- April 3rd, 2010, 12:20 pm
#39539
TRIP REPORT – CAROWINDS – 4/2/10 (copied from COASTER-net)
Ok, figured I'd do a trip report on my day at Carowinds since they have a new coaster, the Intimidator, there. Sorry I have no pictures to post, but, despite plugging it in all night, the battery in my camera didn't charge, so I had no way of taking any pics. First of all, the park was very busy today, and it also was very hot (high-80s to low/mid 90s…and at Carowinds, you have to add a few degrees for the lack of shade and immense amount of paved land), so we didn't stay all day and just hit our priority rides. That's the great thing about having a season pass, you can ride a few rides, and save the all day affair for a cooler or less crowded today.
I have a quick pass-processing related rant, so if you don't want to read that, skip over this paragraph. [Rant] So, we get to the park around 10:30, droves of people heading to the ticket windows, entrance, etc, and a very full pass holder lot. We bought our tickets online, so we had no problem parking in the pass holder lot, but that's where the convenience ended. As we approached the gate, we saw a sign that said ALL pass holders needed to have their pass processed before entering the park (in previous years, you could enter the park, you just needed to have your pass processed before the end of the day). The line started all the way back by the parking lot, wrapped around next to the ticket windows, down a side path parallel to the one in the park, around the building, through a queue line and inside. Though the line moved quickly, it took over an hour to get through (did I mention it was hot with no shade?), and by the time we got in, everyone who was buying day tickets was already in the park…great way to treat your pass holders. [/End Rant]
On to the park experience (much better). The first ride we hit was, of course, the Intimidator…and what a first ride. The ride is a capacity machine, so the ¾ full queue only took maybe 30 min to get through. Despite assigned seating, we managed to get the very first row. Looking down that first hill, it feels like it is going to wrap under you. The ride on the front was quite good, however I was literally pinned in, so I didn't get the full experience until later in the afternoon. To be perfectly honest, and I never thought I'd say this, but the trims on the first return-leg hill actually increases your airtime in the front, as the trim is halfway up the hill and, by slowing the train, begins giving you wonderfull floater air which doesn't stop until halfway down the other side. Later rides would prove that a "wing" seat (back row of each car) provides some excellent sensations on the hammerhead and second hill. The drop out of the MCBR does not quite provide the air that Apollo's Chariot does, and the ride is a bit weaker after this (helix and airtime pop into the final breaks), but it is still a fantastic ride. Is it better than Apollo's Chariot (my other B&M hyper)? I'll have to get back to you on that later in the season after a few more rides.
After this we headed over to my 3rd favorite ride in the park…the flying scooters (now called Woodstock Gliders, formerly Phantom Flyers). A great ride as usual, flying high and scaring people in line, and no KD fans, you can NOT have them back :-p Given it was around 1:15 or so now, it was time for lunch; a long, LONG line OUTSIDE of Wings (likely b/c it was so hot and Wings has A/C) caused us to turn around and go to the Country Kitchen (which I haven't been to in YEARS, I forgot how much room there was in there too). My mom and I both got the 2 piece dinner, me with Mac & Cheese and Potato Wedges, her with Mac & Cheese and Baked Beans. The food here was fresh and, though expensive, ($27 for two people) quite good and filling.
After lunch, we were going to ride TG/Afterburn, but decided instead to go back to the Gliders so we could digest our food before riding, because we knew it would be about 30 min before riding (the line was 30-45 min all day). They only had 1 person working the ride, so it took a bit longer than usual, but it is worth the wait to me! After this, we went for a ride on Top Gun after a 10 min wait, then moved on to Thunder Road, and decided to cool off with Boo Blasters. I have to be honest, I loved the old Scooby Doo theme, but I honestly think the ride is better now than it was before…there's a lot more interactive stuff where you shoot a target and something spins or a ghost pops out at you or something like that. My absolute favorite part of it though, the fact that the mist-ghost looks like an early version of Eddie (Iron Maiden's mascot, my favorite band). The finale was completely unexpected—I thought it was over and started putting my gun down.
To finish off the day, we headed back to Intimidator for a last ride…errr…couple rides. The first of these, we got the very last car, front row, and all I can say is the back is an airtime machine for sure! Unlike my first ride, I wasn't pinned in, so it was fantastic, my mom however, had the problem of being pinned I had on the first run, so she didn't get to enjoy it as much. I would have preferred to experience it from a wing (back row), as that is always the best place to be on a B&M, but I have plenty of time over the summer for this. The next ride, our final ride of the day, we were on the 2nd car, back row, row 4 (we swapped with someone we were talking to in line who didn't like the end…and we hadn't gotten to try it yet). This too was a great ride, but with as crowded as it was, I don't think assigning seats like they did was necessary (especially since the later crew was falling behind a bit).
All in all, it was a great day despite the rough start and heat, and Intimidator is a beast! Once I get a few more rides (meaning once I get a few more outside seat rides), I will update it in my rankings, but I can tell you it will likely break my top 10! If you want to know more about the ride on Intimidator itself, let me know.
