I am at the point in trip planning where I look at opening hours for our trip. Our first park day is Jan 3, 2026 and we have 14-day tickets. I started out randomly picking a day in there. It had hours for Volcano Bay. My mind said, “Huh ?!?” Then I got images of us dropping in for a few rides on the Kraka-whatever water coaster, then leaving. Then I thought, “Don’t trust theme park IT. They’d also put the wrong year on the Finnegan’s closing date.” I started out asking you guys, but then I thought I’d ask Universal for an official answer.
This was their response:
”Please note that Universal Volcano Bay will be opened five (5) days a week throughout January 2026. I have attached a direct link to our official webpage here Universal Orlando for your consideration.”
Our tickets are the four-park ones from AttractionTickets, which I’d mentally translated to three-park.
But, now I’m thinking we’ll pack our swimsuits and our giant beach towels and winter hats (in case our hair gets wet) and maybe some winter coats (which should probably have anyway.
Now I’m thinking maybe the official answer wasn’t so official and I just got a response from a Rando employee looking at the website.
What do you guys think? Will it really be open in January? Maybe they put hours there, and if it gets below a certain temp, they close the park. We drive my touring caddy and can add an extender luggage storage thingy. So packing space isn’t an issue.
Yes, Volcano should be open certain days of the week in January 2026 unless drops below certain temp (this article references 50 degrees Volcano Bay to Switch to Seasonal Operations in October | TouringPlans.com Blog ) Check the specific dates on the Universal calendar you linked to. Some dates show hours for VB and some dates say it will be closed. I have been in January and February when it was about 68 degrees and thought it was great, albeit I was coming from much further north.
Wow, and the linked article was a reliable source.
And they heat the pool/rivers!
It it too far out for a real weather forecast, but based on history High 71 and low 49 is normal for our days. I’m extra glad for our 4-park 14-day tickets now. We can pop in there for a couple of hours on a warm day. I’d pondered a day at Discovery Bay and consensus was that was a nutty idea. But, I’d have had to pre-pick the day and an extra cost.
DD adores the fearless river. We always get the covered seats at the entrance to it since she likes it so much.
I need to check if I have water socks. I don’t think I do. The surface of that river tears my feet up. Shopping for water stuff is not something I’d thought to be doing in December. Amazon to the rescue!
In college, I’d lost enough weight that I didn’t have anything to wear on a Puerto Vallerta trip in December. Winter clothes, I was fine. Ended up shopping at a sporting good store since they have shorts year-round.
This VB info pleases me a weird amount. I do love anything water related.
@bebe80 How busy was it when you went? You were probably there when TapuTapu was still in use. Had it stayed at Ride Now or with short times, or had it quickly gone to No Availability like it does in summer?
We’re Texans, so probably worse with the weather expectations. But, I do love that water coaster. That is great news. Maybe we’ll take a duffel with a beach towel for each of us to the coaster and leave the duffel with the shoes. Then when we get off, we’ll wrap up in the towels and get back in line (repeat)
