Volcano Bay’s Krakatau Aqua Coaster sounds like the bees knees
It must be Christmas this week at Universal, because first we got new details on “Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon” and now we have more dirt on Volcano Bay – particularly the Krakatau Aqua Coaster and the TapuTapu wearable that will help eliminate long lines at the brand new water park.
The Krakatua Aqua Coaster will be the first-of-its-kind aqua coaster that will utilize linear induction motor technology to propel canoes (seating up to four people) upwards and downwards. The Orlando Sentinel got the inside scoop on the technology and it sounds impressive:
“The vehicle you ride in has a metal plate built into the bottom of it,” says Dale Mason, vice president and executive art director for Universal Creative, which is creating the attraction. “Then on the upward portions of the track, there are magnets built into the track … so by sequencing the magnets, you actually pull the vehicle through the climbing portions of the attraction.”
Usually water coasters will use fast moving water jets to propel boats upwards, or water slides will settle with gravity doing all of the work, so the fact that Universal is finding a way to use LIM technology on their slides is pretty amazing. In fact, because of the LIM technology, the aqua coaster will begin JUST ABOVE GROUND LEVEL and make its way into the volcano that will “simulate eruptions” during the day and will have a spectacular show during evenings in the summer months.
Mind blown.
Do you hate long lines? Well, with the TapuTapu wearable, you will eliminate lines and focus more on having a good time! The TapuTapu wearable will be available at no extra charge when you enter the park and with it you will be able to virtually wait in lines, while you are in other areas of the park (just like a FastPass over at the Mouse House). The TapuTapu wearable will also make “tap-to-play” experiences available, which could trigger special effects throughout the park, whether it is streams of water spurting from whales, shooting water cannons at guests or illuminating images in the volcano’s caves.
The best part is – all of the information still hasn’t even been released yet. There is more to learn!
Tickets will be available to purchase for Volcano Bay starting November 15 for a Summer 2017 opening and you can bet this is going to be one hot ticket to get!