Ok, figured I'd do a trip report on my day at Carowinds since they have a new coaster, the Intimidator, there. Sorry I have no pictures to post, but, despite plugging it in all night, the battery in my camera didn't charge, so I had no way of taking any pics. First of all, the park was very busy today, and it also was very hot (high-80s to low/mid 90s…and at Carowinds, you have to add a few degrees for the lack of shade and immense amount of paved land), so we didn't stay all day and just hit our priority rides. That's the great thing about having a season pass, you can ride a few rides, and save the all day affair for a cooler or less crowded today.
I have a quick pass-processing related rant, so if you don't want to read that, skip over this paragraph. [Rant] So, we get to the park around 10:30, droves of people heading to the ticket windows, entrance, etc, and a very full pass holder lot. We bought our tickets online, so we had no problem parking in the pass holder lot, but that's where the convenience ended. As we approached the gate, we saw a sign that said ALL pass holders needed to have their pass processed before entering the park (in previous years, you could enter the park, you just needed to have your pass processed before the end of the day). The line started all the way back by the parking lot, wrapped around next to the ticket windows, down a side path parallel to the one in the park, around the building, through a queue line and inside. Though the line moved quickly, it took over an hour to get through (did I mention it was hot with no shade?), and by the time we got in, everyone who was buying day tickets was already in the park…great way to treat your pass holders. [/End Rant]
On to the park experience (much better). The first ride we hit was, of course, the Intimidator…and what a first ride. The ride is a capacity machine, so the ¾ full queue only took maybe 30 min to get through. Despite assigned seating, we managed to get the very first row. Looking down that first hill, it feels like it is going to wrap under you. The ride on the front was quite good, however I was literally pinned in, so I didn't get the full experience until later in the afternoon. To be perfectly honest, and I never thought I'd say this, but the trims on the first return-leg hill actually increases your airtime in the front, as the trim is halfway up the hill and, by slowing the train, begins giving you wonderfull floater air which doesn't stop until halfway down the other side. Later rides would prove that a "wing" seat (back row of each car) provides some excellent sensations on the hammerhead and second hill. The drop out of the MCBR does not quite provide the air that Apollo's Chariot does, and the ride is a bit weaker after this (helix and airtime pop into the final breaks), but it is still a fantastic ride. Is it better than Apollo's Chariot (my other B&M hyper)? I'll have to get back to you on that later in the season after a few more rides.
After this we headed over to my 3rd favorite ride in the park…the flying scooters (now called Woodstock Gliders, formerly Phantom Flyers). A great ride as usual, flying high and scaring people in line, and no KD fans, you can NOT have them back :-p Given it was around 1:15 or so now, it was time for lunch; a long, LONG line OUTSIDE of Wings (likely b/c it was so hot and Wings has A/C) caused us to turn around and go to the Country Kitchen (which I haven't been to in YEARS, I forgot how much room there was in there too). My mom and I both got the 2 piece dinner, me with Mac & Cheese and Potato Wedges, her with Mac & Cheese and Baked Beans. The food here was fresh and, though expensive, ($27 for two people) quite good and filling.
After lunch, we were going to ride TG/Afterburn, but decided instead to go back to the Gliders so we could digest our food before riding, because we knew it would be about 30 min before riding (the line was 30-45 min all day). They only had 1 person working the ride, so it took a bit longer than usual, but it is worth the wait to me! After this, we went for a ride on Top Gun after a 10 min wait, then moved on to Thunder Road, and decided to cool off with Boo Blasters. I have to be honest, I loved the old Scooby Doo theme, but I honestly think the ride is better now than it was before…there's a lot more interactive stuff where you shoot a target and something spins or a ghost pops out at you or something like that. My absolute favorite part of it though, the fact that the mist-ghost looks like an early version of Eddie (Iron Maiden's mascot, my favorite band). The finale was completely unexpected—I thought it was over and started putting my gun down.
To finish off the day, we headed back to Intimidator for a last ride…errr…couple rides. The first of these, we got the very last car, front row, and all I can say is the back is an airtime machine for sure! Unlike my first ride, I wasn't pinned in, so it was fantastic, my mom however, had the problem of being pinned I had on the first run, so she didn't get to enjoy it as much. I would have preferred to experience it from a wing (back row), as that is always the best place to be on a B&M, but I have plenty of time over the summer for this. The next ride, our final ride of the day, we were on the 2nd car, back row, row 4 (we swapped with someone we were talking to in line who didn't like the end…and we hadn't gotten to try it yet). This too was a great ride, but with as crowded as it was, I don't think assigning seats like they did was necessary (especially since the later crew was falling behind a bit).
All in all, it was a great day despite the rough start and heat, and Intimidator is a beast! Once I get a few more rides (meaning once I get a few more outside seat rides), I will update it in my rankings, but I can tell you it will likely break my top 10! If you want to know more about the ride on Intimidator itself, let me know.