with its own personality. Some attractions are for big thrills, some are family-friendly, and some attractions are perfectly suited to let you simply float around. Here’s an overview of the whole park.
Before we delve into a breakdown of all the rides, slides, and attractions in Volcano Bay, here’s a little list of our “Top Picks”.
Our Volcano Bay Faves
FOR YOUNGER KIDS: We LOVED the Runamukka Reef area. We could sit, watch them, and relax while the young kids splashed, played, and did the slides over and over again!
FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY: We love the Kopiko Wai Winding River! You can grab a float and relax down the river. Our younger kids were on the rafts and often just swimming along through the river as well.
FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY: The Waturi Beach (wave pool) was fun! It can be a bit stressful when they do the waves, but it’s also a lot of fun!
FOR THE OLDER KIDS/ADULTS: The TeAwa The Fearless River was SO FUN. It really is FAST, but that’s what makes it so, SO much fun!
FOR THE BIGGEST DARE-DEVILS: You can’t beat the level of fear you will feel if you attempt the Ko’okiri Body Plunge. Oh my gosh shudder.
FOR MOST OF THE FAMILY: ANY of the raft rides are so much fun, just double-check the height requirements for each, as they are strict with them!
FUN SIDE NOTE: The flatbreads at Whakawaiwai Eats are GREAT! Plus, we love that there are Coke Freestyle machines all over!
***One important thing to note - Volcano Bay does NOT provide complimentary towels. You can pay to rent them, and there are souvenir towels to purchase, but we recommend saving that expense and bringing your own.***
Four Villages, Endless Fun
Krakatau: You know…the big volcano that you can see from the highway.
Volcano Bay is built around its centerpiece: Krakatau, a towering volcano that anchors the park. Inside Krakatau, you’ll find several water slides:
Krakatau Aqua Coaster sends a multi-person canoe up, down, and all around the volcano using water propulsion to carry riders. It’s part water slide, part roller coaster, and a whole bunch of fun!
Ko’okiri Body Plunge is for anyone who looks at a 200-foot volcano and thinks, “You know…it would be fun to slide straight down that.” (AKA: a crazy person). Riders step into a launch capsule and, within 1-second to 30-seconds (depending on the whims of the operator), wait for the floor to disappear, then drop through the volcano on a near-vertical body slide. The entire ride lasts about 10 seconds. It’s the kind of ride where the anticipation may be the most terrifying part. (Note - there’s a fun personal story about this ride at the bottom of this post.)
Kala and Tai Nui Serpentine Body Slides are a pair of high-speed body slides that also begin with a trapdoor launch, much like the Ko’okiri Body Plunge. The two slides twist down from the volcano, allowing the two guests to “race” - although, full disclosure - gravity is doing most of the racing here.
Punga Racers bring a little friendly competition to the volcano. Four riders launch down parallel slides, racing toward the finish. It’s a good option if you want something fast and fun along with a bit of competition.
Wave Village: For those wanting some beach & pool time
Waturi Beach is the park’s massive wave pool, set right at the foot of the Krakatau Volcano. It’s a natural gathering place for the park, and most people will end up spending at least some time here, whether you’re swimming or simply taking a break between slides. This is one that you’d want to keep an eye on your younger kids or on those that are not-as-strong swimmers, as the waves can get pretty rowdy. (We watched a lifeguard save a younger kid within the waves— pretty scary stuff.)
The Reef is a calmer pool in the same area as Waturi Beach, complete with its own private waterfall. It’s a leisure pool that gives you a chance to swim without being tossed around by the waves.
Puka Uli Lagoon is another pool on the opposite side from The Reef to slow down and relax, as well!
Rainforest Village: Group Raft Rides and a RAGING “lazy” river?
Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides consists of two rafting slides.
Maku of the Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides is a multi-person raft ride that sends you careening down a water slide. The rafts sweep through large, dark tunnels with saucer-shaped sections, giving the ride a playful, spinning feel rather than one long, straight drop.
Puihi of the Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides is the other big raft adventure in this area. Riders travel through dark tunnels before entering a series of funnels that swing the raft around before the final drop.
Taniwha Tubes are four tube slides inspired by the park’s tiki theming. You can try one or all four. You can ride alone or with a partner, and the different slides offer twisting routes through the landscape. They’re a solid choice if you want a classic tube-slide experience without having to brave the park’s tallest rides.
Ohyah and Ohno Drop Slides are two body slides that end with a drop into splash pools. They’re short rides, but the finish gives them a little extra drama. The names are a fair warning: one is fun, the other may prompt you to reconsider your life choices.
TeAwa The Fearless River is NOT the gentle float you picture when you think of a lazy river. This one…well, this one moves. Riders glide on a fast current that keeps the water churning. I don’t know how else to describe it other than - it sort of feels like you’re flying…in water. It’s honestly, my personal favorite attraction in the park.
River Village: Where you’re hanging with the entire family (especially if you have little kids)
Honu ika Moana consists of two rafting slides. Honu is one half of the Honu ika Moana. The multi-person raft climbs up and swoops down, twisting and turning all the way. This slide is more geared towards adults with a height requirement of 48”.
ika Moana is the other half of the complex, with a more winding raft ride through the slide’s curves. It’s a good family option for sharing the ride together, with a height requirement of 42”.
Kopiko Wai Winding River is the park’s classic lazy river, and where you’re most likely to find me. And I don't know if you know this, but you actually get to go under the volcano, which is a very neat vantage point. Find a tube, and let the current take you along.
Runamukka Reef is a multi-level water-play area for kids (that is also super fun for parents….so I hear), with small slides and splash features for little ones.
Tot Tiki Reef is the gentler play area for the smallest visitors. With toddler-sized slides and splash features, it gives the littlest ones a place to enjoy the water at their own pace.
So, What’s the Best Way to Do Volcano Bay?
The fun of Volcano Bay is that there is something for everyone! It’s a “choose your own adventure” sort of waterpark. If you want to do a trapdoor launch down a 125-foot slide, be my guest. If you want to do a slow float around a lazy river, you can do that too. Whether you’re chasing the biggest thrills or hanging out with toddlers, there’s something for everyone!
While many water parks are what I would consider “half-day” parks, you can easily fill a whole day with Volcano Bay.
Ride availability and operating details can change, so check the park’s current map and information before your visit.
Our Fun Ko’okiri Body Plunge Story
So, when Volcano Bay first opened, my wife and I went to Volcano Bay with some friends of ours— another couple. The guys were going to do the Ko’okiri Body Plunge. Before we did that one, however, we told our wives that all four of us could do one of the smaller slides in the volcano. And I swear we thought we were getting in line for one of the more minor rides. Somehow we ended up in line for the Ko’okiri Body Plunge (partly because we didn't know the names of the slides). Somehow we managed to be in the line for the craziest ride in the park. But, I can proudly say, all four of us did it. To this day, our wives swear that we did it on purpose— and neither one of them has forgiven us.