Volcano Bay: Around the clock work for Thursday opening

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — More than 6,000 workers have been going around the clock to make sure Volcano Bay at Universal Studios will be ready for Thursday's opening.

“It’s been a six-year journey on this project, and it takes a lot of people to do it,” said Dale Mason, Universal creative executive director of art.

A source at Universal told Eyewitness News that there's a rush to meet the deadline. The source said the company sent an email to the sales staff to ask them to help clean up the park.

"Everyone is working so hard to bring it all together,” Mason said.

Eyewitness News went to Volcano Bay Wednesday and saw rides were down for technical issues. Crews were also still working on the big volcano. Eyewitness News found holes in the sidewalks where railings will go.

Some tourists told Eyewitness News that they hope Universal isn't rushing Volcano Bay's opening just to beat Disney's Pandora to the punch.

Tourists said they’ll be disappointed if all the rides aren't running. There are still a lot of crews doing construction around the 28-acre property.

"There is a lot of competition. They're two very different parks. But it's not worth it, because they would lose return customers. You know, you come back and you'd be reluctant to go there,” said Clare Dominquez, a tourist from the United Kingdom.

Universal told Channel 9's Lauren Seabrook that the park is ready for guests regardless.

"It is an amazing and exhilarating thing. You've gotta do it,” Mason said.

Something to keep in mind is that history has shown most parks of this magnitude are not 100 percent ready to go on opening day.

Cox Media Group