General Carowinds discussion
By TheGrayGirl
#17642
I am most likely visiting Carowinds with ACE for the Carolina Coaster Classic on September 16. I have never been, but my family and I have wanted to go for a while now!
I was just wondering if you guys could tell me what hotels you recommend, and any other tips you think I could use!
BTW...it will be me, my dad, my 10 and 13 year old sisters, and maybe my mom.
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By ThrillSeeker
#17649
Best ride on top gun is the very back. Best ride on borg is anywhere but an outside seat. For the love of god please bring some pain pills if you are plaining on rideing hurler. Very nice park hope you enjoy it. Cant tell you much about hotels in the area. I hear the parks campground has cabins you might like to check out. If it is open.
By coasterholic14
#17651
Uhmmmmm, i can't help you with hotels, but i can help you with anything in park. Do you have a preference for rides (family rides, thrill rides, coasters, etc)?
By TheGrayGirl
#17652
Well, I've actually memorized the rides and descriptions,lol
That is how much I want this trip!!
I know that we get ERT on Carolina Cyclone, Richocet and Vortex and Top Gun and Thunder Road.
I just joined ACE and am really excited about the trip!
I prefer thrill rides, Goliath is my favorite right now!
Thanks for the tips so far!
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By swampfox43
#17653
A simple look at the Carowinds website will give you <a href='http://www3.paramountparks.com/carowinds/visit/visit_tips.cfm' target='_blank'>tips</a> and <a href='http://www3.paramountparks.com/carowinds/visit/visit_accomodations.cfm' target='_blank'> accomodations</a> help.
By TheGrayGirl
#17654
I have already been to the web site a bunch...I'm not an idiot,lol
I just thought that since you guys probably know Carowinds like I know Six Flags Over Georgia...like the back of my hand, you might be able to provide tips that are not so well known. Like the roughness of Hurler..that ones not on the site...
The accomadations page does not give personal experience or tell me just how clean the hotles are, etc...
Thanks again!
By coasterholic14
#17655
THE COASTERS:
Alright, well, Top Gun is the best ride in the park, definetly worht multiple rides. Even on weekends the lines aren't too long (45min max usually) and the crew gets the trains in and out very efficiently (which is even better with a shorter length track). Borg is worth a ride if you have never been on, but loses it's reridability quickly because it is rather bumpy at times, and waiting on the coaster on your back (combine with the not so comfortable seat back and sloped towards your head) in the brake run and station. Don't get up too fast b/c the blood has been sitting at your head. It's still worth a ride though. I would reccomend hitting this either during ERT or, if you want to ride during the day, go towards the afternoon, usually the line is shorter. Thankfully you can see the line from many areas and can get to it quick when it's short. If you have large items, you will either need a locker, someone not riding to watch, or sometimes taking your chances leaving it by one of the planters or something. I would also recoomend rides on Thunder Road (just watch the pothole before the turnaround hill going forwards, and a slightly rougher return leg), Hurler (though the turns on a bad day could kill at times, it gives some great Ejector Airtime), Carolina Cyclone, Ricochet, and definetly Goldrusher (a classic mine coaster, i always ride it once or twice, great headchoppers). I'm not keen on standups, but if you like them or want to try one, Vortex is worth a ride, and the Fairly Odd Coaster (AKA Scooby) is a classic. I would not recommend Rugrat's Runaway Reptar unless you want the credit, it's a rough ride for a small coaster, very rough at times in fact. Most of the coasters will not have much of a wait, other than Vortex (sometimes), Top Gun (but the line is constantly moving), and BORG (prepare to wait a while on a weekend at an ACE event, loading and unloading takes them forever still), otherwise, everything else shouldnt be that bad (Saturator can build up a line, but it's not much of a ride).

WATER RIDES:
WhitewaterFalls, if it's open, is good for a splash (like any other version of it). Rip Roarin' Rapids is good for a mid-day cooldown, but be prepared for a long, slow line, and a short, unthemed, and tame ride. Log Flume (can't remember the name exactly, Wild Thornberry's River Adventure) is alright, there is no theming other than the parts visible from the station, but a good splash nonetheless. For the waterpark (Boomerang Bay), their really are no great tips/hints, it's crowded when it's hot...maybe go get a spot early in the day. I recommend getting a spot by the new kiddie pool on the side opposite the wave pool, behind and to the left of the tube slides up front, because it hasn't been that crowded over their and the wave pool seats are usually packed.

