[Edwardo]

Well, my weekend plans changed, so I decided to go to Carowinds Saturday evening. Totally didn't realize it would be the first shot at nite rides on Intimidator, I just wanted to go and see if I got any better rides on the thing, but then I realized a bunch of others were going as well.



The METLIFE Blimp circling the golf tourney.



My first stop was the Skytower to update my 'portfolio' and steal some of Wormy's shots



They've really done a great job with this ride.



So, I almost expect us to get a Starlight Experience next year, but there's plenty of room in that field to put a nice new flat ride. They even made sure to put trees at the far back of the empty lot. Something's gonna go there.



I totally moved to NC at the right time.



I've never been a NASCAR fan, but anything that gets us a gigantic Beemer makes me happy.



Hi Steve!



After you've actually ridden the coaster, you can come in here and spend money on Dale stuff. I'll pass. I did ask the girl if they had any glasses straps because I didn't want to lose my Oakleys, and she said no. I actually saw a bunch of them later, but they weren't the athletic straps like I'd gotten at CP one year.



I see you, nondescript field along side the midway. What secrets do you have in store?



It really is a great first drop.



I did the single rider line for my first two times. People complain about the lack of movement, but that's the point of a single rider line. Still, even with only 2 trains, I only waited maybe 20 minutes. I waited about 15 with 3 trains running. It serves it's purpose, but the standby line 'seems' shorter because you're moving the whole time (the ride eats people). In reality it takes about the same amount of time, or at least it did for me.



They've done a great job on Planet Snoopy. It's bright and the colours pop. I really don't see the need for them to spend a lot of money on adding things here in the next couple of years, but a rockin' tug or Disk-O would be nice...



Fun, but it's no MB Pavilion Rainbow. That thing was SICK.



I love how it dominates the park now.



Meh.



This particular water fowl totally threw a plastic cup at me and walked off. No kidding.



The parks' other good B&M, which seems to be finally getting some respect in enthusiast circles.



I walked on after dark and it was running in insane mode.



Now that there are 2 world class coasters at Carowinds (three if you're GP and like Nighthawk), it makes me even happier to have this ride here. A unique invert and a good hyper makes me a happy beaver.



Rode both sides, and both ran well, but silver was OMG amazing! They raced when I rode on the silver side, and silver was running ultra fast (we beat them by a mile), and the airtime was great.

Some other random notes about the park:
Hurler, while janky, usually has airtime. It had none last nite.
Didn't ride Boo Blasters, but the line wasn't that long surprisingly, because the park was packed.
Since Cyclone and I both turn 30 this year, I gave it a courtesy lap. It was running well, and I'm starting to like the new paint.
I need to ride some of the flats in Planet Snoopy.
The new windows on Skytower are much clearer.

Also, it was nice meeting up with Max and meeting Cindy and Wormy/Doug. Intimidator was running much better than my first ride. Out of 4 rides, the 2nd trim only caught hard once (and that ride sucked). But it is a different beast at nite, and our last nite ride, right before the park closed, with me and Doug in row 10 and Max and Cindy in 11 was a GREAT ride. The 2nd trim didn't hit and the MCBR wasn't strong, and there was some major flojector air. I LOVE THIS RIDE. It now moved up a few spots, and ranks 30 for me now, out of 211 (it was my 211th coaster).

I'm very happy with Carowinds, and am glad I moved when I did. The park looks great and has a bright future. Bravo!

[Wormy]

Nice meeting you. I didn't ride the Skytower yesterday.

I arrived at 5PM to find maxed out queues on just about everything. I walked around taking pics of the lines because I forgot what they looked like, but you get the point. I think the season has finally arrived.

Ditto the above about Intimidator, it's good stuff at night. I must have had the number ten written on my forehead or something, because that's the row they put me in every time, except for once when they moved me all the way back to row 11. Side note, I noticed if you look down under the track in the station, you can still see the water dummies.

The pizza was good this time.

[montumax]

I enjoyed the fish that night...