Carowinds Discussion Thread

[Too Fast For Comfort]

I have always found the comments from entitled enthusiasts to be much more annoying than those from your average “GP” park guest. I have way more fun spending a day at a park with my “GP” family/friends than I do with a group of extreme enthusiasts. #tea

 

Nothing worse than the "coaster hipsters" who have been popping up:

 

1. Thinks its so uncool to keep track of credits, lost count at 600, and thumbs their nose at anybody who still keeps count.

2. Was an enthusiast "before it was cool."

3. Hates any conversion about a roller coaster that they didn't start or sanction. Deeming it "pointless" and "just ride the damn ride."

4. Has a pathological hatred of the word "GP" for no apparently reason.

5. Thinks that you should rate a new coaster over a classic.

[JG-77]

2. Was an enthusiast "before it was cool."

Wait there are people who actually think it's "cool" to be a roller coaster enthusiast?

[Canobie Coaster]

2. Was an enthusiast "before it was cool."

Wait there are people who actually think it's "cool" to be a roller coaster enthusiast?

 

I think it's cool. You get a nice breeze on the rides.

[Voyage]

Is there a tactful way for a Carowinds employee to suggest that larger people use the test seat at Intimidator? There was a walk of shame on the train before us, our train, and the one leaving the station as we pulled in. In every case, the ride op spent way too much time trying to make the person fit, even coaching them on posture. Three fails in a row. I've seen more walks of shame on Intimidator in the last year and a half than all the other coasters I've ridden combined.

 

I was at Carowinds on Saturday and Dollywood on Sunday. This was pretty much the case at both parks, but definitely worse at Carowinds. Operations were terrible, and the #1 cause of this was larger guests attempting to ride and getting booted after 5 minutes of trying to get the harness tight enough. I’d say about 75% of all dispatches on all coasters the entire day had people being taken off, and this is a problem. No point in having 2 or 3 trains on when it takes 10 minutes to send one after unlocking the restraints 12 times. I literally almost fell asleep on the brake run on Nighthawk. Use the test seats, people! I can’t imagine going to these parks without buying the Fast Lane Plus / Unlimited Time Saver.

[Vonni]

Am I the only one who would rather see a ground up RMC if they ever got one? lol

 

Twisted Timbers rocks but it would be nice to see something completely different.

 

 

[Too Fast For Comfort]

2. Was an enthusiast "before it was cool."

Wait there are people who actually think it's "cool" to be a roller coaster enthusiast?

 

To coaster hipsters at least.

[yawetag]

It would be interesting to know the number of platinum pass holders there opening weekend. I think there were actually more people there Friday night than Saturday, or the full day just handled the ebb and flow of people better.

It had to be a lot. With the number of Cedar Point and Kings Island t-shirts and hoodies, as well as people holding platinum passes with non-Carowinds logos, I think there were more of them than Carowinds people.

[prozach626]

"

3. Hates any conversion about a roller coaster that they didn't start or sanction. Deeming it "pointless" and "just ride the damn ride."

This is why I don't talk to them. That, and because I don't talk to anyone who isn't my wife or one of our friends when we're at a park. Talking with strangers during recreation time is borderline worthless.

 

Also, yes. Coaster fans aren't cool, by any means. Not now, not then. Or, at least we're not cool on the basis of being involved in this hobby. This is pretty nerdy. But, I don't care.

 

Is there a tactful way for a Carowinds employee to suggest that larger people use the test seat at Intimidator? There was a walk of shame on the train before us, our train, and the one leaving the station as we pulled in. In every case, the ride op spent way too much time trying to make the person fit, even coaching them on posture. Three fails in a row. I've seen more walks of shame on Intimidator in the last year and a half than all the other coasters I've ridden combined.

