Carowinds Discussion Thread

[coasterbill]

When a park closes and reopens later on it’s common sense and standard practice that your skip-the-line pass is no longer valid. There may be some exceptions to this around the world but it’s not the norm. They cleared the park and reopened it for a hard ticket event. It’s essentially a new operating day.

 

They explain this very clearly when you buy it on the website.

 

Fury, Afterburn, and Copperhead better blow me away.

Or what? The park doesn’t owe you anything. I don’t know how to say this without being so direct and it’s not my intention to start a conflict but if go in without such a entitled attitude you’ll probably have a lot more fun. I’m just being honest here... if you’re going in with that attitude you’re going to have a miserable day.

Edited September 28, 2019 by coasterbill

[AmyUD06]

That is a common practice? My apologies then; this is my first time encountering a park that kicks people out and then "re-opens" the same day. I still think they shouldn't be charging full price when the pass is only valid for half the day.

 

And yeah, I was kinda pissed when I wrote that. I'm going in to the day with a completely open mind and we'll see how it goes.

[Arthur_Seaton]

That is a common practice? My apologies then; this is my first time encountering a park that kicks people out and then "re-opens" the same day. I still think they shouldn't be charging full price when the pass is only valid for half the day.

Knotts' does that for their Halloween events. Six Flags (Magic Mountain, at least) doesn't.

 

Fingers crossed today's a good day!

[AmyUD06]

In short, yeah today was a lot better. Temperature was manageable up until 3 (when I left), minimal crowds. Fury is a kickass ride, and Copperhead was a lot of fun if not super-intense. I did splurge for FL+ but ended up not needing it except for a few rides (Fury, Nighthawk, Flying Cobras come to mind).

 

Probably won't go back tonight for Scarowinds again, since I hit all of the Halloween stuff last night, but I'll probably go back tomorrow morning for some more rides on Fury and Copperhead before it gets too crowded/hot.

 

Full trip report/review coming soon.

[chschris1]

^^^Yeah Scarowinds was really disappointing this year. I probably won't go again and I'll save up for Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando next year.

[Coastard69]

Was looking at booking a trip to Carowinds the weekend after Thanksgiving to finally get my Fury credit. Saw they don't operate Intimidator or Fury during Winterfest...Does anyone know why they don't operate their signature attractions during Winterfest?

[bgtlover]

Was looking at booking a trip to Carowinds the weekend after Thanksgiving to finally get my Fury credit. Saw they don't operate Intimidator or Fury during Winterfest...Does anyone know why they don't operate their signature attractions during Winterfest?

 

Winterfest is meant to be a family winter fun event. Not a thrill ride event. It's the same with all of the Cedar Fair parks (outside of KBF since that's a year-round park). They actually have a hard enough time staffing the event as is. Having more open would be more of a headache. If Carowinds would ever truly go year round (even if it was weekends only between NYE and early March), I could see them having more rides open during Winterfest.

[yawetag]

They both also have temperature thresholds that can't be guaranteed in November and December. Rather than planning on opening them and then not being able to, it's easier to not worry about them at all.

[coasterbill]

Was looking at booking a trip to Carowinds the weekend after Thanksgiving to finally get my Fury credit. Saw they don't operate Intimidator or Fury during Winterfest...Does anyone know why they don't operate their signature attractions during Winterfest?

 

Because they don't want to. There's really no other reasonable explanation.

 

They both also have temperature thresholds that can't be guaranteed in November and December.

 

Okay

[fbvideonew]

[/fbvideonew]

 

... sounds rough

Edited October 4, 2019 by coasterbill

[Canobie Coaster]

This is one example where Six Flags buying Cedar Fair would be a positive.

[coasterbill]

By the way, I lived in Charlotte for awhile. This is what we're talking about. These are the projections and averages for December. Even if the park chose to kept their startup temperatures as-is everything could run almost every day.

 

The only reason nothing runs for Winterfest is that the park doesn't feel like they need to run the rides to draw gate, which I guess is true but the line for the Troika hit 90 minutes almost nightly that week between Christmas and New Years last year and Afterburn usually hit an hour (which never happens) since people had nothing to ride.

 

This is one example where Six Flags buying Cedar Fair would be a positive.

 

Hey man, be nice. Charlotte winters are brutal. Sometimes they have to shake the morning frost off of the palm trees near Intimidator

Edited October 4, 2019 by coasterbill

[Canobie Coaster]

 

I completely understand their plight. Winters are brutal. It's just like how I saw Busch Gardens Tampa selling handwarmers when temperatures hit 60 degrees a few years ago.

[yawetag]

They both also have temperature thresholds that can't be guaranteed in November and December.

 

Okay

 

https://www.wbtv.com/story/28640352/fury325-and-cabelas-bring-a-flurry-of-activity-to-carowinds-blvd/

"Since it was windy and the temperature was below 40 degrees, park officials had to wait to open Fury325 until it got a bit warmer. However, temperatures eventually climbed and so did the number of people lining up for the ride."

 

I agree that average temps in Charlotte are above that threshold, but evening temps (Winterfest hours are 5p-10p most days) can easily fall close to the 40° mark.

[coasterbill]

I said "almost" every day and 40 degrees is generally just a startup temperature for the parks that even care (see: Dollywood). Yes, I was there that day that you picked out from 4 1/2 years ago when Fury opened 2 hours late.

