[montumax]

I was asked to pose this question to everybody. Please give your honest, unbiased opinion.

"How many people think Carowinds is much better now than it was in 2001?"

[Jonathan]

Well, the flyers alone make it better for me personally, but I'll try to take a more objective look at it.

What the park has gained since 2001:

Ricochet
Carolina Boardwalk
Nick Central
Borg Assimilator
Nick Central Part 2
Phantom Flyers
Flying Dutchman's Revenge
Little Bill's Boat thing

What the park has lost since 2001:

Wherling Dervish (or was that 2001?)
Blue Ridge Junction
Plantation Square
Carolina Sternwheeler
Empty overgrown island

There's probably a bunch of stuff that I'm missing, and I'm sure some of you can fill those in, but as far as I'm concerned, the gains outweigh the losses. The only loss that really concerned me was the wave swinger, although I know a lot of people here were upset to see the Sternwheeler go. I also think that the service at the park, while still having a lot of room for improvement, has been improving each year, as well as the cleanliness of the park, and its image in general.

So yes, I believe that the park is much better now than it was in 2001.

[coasterbruh]

I personally feel the park is much better now than 2001. Im not gonna go into all the reasons, unless you want me to, but the progress the park has made far surpasses the degress that some may consider bad business moves.

But you know we sometimes can be spoiled brats and want more and not appreciate what we have now!

Now ask the question "Do we think PKI gets the royal treatment and the rest of the chain just lags behind..." B)

[charlotteguy02]

I definitely see large and small improvements all around since 2001. Some of the best examples are the Carolina Boardwalk section, and also the Borg area. Carowinds could have just slapped that coaster anywhere in the park (like over pavement), but I was really impressed at how they made this pre-fabricated coaster fit so well into the area. And even some of the smaller projects like painting Vortex, painting the sky tower, putting new harnesses on Top Gun, etc. It's little things like that make me enjoy the park more.

The only thing I miss is the Whirling Dirvish.

[bgwfreak]

The park has improved leaps and bounds over what it was in 2001.

The park is great looking these days, we have well run rides, we have the flyers, friendly staff and just an all around great looking park.

I can't say anything but positive things about how far the park has come since 2001.

From what I've seen of 3 of the 5 parks (including PC) and from what I've heard of the other two I'd easily say Carowinds is now the crown jewel of the chain.

[Dukeis#1]

I personally don't like the whole Carowinds to Parawinds thing. I'll never be fond of the decision to get rid of the Sternwheeler, (say what you want) or other little things like the transformation of Plantation Square into a large concrete pad. I really wish that Paramount (and previous management) would have been a little more sensitive towards the original Carolinas concept, because it was very unique and really displayed the pride and culture of the two states for the whole world to see.

That said, I am happy that Paramount does put forth an effort to add something new and exciting almost every year and that they've decided to step up the theming over the last few seasons with attractions like Borg Assimilator. Plus, the new family attractions have helped Carowinds pull back a demographic it seemed to have lost in the 1990s.

The park breached 2 million in annual attendance for the first time last year, something it had yet to pull off in it’s previous 31 seasons!

So has the park improved since 2001...

YES!

Though sort of in a bittersweet way.

[MarkD]

I'd say the park is Definitely better than in 2001.

As others have mention everything continues to improve. Especially in the "visual" department and for younger quests. You don't see as much gum or rust as we once did. The re-painting of simple things, the arches of county fair, and the painting of the obvious coasters and other attractions have made the park more enjoyable. But, one must remember that even though something was painted or the name was changed it is still the same thing it was last year just spruced up so the term New should not be applied towards it.

Let's not forget the things such as expanding a few shops, adding pavers instead of hot asphalt, and the "hiding" of utilities from the public. There are just way too many things to try and list as what they have done for the park and guests.

Yea, the good out weighs the bad 100 fold.

We just always seem to be on the back end of New attractions. What I mean is New for the Paramount chain. We get the hand me downs, which I'm not complaining about what we have gotten , but more so on why can't we be the first to unveil some firsts and let the other parks get clones in the following years?

I appreciate all they have done as I continue to buy season passes and have talked at leat 30 others into doing the same.

*edited by me for use of wrong word "Defiantly"* oops

[swampfox43]

^^one little correction Duke. As Scott pointed out at CCC, Paramount never officially releases it's attendance figures and the ones that AB used were mere conjecture. OK, we can go ahead and pretend they broke the 2 million mark but in reality, only Paramount knows for sure and a little bird told me they did not......

Now, to the question at hand. Do I think Carowinds is better now than in 2001?

Well, of course I do. As mentioned by Alan & Duke, I do not agree with all the decisions (heck, who does?), but all in all, the additions have made this park a major player in the theme park category. I still appreciate any relevant Carolina themeing that remains in the park, although it has mostly all been "movie-ized". I have to keep telling myself this IS a Paramount Park now.

Unlike the other Paramount Parks though, Carowinds was the only one in the bunch whose entire parks original theme was based soley on the local history so it was kinda tough to see it all vanish. I appreciate the effort made in the Carolina Boardwalk area to retain some of the local flavor.

I am hopeful that our new General Manager, Bob White, will stride to make Carowinds a destination park for folks all over the world and look forward to seeing what he has in store for us in the future.

PS: Painting Thunder Road white again is still high on my wish list. What a great 30th anniversary present that would be! Did you hear me Bob WHITE?

[Tinkerdog]

I was asked to pose this question to everybody. Please give your honest, unbiased opinion.

"How many people think Carowinds is much better now than it was in 2001?"

It is much better.

TinkerDog

[Tinkerdog]

PS: Painting Thunder Road white again is still high on my wish list. What a great 30th anniversary present that would be! Did you hear me Bob WHITE?

That would be worth not getting anything new!!!

Paint her back to White, with the Red and Blue trim, and please, please fix the potholes on the bottom of the hills!!!

TinkerDog!

[LocoDriver]

It's better!

[Cephas]

Carowinds is a better place, however, I don't condone paramount's contemporary ideology of favoring kiddie rides over the truely good stuff.

[RollerBee]

Yes, Carowinds has gotten since 2001, but we have also lost alot since then too.
2001-Plantation Sqaure
2002-The Tube Shoot and Space Station
2003-Old World Marketplace, now has a couple concrete pads
2004-The Sternwheeler
2005-Hanna-Barbera(We grained more than we lost)
2006-The Frenzoid(Finally)

If the job done with Nick Central 2005 shows what we will see with Boomerang Bay in 2006 then I think we will be impressed with it.

[CoasterChris]

Carowinds is 100% better than it was in 2001. The park is alot safer and cleaner and just looks alot nicer. It's looks like a new park in almost every area.

[Dukeis#1]

and just looks alot nicer.

Ehhh...I don't know about that. A lot of trees have been cut down and there is a lot more concrete.