[MarkD]

The reason, the ticket booths were built off set, was so photographs could be taken of the maingate building. I think it was smart thinking on E.P. Hall's part. Carowinds was not built to be a thrill park, it was built to basically to mock Walt Disney's Disneyland. The basic concepts were the same, an amusement park with lots of beauty, that parents could take their kids with several themed areas. But where Disneyland is themed to Disney Movies and Shows, Carowinds is themed to the Carolinas. We do get new technology, it is called the Saturator, and BORG. Keep in mind that not many parks in our area have flying coasters. And there is only two Inverted Waterplay coasters in the world. The Hydra Fighter was removed in 2004.

I know why the booths are there I just think there is a better way to do it. I was there this year for an educational day on Friday along with my Son's senior class and I know how packed it gets entering the park. To me there has got to be a better way to get people into the park while adding a little "tease" at the booths then a "WOW" between the booths and entrance.

If there was not a Carolina Boardwalk section you would not know it was a Carolina park. I still think redoing the water park to a Carolina Beach theme would be the best way to go to retain some Carolina theme. After all the Carolinas are better known for the beaches than thrill rides.

New tech in the Saturator? Well, it may be a first but I really see nothing "new tech" just some refitting so it can get wet.

New tech in Borg? Well, it is a hand me down and not new for Carowinds. What I mean by "new" is something built soley for Carowinds that is 100% NEW and not 3 year old new and transferred.

Like in one of the surveys they asked about a MTV themed coaster. All I can say is PKI and PKD better watch out or thier Flight of Fear might end up here with a new theme. Think about this, besides Top Gun when was the last all new and original attraction built here?

All I am saying is we need to get our arse in gear or Carowinds will always be a local park at best.

[bgwfreak]

Honestly though, I've been writing suggestions to the park for years and I don't see any of them being taken into consideration...

I personally though would love to have Flight of Fear here, the GP is not going to care if a coaster is used.

I'm sorry dude, but I really get tired of hearing enthusiasts complain about stuff like this.

PC could have passed on Stealth and PKD or PKI could have bought it. And we would get nothing, again.

I'd rather take Stealth any day than nothing.

I get really tired of the whining I hear from enthusiasts about parks. Like even before Cedar Point opened Top Thrill Dragster, people were asking what was coming the next year!!!!

Kingda Ka is going in Six Flags Great Adventure, and enthusiasts are complaining that it's a rip off of Top Thrill Dragster. It's going to be the tallest in the world!!!!

Honestly, I would always like to get a custom coaster with awesome theming, but if Carowinds decided to put in a clone of Flight of Fear next year, I'd be thrilled.

PC doesn't look like they are going to buck the Paramount Parks system, they're just part of corporate America now, and I don't see that changing any time soon.

Off rant now, Don't beat me up at C3 next year

[coasterdave]

Not to step on anyone's toes but does it really matter that Carowinds is a regional park or some large well known park? I mean after all alot of people just go there to have a good time. It seems to me that only the rabid coaster nuts are the only one that are always whining and complaining that Carowinds needs to get this and Carowinds needs to get the hyper that goes under the bridge, blah, blah, blah.

Maybe it is me but it seems that the addition of the hand me down coaster from Cali did aid Carowinds in their best damn year money wise. So what it is not brand new B&M or a new Vekoma at that, but the GP could really give a crap if it is brans new as long it is something new and fun. I know everytime I was at Carowinds it did have a heatkly line and do not give me the BS about the operation of the coaster since that is the scapegoat all the time.

How about people just going to the park next year to just have some fun and hang out with family and friends instead of wondering why Carowinds needs to get this to improve or they really need a new coaster every year. It seems they know what they are doing. And so what the flyers are a hand me down ride. It is something that alot of use have not even rode.

Some people wonder why I hate hanging around coaster nuts.

If you where offended by my comments or I stepped on anyone's toes then my best advice if for whoever you are to get a life and move on.

Have a wonderful Holiday Season.

[swampfox43]

The reason, the ticket booths were built off set, was so photographs could be taken of the maingate building. I think it was smart thinking on E.P. Hall's part.

The "off set" ticket booths were only built there 5 seasons ago. Pat Hall had nothing to do with that. He died in 1978. Just wanted to clear that up for ya Roller Nut. Besides, the reason they were built away from the main gate had nothing to do with being able to photograph the building. I had to chuckle when I read that. It was done to help alleviate the long lines at the main building. There weren't but 4 ticket booths at the main building. Now there are 10 (although you'd be lucky to see more than 5 operating). Of course, the irony of alleviating the long lines went awash with the addition of the metal detectors.

[Carowinds44]

Carowinds *was* themed to the Carolinas....There's not much Carolina left in that park. I saw on another forum somebody called it Parawinds. I liked that

Thats funny, and becoming more true as we speak.

[MarkD]

Shew...let's not get touchy guys.

The questions were asked, in 2 different threads, on what would it take to get over 2mil and what would it take to be a "Premier" park. I just replied on what I thought here instead of both threads. (Saving time)

I have pretty tough feet so don't worry about stepping on my toes. I like to hear people defend Carowinds. I defend it along with the best out there but you have to look at reality also.

My only fear is that we will end up being a park full of used attractions or attractions that you can ride almost anywhere. But, I don't write the checks.

[bgwfreak]

I hear what you're saying dude.

I totally agree with you. I'd love to have Carowinds be a premier park, and it seems to me that Carowinds has made strides in that direction in the past 3 years or so.

But on the other hand I guess I've been in corporate America so long now that I realize that you have to turn a profit as well.

So I can see why Carowinds would buy clones, or used rides.

Borg to me doesn't seem like a big deal, it's a Vekoma, yes. But the closest Vekoma Flyer is 6 hours away in DC. The closest B&M flyer is 4 hours away, so to me Carowinds "owns" the Carolinas and even Eastern Tennessee as far as the flying coaster fad goes.

But these are just my opinions, and if I sounded harsh I didn't mean to, I guess I just get tired of hearing the same thing on other boards.