Volcano Bay has some of the best water park rides in the country, including the Krakatau Aqua Coaster, Ko’okiri Body Plunge, Kala and Tai Nui Serpentine Body Slides, and more. Here are our rankings of the top 10 best rides at Volcano Bay! Pick your favorites to ensure you know what to try when visiting the park!
Planning Note: Volcano Bay is closing for a major five-month refurbishment from October 26, 2026 through March 24, 2027. If your trip lands in that window, you’ll want to build your Universal days around Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and Epic Universe instead. We’ll update this note as soon as a firm reopening date is confirmed.
What Is Volcano Bay?
Volcano bay is one of the three parks at Universal Orlando Resort. Many people are aware that Universal operates two theme parks: Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, which include roller coasters, thrill rides, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and more. However, not everyone knows that Universal also has a water park named Volcano Bay, opened in 2017.
Volcano Bay | Image © Universal
It features a volcano and three villages: Rainforest Village, River Village, and Wave Village. The rides are spread across these locations, and I’ll make sure to specify where you can find each ride throughout the park! I’ll also include height restrictions and other important information so you’ll have everything you need to know before you ride.
Especially in the Florida heat, Volcano Bay is a perfect spot to spend at least a day during your Universal vacation and experience some of the wildest water rides in the country.
Now, let’s get into the list!
Opening in 2017, the Krakatau Aqua Coaster is one of the most popular rides at Volcano Bay, and for good reason. This ride is essentially a water-based roller coaster because you are not simply by yourself on a slide, but rather in a canoe flying through twists, turns, and drops.
The ride has a few drops that will really get your blood pumping, but it’s nowhere near the VelociCoaster or other Universal Orlando rides in terms of the fear factor.
Because it’s such a crowd favorite, expect long waits, especially since Universal retired TapuTapu (the wearable virtual queue system Volcano Bay launched with) in late 2025. All rides now run on standard walk-up lines, so if you want to ride Krakatau and Ko’okiri without a long wait, get there at rope drop.
The Ride
The coaster starts in River Village even though a significant portion of the ride centers around the volcano. On the ride, you will be zooming around in a four-person canoe on a track that looks like a water slide.
Krakatau includes several breathtaking drops, twists, and turns. Even the uphills can be scary because the ride launches you right up the slide!
While most of the ride is outdoors and you can enjoy the amazing views of Volcano Bay as you twist around the volcano itself, there are a few dark sections that really increase the fear factor on this ride.
The aqua coaster ends with one last plunge into the finish section, leaving you with a huge sigh of relief when it’s over. But I guarantee that you will want to ride it again!
Category: Thrill, Aqua Coaster
Location: River Village
Opening Date: May 25, 2017
Height Requirement: Minimum Height 42” (107 cm)
Weight Requirement: Maximum weight 700 lb (317 kg) combined
Supervising Companion Requirement: Under 48” (122 cm) requires a supervising companion
Ko’okiri is when Volcano Bay really starts to turn the fear factor up! It’s a drop slide: you stand over a trap door that suddenly opens, sending you 125 feet down at a 70-degree angle. It basically feels like falling straight down.
The Ride
This one doesn’t need much explanation because it’s pretty simple, but that simplicity doesn’t take away from the thrill!
The most intense part is the long build-up before the drop. As you climb toward the top of the volcano, the pressure really starts to build. Once it’s your turn, you wait in a drop chamber for the moment when the floor below you will fall away, dropping you straight down along the slide to the water below.
In terms of intensity in the build-up, the ride is number one in the park. My kids, Ben and Ava, love it because they are huge thrill seekers. Don’t get me wrong, I love it too! But the build-up and drop are definitely not for the faint-hearted.
Category: Thrill, Drop Slide
Location: Wave Village
Opening Date: May 25, 2017
Height Requirement: Minimum height 48” (122 cm)
Weight Requirement: Maximum weight 300 lb (136 kg)
Supervising Companion Requirement: None
The ride Kala & Tai Nui is named after its two slides. Once it’s your turn, you and another guest will each get into a slide. The blue slide is Kala, and the green slide is Tai Nui. Like the Ko’okiri body plunge, these are drop slides, meaning you will be waiting in a drop chamber for the floor to release below you.
