[bgwfreak]

I'm going to try and cover some stuff that I haven't seen too much in other trip reports. Yes, of course Intimidator is in here too...somewhere.


First stop of the day was NASCAR Speed Park! OK, not really.


Uh oh, Visions of Diamondback dancing in your head?


Thanks Carowinds for keeping the fans off, since it was like 39 DEGREES!


Kerry Earnhadt talks about how much he hates NASCAR and can't stand NASCAR fans. Oh wait, that's what I was thinking. Actually I don't HATE it, just not my thing even though I grew up less than 20 miles from Charlotte Motor Speedway.


There was a stalker in the crowd.


My first album cover shoot turned out pretty good.


The rumors are true... I am straight, and available. Oh wait, no, I meant to say they do have a single rider line! And it worked really good!


After the initial rush in the a.m. average waits were around 20 minutes. 20 minutes! For a new beemer! Can you believe it?


The gift shop is nice, but too cramped I thought and created a Dollywood gift shop-style bottleneck.


Geek


On to Planet Snoopy, which looks really good except for something coming up.


I love Snoopy looking up at Woodstock like, what you doin up thar?


I love the new look. At least for all you Flying Eagle purists, at least Woodstock is in the bird family.


Express Yourself.


Which brings us to the eye sore of Planet Snoopy.... somebody please tell me this isn't the final product! They ripped out Dora and Swiper and just left random landscaping and some that looked like it wasn't even put together properly. Honestly, it was horrible looking. I'm really hoping they just ran out of time and didn't have time to finish it. Planet Snoopy looks so good otherwise.


This was the extent of the theming on Snoopy Junction.


Best part of Planet Snoopy now (besides the flyers) is the views you get of Intimidator!


Worship me.


Tommy took off.


Why so devious Alan?


Afterburn's windows never looked so good.


Snoopy was evicted too. This ride got a great overhaul though, I was pleasantly surprised. I won't spoil the surprises, and there are some!


Yeah, if you pay Carowinds $1.03! Yes! ONE DOLLAR AND THREE CENTS! For cheap 3D Glasses!


OK one spoiler....the villian/ghost is called are you ready?...... BOOCIFER! What the? We laughed all day at Boocifer.


I can't even get over how much Intimidator changes Carowinds.


Same old guns though.


Did I mention our ride ops move REALLY fast?


This was a nice thing they added back to the park this year. They took out the shooting gallery near Reptar, er, Flying A.C.E.'s bridge and replaced it with Antique Photos a while back. It's in front of the arcade they use for Dead Inn @ SCarowinds.


Howdy Pardner! You want one of my $4 Cokes? (Seriously, $4 for a 20 oz now).


This guy was fired from Dollywood's Timber Tower for looking at internet porn.


@Wings - BEST SIGN EVAR. The food was not so good though and $15 for a burger, fries and a Coke is outrageous.


Don't know why I never noticed this before, but its very creepy!


And we're walking!


Another nice off season addition was the Goldrusher sign. Jerry Helms has been with Carowinds basically since the park opened in 1973, and he's still with them! He's a great guy to talk to as well. He's the VP of operations I believe, but I can't recall his exact title.


Was Kaleidoscope not Cedar Fairish enough? I do like the new sign though. Bring back the roof!


I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes...


For those larger folks like me wondering about the seats, they do seem narrower but only slightly. I also thought they had MORE butt room, so they actually were roomier to me overall than Goliath South.


Collin shows a newbie how to pound it.


After all the shots of dirt and flags from this ride in 09, I didn't even ride it opening day!!!!

Some final thoughts: Gold Rusher, Carolina Cyclone & Ricochet all got skipped by our group because they all had long lines! What in the world are people thinking waiting 30+ minutes for a 30 year old Arrow (which does look good in its new colors I think) when there is a brand spanking new Beemer across the park with 20 minute waits!

Overall I'm very please with where the park seems to be heading in operations, overall look and rides overall.

Several things I'd like them to focus on (not that my opinion matters):
Snoopy Junction - Do something with it!
Food - You've got to be kidding me to charge me $15 for the crap I ate there.
Drinks - $4 for a 20 oz is outrageous.

Overall a great opening day, and I can't wait for my next ride on Intimidator. With Afterburn, the Flyers and Intimidator all being on the South Carolina side of the park, my opinion of SC has gone up considerably.

Thanks for reading along again, and until next time...enjoy the ride.