dakota381

Thanks for all the work put into this! It's interesting to see the results, can't wait for more! It'll also be interesting to see where some of these rank next year too. Really appreciate it guys!

Just did a quick Google search for school calendars and found Hanover county public schools last day is June 14th. I can't find anything on Caroline county. **Edit** Here it is. May 23rd. Dang. Am planning a trip the 2nd week of June hoping the kiddos would still be in school. 2017-2018 Calendar ADOPTED 1-17-17 front and back.pdf

I got a front seat ride on Alpengeist in the pouring rain once. We were laughing at the kid on the end getting water dumped right onto his nether regions going up the lift hill but we forgot all about him soon after; when we were getting pelted with rain drops. Painful but hysterical.

Sorry I didn't bump into you guys and that you didn't get on Twisted Timbers! Maybe next time. Per Bert's excellent secretarial skills demonstrated a few pages back, I was indeed able to snag a ride on Twisted Timbers when it opened later in the evening. I messaged "Voyage" about it but didn't have time to post here since I quickly threw my stuff in a bunny bin and got in line, which they promptly closed not long after for a short while for unknown reasons and then reopened it again for the remainder of the night. Really enjoyed it, super smooth, and that barrel roll drop was wild. Volcano is still my favorite ride at the park because I'm a sucker for launch coasters but Timbers is a close 2nd. Someone asked about loose articles on TT: Glasses with tightened straps are allowed. I was told I could not enter the queue with my small black fanny pack or my visor so I went and put it in a bunny bin. However, the lady behind me in line as well as at least 10 other people in line not far back from me entered with various items including hats they were wearing, large messenger bags, fanny packs, and brightly colored draw string bags packed to the brim. The ops would then take the item from them and put it on the unload platform while they rode. So, who knows. Operations are slow enough with those restraints so I'm happy to put my things in a bunny to try to speed things up! After processing my mom's Platinum Pass we finally entered the park at 12:15pm. We rode: Rebel Yell x2 (blue side was extra awesome), Drop Zone, Apple Zapple, I-305, Stunt Coaster, Volcano, I-305 again, Boo Blasters, Scooby Doo Coaster, Twisted Timbers back row, and a front seat ride on Volcano to end the night - where we were the only ones on the train! It was awesome. Sounds like you had a great day and I'm happy to see Rebel Yell is getting some love! That was my first "Big Girl" coaster. Seems like it's too early in the season for any consistency with the new loose articles policy. Maybe they'll have it down by the time I'm there in 2 months.

Thanks for the info! I plan on getting a season pass so, I'll just use the lockers, marathon this sucker during ERT, get my crap and go on about my day.

I hope I'm not opening a can of worms here but I'm curious about the loose articles policy and new lockers. I saw a post on here that someone was told to remove a fanny pack before riding TT. I don't use a fanny pack but I have one of these tactical pouches that attaches to your belt and I'm hoping it won't be a problem taking this on rides at KD. I'd like to chalk the whole fanny pack incident up to new rules and new ops and maybe it will calm down by my trip up in early June. Anyone have any thoughts on this to help ease my mind? Here's what it looks like.

I can't wait to try it, 12 days from now. (among other things at the Food and Wine Fest)

You're welcome! Let us know how round 2 goes!

It's Official! My Sis and I are going up for Food and Wine Fest, Memorial Weekend. (I know, we're crazy) We're both excited to check out Tempesto and InvadR since these were not there when we visited in 2014. We both love BGW so much and can't wait to go back even though it will probably be slammed! This park holds a special place in my sister's heart as her first park ever and her first coaster was LNM. I cannot wait!!

It could be done better, as you have to figure out where each gun is firing. Each gun has a unique color and number. which is noted on your seat (this is addressed in the pre-video). Once you fire a test shot and locate where your gun is firing you adjust your aim with each shot. I completely agree it would be more fun if the guns were calibrated properly and it was easier to locate your shot. The reasons I like it. 1) I like shooting rides 2) I like the concept 3) I like indoor attractions I completely understand it is not for everybody While I enjoyed Plants vs Zombies for what it is, I think it helps if you have a little knowledge of the game as well. I don't play PvZ at home but I happened to be at Carowinds with some avid players that explained it a little. The best tip I got was, try to shoot as many golden gnomes as you can to rack up points. I came in 2nd in a room full of people with only that little bit of knowledge. I like dark rides and shooters as well but this was a one and done for me where as Boo Blasters is more re-rideable IMO. Also, it took me a minute to get my bearings when it started because it is a very busy game with things flying around everywhere.

I feel the same way. I have a cabinet full of souvenir cups from various parks. Do I need another cup? Probably not. Will I buy one if it's available at the next Park I visit? Probably so. I think they should give you a choice when you buy your pass.

Gotcha. Guess I took it the wrong way when I read your review. I agree that BGE/BGW is an awesome park. This might get me into more trouble but I enjoyed it more than Dollywood.