The ride builds suspense to the extreme, and the green slide, Tai Nui, is arguably the scariest drop in Volcano Bay.
The Ride
In true serpentine fashion, the two slides criss cross several times as you fall down to the pool of water below. Arguably just as scary, or scarier than Ko’okiri, these slides are not for the faint-hearted, but they will give you one of the best rushes in all of Universal Orlando Resort.
Category: Thrill, Drop Slide
Location: Rainforest Village
Opening Date: May 27, 2017
Height Requirement: Minimum height 48” (122 cm)
Weight Requirement: Maximum weight 300 lb (136 kg)
Supervising Companion Requirement: None
Ready to Book? Let The Vacationeer Handle the Details
We suggest you connect with a trusted travel agent to be sure you don’t miss a thing that Volcano Bay and the rest of Universal Orlando Resort have to offer.
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Your dedicated agent (no giant call centers!) will help you find the best Universal hotel for your family, whether you need one that’s pet friendly, within walking distance of the park, has suites for larger families, or whatever your need is. They can also clue you in on which hotels offer a free Express Pass as part of the booking, helping you enjoy some of the best theme park rides with less time standing in line!
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Yes, more drop slides! These features in Volcano Bay rank highly because of their thrill factor, and you really should try all of the drops on your visit. Located in Rainforest Village, the Ohyah & Ohno drop slides are designed like Kala & Tai Nui, where the ride involves two slides, each holding a separate person.
Depending on which slide you choose, we highly recommend either yelling ‘Oh No!’ or ‘Oh Yeah!’ as the trap door falls away below you.
The Ride
Like the other drops throughout the park, the beginning of the ride is up in the Volcano, meaning you have a suspense-building climb up to the drop point. Each slide gives a slightly different experience, and while both are thrilling, Ohno, naturally, is a bit scarier.
You are dropped into a swirling pool at the end of each slide. Ohyah drops you from about four feet, and Ohno drops you from around six feet.
Category: Thrill, Drop Slide
Location: Rainforest Village
Opening Date: May 27, 2017
Height Requirement: Minimum height 48” (122 cm)
Weight Requirement: None
Supervising Companion Requirement: None
Punga Racers is a family-friendly group of water slides where 4 people can race to see who reaches the pool at the end first. Although this is technically categorized as a thrill ride on the Universal website, it’s not particularly scary and has some pretty enjoyable turns and drops.
The real fun comes from trying to beat your friends to the bottom!
The Ride
Located in Rainforest Village, you and your friends will climb up to the start of the ride and choose your slides. Each is a different color and has a unique design, but they all take approximately the same time to reach the bottom.
After a countdown, you will all launch down the slides and enjoy the smooth turns and drops as you race to try and get first place!
Category: Water Slide
Location: Rainforest Village
Opening Date: May 27, 2017
Height Requirement: Minimum height 42” (107 cm)
Weight Requirement: Maximum weight 300 lb (136 kg)
Supervising Companion Requirement: None
Honu of the Honu ika Moana is a water ride that sends you and four other people on a raft twisting, turning, and screaming down a thrilling water slide.
Honu is the sister ride to ika Moana and the more thrilling of the two. It’s one of the few rides in the park that you can actually ride with friends or family because you and your four friends are all on the same raft.
The Ride
Located in River Village, Honu of the Honu ika Moana will have you screaming with joy as you and your friends experience drops, twists, and near-vertical pauses on the ride.
One of my favorite features of the ride is the huge walls. As you round a turn, your raft’s momentum carries you up a huge blue wall. It holds you there, nearly vertical, for a moment before dropping back down
Even though this is a thrill ride, it flows smoothly and is really enjoyable.
