Volcano Bay: General Discussion

[shiekra38]

We were all under the impression there was going to be a lot of things.

*Glares at Star Gazer's Cavern*

 

[wizwit]

We were all under the impression there was going to be a lot of things.

"And here, a Full Day of Fun lasts well into the night."

 

[Mad Dog]

The night hours were just a very flawed idea from the get go. Heck, Universal doesn't even keep a "real" theme park like IOA open in the evenings outside of Peak Seasons.

 

[GoUCFKnights]

I think they should have stayed open until 10 and sold "after 5pm" tix.

And I was under the impression there was going to be...umm....more to the whole "volcano eruption" show thing.

Me too. While the volcano itself is cool, it lighting up with LEDs at night is nothing super-impressive. I thought there was gonna be a night time "show"

The night hours were just a very flawed idea from the get go. Heck, Universal doesn't even keep a "real" theme park like IOA open in the evenings outside of Peak Seasons.

I'm sure the plan wasn't to keep it open at night outside of peak season... and for IOA, my understanding is they rent out the park for private events at night quite frequently and thats the reason for closing earlier. I know I've been invited by 2 companies my family has worked for that do annual events for, my university had an annual night there, along with Grad Bash in high school, etc... it at least seems like all the time where OA is closing at 6 or 7, its because they rented out the park for a private event.

 

[Mad Dog]

Me too. While the volcano itself is cool, it lighting up with LEDs at night is nothing super-impressive. I thought there was gonna be a night time "show"

I'm sure the plan wasn't to keep it open at night outside of peak season... and for IOA, my understanding is they rent out the park for private events at night quite frequently and thats the reason for closing earlier. I know I've been invited by 2 companies my family has worked for that do annual events for, my university had an annual night there, along with Grad Bash in high school, etc... it at least seems like all the time where OA is closing at 6 or 7, its because they rented out the park for a private event.

Even with the rental nights considered they still close the park before dark most nights except in the summer,XMass holidays & Spring Break. Not necessarily at 6:00, but certainly 8:00 or earlier.

 

[JPRA513]

The night hours were just a very flawed idea from the get go. Heck, Universal doesn't even keep a "real" theme park like IOA open in the evenings outside of Peak Seasons.

Currently my biggest issue with Universal outside of Screenzzz is the hours. Loved my trip last October, but my GF and I b0th agreed that an even an hour or 2 extra would have made the parks more enjoyable and allowed for a midday pool break or something.

I don't like the private events excuse either. I was lucky to not experience that issue, but once in a while is fine, not an issue for me, but it seems Universal does them more often than they should.

 

[GoUCFKnights]

Even with the rental nights considered they still close the park before dark most nights except in the summer,XMass holidays & Spring Break. Not necessarily at 6:00, but certainly 8:00 or earlier.

My point was more that thats the time period that they are renting out the park. i.e, the park "closes" to the public at 8pm, but the private event continues until midnight or even 2am, just the public is kicked out of the park. I've never seen a rental during summer or other holidays as the parks are packed and they want the hours to be long. Every event I've been invited to has been in the January-April range, but it sure seems like IOA is rented out several times a week during that time, and thats the reason for the earlier closing. If the park doesn't close by 8pm latest, they can't seem to do a private event there after hours.

 

[Mad Dog]

My point was more that thats the time period that they are renting out the park. i.e, the park "closes" to the public at 8pm, but the private event continues until midnight or even 2am, just the public is kicked out of the park. I've never seen a rental during summer or other holidays as the parks are packed and they want the hours to be long. Every event I've been invited to has been in the January-April range, but it sure seems like IOA is rented out several times a week during that time, and thats the reason for the earlier closing. If the park doesn't close by 8pm latest, they can't seem to do a private event there after hours.

And....Welcome to the IU Forums. :thumbsup:

 

[Teebin]

So, VB is pretty much running with 95% of remaining issues finished now?..? ; they are just load balancing from food to tapu. Temporary breakdowns don't really count as a fail in my book.

 

[Mad Dog]

So, VB is pretty much running with 95% of remaining issues finished now?..? ; they are just load balancing from food to tapu. Temporary breakdowns don't really count as a fail in my book.

So far it seems the people are speaking with their wallets. That's the bottom line & that's what really counts. Sell outs, regardless what of Trip Advisor people say. .I guess that shows how much that TA stuff really means.

 

[Scott W.]

So far it seems the people are speaking with their wallets. That's the bottom line & that's what really counts. Sell outs, regardless what of Trip Advisor people say. .I guess that shows how much that TA stuff really means.

 

[epcyclopedia]

But how does a slide break down...?

Is it a slide? Does it physically exist? Is there water flowing in it at the normal rate?

How is it broken?

 

[Alicia]

But how does a slide break down...?

Is it a slide? Does it physically exist? Is there water flowing in it at the normal rate?

How is it broken?

Sensors or raft conveyor belts break down. My understanding anyway.

 

[Ashhanbre]

Image didn't show. What was it?

 

[Joel]

But how does a slide break down...?

Is it a slide? Does it physically exist? Is there water flowing in it at the normal rate?

How is it broken?

Sensors or raft conveyor belts break down. My understanding anyway.

Exactly what @AliciaStella said, most of the time it's a sensor.

 

[Brian G.]

So far it seems the people are speaking with their wallets. That's the bottom line & that's what really counts. Sell outs, regardless what of Trip Advisor people say. .I guess that shows how much that TA stuff really means.

Ignoring any actual issues Tapu may have or had; it seems many of the reviewers still don't understand the concept of it.

 

[Andysol]

Tripadvisor reviews are getting much better the last few days.

Where they used to be 1:5 Good:Bad Reviews, it has pretty much become 3:2 good:bad reviews.
Yesterday, for example, had Nine 4/5 star reviews, Seven 1/2 star reviews and Two 3 stars.

Still not great, but certainly improving significantly.

Universal's Volcano Bay (Orlando, FL): Top Tips Before You Go - TripAdvisor

And as a side note, like usual, the majority of the 1 star reviews are clueless and/or arrive late.
Example: "PROBLEM 3 TAPU TAPU WATCHES these watches are crap. You can only reserve one ride at a time. So if you want to ride the Aqua coaster and scan your Tapu, then if you see a "ride now" ride and scan to get on that ride, you just lost your previous scan for the Aqua Coaster. The watches do not have memory on them for multiple rides so you can only scan 1 ride at a time and wait on it."

 

[bob albert]

I imagine the park geting good reviews will correspond to less crowded days. This is going to get poor reviews every time it is really crowded.

Also I'm not going to blame the public for not arriving early or not understanding the system. I think there should be a reasonable expectation that you can start a but late or miss some direction and still have a decent day at an amusement park. It seems like when this park gets crowded you are screwed if you don't have early entry, rent a locker early, find chairs early, have a specific plan for rides, etc.

 

[Disneyhead]

The key is, if you want to arrive late, wait until 3pm-4pm after the afternoon thunder storms. The lines are usually non existent then.

 

[Imagineer83]

The key is, if you want to arrive late, wait until 3pm-4pm after the afternoon thunder storms. The lines are usually non existent then.

I think this system only works for locals. If I was on vacation I wouldn't risk my only chance at visiting the park to hoping for a storm and a cleared out park with only 4-5hrs left at the end of the day, especially if I researched the park and saw the outrageous wait times being reported. I would assume most people on vacation will plan for only one day at VB and will most likely want a full day.

With that said a smart tourist would plan for multiple days at VB and spend mornings/afternoon at IOA or US and then the evenings at VB. I just don't think there are many tourists that would do that though.