Volcano Bay is Universal Studios Orlando’s water theme park. Kids and adults of all ages love spending hot Florida days here, but it’s so much more than a traditional water park.

Volcano Bay has tons of slides and pools. It has a winding river and a rapid river, wave pool, aqua coaster, raft rides, and a body plunge. You can also swim through caves inside the volcano.

When preparing for your fun-filled day in Volcano Bay, you might wonder if Volcano Bay provides towels for its guests. Volcano Bay does not provide towels to guests. However, you can bring your own, rent them, or buy them at the park.

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How Much Does It Cost to Rent Towels at Volcano Bay?

At the time of this writing, it costs $4.99 to rent a towel at Volcano Bay. This is subject to change.

In some cases, Universal waives the towel rental fee. For example, towels are included in the cabana fee if you rent a cabana. Some Universal hotel resort guests may also be able to rent towels for free. Check with your concierge to find out before visiting the park.

How to Rent Towels at Volcano Bay

Renting towels is very easy at Volcano Bay. There are multiple towel kiosks throughout the park. You can find them near major attractions as well as large seating areas.

Simply pay the fee with cash, card, or phone to receive your towel. Because of the volume of towel rentals the park handles, they don’t require you to leave an ID or deposit that you’ll get back when you return the towel.

There are multiple towel return locations throughout the park. Simply throw them in the designated bins on your way out of the park.

Can you keep the rented towels at Volcano Bay? We suppose you could if you wanted to, but they’re plain white towels and aren’t the best quality. It’s probably not worth it.

Can You Bring Your Own Towels to Volcano Bay?

Yes, you definitely can! In fact, Volcano Bay encourages guests to bring their own towels to the park. After all, the rented ones all look identical, and it’s easy to lose track of yours.

If you’re shopping for the perfect towels to bring to Volcano Bay, look for quick-dry swim towels in bright colors. That way, they’ll be dry when you need them between swims, and the bright colors will help you spot them in a sea of white towels.

If you forget to bring towels from home, Universal hotels ask you not to bring hotel towels into the park. Most other hotel chains in the area request the same. Speak with the concierge to see if you can make other arrangements.

Can You Buy Souvenir Towels at Volcano Bay?

Yes, you can buy souvenir towels at Volcano Bay! They have many shops with a variety of towels.

Look for towels with recognizable Universal-brand intellectual properties, including Jaws, the Minions from Despicable Me, Harry Potter, and more. You can even find towels for each house in the Harry Potter franchise.

The park also sells towels branded to Volcano Bay, the other parks, and individual attractions in both. Whether the Velocicoaster in Islands of Adventure or the Hogwarts Express is your favorite, you’ll be able to find a towel for you.

What Else Should You Bring to Volcano Bay?

Being prepared with everything you need will help enhance your enjoyment of the day. One of the most critical is sunscreen. You can buy it at the park, but you’ll overpay. Sunglasses are also a must, as well as hats, swim shirts, and other sun-protection gear.

You might want to consider bringing some optional items along as well. Food and non-alcoholic drinks are allowed. Even if you plan to buy meals in the park, we recommend bringing some extra snacks. You can carry a small soft-sided cooler with packaged foods.

You’ll need to drink a lot of water during your day in the sun. All food and drink stands will give you ice water for free, but it’s convenient also to have a refillable plastic water bottle. You might want to bring a waterproof case for your phone and valuables if you don’t plan to rent a locker.

Aside from towels, you may also want to have a dry change of clothes to put on before you leave the park. It’s also a good idea to bring some extra plastic bags to transport wet swimsuits, towels, and other items at the end of the day.

What Items Are Not Allowed at Volcano Bay?

There are several things that you’re not allowed to bring with you, and some may surprise you. As a general rule, don’t bring anything made of glass or hard plastic that can shatter. It’s a health hazard to guests and will be confiscated at the gate.

Alcoholic beverages and non-packaged foods are prohibited (unless you have a documented food allergy). You can purchase alcohol inside the park if you wish to imbibe.

Don’t bring any of your own pool toys, including floats, noodles, and water guns. You can borrow or rent them in the park for the lazy river and other pools where toys are appropriate and safe. You also cannot bring chairs or umbrellas from home.

In addition, leave items like speakers, party decorations (unless you rented a cabana), and anything else that makes a lot of noise at home.

Finally, Universal also discourages guests from bringing their own life vests and swim flotation aids. They provide them and would actually prefer that you use theirs. All of their life vests are approved by the United States Coast Guard.

Enjoy Your Day at Volcano Bay

Bringing your own towels to Volcano Bay can save your family money, but it also gives you extra stuff to carry. Knowing the park’s policy on towels helps you prepare for your day.

In the end, it doesn’t matter whether you decide to rent towels at Volcano Bay, bring your own, or even go without them and air dry. What matters is that you enjoy your day in the sun with your family!

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James Brockbank

Founder at The Family Vacation Guide

A seasoned traveller, Dad, and avid sports tourist, James foundered The Family Vacation Guide to share his expert vacation experiences- especially when it comes to being a travelling family man.

Featured in Travel articles such as Travel + Leisure, TripSavvy and SFGate, you know you're reading some of the best vacation tips online.

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