Photo TR: Carowinds & Intimidator232

[pkdcoaster]

This was my first trip back to Carowinds in 8 years. I was eager to try out their new coaster and get some missed credits that have accumulated at the park over the years. I was very impressed with the look of the park, The paint job on Nighthawk and that area really look great and the shortcut through Nighthawk was a welcome addition (most places close off shortcuts to get you to walk by more games/shops etc.)

Planet Snoopy was very well done and looked outstanding.

My first ride on Intimidator was in the morning and in the middle so needless to say the ride Sucked (not unusual, Apollo always sucks in the morning too) But towards the later half of the day both the front and back were delivering great rides. (although the trims were very inconsistent). These new B&M Hypers feel very different to me but I would give the edge to Diamondback as the better ride for the simple fact that the layout is better IMO.

 

As for comparing I232 to I305 you just can't.

If you like a smooth relaxing up & down ride then the B&M hypers are for you But IMO they never feel out of control or thrilling, just FUN.

On the other hand Intamin's FEEL out of control and totally unpredictable with balls to the walls speed and excitement.

I do prefer I305 but that is the type of ride I like, I232 is an awesome and much needed addition to round out Carowinds growing collection of coasters.

 

I am gonna rant a little about this whole assigned seating/single rider crap!(on Diamondback & Intimidator's) IT DOES NOT WORK! I am in NO way saying the crew is doing a bad job (They were really getting the trains out fast)but there were many instances of empty rows & empty seats (I counted 12 on one train) I NEVER see single riders in the single rider line, it is always GROUPS! The GP is so dumb on this one. they see a shorter line and think they are gonna get on faster but the regular line moves about 30 people per train (average) while the singles line moves 2 per train. most of the day yesterday the regular line had only 100-150 more people in it than the singles line. Once I rode twice before this group of girls rode once in the singles line. Not to mention the fact that People WANT to choose where to sit! I seriously do not think that whoever at CF thought of this crap has ever actually sat on the platform and watched how chaotic it is with people arguing where they want to sit or not sit and switching rows anyway. Not to mention they are paying an extra position at the ride. I wish they handed out surveys to all guests to see if they like being told where to sit. I saw more people complaining about the empty seats though.

This is not a Complaint of Carowinds but The CF policy in General that seems to be popping up on every one of their big new rides.

 

I really enjoyed my day though and all the staff at the park was very friendly and energetic. The Afterburn & Intimidator crews were very efficient all day long. (Good to meet Andrew on I232, tell your crew mates to keep up the great & courteous work, it was very appreciated)

 

Here is a link to all of the photos I took (full size HQ)

Here are some of my best pics from the day.

 

JEFF

The Reason for a 618 mile round trip in a day

They really need a big new flat ride (a Maxair would go great here)

here we go, A good first drop is important

The pullout was very drawn out on this one for some reason

Sadly the 2nd hill looks cooler than it is IMO

A nice turnaround

the strongest positive G's are after the turnaround entering the 4th hill

very nice floater airtime

good pop of air in the front entering the MCBR

patriotic pic

meh

Good news Carowinds fans! It is not a used Vekoma!

quite the eye catcher from I-77

This whole area was really well done this year

Still an Awesome inverted

Even without the Top Gun Theme

Love the vibrant paint job

At least it was a little different from the other 2 I have ridden

it will not be another 8 years before I return.

Edited April 10, 2010 by pkdcoaster

[Speeddeamon128]

Nice pics of Intimidator! I can't wait to hit this in August. I didn't no that it had a single rider line which will be a big help since I will be by myself driving back to NJ from Orlando. I've never been to this park so I want to hit this first since it is the newest coaster.

[WFChris]

This may be a stupid question, but what is with this trend of the super slanted brake run? Anybody know the reason?

 

Nice TR

[alpengeist04]

Nice pics of Intimidator! I can't wait to hit this in August. I didn't no that it had a single rider line which will be a big help since I will be by myself driving back to NJ from Orlando. I've never been to this park so I want to hit this first since it is the newest coaster.

 

Just make sure you ride Nighthawk early.

 

 

Nice job on the trip report, pkdcoaster. I really liked the closeups and angles you got of Intimidator.

[pkdcoaster]

This may be a stupid question, but what is with this trend of the super slanted brake run? Anybody know the reason?

 

These brake runs have magnetic brakes to slow the train down to a crawl. Much less wear & tear on the friction brakes.

 

The "super slanted" angle is needed to advance the train more quickly. hope that makes sense.

