Share thoughts, photos, and reviews from visits to Carowinds or any other amusement park
By CoasterChris
#15328
Sorry, I posted in the wrong section. Move it if you need to.

This was not open to the public. The was a dry run night for family & friends of employees.

Wednesday, September 28th. A nice large crown showed up. I'd say 200 people.

We started in at around 7:30 and the first maze we headed to was Alcatraz Escape. Like last year it was pretty interesting but no changes but the scares this year were a lot better and they seem to have had more people working in and around the maze. The decorations around county fair were pretty awesome. It was nice to see that area decorated for the first time. 5/10

Next we headed all the way across the park to Alien Crypt which has a new entrance. You enter the line near the Hurler Photo booth walking through a trailer. After walking through another trailer we finally reached the entrance which was switched this year. The exit last year is now the entrance and the maze and been completely redone and it's actually a bit longer this year. AC was my 2nd fav maze. a lot of scares and nice loud music. I even got scared so good I jumped back about 2 ft into a wall. My elbow was a bit sore after that but anyway. The maze was much much better this year. 8/10

After a tour of Area 51 we headed to Massacre Manor. I was really looking forward to this one since this is what replaced the long running and most popular Nightmare Manor so Massacre had some big shoes to fill and it did. I won't give much away to keep some suprises but I really liked the way the new rooms were decorated and even likes all the dead bodies & meat hanging from the ceiling. There's even a room that grossed me out a bit. It's full of little critters. This maze was the best of the night and I'd say Massacre Manor is just as good if not better that Nightmare Manor (Hope the folks at PCW enjoy NM). The entrance was moved around and it was of course a completely new maze. Also this maze also featured a pre maze walkthrough while in line as at the entrance you walk through the cornstalk maze which was really cool. Everyone as screaming through this and just waiting in line this maze got the most and loudest screams. Kudos to carowinds for coming back to outdo Nightmare Manor. Perfect 10/10.

Last but not least we took a short hike to Headless Hollow. What was once my fav attraction 2 years ago has slowly gone down to #3. It's was a ton better than last year and it was actually cool to see the headless horseman this time. Also to keep you on your toes just like Alien Crypt this maze has completely been turned around and now the entrance is where the exit was last year. Very happy their switching the mazes around to keep it fresh and new. HH featured lots of actors. I'd say double that last year which made for a lot of great scares and more often scares. 7/10

All in al it was a perfect night. The weather was quite cool once it got dark and there was no wind which made it great for all the fog. I was told a lot of the fog machines were not on last night so if that's the case then expect a lot more fog than last year.

I was also very happy to see the park do some pretty interesting decorations. The Spider's lair was just awesome, The themeing was just out of this world and the special effects and lighting just made it even better. I was actually a little creeped out.

Slaughter Street was also another overly themed areas with wrecked cars everywhere, some were even on their roofs. It was just like a movie set and the actors were out in force in this area jumping out of cars and from behind props.

The rest of the park was just themed amazingly. It's clear they have spent a lot more money this year than in years past and I mean a lot more money. Basically everything has some type of themeing on it. The park looked perfect, The fog was prefect & the music was great. I'd say it was a prefect & frightening evening. I can't wait to go back on the 7th and see this when it's open to the public. I'm told it will be a lot better with even more actors in the mazes and walking around. I'd say this is the best year for Scarowinds and I think the attendance will prove to be just as great.
By RollerBee
#15329
Canada's Wonderland doesn't have "Nightmare Manor", last year's Scarowinds sucked, the actors just stood there. The midways were also very bare.
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By coasterbruh
#15330
ummmmm einstien...this isn't a rant thread. That was last year...this is a new year
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By coasterdave
#15331
Glad to see you have stop complaining there Rollernuts.
By CoasterChris
#15332
Yourstill compaining Roller.Why is that? I thought last year was pretty good but as i said it's nothing compared to this year. Just go then lets us know what you think.

2004 is in the past & yes Nightmare Manor was sold to PCW.
By RollerBee
#15333
I just told you want I seen last year, I wasn't complaining. As for this year, I believe what I see. There is no "Nightmare Manor" at PCW, there is a "Massacre Manor" which is probably similar to ours. The Manor you described sounds like last year's only with things moved around.

Ya'll wouldn't know what complaining is unless it was written in the dictionary.
By Cephas
#15334
I ain't never whining about Carowinds again.


last year's Scarowinds sucked, the actors just stood there. The midways were also very bare.


I wasn't complaining.


He makes bush look consistant...

Ya'll wouldn't know what complain isn't unless it was written in the dictionary.


He also makes bush look like an english major...
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By MarkD
#15335
Chris,

Sounds pretty cool this year. I am taking between 15-30 friends on Friday and only me and one other have ever been to Scarowinds. As much as I have talked up this event I hope it's as good as you say.

A couple questions for ya if you don't mind.

1. Are there enough scares outside the haunts to keep you on your toes? The only problem I had last year is it was boring after you left the mazes. Not much was going on.

2. The haunts are in the same places as last year just the entrance and exits reversed right? I'm trying to get a plan of attack so we don't end up going against the crowds if you follow what I'm saying.

3. Is the roller skating dude going to be there?

4. Spider Lair? I don't want much description but is it creepy? We have 4 people going who are big time afraid of Spiders and critters.

Thanks for your thoughts and info. I am already jacked-up about going expecially with the people who have never been before. I also have at least 10 of them going to buy passes for 2006.


