Ko’okiri Body Plunge is the signature drop at Universal Volcano Bay in Orlando: a 125-foot (38 m) trap-door body slide that falls at a 70-degree angle straight through the heart of Krakatau, the 200-foot volcano at the center of the park.
When Volcano Bay opened on May 25, 2017, Ko’okiri instantly became one of the most photographed water slides in America — partly for the drop itself, and partly for its world’s-first party trick: the slide’s clear tube passes directly through a pool full of swimming guests before riders splash down.
Key Stats
| Height | 125 ft (38 m) |
| Opened | May 25, 2017 (with the park) |
| Type | Trap-door body plunge, 70-degree drop |
| Park | Universal Volcano Bay, Orlando, Florida |
Through the Volcano, Through the Pool
Riders climb into Krakatau itself, step into a capsule, and wait for the floor to drop. The chute plunges 125 feet through the volcano’s interior before leveling out and passing — visibly — through one of the pools at Krakatau’s base, so guests in the water watch riders rocket past beneath them. Universal describes the pool pass-through as a world’s first, and it turns every descent into a spectator event.
Volcano Bay
Volcano Bay was the first water park built by Universal Creative, replacing the old Wet ‘n Wild Orlando as Universal Orlando’s water park and giving the resort its third gate. The park is organized around Krakatau, which also houses the Krakatau Aqua Coaster, and pioneered the TapuTapu wearable that holds your place in virtual queues — including the long one that usually forms for Ko’okiri.
How It Compares
Along with the neighboring Kala & Tai Nui Serpentine Body Slides, Ko’okiri is the second-tallest drop-capsule slide in the world, behind only the 142-foot Thrillagascar and Jungle Jammer in New Jersey. It also stands among the tallest water slides in the world outright — and it is the tallest slide at any major U.S. destination resort water park.
FAQ
How tall is Ko’okiri Body Plunge?
125 feet (38 m), dropped at a 70-degree angle from a trap-door capsule — falling through the Krakatau volcano and then through a guest-filled pool at its base.
Is Ko’okiri the tallest water slide in Florida?
It is the tallest slide at any of Florida’s major destination water parks, out-dropping Disney’s 120-foot Summit Plummet. Its 125 feet also makes it the tallest body slide in the state’s resort parks.
When did Volcano Bay open?
May 25, 2017. Ko’okiri Body Plunge was an opening-day headliner and remains the park’s signature thrill.
Photo: NBCUniversal via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)