Volcano Bay: General Discussion

[Scott W.]

Aside from the few stair supports that we know will be covered, what else are you talking about? Slide supports? We knew all along you would be able to see them. I don't find anything wrong with seeing slide supports. It's like saying a roller coaster looks terrible because you can see the supports. I don't understand the objection.

Skip to about 2mins if it doesn't automatically.

There is a difference between supports from a far and travelling directly under them, especially when you're viewing several supports, pipes, electrical boxes, underside of stairs and safety nets. You can't deny it looks like a hot mess. Given how well themed the majority of the park is, the contrast is that much stronger.

I would have thought that travelling through a volcano on a lazy river would have been awesome but it's not.

At this point, it seems like the only solution is to turn the whole area here into a tunnel.

 

[P@n!K_Sw1tC#]

It's comical to me how the same people who didn't heed warning and constantly fought about the park not being ready back in April/May are the same ones arguing about its readiness in its current state. How about listening to the people who've been telling you about this all along for a change? Why is it so hard to accept reality? There's good things about VB and very bad things, but at the end of the day #itsnotready

Universal should build out their expansion, and tie-in any improvements with a re-grand opening next year. Let guests know about the enhanced experiences as a way to bring people back for a second go at the park.

 

[Skold]

Still kills me...the apparent capacity of ohno and ohya that is.

This is all on the TMs and their managers.

Went on this multiple times, and they wait far too long to let the next rider go. One time, my wife came down after me and, as we all do, i scrambled to land to get to see her take the plunge. She wasn't released until about 60 seconds after i was out of the water.

They need to make this more efficient, by far.

 

[wizwit]

This is all on the TMs and their managers.

Went on this multiple times, and they wait far too long to let the next rider go. One time, my wife came down after me and, as we all do, i scrambled to land to get to see her take the plunge. She wasn't released until about 60 seconds after i was out of the water.

They need to make this more efficient, by far.

Must be all kinds of strict restrictions designed to prevent a slider from landing directly on top of a bad swimmer struggling to get out of the pool.

Imagine if they had designed the slide so that the final 8 or so feet was able to be redirected just a few feet to the left or right after each slider.

It would be groundbreaking in that it could instantly nearly double capacity as every other slider would be dumped in a different spot, virtually eliminating the possibility of a crash landing.

 

[Frank Drackman]

Must be all kinds of strict restrictions designed to prevent a slider from landing directly on top of a bad swimmer struggling to get out of the pool.

Imagine if they had designed the slide so that the final 8 or so feet was able to be redirected just a few feet to the left or right after each slider.

It would be groundbreaking in that it could instantly nearly double capacity as every other slider would be dumped in a different spot, virtually eliminating the possibility of a crash landing.

Yes, that makes a lot of sence....but when I was there, they had a life guard tower at the landing pool, two life guards at the pool itself, the guard in the tower had radio contact with the person at the top who lets you slide.

It just seems odd how long they wait til after the pervious person leaves the pool. I really felt I saw waits on those two slides that made no sence whatsoever.

 

[mcusi]

Been out of the country for 2 1/2 weeks, so for me to read the 45 pages that I've missed would take 13468 years.

With that in mind, I have one question for you guys:

Have things improved at all?

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Been out of the country for 2 1/2 weeks, so for me to read the 45 pages that I've missed would take 13468 years.

With that in mind, I have one question for you guys:

Have things improved at all?

Yes. Not substantially and not perfect, but things have improved.

 

[Eckert]

Imagine if they had designed the slide so that the final 8 or so feet was able to be redirected just a few feet to the left or right after each slider.

That would just be one more moving part that would constantly break down.

 

[12th Man]

Skip to about 2mins if it doesn't automatically.

There is a difference between supports from a far and travelling directly under them, especially when you're viewing several supports, pipes, electrical boxes, underside of stairs and safety nets. You can't deny it looks like a hot mess. Given how well themed the majority of the park is, the contrast is that much stronger.

I would have thought that travelling through a volcano on a lazy river would have been awesome but it's not.

At this point, it seems like the only solution is to turn the whole area here into a tunnel.

As someone previously mentioned, I think the cheapest, easiest solution would be a vine tunnel like this:

Would be effective and not that hard to implement. :shrug:

 

[Evan]

As someone previously mentioned, I think the cheapest, easiest solution would be a vine tunnel like this:

Would be effective and not that hard to implement. :shrug:

That was me eons ago, and I agree! It could look gorgeous, add in some firefly lights and BAM. magic.

 

[quinnmac000]

That was me eons ago, and I agree! It could look gorgeous, add in some firefly lights and BAM. magic.

Reasoning against it, leaves in water and the filtration system. The Tunnel itself is fine, its more so the vines. They would have to use fake plants which I also feel people may have issues with.

 

[Brian G.]

That was me eons ago, and I agree! It could look gorgeous, add in some firefly lights and BAM. magic.

Only problem is lifeguard spots - but I'd like that idea.

 

[adjjb]

Reasoning against it, leaves in water and the filtration system. The Tunnel itself is fine, its more so the vines. They would have to use fake plants which I also feel people may have issues with.

If it hides all the exposed plumbing and pipes over head, bring on the fake plants. I think well made fake plants can look realistic and agree they wouldn't be able to use real because of the maintenance issues it would create.