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On a side note and nothing to do with this I would like to ask that members quit blasting each other on the boards. I almost hate coming here anymore because you have to weed through the mountain of crap just to get to relevent information. I know I'm not a mod nor do I want to be one but this kiddie slapping really needs to stop. You are giving this site a bad name, at least thats what the buzz is from other sources.
I do believe there is a "message" feature you all might want to learn how to use so we don't have to read ya'lls B.S.

Just grow up OK!!

Sorry but this is getting out of hand and that's my 2 cents.
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By CoasterChris
#15338
Yes, for the first time there will be actors roaming all over the park scaring people. Mainly outside the mazes ans in the scare zones. There are a few dead spots where i don't think actors will be roaming like the Borg path but other than that area it's scare after scare but it could be better than last night. They said they were still in the process of hireing another 100 people so it's going to get better.

2nd question: Yes all the mazes are in the same spot just Headless Hollow (the trail) and Alien Crypt have swithed the entrances.

The trail entrance is by Rocket Power now instead of the main gate and the alien entrance is where you exited last year.

3rd question: Not sure, i didn't see anyone roller skating last night.

Last; Spider's Lair is extremely creepy. Tons & tons of cobwebs drench the area with large spiders but nothing that moves that i know of. Since this was a dry run night alot of the fog machines, lights & props were not on since it's was basically a dry run for the actors. Whatever it was like last night i'd expect it to be much much better once it opens to the public so expect alot more than what i mentioned.

Go ahead and hype it up, This year will live up to the hype. Hope you have fun and be sure to stop by Top Gun and say hi.
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By MarkD
#15342
CoasterChris wrote: Go ahead and hype it up, This year will live up to the hype. Hope you have fun and be sure to stop by Top Gun and say hi.

I got info posted at all our time clocks at work along with the season pass info for 2006. There's a handful of people every day stop by and ask me about the park and all so I definantly hype it for all it's worth.

We will see you sometime after we get thru all the haunts. I just got a new camera ( Olympus Stylus 800 ) so put on a pretty smile.

Thanks again for the heads up.
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By coasterbruh
#15348
Well I went tonight and all I have to say is that alien crypt is by far the best attraction this year...from beginning to ending! The new one was alright...just watch your step ;) and, not giving away any details but I was scared to screams quite a few times in that one...the scaracters dont just come from around the corner in this one....



Jarvis "between those two attractions, thought I was at halloween horror nights for a quick second!" Morant



oh yeah, the skaters/sliders are there this year in full effect and it looks like captian caveman is resurrected in one of the attractions lol lol...
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By MarkD
#15349
Well, where to begin? Ahh, I know where. Start at Goldrusher and do everything you see that there is to do then work your way around to Top Gun and Thunder Road. Why do I say that, because my group had me walking from side to side all night long. :P

1st Tip...Wait until it is DARK before taking on the haunts. The added light just takes the scare out.
2nd Tip...See top paragraph
3rd Tip...Have Fun

We ended up having 14 people from work go as a group and another 10 went as a separate group. We looked for the elusive Coasterbruh but to no avail. It was rumored the Headless Horseman got him so we bowed our heads for a moment.

I won’t give anything away but I will give a link for some crappy photos I took. Somehow my cameras auto-focus got turned off and the shutter speed was messed up so just pretend you’re drunk if you look at some of them. It must have been the ride on Borg with the camera in my pocket plus I just got it Thursday.

<a href='http://www.pbase.com/foreseer/misc' target='_blank'>Pics</a>

There were so few people there tonight our gang was able to enjoy everything, and I mean everything at least 3 times each and even left ½ hour early.

Favorite Haunts in order...Alien 3D, Massacre Mansion, Alcatraz, Sleepy Hollow, Elvira, Fun House flick, Jason’s Extreme Cuts.

Favorite Themed Area...Spider’s Lair. Awesome, awesome, awesome lights, décor and Sound. WOW!!

Scare Zones were good but with more Scharacters they will be great.

I can only imagine what Scarowinds will be in a week or two. With the added help and more people in the park it’s going to be insane.

As we did everything at least 3 times, including all the rides that were open, we never saw but maybe 2 Scharacters in the same place. Even though you knew they were around you never knew exactly where.

To the Scharacters that were in the pathways all I can say is they were very, very excited about their jobs. I talked to a couple of them, mainly setting up my unsuspecting guests, and all were great people and willing to go that extra mile to ensure they got the hair on your neck to stand up.

To the Scharacters inside the haunts I give a big shout out as they were cornering some of my guests and surrounding them with no hurry to let them go. It was great to watch everyone jump about and laugh at each other. Great job actors!!! One person jumped back so much they actually fell on us. We looked like pins in a bowling alley.

Please go and have a great time. With more and more people going in the next couple weeks and the weather getting cooler I can’t wait until I come home and go again.

Absolutely no one in our group had anything negative to say. We all understood it was the first "real" test for many but it went off without any hitches.
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By coasterbruh
#15352
Foreseer wrote:We ended up having 14 people from work go as a group and another 10 went as a separate group. We looked for the elusive Coasterbruh but to no avail. It was rumored the Headless Horseman got him so we bowed our heads for a moment.


I heard that rumor also but come to find out, he heard that I was gonna be there and all he wanted was my autograph and a "head" shot...afterall the headless horseman is one of my biggest fans B)

Foreseer wrote:Favorite Haunts in order...Alien 3D,


Most definetly! The "preshow" had me scared as heck! I have never seen that much fog in one area I actually had to think twice about that one...
By CoasterChris
#15363
Glad everyone haev a great time. Just be glad you went fri and not sat. 13,000+ on sat as to 3-4,000 on fri.