PKI Jizzman

Hi Jizzman, Carowinds is my home park and one of the best kept secrets near the park is "A Piece of Havana" cuban restaurant. It's about 9 minutes outside the front gate on South Tryon St and has a full bar. I can recommend the Cuban Press if it's a sandwich your looking for and the Lechon Asado (Roasted Pork) is a must. Of course a couple of Mohitos from the bar are mandatory if you drink.!! This sounds right up my alley. Also thank you for pointing out there's a liquor store right next to me! I'm not sure I'll be able to take advantage of that...but that is a fantastic plan b!

I was trying to go last minute but it was sold out. Weh. Trentemoller in New York @ Irving Plaza a few weeks ago. tom and his computer opened. Really great show. NE-HI @ Empty Bottle. With Double Door closed, this is the best venue in Chicago IMO. Haywyer @ Concord (Chicago) was a surprisingly good show. Didn't know much about the guy, just wanted to go see a DJ and he gracefully marries DJing with his superb piano skills. DRAM came through for the first time since 2015. He's gotten huge since then and of course put on a great show. His smile is infectious. Of course Chance made an appearance. I'm very very very very very very excited for deadmau5's tour to stop in Chicago on May 4/5. Can't wait to see the new cube so of course I got tickets for both shows. The music scene in Chicago is bursting at the seams and I totally blame it for stealing my attention at theme parks. Can't wait for festival season.

Comfort Inn booked @ $80. Pretty solid deal AND I'm neighbors with a Culvers. I'm making sure to get in at a solid time on Thursday night so I can go out and relax. Anyone have reccos for dinner/bar close to the park? I'm all down for solid bar food, but also love trying new things like Bolivian food, etc.

I'm very close to booking a trip for a week to Stockholm in September, and I'm going to make sure I'll be there when Grona Lund is open. I honestly had no idea where the park is in Sweden, and was elated to type in "theme park near Stockholm" and see Grona Lund as #1

This is really turning out to be a big travel year for me. Honestly, I've not been to many parks in the past couple years, so I'm really making an effort this summer. Going to DC at the end of the month, so naturally I'm going to try for SFA. Honestly, I just want to ride Wild One and Superman. Carowinds in May. I've flown over the park every year since Fury was built, so it's about time I actually get to ride it. Kings Island in July. Cedar Point in July or August. September - I THINK I'm going to go to Stockholm. Grona Lund is there!!!

He got hit right in the neck!!! Oh man that looked like it hurt, haha.

I'd say FP is a must. You don't have to do Platinum, but that does force you to pick Goliath or JL or Joker for first ride at opening. You'll likely have to wait an hour or so for any later in the day.

boldikus, when are you going to offer hard/paperback versions of your trip reports?

1 - https://www.putinbay.com/ I can't really think of anything else. If they ferry rides line up, definitely go out to this little island. 2 - Thirsty Pony is classic bar food that won't let you down. DeMore's Offshore Bar http://www.demoresbarandgrill.com/demore-s-offshore-bar---grill.html - It might look a little run down, but it's a great local spot that has a solid selection of craft beer and fresh seafood. https://www.yelp.com/biz/nachos-sandusky?osq=Mexican+Food Reliable Mexi-Americano food. Nothing really authentic, but it's delicious Mexican. 3 - Maverick because of the low capacity. Then MF. That's the advice you'll get from literally everyone. 4 - I always step outside for Dave's BBQ, so I can't comment on in park eats. Read boldikus' Pilgrimage to CP report. It'll help get you even more ready for the trip and give you some tips. http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1591375

I hate when enthusiast bring up clientele in an argument. How is someone else trying to have fun effecting your ability to have fun? Enthusiast thinking they are holier than thou is getting quite old. I'm talking about line jumping, selfie sticks, parents treating the park like a daycare, people pushing by you in the midway, and the sheer ratio of rude guests to decent guests I/friends experience on a regular visit. Or more so than any other park I have frequented. I'm not asking anyone to get out of my way of having fun. It's a park. Be loud and have fun, but if you're being an @$$hole, then I have an issue. The above is just part of my issue with the park as of 2017.

