Carowinds Discussion Thread

[Ilovecedarfair]

Hi there, I'm hoping this information will help you on your trip.

 

I have been to Carowinds 6 times this summer, once during the Halloween event. Scarowinds crowds, simply put, are terrible. Fury wait times this past Friday night were 1 hour 20 minutes. Saturday night, reaching nearly 2 hours. However, Saturday morning we went to the park and waited about 35 minutes for Fury. Sunday morning (yesterday) the waits were even better. Intimidator was sending trains half empty all day. Now, as for next Saturday, I'm not sure what I would expect as it is Halloween but if this weekend is any indicator, it's worth the few extra dollars to go during the day if you don't mind missing the Halloween walk throughs. Your wait times will be cut in half on just about everything. I will also be there Sunday, November 1st, and I'm hoping for the same crowd levels as this Sunday but being the last operating day of the season, there's really no way to know for certain. I hope this bit of information helps you make your decision. Have fun!

[coasterbill]

Since you mention the "Last Day of the Season" thing, is anyone else as confused by that as I am? With mild winters like they have in Charlotte and with 2 large parks within a few hours of Carowinds open for Christmas I can't figure out why they don't do a Christmas event. It seems like an obvious idea and I would think it would do very well.

[chknwing]

^they had one and it bombed. no rides were open and they had a good idea in a ice skating rink but the thing was only like 10 feet wide.

[jh5292]

I echo the statement above. I went last Friday night and the park was super packed and Saturday during day was very manageable. So I would highly suggest the day trip over the night if you don't need to do any of the Halloween stuff.

 

I also wondered about a holiday event. I saw Six Flags is doing holiday events at many of their parks, as far north as Great Adventure. Which seems a little nuts to me. But I would think Carowinds would be a good park to do some kind of event in late Nov/Dec. Maybe in the future.

[Vonni]

If CF were to do a Christmas event, I would see them doing it at CGA first, being that it would have the most reliable weather, and SFDK is so close and has one, so it would be easy to compete.

[The Geek Mojo]

TR: Went to Carowinds for the first time this year this past weekend for Friday night and all day Saturday...Got my season passes for next year. I paid a lot for Friday night, but got in Saturday night for just $20 bucks. Got in Saturday during the day for free since I got season passes for 2016. I really wish Carowinds didn't separate their Halloween event...I mean theirs isn't any better than Kings Island's or Cedar Point's or Kings Dominion's...So to make you pay extra for it seems like a rip off. But, I won't have to worry about it next year since I'll have passes for it. So moving on...Got to ride Fury 325 for the first time and I was at a crossroads. I didn't want to say it was better than I305 but after 11 times of riding it I have to finally admit, it's the best coaster I ever rode. Better than Millennium Force, better than I305, better than Skyrush, better than any RMC creation I've rode...It's just the best, hands down freaking awesome! B&M definitely has made the best coaster ever, imo. Now, I305 is my #2. I also have to say that I forgot how good Intimidator was. I last rode it back in 2013 and then went on a B&M hyper tour over the next years, riding Goliath's, and Apollo's Chariot's, and Nitro's and Raging Bull's and Diamondback's and so on and so on...And I have to say, Intimidator is a top 3 B&M hyper...Really solid ride. Still love Afterburn, not so much love for Vortex. I know both B&M Stand up Vortex's that Cedar Fair has is really short rides, but I still wouldn't mind seeing them converted like Mantis was. Stand up roller coasters just suck. But moving on...Carowinds on Saturday night was probably the most crowded I've ever seen a Cedar Fair park. It looked like Harry Potter land in Universal Orlando...Couldn't hardly move it was so crowded in some areas. I over heard some of the workers say it was a new attendance record. You really have to get a fast lane and fright lane pass if you want to do everything. Fury 325 stayed over an hour long wait all night. All the haunted mazes were full all night long. It was just insanely crowded. Saturday during the day was really the only time you could get some decent rides in. Nighthawk was a walk on for most the morning if that's telling you anything. So yeah, get the fast passes if you're only going one day this coming weekend cause it'll probably be even more crowded since Halloween falls on Saturday. One last thing, I love the new entrance of Carowinds. Carowinds is probably now my favorite Cedar Fair park that I've been too now that Fury 325 is there.

