Universal Orlando to end virtual queues at Volcano Bay

A managed visit to the entire park by VQ was a non-starter for me. Never once considered going there once i learned that was a thing. As a solo traveler/conquerer the idea that i would have to just twiddle my thumbs until the system tells me it is time is a bridge too far for a waterpark. Funny enough, Disney is moving to having both water parks (TL, BB) open concurrently. I'll constantly beat this dead horse but something besides alcohol theme park wise needs to be available and functional at 1am. My entire theme park belief system is built around the after dark hours at Wet and Wild and just having a blast. Imagine if Vegas had Orlando Amusement park type hours. I should be able to ride rides at 2am.

We've visited VB a number of times over the years since Volcano Bay opened, and found TapuTapu do be a very efficient and convenient system to use. There's nothing worse at a water park than standing in a line for 30+ minutes for a water slide, getting wet, and then standing in another 30+ minute line where you end up completely dry by the time you reach to top of the slide. Rinse, repeat, literally. TapuTapu allowed you to wait in line while hanging out at your chair, grab some food/drink, swim in the wave pool, or raging river (or other slides that weren't requiring TapuTapu and typically had less than 10 minute lines).

Sure, TapuTapu wasn't perfect, particularly for Krakatau (water coaster), which still had a 15-20 minute line when you were called back to the queue, and some other slides where you were sometimes called back less than 5 minutes after "tapping in", but it was nice to know that you could reasonably get to every slide in the park on a busy day and still have time to ride your favorites multiple times without have to spend hours standing on stairs and uncomfortable queues drying out (or freezing like you would for the trap door slides at the top of the volcano if there was a backup or no TapuTapu running on that slide complex).

I was really hoping that TapuTapu would eventually lead Universal to develop a similar system for Epic Universe. Frankly, I do not understand why so many people are against parks utilizing VQs, because not only does it keep you from being held captive in a seemingly endless line, but it allows you the freedom to do something else while you're waiting in a virtual line.

VQ is for the unexciting people that get 2 weeks of vacation a year and want to be sure they can post on facebook that they rode whatever ride so their online persona can look like they are having the time of their life ( their life sucks). The glamping crowd. Manifesting abbundance with their selfie stick.

If you want to ride a ride. Tough it out. Rope drop. Turn on Virtua Queue as a last resort (idk 1pm when you park is getting crushed). But the guardians Vq and having to wake up to get tickets will forever be sour for me. If that ride wasnt the perfect mix of characters i like, ride system ive never been on, and music integration into the ride i would have balked. It like EULA we are getting screwed with VQ because some of you just will agree to anything.

Knowing that i possibly helped get rid of VQ because i wouldnt go and the line chart needed just one more sucker to validate it... feels real good.

I would love to know what drove these decisions. It don't think Tapu was necessary for most of the attractions, but I really liked having a queue spot for Aqua Coaster or some of the longer waits while I lounged about or hit up the lazy (and Crazy) rivers. It was a distinct feature which really allowed people to relax and enjoy the park.

A problem for both Kabletown and The Mouse is that most people in the US are now a drive away from a themed outdoor water park or a hotel resort with an elaborate indoor water park. At one time it may have been worth devoting a day of your Orlando vacation to choke on chlorine, but that is no longer the case.

For our last trip we were provided free admission to Volcano Bay as part of our ticket package, and while it certainly looks nice I never made it over there. The January weather was a tad cold, but it also didn't seem worth the time commitment. If I have the urge, I can go slide down a plastic tube in a faux jungle environment without crossing the state border.

@puckpilgrim - It's a water park. Why in the world should people be "toughing it out" in a water park? The whole concept of VB is to be a relaxing, lush paradise, away from the hustle and bustle of the regular theme parks. TapuTapu provided a way for guests to chill (or do something else) while they were waiting for their turn instead of being stuck in a line. The system also helped to spread out crowds by encouraging guests to experience attractions with shorter (or no) waits utilizing the in-park digital displays (something no other water parks use, at least not that I've ever seen). It elevated the water park far above its predecessor (Wet and Wild) and Disney's water parks that are full of frustrating lines and crowds. A day at Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach is chaos compared to what VB is like with TapuTapu.

I do think Zarex makes a good point though. We're getting a Kalahari indoor water park about an hour south of DC (about 20 minutes north of Kings Dominion on I-95), and there's something to be said for those types of resorts (including Great Wolf Lodge and others) making destination water parks less attractive. Additionally, Disney's new perk to allow on-site guests free water park admission on their arrival day may be impacting VB.

I am wondering if, after all the talk of Epic Universe taking visitors away from Walt Disney World, its real attendance victim might end up being Volcano Bay.

I think it’s early to say that the planned winter closure is indicative of a long-term plan to operate seasonally. Most water parks around the country are only open about four-five months every year and use the downtime to do some maintenance. Volcano Bay hasn’t had any major refurbishments since 2020-2021 I think. If it happens again next year, that could be worrisome.