Great TR! I really enjoyed reading your opinions on KD and BGE. I love your writing style and sense of humor. KD used to be my go-to park in the late 90's and early 2000's and is also the park I rode my first "real" roller coaster (the one that bit you). My mother conned me into it when I was a kid and I was so fricken scared I cried all the way up the lift. But after we were done, I was HOOKED! But I have to say the last time I rode it; I came away with a giant headache. (this was before I read Bill's magic trick to riding rough woodies) I'm sorry if Verbolten let you down. When we went in 2014 it was my favorite there with Griffon a close 2nd. I was lucky enough to ride BBW and was upset when they closed it but once I rode Verbolten, I was very happy with their choice of replacement. I didn't read any reviews or watch any POV's before I rode so, I totally wasn't expecting the drop track! I let out a legitimate scream the first time.

I guess I got lucky at boo blasters. I scored a 945. But, I noticed a lot of targets weren't lit. It took me a minute to figure out plants vs zombies and once I started shooting all the golden gnomes my points were racking up and I ended up in 2nd place.

Just a quick TR on my Scarowinds trip with my sister this past weekend. Fright lane with the skeleton key is absolutely worth it if you can fit it in your budget. Luckily I had hotel points and we were able to stay right across the street from Carowinds for free and that helped pay for fright lane. We were able to walk right into all of the mazes by walking up the exits. The staff member would hole-punch that particular maze and then we were in! The skeleton key is actually a metal key attached to the lanyard with the fright lane pass-card. Pretty cool little souvenir. Personally, I thought the mazes were ok. The bonus rooms were pretty cool though. Scary Tales and The Bloodyard were my favorites. The one in the Playground was just weird. When we first arrived, we went to get our fright lane passes processed and went straight to Fury 325. It was a fantastic ride and pulled way more G’s than I thought it would. The side floater on the horseshoe turn was really cool. We enjoyed this ride a lot. Operations were great! The que was down to the first switch back and we waited about 20 mins. We then went to a couple mazes and then over to I232. The line was down to the bottom of the station steps and was about a 10 minute wait. After that, we just went around and did the rest of the mazes, the bonus rooms and checked out the scare zones. If anyone has questions about the mazes or bonus rooms, send me a PM. I don’t want to put any spoilers out there for people who haven’t been but I will say I thought Dark Harvest was the best maze and Defex was the worst maze. (Didn’t make sense and boring) Just my opinion and you know what opinions are like. It was about closing time so, we went back over to I232 because sis wanted a night ride. The line was pretty long and I really didn’t want to wait so, we went to the plinko board and won 2 Q-line passes and walked right on! For those that don’t know if you don’t have fast lane, they have plinko boards set up outside the ride ques and you pay $3.00 to get 2 pucks and try to win skip the line passes. There’s other stuff on the board as well. Like BOGO laser room, rip cord and sling shot. On Sunday we went back at park opening and just rode all the coasters with no lines! Ride count for Sunday in order from most to least liked; Fury x12 Intimidator x10 Afterburn x2 Night Hawk x1 Carolina Cobra x1 Ricochet x2 Hurler x1 Drop Tower x1 Carolina Goldrusher x1 Plant vs Zombies x1 Vortex x1 Boo Blasters x1 Carolina Cyclone x1 Scrambler x1 Oh and I finally got to try the crab fries at Chickie’s and Pete’s. Yum! Let me know if anyone has any questions. Now for a few random pictures. Nice keepsake This guy stood up and talked From the London Terror Scare zone Those eyes Who knew cheese and Old Bay would go together so well. On the way home

Yes, they are 2 separate ticketed events. If you get a ticket for the daytime you'll have to leave at 5:30 and need to buy another ticket for Scarowinds and go back at 7:00. Thank you! Luckily my buddies and I have platinum passes (even though we're from Texas and there's not a Cedar Fair park for 2 states) I wanted to know so we could plan food between 530-7 to refuel for the night shift! That's a good plan. There's plenty of places to eat in the area but close by is a couple fast food places and a Cracker Barrel across the street from the entrance.

I was just there this past weekend and the crowds were very light on Sunday. There aren't any single rider lines but TBpony is correct in their operations on Fury and I232 are fantastic. I did see them pull singles and doubles from the line to fill rows on Fury. If there isn't much of a line and you want a particular row, just ask. They were pretty good about it.

Yes, they are 2 separate ticketed events. If you get a ticket for the daytime you'll have to leave at 5:30 and need to buy another ticket for Scarowinds and go back at 7:00.

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They have a fall festival during the day for the kiddos with trick-or-treating, a petting zoo, pumpkin patch, etc on Saturdays and Sundays from September 17 - October 30. Planet Snoopy is open all day with the festival.

They are kind of sprawled out around the whole park. I don't think you *have* to walk through any of them though. There might not be a way around London Terror over by Intimidator... I can't really remember. Scare actors do walk around the whole park, but there weren't too many. Just put on a smile and laugh when someone comes up to you- they'll leave you alone. The best part is everyone else's reactions Here is the Scarowinds park map. Where did you find this map? I looked all over Carowinds' website trying to find this. **edit**found it (I love it when someone starts freaking out over one of the actors all dressed up and they just immediately start harassing them more)

I'm sorry if I made it sound like a terrible time because it wasn't really bad until later in the evening. We still had a blast just walking around and taking pictures of the employees all dressed up. We even got to all the coasters once except for Afterburn Sat night. Night Hawk was our 2nd of the night and was an hour wait. Sunday, we could've marathon'd anything we wanted.