It is our lucky 13th update on Volcano Bay and we were just lucky enough to get some new details from Universal Orlando Resort on some more new features and an attraction name for something we’ve been highlighting since before it had a name. But first, let’s get into our normal update with a look around the construction site:

Krakatau is starting to see facade work on every conceivable side of the complex mountain evident by the amount of scaffolding now encompassing it:

The construction is just everywhere you look on this mountain!

At the base of the mountain we find a more completed section and a look at one of the capsule slide run-outs (lower left corner):

Speaking of the capsule slides, let’s take a look back inside the mountain area where the capsule load area is looking more complete:

We’ve been telling you about the unannounced water coaster going up for close to 4 months now. This past week Universal Orlando finally decided to give us the exciting details including a name “Krakatau Aqua Coaster” As we predicted, the coaster will use magnetic technology to launch riders up and down hills. We also got a look at some new concept art:

You’ll board specially-designed canoes that seat up to four. Then, you’ll be propelled downwards – and upwards – through the volcano’s interior peaks and valleys. You’ll twist, turn and plummet along dark passageways, be launched through sparkling waterfalls and so much more.

Checking in on what we can see of the actual progress on Krakatau Aqua Coaster, we see the station are roof covering are being closer to completed:

As the quote above says the attraction will snake its way in and out of the mountain and we have definitely highlighted that in the past and here’s a couple shots of the current progress as it would seem the circuit is complete:

In the back ground of the picture above we see another, possibly mat slide that has pretty much been completed for some time. It, like many others, has now started to receive stairs and something else we have yet to see in the construction zone, a raft or mat conveyor. This will transport it to the top so that guests won’t have to carry it up the stairs to ride:

Over at Honu, another piece of the slide is taking shape as another half pipe element is taking shape and I suspect will soon be hoisted into place:

Honu and Ika Moana will share the same set of stairs and those are still progressing as well:

Finally in this corner area we notice both slides have their final slide out pieces installed:

Last time we told how the first slides we saw go up on site also seemed to be getting stairs installed as well, now we also notice the upper level stat pieces have been installed at the top. This means pretty much all that is missing here is a roof or canopy:

Under these slides we notice a pair of small suspension bridges, for now I suspect these to be temporary and for worker use, but you never know!

While some slides seem to be in their final stages, some are just getting started like the Puihi funnel slide. This funnel will be a lot higher off the ground then we are normally used to seeing in other waterparks.

Some of those weird circular supports nearby are more than likely for Maku, the saucer slide. Universal first described Maku as “North America’s first “saucer ride”, sending multi-passenger rafts speeding around three saucer-shaped curves.” Those 3 circular shapes are for the curves:

Here’s some pictures showing a slide like Maku in Spain from the ProSlide website:

One final thing new that we noticed is the possibility of the first themed rock-work and maybe building not attached to Krakatau Mountain:

To wrap getting briefly into the newly announced details about Volcano Bay, first we got a look at what Runamukka Reef will look like:

The last big story to come out in the past week is that of Tapu Tapu, the virtual queuing and special effects trigger system. According to the latest release of information:

When you arrive to the park, you’ll receive a TapuTapu wearable (at no extra charge) that will allow you to do the following with a simple tap:

You will be able to virtually wait in line while you play in other areas of the park. The wearable will alert you when it’s time for you to ride so you can head to the attraction.

Volcano Bay features various “tap-to-play” experiences– all designed exclusively by Universal’s award-winning creative team. With just a tap of TapuTapu, you’ll be able to trigger special effects throughout the park. You can control streams of water spurting from whales in Tot Tiki Reef, shoot water cannons at other guests snaking down Kopiko Wai Winding River and illuminate images in the volcano’s hidden caves.

Well that wraps one of our biggest construction updates ever. To those who stuck with me through all that new info and pictures thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed putting it all together for you!

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