As for the comment about destination water parks, it should be worth noting that these are less about drawing in guests and more so getting people to extend their trip. Nobody flies across the country solely to see Blizzard Beach. Disney (and to a lesser extent Universal) markets and prices it more as an add on. A family of four already exhausted midway through their vacation can choose to spend $600 to go visit Universal and deal with more hustle and bustle, or spend $200 to have a more relaxed day without leaving site. If anyone’s going to hurt from the rise of Kalahari and Great Wolf, it’s going to be Aquatica and Adventure Island which don’t (yet) have any hotel packages and rely heavily on locals.

this shocked me when I read the title, I don't know why. I actually cant wait, only doing three slides a day, begone! (P.S Russel and Puck, i know russel its sometimes annoying, heck i usually always get mad at puck, but i actually burst out laughing when i saw pucks comment. of course everyone else isn't "manly enough" to get on the water slides, its a water park, not the gym.)

While I agree that the waterpark experience is more ubiquitous compared to the Orlando theme park experience, the reality is that the two Disney waterparks, Aquatica, and Volcano Bay are all massively successful economically and completely pummel all other water parks in the country economically. TBH the fact that Disney's have had so little money put into them over the years is more due to apathy because they have a zillion other things that are always needing capex in Orlando that they end up on the back burner, and they figure the place is printing money anyway why put any capex into it (TBH the same mentality they had with MK the last 30 years. All they've really added is New Fantasyland which really wasn't that good, and Tron more recently).

The reason it makes sense to take the park seasonal is because its too cold to go in the winter and you may as well get all your maintenance done then. Disney keeps one of its waterparks open because waterparks are on several of their ticket offerings, pretty much same for Aquatica although both Disney and Sea World often close the waterparks due to cold anyway.

JT, I do think the appeal of a slightly less stressful water park outing has been reduced by the enhanced offerings available both at home and in Central Florida. Visitors are going to want to visit as many of the Big 7 that they can fit in their week off, and I think a chill day is more likely to be shopping and/or hanging by the resort pool than searching for inner tubes. The fact that both The Mouse and Kabletown are giving away the gates shows there is a problem for even the destination water parks.

The water may be heated, but there are many days in the winter when the air isn't. Going seasonal makes sense.

I never liked TapuTapu. But I also never went on a day when it was really needed. I could see its use and appeal on a capacity day.

I think VQ can sour some first-time or single-visit guests if the park is open for several more hours and they can't even try to get in line for a ride. The advantage to maximize the use of any VQ system goes to regular / repeat visitors. I can understand the frustration of missing out on a signature attraction on your only visit to a park and feeling like you never even had a chance to try and ride.

The bigger question is how are they now going to price their season pass. They are losing a third of opening days. Do they price some hotel rooms overlooking the waterpark at a different rate? The Volcano is such a prominent I4 feature to not be open year round. Florida Beaches seem to still be destinations despite the whole East Coast being a thing. I dont think many people build a vacation around localish waterparks. Plan 6 months and then the weather doesnt cooperate. Waterparks never get old. Open from 9pm-12am during the winter months and let us get hammered with red solo cups.

In other news. I am so anti-VQ, this thread has made me realize i will not go to Epic until they cease with VQs. I am off Youtube permanently (i don seent all dar is to be seent) so POVs or spoilers were not the crisis they once were. Im putting my money where my mouth is. Disney doesnt have any VQs, though im sure Test Track probably will. Until Epic is a browseable-at-my-leasure-or-peril-park you can count me out. If you build it they will come with expectations that im 15 again and not that im managing my 401k portfolio. Good luck!

Word of the day: Unfettered.

I never understood the hate for Tapu Tapu. You can't be in two lines at the same time so at least with Tapu Tapu you can be in line for a slide and do something else while you wait.

Pre cellphone- life is amazing. just happy to be here. if it breaksdown oh well you know shared life experiences with my fellow line waiters who ive had a great conversation with.

Post cellphone- this all needs fixing and im bored out of my mind despite having access to the complete works of man to-date. if only some piece of software could make it so i need zero interaction with others and miss queues. oh neat fast pass. oh neater lightning lane. oh neatest vq

hardpass on all that BS. If TPI could somehow mention the phrase "biscuits and gravy" in the inevitable post where the nix the whole VQ crap at Epic i will feel seen and will book a trip there. Til then Pipeline needs riding in the front left, back right, middle left. And i havent done Tron at night. Have i gotten all the songs on Guardian yet?

Water parks have never been too attractive to me because if I wanted a laid back day I'd hang around my hotel, Disney Springs, or City walk

@Veolocicoasterfan - And I think that's why we're seeing these operational changes from Universal. VB was pretty novel when it debuted, but now that it's gone pretty much untouched since it opened, it lacks that "must-do" feel to it. Plus, since Universal insists on categorizing VB as a "theme park", it requires the same cost of admission as the rest of the UO resort, which now has 3 traditional theme parks to explore. As Robert notes, it's very likely that Epic may cannibalize VB as much as it does any other park in Orlando as guest with multi-day tickets for UO are more likely to use that 3rd (or 4th or 5th) day for extra time in Epic, USF, or IOA instead of spending time in VB. Again, it's even harder for VB to justify the price of admission when WDW allows on-site guests to get into the Disney waterparks for FREE on the check in day or utilize the "waterpark and more" admission provided as a minimal upcharge on a multi-day ticket package.