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Credit: Universal Universal Orlando Resort has announced that one of its signature water attractions will soon undergo a seasonal refurbishment. The Honu Ika Moana slide at Volcano Bay is scheduled to close on November 3, 2025, with plans to reopen on December 19, 2025, just in time for the busy holiday travel season.
While brief, the scheduled downtime represents part of Universal’s ongoing commitment to maintaining and enhancing its attractions — a process that helps ensure both safety and long-term quality for one of the country’s most popular water parks.
A Fan-Favorite Attraction
Located in the Krakatau Aqua Coaster section of Volcano Bay, Honu Ika Moana has long been considered one of the park’s most exhilarating group raft slides. Designed for multi-person rafts, the attraction gives guests two different experiences depending on which side of the track they choose: the Honu side (represented by the sea turtle) or the Ika Moana side (symbolizing the whale).
The Honu route sends riders banking up enormous walls that simulate the experience of cresting and dropping ocean waves, while the Ika Moana track delivers a slightly gentler but equally thrilling ride filled with twists, turns, and sprays. Together, the pair form a cohesive experience that embodies the spirit of the South Pacific — blending storytelling, adventure, and the feeling of a Polynesian water expedition.
For many Volcano Bay guests, the dual-slide complex stands as one of the park’s quintessential experiences. The vibrant blue and turquoise slides that tower above the park’s tropical landscape have become a visual centerpiece and a must-ride for both locals and tourists.
Routine Maintenance or Refresh in Progress?
As of now, Universal has not released additional details about what the refurbishment will entail. However, based on previous closures of water attractions across Volcano Bay and other major theme parks, this likely represents standard maintenance work — including inspections, repainting, and minor repairs related to wear and tear.
The timing of the refurbishment — early November through mid-December — aligns with Volcano Bay’s traditional maintenance schedule. The water park typically experiences lower attendance during this window, allowing Universal to complete necessary upgrades without major guest disruption.
Still, even short-term closures tend to draw attention from dedicated parkgoers, particularly when they involve headline attractions. Guests who plan to visit during November and early December may need to adjust their itineraries accordingly, as Honu Ika Moana joins the list of seasonal refurbishments timed ahead of the park’s peak winter holiday crowds.
The Role of Refurbishments in Theme Park Operations
In the world of theme park entertainment, refurbishments are as essential as attraction launches. Whether at Disney, Universal, or SeaWorld, major resorts rely on regular maintenance to keep rides running safely and efficiently, especially those that involve high water volume or complex mechanical systems.
Water attractions, in particular, endure unique stresses from constant exposure to chlorine, heat, and moisture, requiring more frequent upkeep than traditional coasters or dark rides. Refurbishments like Honu Ika Moana’s ensure that attractions remain visually appealing and mechanically sound for years to come.
Universal has made it a point to perform routine maintenance on Volcano Bay’s attractions since the park opened in 2017. These refurbishments often include updated paintwork to restore the park’s colorful aesthetic, retexturing ride surfaces for smoother flow, and ensuring that queue systems and water filtration infrastructure remain in top condition.
Guest Reactions and Planning Ahead
Frequent visitors and Universal Orlando passholders tend to plan their vacations around refurbishment schedules, and announcements like this one often generate discussion across fan communities. While some lament temporary closures, most recognize that these intervals are crucial to preserving the overall quality and safety that Universal is known for.
Guests visiting during the November 3 to December 19 window can still look forward to an extensive lineup of water attractions across Volcano Bay, including Krakatau Aqua Coaster, Ko’okiri Body Plunge, Taniwha Tubes, and TeAwa The Fearless River. In addition, the park’s tropical theming and warm Florida climate continue to make it an ideal retreat during the cooler months of late fall and early winter.
For those hoping to experience Honu Ika Moana specifically, Universal recommends checking the official Universal Orlando Resort app or website closer to their visit for updates on attraction availability. Once the refurbishment concludes, the slide is expected to reopen in time for the influx of holiday travelers who often pack the park during Christmas and New Year’s week.
A Year of Expansions and Improvements
The announcement comes amid a broader wave of park improvements and expansions across Universal Orlando Resort. As the company continues preparing for the 2025 debut of Epic Universe, its highly anticipated new theme park, Universal has maintained steady operational enhancements throughout its existing properties — including Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios Florida, and Volcano Bay.
Refurbishments like Honu Ika Moana’s serve as reminders that even established attractions require constant evolution. By the time guests return to the slide in mid-December, they can likely expect a refreshed look and feel — from renewed paint and lighting to smoother ride surfaces and improved water effects.
Volcano Bay’s commitment to immersive storytelling and authentic Polynesian theming has helped it stand apart from traditional water parks, emphasizing both relaxation and adventure. The park’s attention to detail, from tiki-inspired architecture to cascading waterfalls and its signature volcano centerpiece, makes it one of the most intricately themed water experiences in the country.
Honu Ika Moana at Volcano Bay will be closed for refurbishment starting November 3, 2025.
It is set to reopen on December 19, 2025. @UniversalORL pic.twitter.com/CDCJudFyPR
— Inside Universal (@insideuniversal) October 27, 2025
What Visitors Can Expect This Holiday Season
Once Honu Ika Moana reopens on December 19, 2025, it will do so at one of the busiest times of the year for Universal Orlando. The park traditionally experiences a surge of visitors seeking holiday getaways and warmer weather, with many families including Volcano Bay as part of their multi-day resort stay.
The reopening date ensures that by the time peak season hits, all major attractions will be operational, offering guests the full scope of experiences that define Volcano Bay.
Whether guests are returning for the thrill of the Krakatau Aqua Coaster, the rush of the body slides, or simply a chance to float down the lazy river surrounded by tropical music and lush greenery, the park remains one of Universal’s crowning achievements — an escape that captures the spirit of island adventure just steps from Orlando’s theme park core.
Looking Ahead
While the refurbishment of Honu Ika Moana may be brief, it highlights a larger theme across the theme park industry: constant reinvention. For Universal, ensuring that attractions remain both thrilling and safe is part of an ongoing promise to guests — one that reflects the same precision and creativity behind its major expansions.
Fans can expect Honu Ika Moana to return better than ever when it reopens on December 19, refreshed and ready for the wave of visitors who make Volcano Bay a must-do destination year after year.
In the meantime, parkgoers planning fall visits can still find plenty of ways to “ride the wave” — even without Honu Ika Moana — as Universal Orlando continues to perfect the balance between adrenaline, storytelling, and relaxation that defines its water park paradise.