Tuesday 24 September

Today was another water park day.  This time we tried out Volcano Bay (Universal Orlando Resort’s water park) which has only been open for a few years.  Everything feels very new here still and the slides and rides are more intense than at the Disney parks.

It isn’t possible to park directly at Volcano Bay – you have to park in the Universal multi-storey and then get a bus over.  There was a bus waiting for us to go, but it does add to your journey time and means that you have to queue at the other side to go through airport-style security.

Once inside, we got registered and were given our Taputapu bands.  This is for the unique queuing system in use in the park.  Instead of waiting for a slide in lines you can tap in at the attraction’s entrance and the band will then count down your wait time.  While waiting you can go on the rides and experiences which have no wait time until you’re called for the tapped in attraction.

We tried both lazy rivers first (one is not very lazy at all and you have to wear a flotation vest on it!) and then the boys went to try the aquacoaster.  Some of the raft slides were down so we couldn’t do everything straightaway.  Then we tapped in to try one of the group raft rides which only had a 20 minute wait and while we let the time tick round to ride it the boys tried the long body drop slide contained inside the volcano (Catherine didn’t like the idea of being dropped through a trap-door so passed on this one).

The raft ride (Honu) is exhilarating.  You ride in a large raft which can take a minimum of two and a maximum of five people down steep tubes and soaring up steep banks.  It’s not one for the faint hearted but so much fun!  We then tried the drop slides Ohyah and Ohno which have either a 4 or 6 foot drop into a plunge pool as you exit (definitely one for the stronger swimmers!)  Andrew also tried the other body drop slides and Catherine and Chris ventured inside the volcano where there are colourful water attractions and a talking goddess who sings at you.

It was starting to get hot by 2 and we felt like we’d done everything so we got changed & headed back home.  The changing rooms at Volcano Bay are brilliant and much lighter and more spacious than the ones at Typhoon Lagoon.

For the evening we’d planned another trip to Epcot to get another go at Food & Wine.  We stuffed our faces (personal favourite had to be the Le Cellier Steak!) and also went on the Frozen ride (this time with a fastpass). 

We finished the night by meeting Anna & Elsa in their new(ish) location.  Anna is so chatty and wanted to know all about our Queen and why she wears gloves (we all know it’s because she has ice powers like Elsa).  The snow queen herself was a lot cooler and we practised our ice powers with her.  As we left, Illuminations was starting and we said goodbye to this for the last time as it finishes next week after a 20-year run.