See the plans for the new 28-acre water park coming to Universal Orlando

Orlando is getting a new water park with slides that will let guests plummet through the centre of a volcano, burst into a funnel or launch into a zero-gravity drop.

Universal’s Volcano Bay, which will open in 2017, is described as a “radically-innovative water theme park” covering 28 acres. There will be 18 unique attractions that will appeal to those who want a relaxing experience as well as thrill-seekers.

There will be a multi-directional wave pool with sandy beaches, a peaceful winding river, multi-rider raft rides and body slides that drop from the top of the volcano into the water below. There will also be a “state-of-the-art” marquee attraction that has yet to be revealed.

At the heart of the park is the 200-foot volcano called Krakatau. The volcano’s slides will feature a 70-degree drop that head 125-feet through the centre of the volcano and “will be the world’s first slide to travel through a pool filled with guests”. There will also be two intertwining slides where riders will fall freely along 124 twisting feet.

There will also be North America’s first “saucer ride”, which will send multi-passenger rafts around three saucer-shaped curves, and a raft ride that will put riders into darkness before “bursting into a funnel and launching into a zero-gravity drop”. The park also says it will “redefine the queue experience so guests can focus entirely on having fun and spending time together” and guests won’t have to carry their rafts up the slides.

Volcano Bay will be next to Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort and a short walk from Universal Studios and Universal’s Islands of Adventure.