Volcano Bay to Transition to Cashless Payments at Orlando Water Park

Starting February 25, 2026, Volcano Bay water park at Universal Orlando Resort will no longer accept cash. Guests will need to use credit cards, debit cards, or other electronic payment methods for all purchases inside the park.

The park is now cashless. We accept major credit and debit cards, mobile payments like Apple Pay and Google Pay, Universal gift cards, and Universal Pay. Cash will no longer be accepted for any purchases.

Guests can exchange cash for prepaid Visa cards at kiosks throughout the park. These cards can be used for purchases anywhere Visa is accepted.

Cashless Parks

Starting in 2023, SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, and other SeaWorld parks in Florida stopped accepting cash. Six Flags parks have been moving towards cashless payments over the past several years, and they offer stations where visitors can convert cash onto prepaid cards to use within the parks.

Cashless payment systems are becoming more common to make purchases faster and avoid dealing with cash. Parking facilities say these systems can also make things run more smoothly and speed up lines. However, some people worry that requiring cashless payments could exclude visitors who prefer to use cash or don’t have bank accounts.

RFID Wristbands in Theme Parks

Many theme parks now use RFID wristbands to make visiting easier and more convenient. These wristbands have a chip that connects to a guest’s account, allowing them to quickly pay for things like food, souvenirs, and tickets with just a tap. Instead of cash, purchases are charged to a payment method the guest already has on file or to a balance they’ve added to the wristband. They also work as a key for park entry, rides, and even hotel rooms. Theme park operators use the data from these wristbands to learn about how guests spend their money, helping them improve staffing and manage supplies.

Volcano Bay used to utilize technology to enhance the guest experience. Guests previously used TapuTapu wearable devices to reserve rides and buy things in the park, but this service ended on October 1, 2025.

Context

Currently, Universal Orlando hasn’t made any changes to its policies at Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, or the upcoming Epic Universe. They haven’t said if this policy might be extended to those parks later on.

I’m really excited that Volcano Bay is joining the trend of being a cashless park! It seems like more and more places – stadiums, concert halls, even other theme parks – are moving away from cash, and it makes everything so much smoother and easier. It’s great to see Volcano Bay keeping up with the times.

Volcano Bay will close for the season on October 26, 2026, and is expected to reopen by March 24, 2027. This temporary closure will allow the park to perform necessary maintenance, conduct safety checks, and update its facilities to keep everything running smoothly for guests.

If you’re visiting Volcano Bay after February 25, 2026, please be aware that the park will no longer accept cash. Guests will need to use a credit card, debit card, or use the park’s kiosks to convert cash to a card before making purchases.

With more places like theme parks considering digital payments, discussions are focusing on making sure these systems are easy for everyone to use and work well for businesses. Volcano Bay’s recent change to digital payments is a good example of this growing trend.