[pproteinc]

To speak on the Christmas Event. Carowinds had one back in 2005 I believe during its Paramount days that was called Winterfest and it was pretty much dud. Some rides were open like the Woodstock Gliders which was then Phantom Flyers and Afterburn which then was Top Gun. There was a show called Santa's Toy Factory, the Christmas Parade, and ice skating rink. They also had a Christmas dinner as well. The crowds were just not there to keep it going I guess. My take on it was to keep having it. People live out of habit so it was a habit not to go to Carowinds during the winter and that winter was actually pretty cold for those who are from the south to me it was fine I'm a New Yorker. Charlotte's winters can be very unpredictable. One year can be mild around 60-67 degrees day 30s night up until mid January then snows in late February early March and the next winter could be the same or it could be in the 30s and 40s daytime temps in November and get the good snow late December and January or straight ice storms. When it gets that way the city is pretty much shut down.

Edited November 2, 2015 by pproteinc

[cfc]

^I attended Winter Fest, too, with some friends who live in the Smokies. Overall, we liked it (especially the Christmas dinner), but we all thought the Santa's Workshop show was pretty bad (but at least the theater was heated).

[Password121]

Doing some preliminary trip planning for 2016. Does anyone know when opening day will be next year? Do they have some kind of passholder preview day (we have Platinum passes from KD) beforehand?

[pproteinc]

^ It's normally the last weekend of March. Im guessing the official date is March 26th and if they do the season pass preview night next year, which i doubt because there's nothing next year really to preview except the plants vs zombie 3d attraction, will be the 25th at 6pm.

 

^I attended Winter Fest, too, with some friends who live in the Smokies. Overall, we liked it (especially the Christmas dinner), but we all thought the Santa's Workshop show was pretty bad (but at least the theater was heated).

 

Yea the acting and shows during that timer were horrid at best lol... I think if they pulled it off now it could be a great shows. The park have stepped up there game with live entertainment. It's not the best but its way better than the yesteryears.

[DorneyKid14]

Just saw this on twitter....

[theintimidator]

Yup. Mike will be moving back to Dorney Park and the general manager from Dorney Park will be moving to Carowinds.

[DorneyKid14]

So they are swapping park pretty much? Is there any reason to this?

[deere839]

So they are swapping park pretty much? Is there any reason to this?

Heard that a family member is ill up there that's why hes going back.

[pproteinc]

Thanks to RideWarrior for the photo ... looks like Carowinds is being sneaky and have a surprise ride for 2016 along with the waterpark expansion and plants vs zombie 3D attractions....looks like a top scan flat like Shockwave at CW!

Edited November 7, 2015 by pproteinc

[pproteinc]

Not sure why it doubled post..

[DarienLaker]

Did Canada's Wonderland sent their Shockwave ride to Carowinds?

[pproteinc]

I don't think so. It's still in their lineup and they didn't announce any closures. Plus the arms on shockwave are blue vs all white which is shown here.

[markysharky17]

This looks epic!! I've always wanted to ride a Mondial Topscan. How do we know it's not a Zierer star shape? Don't they have the same seats?

[thrillrider]

We loved this ride at Canada's wonderland. I am surprised more parks don't have one of these.

 

Very under rated ride.

[pproteinc]

Yea they're more on the traveling carnival side than permanent park.

[BotanicalStig]

This will be a great addition. I like seeing parks add in good flat rides. I've never been on a top scan, but it looks like a similar ride experience to a chaos, which is one of my all time favorites.

[nannerdw]

^Yeah, just replace the intense negative g's with intense lateral g's, and that's about what the experience is like.

This looks like it will be a great fit for Carowinds. I'm surprised more parks haven't built these.

[Myself]

It could also be a Zierer Starshape...

Just throwing that out there...the arms and seating arrangements are nearly identical in spite of how different the two rides are.

[markysharky17]

I can't seem to find the parts for it on the webcam. Hopefully they install it here and aren't holding it for another park. I've always wanted to ride one of these but there so rare down south that is nearly impossible to find one.