 

Good example I know of is TTD with an empty train, since that brake run is not very steep the train takes forever to clear the block. Since the angle is not very steep the train inches forward.

 

JEFF

Edited April 9, 2010 by pkdcoaster

[carolinacaniac]

I know what you mean, although Boardwalk Bullet at Kemah is even longer to clear the block because of the magnetic brakes. If I remember right, everytime we rode it during the TPR Texas trip, the train would have to stop on the lift until the other train made it into the station.

 

Nice pictures! Thanks for sharing them!

 

-Gary T.

[bgwfreak777]

I saw one of the ops and she said that they expect to start doing single rider passes soon.

 

This should prevent groups from getting in the single rider line.

 

The past 2 times I've been there, the single rider was a longer wait than the regular line.

[tiger01]

Great Photos! It really shows of how beautiful the ride is.

[Blaq_Mamba]

These are really nice pics. I especially like the one of the Intimidator's turnaround that looks kind of like a vertical loop.

[Squid]

Great Trip report, and great photos. Hopefully I can make it up there this year to ride Intimidator.

[mightypotato]

Behemoth had the same problem with the single rider/assigned seating thing during its first season. I guess enough people thought it was lame/stupid because in its second season, there was no more assigned seating. You just go where you want now. I wonder why I232 still uses it?

[bgwfreak777]

The assigned seating does work I think, you have a full train more often and the station isn't full with people looking all confused at the short little queue's for each row.

[kidcoaster 2]

Great Report thanks!

[Pufferfish]

The main reason I see for the assigning of rows is just the fact that if anymore than just a 2 train load is put into that station, it becomes utter chaos and the grouper can't see any of the rows and several of the rows would end up going empty. Rows 2, 3, and 4 would be the definite culprits because the lines for the first and second row have a turn in them which when filled ends up blocking rows 3 and 4.

 

Just one last comment to make about the single riders thing and the empty seats. Riders seem to never stay where we ask them to. Like we will assign one group to rows 11 and 12, but they then decide, no I don't want to sit here and sneak past the groupers to a different row. Now say that group only had 3 people with them. We would assign 1 single rider to go with that group, but then the single rider actually stays where we assigned the group. At this point the gates are ready to be opened to let the next group of riders on the train. We now have 3 empty seats.

 

Well, now that I got that out of the way, thank you for the coverage! It's a great TR and a lot of good pictures. It was great getting to meet you.

[bgwfreak777]

 

So a bit of trivia, anyone know what that tower is way off in the distance?

 

Anyone? Bueller?

 

It's the former PTL high rise! If you don't know what PTL or who Jim & Tammy Bakker were, then google them. Very little of the former campus remains, but the shell of that tower is still there.

[HerBlackWings]

^Was this where Heritage was located?

[Steelinwood]

I gotta say that I enjoy a wild crazy coaster, but I really also enjoy the B&M smoothness, it's like a fine cigar, vs a 7-11 special.

[coasternut]

I'm looking forward to being at Carowinds this upcoming weekend. These idiots at Cedar Fair require you to get a new photo for your platinum pass each year. That's a major waste of time. I don't live anywhere near Charlotte or any C.F. park. 6 Flags takes your money and sends you a pass . This year a do have a reason to go with" Inti 232" now running. I like the B&M hypers but I hope it's not braked like Diamondback at K.I. That could be a great ride without all the brake runs. I guess I'll see soon...

[pkdcoaster]

I renewed my platinum from last year at KD last fall, never needed a new pic........

I think it is just a fall thing though (it was $10 cheaper too)

 

JEFF

[bgwfreak777]

^Was this where Heritage was located?

 

Yep, Heritage USA was the actual property name for PTL I guess you'd say.

 

I'm looking forward to being at Carowinds this upcoming weekend. These idiots at Cedar Fair require you to get a new photo for your platinum pass each year. That's a major waste of time. I don't live anywhere near Charlotte or any C.F. park. 6 Flags takes your money and sends you a pass . This year a do have a reason to go with" Inti 232" now running. I like the B&M hypers but I hope it's not braked like Diamondback at K.I. That could be a great ride without all the brake runs. I guess I'll see soon...

 

The outbound trim hardly ever engages, the return trim usually does but it's more a light tap to me than a hard trim.

 

Of the 4 B&M hypers (including Diamdonback) I really never had a problem with the trims. I think B&M seems to overcompensate on speed, and then trim it for the ideal ride experience. But that's just me.