OTHER RECOMMENDED RIDES:
Phantom Flyers--BEST NON-COASTER RIDE IN THE PARK (if you can get them "snapping") It may take a few runs on them, but you can get some serious air on them once you figure out how to do it.
Scooby Doo's Haunted Mansion (shoot-out game)--entertaining ride-through to shoot at targets (front gives the better visibility and better chance of hitting a target, usually the people in the back have little to hit b/c of the people in front of them) and AIR CONDITIONED!!
Drop Zone--if you like freefalls!
Scream Weaver--one of the few non-coaster thrill rides
Kaleidescope (can't spell)--a classic Scrambler ride
Bumper Cars--nothing special, but still fun

OTHER RIDES (general):
I havent been on the Flying Dutchman's Revenge, but i've heard it's at least kind of fun
Rocket Power Air-Time--Fun, but nothing special
The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera--if it's open (it hasn't been the two times i've been so far)
Carousel--a classic carousel (too bad they had to NICK the thing)

FOOD:
Wings is the best place to eat if you want classic amusement park food (obviously overpriced, but better than the stands). It is also indoor, air-conditioned, and you can refill your soda unlike buying from a stand. The park also has the Country Kitchen (indoor and air conditioned), but i havent been in so long i don't know anything about it anymore. And as usual, there are a few places throughout the park that you would find elsewhere (Cinn-a-bon i believe is one of them), and the classic candy store, ice cream, funnel cakes, and icee's spread throughout the park (whatever meets your fancy). If you want dinner after leaving the park, a Cracker Barrel just opened a couple weeks ago across the street. Remember, expect to bring a lot of money if you plan on eating at the park (other than the meals ACE provides)

NOTES:
It is not a huge park, so if a line is longer than you wanna wait, you can always go elsewhere in the park and then come back later to check it out in short time, so don't be afraid that you might not be able to make it back.

Almost forgot, there is a new Go-Kart track over by Hurler (all setup to carry two people, so not quite as fast as usual), if you wanna give them a whirl, $8 for driver, $2 for passenger.

I hope this helps some (even if it is long lol), if i left something out you wanna know, post and i'll see what i can do (it's so much i might have missed some stuff in that)
By TheGrayGirl
#17657
Wow, thank you so much!! What is Scream Weaver? I can't find anything on the site about it or anywhere.
We most likely won't shell out the money to eat in the park...we go to Six Flags Over Goeorgia a few times a week and have given up on theme park food,lol
By Dukeis#1
#17658
Scream Weaver is an "Enterprise" ride, like Wheelie at Six Flags Over Georgia.
:)
By TheGrayGirl
#17660
I just thought it was rough because of the pain pill comment.
Well, I look forward to seeing all of you! Obviously I don't know any of you, or what you look like, but I am about 5'3, redish hair, blue eyes...but I guess that's not a great description,lol
By coasterholic14
#17662
Hurler can be rough, but it can also be smooth. The front is the smoothest car from my experiences. Sometimes it's really rough, sometimes it's not that bad. Also, i think generally the inside seat (the right side) is a little less rough, and any jerks will not slam you legs into the side of the car (since all the turns are right turns). It's been better this year than last, but it can still have it's rough days.

Oh, and on Top Gun, yellow train runs better (faster and smoother), and the outside seats are the best (more movement with bannkings and inversions b/c you are further from the pivot point). I also quite enjoy the front if you get the chance (usually about 15 min max longer wait than any other seat) because of the view over the parking lot and over the ground below, and you get the most mist in the face.
By Carowindsman
#17664
actually the red train on top gun is pulling faster than the yellow train this year its a good second quicker each time it runs.
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By bgwfreak
#17667
HOTELS

I would say do not stay at Carowinds, stay up at Hwy 51 and I-485 (about 5 minutes from the park via I-77 to I-485 East).

