[Tawny71]

Just a note…Putting "Carolina" in the name of a ride, doesn't really make it "Carolina Themed". So, hopefully, they won't cop out and name it "Carolina Soak City" and rename the slides "Awesome Carolina Twisters", "Carolina Beach", "Carolina Lazy River", "Carolina Dorsal Fin Drop", etc.

[redrunner97]

They might keep the Boomerang Bay theme, and IMO that's a good thing.

They just added two rides with the Aussie theme in 2014, why would they have done that if they intend on changing them both next season? Sure Surfer's Swell and Dorsal Fin Drop are loosely named and could easily be converted to Soak City - I just think the theme runs so deep it would be more expensive to retheme it than leave it as is.

Water Works and Soak City are so plain and generic, but Boomerang Bay is exciting. Even the name invokes specific images of Australia, and the rides, shops, even the changing rooms are creatively named/designed and fit the overall motif very well, imo. Personally, I think it should stay the same. Realistically though, I don't believe it will.

[RollerBee]

Boomerang Bay looks like crap except for the new slides and wavepool. Sorry I said it, but it whole waterpark needs paint.

[solarplexus]

Just a note…Putting "Carolina" in the name of a ride, doesn't really make it "Carolina Themed". So, hopefully, they won't cop out and name it "Carolina Soak City" and rename the slides "Awesome Carolina Twisters", "Carolina Beach", "Carolina Lazy River", "Carolina Dorsal Fin Drop", etc.

Good Point. I don't see why they couldn't give nods to different areas of "The Carolinas" (Blue Ridge Junction is cool) maybe Something to do with Piedmont- Like Piedmont Action Zone Or Low Country/Charleston- Low Country Pavilion. I dunno.... Tie it in a little more. I second the Outer Banks Idea above.
Doesn't need to have "Carolina" in everything.

[redrunner97]

I think Carolina RFD should become Blue Ridge Junction. I like the Carolina Boardwalk area and it's theme with Cyclone, the post cards, Ricochet, the lighthouse and the actual little boardwalk. Overall I would say that is the most heavily themed area of the park other that, or possibly even more than Planet Snoopy.

[Ty-Rant_13]

I truly and sincerely hope that when given the chance to re-theme the water park they follow on the Carolina aspect that Carowinds has. Besides Knotts and Worlds of Fun, Carowinds is the only other park in the chain with someone what a theme to it.

Uh, and Canada's Wonderland themed to Canada [The Canadian Rockies (Wonder Mountain), Niagara Falls (Victoria Falls), The Green Belt (all the trees throughout), our Ocean borders (the Royal Fountain which originally had water from the three oceans that border Canada), The Great Lakes (lakes throughout the park), and the Prairies (large grassy areas) are all easily identifiably represented within the park] with one section dedicated separately to the Medieval era of our roots in Europe (with a castle theatre, dragon statues and fountains, as well as an overall design of buildings and rides toward the period). Not to mention the dragon theme carried throughout a number of rides (Dragon Fire, Thunder Run, and now Wonder Mountain's Guardian).

Anyway, I do think that Carowinds will see more theming in the future carrying through the whole park, possibly with a dark ride. Granted, I don't know much about the Carolinas, but a dark ride could have a Carolina theme, I'm sure!

[sccoasterbear]

I still like the idea of Pirate Island coming back. Think about is, they could put wrecked ships around the area, and lots of tropical landscaping. Also, you can have trees in water parks. It would take appropriate planning, but look at typhoon lagoon, very nice landscaping.

[tarheel1231]

While watching Amos' video, I noticed that Carolina Cyclone's trains have been painted one color instead of two on each. So now one is all yellow and the other is all purple. I didn't catch this on opening weekend.

[uscbandfan]

I posted (essentially) this on the new wishlist thread but it could fit into some of what's being discussed here regarding themeing. (especially regarding RFD)

Would be nice to see some themes back in the park. I've always heard that Cedar Fair didn't do themes.... so, we end up with an AMUSEMENT park rather than a THEME park. I'd like to see some more shows come back to the park as well. I know rides are where the big bucks are made attracting people and it may just be me getting older. Let's either re-theme some areas or add to what we have.

