Credit: Lee, FlickrUniversal’s Volcano Bay is usually one of those places that feels like it runs on its own rhythm. It’s not trying to compete with the chaos of Universal Studios Florida or Islands of Adventure. It’s the “escape park,” the place where you go when you need a break from the constant ride-to-ride sprint.
That’s why it always stands out when something major isn’t working.
And right now, Volcano Bay has one pretty noticeable issue: Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides are still closed, even though the attraction was originally expected to reopen back on February 13. That date has now come and gone, and guests are still walking past construction walls instead of boarding one of the park’s most popular group rides.
For a park that thrives on atmosphere and flow, this kind of extended closure hits harder than you might think.
Volcano Bay Closures Feel Bigger Than Theme Park Closures
If an attraction goes down at Universal Studios Florida, it’s annoying, but guests usually shrug it off. There’s a lot to do. You can jump to another ride, find a show, grab food, or just wander until you find something with a shorter wait time.
Volcano Bay doesn’t work like that.
The park has plenty of attractions, but the experience is built around a smaller collection of big-ticket rides. Guests plan their day around them. They don’t just casually stumble into Volcano Bay and see what happens. For many families, it’s a scheduled vacation day where everyone has already agreed on what they want to ride.
Originally slated to reopen February 13, Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides remains closed for refurbishment and behind construction walls. @UniversalORL pic.twitter.com/BVLc0QLEKJ
— Inside Universal (@insideuniversal) February 16, 2026
That’s why the Maku Puihi closure is becoming more noticeable. It isn’t just a “small slide” missing from the lineup. It’s one of the attractions that helps define the park’s identity.
And when it stays closed longer than expected, it changes the day for a lot of guests.
Why Maku Puihi Is Such a Big Deal
Raft rides are a big deal at water parks for one simple reason: they appeal to almost everyone.
Some guests love body slides. Others refuse to go near them. Some guests want high-speed drops and steep angles. Others want something that feels exciting but still safe and manageable.
That’s where raft rides shine. They’re fast enough to be fun, but they’re not usually terrifying. They’re also group-friendly, which makes them perfect for families and groups of friends who want to ride together instead of splitting up.
Maku Puihi fits into that exact category.
It’s the kind of attraction that’s often a “yes” ride for everyone. The thrill seekers still enjoy it, but the more cautious guests don’t feel like they’re being pushed into something extreme. That makes it one of those rides that ends up on nearly every Volcano Bay itinerary.
So when it’s down, it creates a noticeable gap in the park’s lineup.
Guests Expected a February 13 Reopening, But It Never Happened
What makes this closure more frustrating is the fact that guests had a date in mind.
Maku Puihi was originally expected to reopen on February 13, but that reopening didn’t happen. The attraction is still closed, still behind construction walls, and still unavailable for anyone hoping to experience it during a winter or early spring trip.
And when a ride misses its reopening date, it naturally gets people talking.
Theme park fans pay attention to this stuff. They track refurbishments, they plan vacations around ride availability, and they definitely notice when a park quietly pushes something back without much explanation.
Volcano Bay visitors are now in that familiar position where they’re left wondering: is this just a small delay, or is something bigger going on?
Refurbishment Delays Usually Mean Something Unexpected Happened
When a theme park attraction doesn’t reopen on time, it usually means one of two things.
Either the original timeline was too optimistic, or the refurbishment uncovered a bigger issue than Universal expected.
Water attractions are especially complicated because they aren’t just “rides.” They’re massive systems with moving parts, water filtration, pumps, sensors, safety protocols, and constant exposure to harsh conditions.
Florida weather doesn’t help either. Heat, humidity, storms, and constant water pressure all wear rides down faster than people realize. A water ride isn’t like a standard roller coaster where you can shut it down and keep everything dry. These systems are always fighting against moisture and corrosion.
So if Universal opened up the ride during refurbishment and found a mechanical issue, a structural issue, or a part that needed replacement, it could easily push the timeline back.
That’s not unusual. It’s actually pretty common.
But it doesn’t make it any less frustrating for guests.
The Construction Walls Don’t Exactly Blend Into the Volcano Bay Theme
Volcano Bay is one of the most themed water parks in the country, and Universal clearly wants it to feel immersive. Guests are supposed to feel like they’re walking through a tropical paradise, not a typical water park with concrete walkways and basic slide towers.
That’s why construction walls feel so disruptive here.
At some parks, walls can blend in because the environment already feels industrial or staged. But Volcano Bay’s entire aesthetic is supposed to be open, lush, and resort-like. When you suddenly hit a blocked-off area, it immediately breaks the illusion.
It’s like you’re walking through a vacation postcard and then suddenly run into a “work zone” sign.
Even if guests weren’t planning to ride Maku Puihi, seeing those walls can make the park feel like it’s operating in a reduced state.
And for a park that sells itself as a premium experience, that’s not ideal.
The Closure Could Also Affect Wait Times Across the Park
This is where the closure becomes more than just an inconvenience.
When one major ride is unavailable, the crowd doesn’t disappear. Those guests still show up. They still want to ride something. And they usually shift to the next best option.
That means the rides that remain open can start absorbing extra demand, which can increase wait times and make the park feel more crowded than it normally would.
This is especially true at Volcano Bay, where the ride list isn’t as massive as the two main theme parks. Even a single closure can create a ripple effect.
Guests may notice longer waits at other raft-style attractions, or they may find that certain thrill rides are busier because everyone is trying to “replace” the experience they lost.
For families, this can make planning harder. If you have kids who were excited about Maku Puihi, you can’t just substitute it with any random ride. Some of Volcano Bay’s attractions are too intense for younger guests, and others might not be appealing enough to feel like a replacement.
So you end up with guests feeling like they’re missing a core part of the experience.
Volcano Bay Is Still Worth Visiting, But Guests Should Set Expectations
None of this means Volcano Bay suddenly isn’t worth going to.
The park still offers one of the best water park experiences in Orlando. It still has major attractions, strong theming, relaxing areas, and a lineup that feels more polished than many competing water parks.
But the reality is that Volcano Bay feels best when everything is operating normally.
When a major ride remains closed beyond its expected reopening date, it forces guests to adjust their expectations. Some visitors may still have an incredible day. Others may feel like they’re paying full price for an experience that’s missing a key piece.
And that’s where frustration starts creeping in.
Because most guests don’t visit Volcano Bay as an afterthought. They plan for it. They schedule it. They build it into their vacation as a “must-do” day.
The Bigger Question: How Long Will This Actually Last?
Right now, the most frustrating part is the uncertainty.
The park had a reopening expectation. That date has passed. And until Universal officially confirms a new timeline, guests are left guessing.
It could reopen tomorrow. It could reopen next week. Or it could remain behind walls much longer if the refurbishment is more complicated than originally planned.
Until the walls come down, Volcano Bay fans will keep watching closely, because once a closure stretches past its expected return date, it becomes a much bigger conversation.
And for a park that’s supposed to feel like a tropical escape, guests are definitely ready for this one to be fixed sooner rather than later.