If it weren't for a visit to SFA, I wouldn't be getting a pass this year. Honestly, this park has turned into a 'one visit a season' stop. The clientele, inconsistent operations, and lack of fun you can have without a flashpass is kind of what did it in for me. I'd rather just pick one day to go all day with a Flashpass. I think I've only had one visit where the crowds were manageable without a FP.

Robb said it best. Also, even on a slow day Maverick is still going to have a 30 minute wait.

It's amazing how often the Fast Lane question comes up. It doesn't really matter what day it is, just answer the question below: Do you want to ride all of the big coasters than once in one day? If yes, buy it.

Brilliant. Lean. Flatbread. Stay healthy. Burger. Cheddar nachos. They're high. Sushi???????????

I can get it for 80 right now. Pretty alluring since it's right across the street. I don't have a car so as long as they'll hold my crap while I'm at the park on Friday that's a DEAL

Looks fun for a group, but I'll be solo! I had no idea these existed, so good to know for the future.

Dang, there's some pretty spiffy stuff here. Your composition, in particular, is really good. Also, I really like your last picture. In fact, when I take night shots, I often go for the long-exposure blurred train thing. Well, if you're on a budget, I might not be the best person for this, seeing as I've worked in the hotel industry before and usually willing to pay a little more for a place that's nice, but I stayed at two places down there last year and really liked both of them. The first was the Best Western Plus Sterling Hotel & Suites, and the second was the Hampton Inn just off of Arrowood Road. Not sure what the rates are, but if I had to go one way or the other, the Hampton Inn is closer and getting to and from the park is a bit easier, it was also a bit better furnished, and also had a better breakfast buffet. They both have waffle makers, though, which is the important thing. Nothing like trying to kill yourself with a cup or two of freshly ironed waffle batter smothered in syrup to kick off a day of walking in a miasma of oppressive heat and tourist BO. Seriously though, both are nice, quiet, well put-together places that you can't go wrong with. Thank you! Budget is not an issue. I'll check 'em out.

Welp, looks like 2017 is turning into a big theme park year for me. I'll be visiting on Friday in the last week of April. Woah, that's in 4 weeks. I'm excited to ride Superman and Wild One a couple times and dip.

Pft, deep dish. The real Chicago style pizza is tavern thin crust. Michael's Pizza in Broadway off Sheridan Red Line is king. I'm really liking the new additions to the waterpark. Can't wait to check it out this year!

It. Is. HAPPENING. I'll be visiting the park for the first time since we called the coasters "BORG" and "Top Gun". Any recommendations on hotels close to the park? Excited to finally ride Fury after flying over it 48 effing times.

What an exciting ride. I'm sure it'll have big fans of all ages. How about that little shot out of the station? Pretty unique.

Looking into a visit on Friday, May 26th (the Friday of Memorial Day weekend). Can anyone comment on the crowds last year? I'd do Thursday, the 25th but for some reason that's one of the two Thursdays that month it's not open. Honestly, I'm only trying to ride Fury and Afterburn a bunch so I don't need to worry about the other rides. Slightly off topic and probably a 'call the park' question....has anyone had luggage held at a park? I could avoid getting in the night before and go straight from the airport to the park, if that's possible. I doubt my duffle bag could fit in a locker..

Henry. How the hell do you know anything about this project? Definitely echoing chickenbowl in bitter that the crazy airtime hill is gone.

You got some serious air on the jump!!! Well done 10/10 A+

How many pages do you have saved so if a prediction comes true you can call it out? Knott's put together a 10 year plan to be approved by the locals that included a hyper coaster, right? Hopefully that hyper coaster will be one of the projects that happens at the start of the 10 year plan.