Some of these themed areas seem small and could possibly be combined. It would be cool to be able to actually TELL when you leave an area and enter another without signs. A change in architecture and walk areas could do it. Maybe a sign. (Only signs I ever remember were County Fair and Hanna-Barbera Land).

Planet Snoopy - Kids Rides

Boomerang Bay - Water Park

County Fair. - Lets get some more "Fair" rides in there. This area always seemed like a waste to me as I only went there for Thunder Road and it was so out of the way (and one way in and one way out before Top Gun was put in.) How about a midway show in the fair tradition.

Carolina Showplace - There's a theater here, lets use that more. Maybe an outdoor theater as well for walk-up traffic. Bird shows, nothing cheesy (and would KILL for a path through the trees at the Vortex entrance. It doesn't need the line space now anyway)

Carolina Boardwalk - Chickie and Pete's is a nice touch with some seafood here. How about more beach-themed stuff here. A show with people dancing the shag or the "Carolina Swing" as some people call it since it's not a true shag dance. It's right next to Boomerang Bay.. lets do a tie in there. From the boardwalk to the beach.

Thrill Zone - Well, Fury hit the mark as a Thrill ride for sure.

Carolina RFD - (Rural Free Delivery?... really. Hmmm.) Country rides. Nothing about Boo Blasters, Cobra, or Wind seeker says "country" or "rural" to me. I would think of something like "Rip Roarin' Rapids" or a log flume or jalopy cars. (At least there's Whitewater Falls.) Maybe a rename here or a combination into another area. (See below)

Carowinds Plaza. - The name says "shopping" to me. Not Riding. Maybe make Carowinds Plaza just the shops around the area and, since there's a path under Nighthawk, make Intimidator, Nighthawk, RipCord, Windseeker, all the way to Whitewater Falls a different name (eliminating RFD - or adding those TO RFD.)

In that Scenario, lets try this... change the access road between scrambler and Rip Roaring to a walk path. (Easier Thrill Zone access) Move the entrance to Rip Roaring Rapids to near Scrambler and expand the shopping for the "Plaza". Then the rapids would be in the "Showplace" area and the Plaza is just that... a Plaza.

If we're going to have theme names, lets stick to them and expand on them. Fair stuff in the Fair area, Thrill stuff in the thrill area, shopping in the plaza area, beach stuff in the Boardwalk area, etc... I'd love to see Carowinds become a THEME park again.

Ok. I'll get off my soap box now. (I would like to know what the management would think of those suggestions.)

[sccoasterbear]

So entering today I noticed signs about metal detectors...does that mean they are coming? Also, the tables for checking bags coming into the entry plaza seems to block people trying to exit, so I am not a fan of that process. I was loving the entry, but this really is not the right answer in my opinion. Just my thoughts.

[RollerBee]

So entering today I noticed signs about metal detectors...does that mean they are coming? Also, the tables for checking bags coming into the entry plaza seems to block people trying to exit, so I am not a fan of that process. I was loving the entry, but this really is not the right answer in my opinion. Just my thoughts.

I wouldn't be surprised.

[tarheel1231]

^ I would. I thought the purpose of the new gate was to get people into the park faster. Maybe they're just adding security with metal wands.

[KIJester]

tarheel said..." I would. I thought the purpose of the new gate was to get people into the park faster."

I have to agree. For example. Today on cam 2, there seems to be a temporary white tent now positioned between the two pergolas where they are doing bag checks. How will this effect, say for example someone like myself, just wanting to catch a ride on Fury after work? Will I have to wait in line behind all the folks with backpacks or will I simply be able to just walk right past them. Seems that this was not the intent of spending millions on a new and more efficient way to enter the park??

[j___sante]

^ ^^ the day i went when they had just begun positioning tables, there were multiple lines for those with and without bags. of course, the bagless line was far quicker. there were no wands of any kind that day, and the bag inspection was merely visual.

[j___sante]

and yeah, i immediately noticed the white tent this morning. hopefully the routine is reserved solely for days with expected heavy crowds...