 

I was at Carowinds on Saturday and Dollywood on Sunday. This was pretty much the case at both parks, but definitely worse at Carowinds. Operations were terrible, and the #1 cause of this was larger guests attempting to ride and getting booted after 5 minutes of trying to get the harness tight enough. I’d say about 75% of all dispatches on all coasters the entire day had people being taken off, and this is a problem. No point in having 2 or 3 trains on when it takes 10 minutes to send one after unlocking the restraints 12 times. I literally almost fell asleep on the brake run on Nighthawk. Use the test seats, people! I can’t imagine going to these parks without buying the Fast Lane Plus / Unlimited Time Saver.

 

2/3rds of Americans are considered obese, with 1/3 of those obese people considered morbidly obese. A lot of these 2/3rds have no idea they're overweight, because compared to the norm they're not any heavier than most other people. I'm not trying to be a smartass, but do you think in such a modern PC world parks are going to put a notice up that says, "Hey fatties, make sure to check the test seat?" The test seats are at the front of the rides and people still ignore them.

 

Just get used to it, man. It's 2019 and you have to drastically accommodate for everyone's feelings. I can imagine the number of complaints guest services has to field because of this and I'm sure they have some canned lawsuit safe answer.

[Too Fast For Comfort]

"

3. Hates any conversion about a roller coaster that they didn't start or sanction. Deeming it "pointless" and "just ride the damn ride."

This is why I don't talk to them. That, and because I don't talk to anyone who isn't my wife or one of our friends when we're at a park. Talking with strangers during recreation time is borderline worthless.

 

Also, yes. Coaster fans aren't cool, by any means. Not now, not then. Or, at least we're not cool on the basis of being involved in this hobby. This is pretty nerdy. But, I don't care.

 

Is there a tactful way for a Carowinds employee to suggest that larger people use the test seat at Intimidator? There was a walk of shame on the train before us, our train, and the one leaving the station as we pulled in. In every case, the ride op spent way too much time trying to make the person fit, even coaching them on posture. Three fails in a row. I've seen more walks of shame on Intimidator in the last year and a half than all the other coasters I've ridden combined.

 

I was at Carowinds on Saturday and Dollywood on Sunday. This was pretty much the case at both parks, but definitely worse at Carowinds. Operations were terrible, and the #1 cause of this was larger guests attempting to ride and getting booted after 5 minutes of trying to get the harness tight enough. I’d say about 75% of all dispatches on all coasters the entire day had people being taken off, and this is a problem. No point in having 2 or 3 trains on when it takes 10 minutes to send one after unlocking the restraints 12 times. I literally almost fell asleep on the brake run on Nighthawk. Use the test seats, people! I can’t imagine going to these parks without buying the Fast Lane Plus / Unlimited Time Saver.

 

2/3rds of Americans are considered obese, with 1/3 of those obese people considered morbidly obese. A lot of these 2/3rds have no idea they're overweight, because compared to the norm they're not any heavier than most other people. I'm not trying to be a smartass, but do you think in such a modern PC world parks are going to put a notice up that says, "Hey fatties, make sure to check the test seat?" The test seats are at the front of the rides and people still ignore them.

 

Just get used to it, man. It's 2019 and you have to drastically accommodate for everyone's feelings. I can imagine the number of complaints guest services has to field because of this and I'm sure they have some canned lawsuit safe answer.

 

One solution (that would still piss a lot of people off I guess) would be an absolute zero tolerance policy for not being able to close the restraint. From my observations, less than 5% of the people who can't get the restraint closed on the first ever eventually get the restraint closed, but the restraint checker has always held up the line, and made the trains double stack to get the train out. Just post that your policy is to escort guests off the ride if the restraint won't close on the first try. They're welcome to try again if they go around the exit and wait in line again. But eventually they'll get the picture and learn to use the test seats.

[PKI Jizzman]

Just got a chance to watch the multi-angle video for the first time... you can really see people lift out of their seats against the restraint during the inversions! And then again during the airtime hills. Looks like a ton of fun.

[willh51]

The Web cam is not completely clear due to the sun in Charlotte but I'm enjoying watching Copperhead Strike while working. Three train operation, great dispatch times. It just stopped on the second launch but within 5 minutes it was launching back home and a new train full of guests dispatched.