 

Anyway I give up. I'll be riding Nitro in the snow if anyone needs me.

Edited October 4, 2019 by coasterbill

[michaellynn4]

I said "almost" every day and 40 degrees is generally just a startup temperature for the parks that even care (see: Dollywood). Yes, I was there that day 4 1/2 years ago when Fury opened 2 hours late.

 

Anyway I give up. I'll be riding Nitro in the snow if anyone needs me.

 

[thrillseeker4552]

At least Copperhead Strike will be open for Winterfest. Another major coaster to eat up crowds will help. Kings Dominion is also opening Twisted Timbers this year in addition to Dominator (albeit not opening Rebel Yell anymore).

 

But aside from those two parks and the two in California, Six Flags definitely has the more “fun” winter events for us enthusiasts!

[yawetag]

I said "almost" every day and 40 degrees is generally just a startup temperature for the parks that even care (see: Dollywood). Yes, I was there that day that you picked out from 4 1/2 years ago when Fury opened 2 hours late.

 

So, to sum up: I state the rides have temperatures in which the rides won't be run and those temperatures may not be met in the months of Winterfest. You mock it and use a different park as proof, as well as an average temp calendar for December that shows lows below that temperature. I respond with proof that Fury was delayed to open - on its opening day, no less. You respond with "Well, I didn't say 'all' days."

 

So would you agree that Fury and Intimidator have operating temperatures that Carowinds won't run the rides AND that those temperatures are possible during the time Winterfest operates?

[coasterbill]

90% of the time without an odd front coming through the low temperature will be reached in middle of the night or very early morning right before sunrise at like 4am. Surely everyone knows that right? Right?

 

Rides can occasionally close for weather conditions of some kind any day of the year. It would be rare for the startup temperature to not be met by the time the rides need to start testing for the day, especially with an afternoon opening which is actually ideal. if it does happen and they don't want to run it below 40 degrees (even though... lol) then okay, the ride is closed for weather that day. Rides close for weather in the summer on windy / stormy days too. It wouldn't be that common.

 

Like I said, the rides are closed because they don't want to run them because they don't think they have to to draw gate. Acting like there's an actual reason for it beyond that is kind of crazy when they’ll happily open at 10am in March when the same possibility exists. Cedar Fair doesn’t even run all of their rides in their Northern California park where the Six Flags park up the road isn't even seasonal. This is silly. Just call a spade a spade.

Edited October 4, 2019 by coasterbill

[Skyllama]

I'm just a lurker, but wasn't there a lot of discussion about cold temps and coasters at Carowinds a couple of years ago on this thread? I thought someone who worked on Fury cleared a lot of the confusion up.

[prozach626]

I have a serious question not related to the park's decision to operate coasters when they can clearly be operated. Would the cold weather be a factor with any maintenance or wear?

[coasterbill]

I'm just a lurker, but wasn't there a lot of discussion about cold temps and coasters at Carowinds a couple of years ago on this thread? I thought someone who worked on Fury cleared a lot of the confusion up.

 

There’s not much to clear up. Carowinds starts it at 40 degrees. Even if they don’t change that at all and keep their policy exactly as-is it could still run most nights if they wanted to run it but they’ve decided not to.

Edited October 5, 2019 by coasterbill

[bill_s]

I think the reason they have Winterfest at all is it draws a different clientele and they tend to spend more per visit.

 

Virginia is colder than Charlotte and they're running rides that they not only won't start up at less than 40 degrees, I know from experience they close (casually -- those in line get to ride) as soon as it drops below. The one they'd go below that last year they're not running this year -- but I am glad they'll be doing something with lots of lower speed thrills. I expect they won't run anything at Carowinds lower than that either. Both cases are better than Christmas Town was back in the day when they only ran one coaster and if it went down for any reason you'd better be feeling the holiday spirit(s).

 

Great Adventure is more daring than SFA, although last time I went and they closed coasters for cold, I admit I wouldn't have made it a lot longer.

[coasterbill]

Great Adventure has never once closed coasters for cold, if they were closed then they were broken (probably because of the cold, but it wasn’t for lack of effort or insanity lol) or a combination of cold and high winds where they pretty much knew they would valley.

 

There were a few times last year where we thought there might be new temp limits since almost everything closed at once but it was just because the rides start breaking constantly when it gets cold enough (usually mid 20s) and maintenance gets backed up. Usually we think they found their sanity and then 30 minutes later we hear Nitro’s airhorn.

 

I’m not expecting Carowinds to be that insane and having no limits at all. I’m not suggesting that at all. Lol

Edited October 5, 2019 by coasterbill

[jarmor]

That is a common practice? My apologies then; this is my first time encountering a park that kicks people out and then "re-opens" the same day. I still think they shouldn't be charging full price when the pass is only valid for half the day.

Universal Orlando and Hollywood does it.

Knott's does it.

Busch gardens Tampa does it.

Six flags parks charges to go in the houses separate from park admission.

[RaceBoarder]

I have a serious question not related to the park's decision to operate coasters when they can clearly be operated. Would the cold weather be a factor with any maintenance or wear?

 

Any issues would probably be based around any lubricants they use. Grease will become more viscous as it cools down, so performance can vary. Everyone thinks about the wheels and bottom of the train, but I'd be more concerned with smaller parts gumming up. Thinks like hinges in the restraint systems or parts of the train that don't generate heat. I'd wager that is probably the biggest issue faced as temps fall.