 

[Evan]

Only problem is lifeguard spots - but I'd like that idea.

Could build in some Lifeguard spots, have some gaps built in or something.

 

[Scott W.]

That was me eons ago, and I agree! It could look gorgeous, add in some firefly lights and BAM. magic.

I like the idea but knowing the public, people would pull the leaves off as they float by and it would look bare pretty quickly unless they move them back just out of touch.

Personally, I'd like to see some kind of projection mapping with a canvas wrapped around the area. Walls and ceiling are lava.

 

[Dan B]

None of us really knew what to expect internally in the volcano and I was one of those people optimistic they would have most things done up until the opening. From everything I have seen from photos a videos I can definitely admit I am surprised at the amount of unfinished touches, not really large structural pieces but more on the general theming and features. The biggest surprise for me is the state of the pass through of the fearless river. I had in mind that any steel structures close to the river may have rock work around and did not expect to see so many exposed water pipes etc. It's a shame when you consider how well a majority of the park is themed you would have thought passing through the volcano would be a major feature. The question now is will they rectify this or is it really going to stay like it. Even if they don't sort it out it won't stop the majority of the general public going, wet and wild was loved by many and there was plenty of exposed grotty old looking steel at that place ha.

Seeing how its looking I would assume the only way to hide the mess is really to create a tunnel like some have suggested, a larger stargazers cavern anyone !?

I like the idea but knowing the public, people would pull the leaves off as they float by and it would look bare pretty quickly unless they move them back just out of touch.

Personally, I'd like to see some kind of projection mapping with a canvas wrapped around the area. Walls and ceiling are lava.

How about they made the river so rapid you struggle to actually do anything other than stay afloat/alive through that section? Then nobody would have time too look at anything and we would have some epic rapids

It's comical to me how the same people who didn't heed warning and constantly fought about the park not being ready back in April/May are the same ones arguing about its readiness in its current state. How about listening to the people who've been telling you about this all along for a change? Why is it so hard to accept reality? There's good things about VB and very bad things, but at the end of the day #itsnotready

Universal should build out their expansion, and tie-in any improvements with a re-grand opening next year. Let guests know about the enhanced experiences as a way to bring people back for a second go at the park.

People were optimistic, when you set an opening date for anything the goal is for it to be ready for opening regardless of how off schedule the project is going. Its a deadline and that is the target so peoples expectations were optimistic as you would hope and expect for most things to be done. I think a lot here are very surprised at what was not actually complete and either the date was unrealistic or they got very off schedule. I am one of those people and great its not as done as I hoped or expressed before it opened but damn do you bang on about it, constantly now for weeks on weeks about how its not ready, yeah we can see that and your post clearly show that you are disgruntled with UNI for it but what are you trying to achieve going on about that same thing constantly over and over. Yeah you are free to express your opinion but we have known you damn opinion since the first week of opening and its painful to read.

 

[Teebin]

So, is there any info on whether or not they think they can add more supports to the existing trap door slides? The new restrictions are quite a setback for the park as I see it.

 

[Alicia]

So, is there any info on whether or not they think they can add more supports to the existing trap door slides? The new restrictions are quite a setback for the park as I see it.

The fact that the 200 lb restriction is in the PDF Riders Guide is not a good sign. They never update PDFs. This might be for a long while.

 

[Scott W.]

The fact that the 200 lb restriction is in the PDF Riders Guide is not a good sign. They never update PDFs. This might be for a long while.

They have to cover their ass by updating it.

I'm still surprised they lowered it by so much. Even if they don't put it back to 300lbs, increasing to 250lbs would allow a lot more people.

 

[Andysol]

Sure, let's talk about Volcano Bay in its current state. It's still not done, looks a lot like it did on opening day, and is showing no signs of future improvement on the immediate horizon. Maybe try asking that question in December before dismissing people based on their less than savory reactions to what is advertised as Universal's third theme park.

If you think volcano bay looks a lot like it did on opening day, I don't know what to tell you. Just the wait times being half what they are is a huge improvement, no?
New areas open, double the cabanas, tons of effects, runamuka and punga actually working, the list goes on and on and on.
This, plus your post after this (no reason to quote)- is adding nothing to further the conversation. Its growing old- even to me.

Only problem is lifeguard spots - but I'd like that idea.

You could always make it wide enough to encompass the life guard area- or even have the chair's ceiling stick htrough the top. It's really a non-issue and easily worked around.
My thing is, it looks kind of cheap. Not as cheap as the exposed stuff, but still cheap.
I'm with @scott_walker - projection mapping would be cool with some canvases. Or even just a crap ton of fog- that might even be better.

They have to cover their ass by updating it.

I'm still surprised they lowered it by so much. Even if they don't put it back to 300lbs, increasing to 250lbs would allow a lot more people.

I'm fine with the adjustment due to safety. And it isn't a "raise to 250 to allow more people" issue- it's a safety issue.
What I have issue with is them dropping it from 300 to 200 and how you could be that off on your calculations. If it dropped from 250 to 200- fine. 300 to 250? Even better. But to be 33% off is nuts. That's like when they changed the Honu from 800 to 700- that's fine- but could you imagine 800 to 500 for a 5 person raft? That's the equivelant here.

And the worst of it all is that the weight restriction isn't the universal's fault one bit. It's 100% on pro-slide but Universal will feel all the wrath.