[fraroc]

I will say this though, Intimidator is a lot more restrictive on people with big hips than Fury. Fury in my experience, required two clicks, while Intimidator required three for some reason. I always had problems with that coaster, but I was able to squeeze on.

[JRice92]

I had an awesome time at Carowinds on opening day! Copperhead Strike is a ton of fun, plenty of twisty moments, good pops of air! The hangtime in the jojo roll, the first loop and the stall last for what feels like a really long time! Carowinds has another winner on their hands! With Fast Lane I snagged 3 rides on Copperhead Strike and somewhere around 15 rides on Fury 325. Seeing this park grow over the years it gets better and better.

Some of my friends that I’ve worked with at Cedar Point all met up for opening day!

Amazing addition to the park!

Edited March 31, 2019 by JRice92

[Canobie Coaster]

Copperhead Strike was awesome. I preferred it to Blue Fire. It has a little of everything, which is what I love from Mack launchers.

 

I only got two rides since it was down half the day. It kept stopping on the second launch (my first ride did this). After being down for 4-5 hours, it reopened with two trains and ran smoothly from that point.

[tndank]

Had a blast at the park today. Got 3 rides of CS. Enjoyed it. Nice little ride. A few good hills and the slower loops are fun.

 

I haven't been here in 20 years. Enjoyed being back and the new coasters. Fury is fun, especially front row. Fast Pass is fun, too.

 

Nighthawk just seemed uncomfortable to me. Gave it a couple tries but just didn't like it. Afterburn was fun.

 

We'll be back end of summer for another fun day.

 

Wish CS had been up more. About 8pm I got on CS after a 10-15 min fast pass wait. The kids I was riding with had been waiting 3 hours to get on. They loved the ride.

[Cavan]

Copperhead has a typical bug. I witnessed 3 automated emergency stops in less than an hour! The crew is pretty good about getting it restarted, took them roughly 20 minutes give or take. I was lucky enough to capture the 2nd launch reboot, pretty neat how it works!

 

[pǝʇɹǝʌuı]

Thanks for sharing! I was actually really curious about that. It looks like the launch was really amped up on the reboot; it seemed like it took the top hat faster than normal.

[pproteinc]

My God Hurler was flying yesterday. As you guys know they did some restacking and retracking and currently the trim brake is totally removed. The train whips around that first turn so fast. I actually got airtime thru the hills. I was shook

[Canobie Coaster]

I remember the one at Kings Dominion being quite good after a retrack in the mid-2000s.

 

I'd say I'm bummed I missed it at Carowinds, but that would've been one less ride on Fury.

[i305isdaddy]

Hurler used to be a fun woodie with plenty of airtime until that stupid trim. Hopefully it stays turned off but that seems doubtful given how quickly that first and second turn get rough.

[prozach626]

The reset feature on Copperhead is really cool. Seems pretty innovative vs. the days of removing the entire train with the ride being down all day.

[Canobie Coaster]

And honestly the reset makes the second launch way more intense since you have to go from like 5mph to 45-50mph as opposed to 30mph to 45-50mph. I had that happen on my first eide.

[Intamin_coyote]

Hmmm. Thats interesting. If I may ask, what exactly is this reset feature?

[Canobie Coaster]

From what I saw, the train can stop at the second launch. After a delay, the train will roll forwards slowly, roll backwards slowly, and then accelerate forwards to the programmed speed.

 

I think El Toro Ryan had a video of it on YouTube.

[thrillseeker4552]

I think the reset feature on the second launch is pretty fascinating too.

 

When the animation of the ride was first released, and knowing the weakness of Mack LSMs, I was very curious how the reset was going to work on the second launch. I figured there wouldn't be enough power in the LSMs to simply launch the train from 0 to 50 mph over that small airtime hill. It seems it needs some initial velocity in order to hit that speed at the end. Cool to watch.