Category: Water Ride
Location: River Village
Opening Date: May 27, 2017
Height Requirement: Minimum height 48” (122 cm)
Weight Requirement: Maximum weight 700 lb (317 kg) combined
Supervising Companion Requirement: None
ika Moana is the more relaxed, family-friendly version of Honu. The rides are right next to each other, ika Moana being green and Honu being blue. From afar, the two rides look nearly identical. But ika Moana skips Honu’s swinging drops and towering walls, making it a great starter slide if you’re not quite ready for the park’s biggest thrills.
The Ride
Like Honu, ika Moana uses a 5-person raft, so you and four others can enjoy it together. With several fun turns, the ride has a great flow, making it a fun and enjoyable experience.
Category: Water Ride
Location: River Village
Opening Date: May 27, 2017
Height Requirement: Minimum height 42” (107 cm)
Weight Requirement: Maximum weight 750 lb (340 kg) combined
Supervising Companion Requirement: Under 48” (122cm) must have a supervising companion
While Waturi Beach isn’t technically a ride, I have to call it out on this list because it’s one of my favorite features in the park. Waturi Beach is technically just a huge pool, but don’t let that take away from its beauty. If you are just relaxing by the side of the beach you will have a view of crystal clear water and a huge volcano in the background.
It’s one of the best places in the resort to relax and get some sun.
At Waturi Beach you can rent a cabana with your family, relax in the pool, or get in the wave pool! The waves come from multiple directions and you can have some fun in the surf before going back to your new favorite tanning spot.
Category: Pool/ Wave Pool
Location: Wave Village
Opening Date: May 25, 2017
Height Requirement: Guests under 48’ (122 cm) must use life jackets
Weight Requirement: None
Supervising Companion Requirement: None
River Village is the place to be in Universal’s Volcano Bay if you are a kid. The area is filled with several attractions for children, making it great for families with young children who might not fit the height requirements of the bigger rides.
Like Seuss Landing in Islands of Adventure, there are several attractions in this part of the park for kids, each with a slightly different theme or ride. While the village has its share of thrill rides (the Aqua Coaster is here), it also offers tamer pursuits such as Runamukka Reef, the Tot Tiki Reef, and Kopiko Wai Winding River, all perfect for little ones.
This area makes the list because it is one of the reasons Volcano Bay is great for families of all kinds, and parents will even have fun here relaxing in the sun and enjoying the simple rides!
Category: Kid-friendly Area
Location: River Village
Opening Date: May 25, 2017
Height Requirements: For guests under 48” (122 cm), a life jacket is often required
Weight Requirement: None
Supervising Companion Requirement: None
This is the least lazy, lazy river you will ever find. Once you put on your life jacket and get in the water you are at the mercy of the river! Categorized as a thrill ride on Universal’s website, TeAwa The Fearless River will send you down churning rapids, swelling waves, and fast turns as you speed down the flowing water.
Even though this is number 10, it’s still one of my favorite attractions at Volcano Bay. Just jumping in and giving yourself to the mercy of the river is such a fun experience, and this is a must-try when you visit!
Category: Water Ride
Location: Rainforest Village
Opening Date: May 25, 2017
Height Requirements: Minimum height 42” (107 cm), all guests are required to wear life jackets
Weight Requirement: None
Supervising Companion Requirement: Guests under 48” (122 cm) require a supervising companion
Conclusion
Despite being “just” a water park, Volcano Bay has some of the most thrilling rides in Universal Orlando Resort. From the huge drop slides to the world-famous aqua coasters, Volcano Bay should be at the top of everyone’s list when they visit Universal.
While the thrill rides help make Volcano Bay special, there are fun and enjoyable attractions for families and kids of all ages, making the water park the perfect place to visit on your vacation.
For more guidance on the best rides around Universal Orlando, check out our complete coverage for every Universal Orlando park:
- Best rides in all of Universal Orlando Resort
- Best rides at Universal Studios Florida
- Best rides at Islands of Adventure
- Best rides at Epic Universe
- Best rides at Volcano Bay water park (this article)
Ready to Experience Volcano Bay for Yourself?
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And because you’ll be assigned a single, dedicated agent who will take the time to learn about your family, they can offer ride recommendations for your kids while also making sure the rest of the group gets all the thrills they’re looking for.
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