The hotels on that exit look much nicer than the ones at the Carowinds exit. Plus there is tons of shopping, food and the mall on that exit. The Carowinds exit doesn't have much more than a Shoneys, Wendys, KFC , Gas stations and a liquer store. lol
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By kewlaidkiddd
#17669
Here are a couple of my suggestions:

You'll see a couple of duplications from above:

Coming into the park.... Park at South Gate.... Drive all the way down to the end of the parking lot and go past the Platinum Preferred Parking Lot... Park underneath the Top Gun... You'll love this cos you can see your car when you are riding the ride... This also throws you right into the middle of the rides... unless you have something that you have to do at north gate. Its also easier to get out of the park on this end if you stay most of the day.

If you do have ERT... Use it for the Borg first thing in the morning... if not, you'll be waiting all day. Unless you wait until the mid afternoon.

If you do not... start where you enter... Hit Top Gun First or come back to there once you are done with the Borg. If you can ride twice... Ride in the back first and in the front... The back messes you up more and the front has a cooler view. Also just because the line goes out to nowhere doesn't mean this line doesn't move fast.

Then hit up Thunder Road... The line for this is generally average to minimal... I haven't seen it go up the walkways for a while. Ride it forwards and backwards to get the full experience. Forwards RIde the Front Car definitely. If you have time to ride it again, ride the back car. On backwards ride the back car for speed and the second car for airtime.

I tend to skip over standard amusement park rides when I am there... but if you have time... hit up the bumper cars and play some games.

The Scooby Doo Haunted Mansion is kool but the line for it is generally outrageously long.

Plan to get wet. Hit up White Water Falls and after the ride definiltely get up on the pier above the splash area. The best spot is in the back of the boat but you are assigned seats based on your position in line and they are generally Nazis about where you sit on that ride.

Lunch time... Depending on how much spending money you bring will depend on whether or not you should eat in the park. Wings is definitely the best place to go. Its indoors, air conditioned and have a large variety of food. If you would rather go cheaper and have 30 minutes to leave the park, there is a Wendy's and a Kentucky Fried Chicken right in front of the park. Don't Go To Crackerbarrel... You'll end up waiting too long.

If you want to get wet some more and have some time to wait... get on the Rugrats Super Soaker... as this is one of if not the only water Roller Coaster in existence and is quite fun. Ride in the front for better aim of your soaker.

The Ricochet is definitely fun but has a varying line wait. Ride the front seat for the best experience.

Definitely hit up the Gold Rush as it is one of the oldest rides in the park. Ride in the back, it has the most pull.

Though I have not checked it out yet... I may soon... the Virtual Reality ride in front of the Gold Rush... I just know that this year it looks like the visitors are on a 74 G Rollercoaster. So definitely hit them up... I think its like 5 bucks

The Cyclone is great just about anywhere you ride it.

Definitely ride the Drop Zone... even though I hate it... Its something you definitely want to experience.

The Hurler is great as long as you don't ride in the last car. Try for the Front.

Hit up the Scream Weaver... Try the Go Carts($$) and definitely check out the Skyflier($$)... if you are not afraid of heights.

Do check out the Vortex.. but don't ride in the back... Go for the front or Middle... you may get a headache on this one.

The Log Ride and Rip Roarin Rapids are great rides to cool down in in the late afternoon... But everyone else thinks so too... so watch your timing when trying to get on these two rides. The Log Ride line moves pretty quick. Refer to someone else for the Rapids as I have never taken the time to wait before... at least not since I was a young child.

These are my favorite spots in the park. If you have younger kids... check out Nickelodeon Central. If you don't still ride the Fairly Odd Coaster for its historical value.

Round out your day with a romantic spin on the Skytower and check out the park in all of its splendor.



When you leave the park...

Hotels... My favorite one in front of the park is Motel 6. But thats just because many of my friends have worked there in the past... but they are pretty good there. If you want something a little nicer, come up to exit 3 on 77 to Arrowood Rd and check out hte Best Western. Or make a two day trip out of the experience and stay near uptown and check out historical Charlotte and hit up either the Levine Museum, Discovery Place(Currently Running a Batman and Movie Making Exhibit), or just walk around uptown.

Dining:
Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Buca Di Beppo(Italian) - From Park - I77 N to 485 E then to the second interchange: Exit HWY 51 South - These eateries will be in front of the Mall.

Back one enterchange to South Blvd North you will also find Texas Roadhouse, Hooters, Raffertys, Golden Corral.

Hope this helps.
Chris