[Chris]

Hey everyone! Long time, no talk. Been a Season Pass holder since 2000 with our family of four. Have to say that the price increase is very surprising. Does anyone know why for the large increase? Didn't I pay $59.99 each for the "early bird" Gold price for this year? Have to say that no matter what the attraction is being added it is not worth almost an additional $100 per year for four. Love to hear opinions. Thanks from a penny pinching dad.

In my opinion, a season's pass is worth it depending on how often you plan to go to the park. If you got a season's pass and you go at least two times, you do get your money worth. This year I got tripple my money's worth. I went to Carowinds 8 times, plus Scarowinds the opening night and at least 2 more visits to come with Scarowinds 2012.

So my fellow friends, the way to look at if the pass is worth the price is to ask yourself how many times will i go and remember the FREE parking instead of the $12 and plus FREE Scarowinds.

Remember, a regular at the gate ticket for a single day is $55 which is more than half the cost of season pass.

That just my opinion.

I'm guessing you live near Charlotte? Being from Greensboro, it cost me close to $40 in gas each and every time I go to Carowinds. Not really worth it when they want $80 for a season pass.

[bro1968]

Hey everyone! Long time, no talk. Been a Season Pass holder since 2000 with our family of four. Have to say that the price increase is very surprising. Does anyone know why for the large increase? Didn't I pay $59.99 each for the "early bird" Gold price for this year? Have to say that no matter what the attraction is being added it is not worth almost an additional $100 per year for four. Love to hear opinions. Thanks from a penny pinching dad.

In my opinion, a season's pass is worth it depending on how often you plan to go to the park. If you got a season's pass and you go at least two times, you do get your money worth. This year I got tripple my money's worth. I went to Carowinds 8 times, plus Scarowinds the opening night and at least 2 more visits to come with Scarowinds 2012.

So my fellow friends, the way to look at if the pass is worth the price is to ask yourself how many times will i go and remember the FREE parking instead of the $12 and plus FREE Scarowinds.

Remember, a regular at the gate ticket for a single day is $55 which is more than half the cost of season pass.

I'm not as far as you are. But it is still a good 1 hour or so drive from my location and a good little gas burning drive. I am normally not a coaster fan. Carowinds was just my way of celebrating new life this year. God bless you

That just my opinion.

I'm guessing you live near Charlotte? Being from Greensboro, it cost me close to $40 in gas each and every time I go to Carowinds. Not really worth it when they want $80 for a season pass.

I don't consider a 1 hour drive to be living near Charlotte. But I do agree it is closer than Greensboro.

[CoasterDad]

Aside from the increase in price on season passes, I would expect other increases as well. The new CEO is a "Disney Man", which means higher prices are instore! For those of you who haven't visited Disney lately, you are in for real "sticker shock" the next time you go. I think Dick Kinzel was largely responsible for keeping the admission and season pass pricing in check for the CF parks. With him gone, and stockholders/unitholders desiring higher returns, the prices WILL go up. I have a family of five and have owned Gold season passes for about 7 years, but due to familiarity with the park, older children with plans of their own, and the increased cost for next year, we will just not renew. By the way, it was $62.95 last year and $59.95 the year before, if you bought them in the Fall before the park closed for the winter. Still, if you can visit at least three times or more, it is a good value, just not as good as it has been.

[RollerBee]

http://www.carowinds.com/what-s-new/new ... urs-alive-

[arby]

Hey! The trees in that picture are from Kings Island...

[coasterfreak]

...across 5 wooded acres.

They must of developed some amazing tree grown hormone that works through the winter.

[cwgator]

Eh..while I don't really care to see it being at Carowinds, I guess it's good to have something new that MIGHT thin the regular lines up...**rolls eyes**. My biggest decision for 2013 is do I see it at Carowinds, Cedar Point or King's Island (if I decide to pay the up-charge that is). Oh that and which Windseeker I'd rather get stuck on...lol

[Chris]

In my opinion, a season's pass is worth it depending on how often you plan to go to the park. If you got a season's pass and you go at least two times, you do get your money worth. This year I got tripple my money's worth. I went to Carowinds 8 times, plus Scarowinds the opening night and at least 2 more visits to come with Scarowinds 2012.

So my fellow friends, the way to look at if the pass is worth the price is to ask yourself how many times will i go and remember the FREE parking instead of the $12 and plus FREE Scarowinds.

Remember, a regular at the gate ticket for a single day is $55 which is more than half the cost of season pass.

I'm not as far as you are. But it is still a good 1 hour or so drive from my location and a good little gas burning drive. I am normally not a coaster fan. Carowinds was just my way of celebrating new life this year. God bless you

That just my opinion.

I'm guessing you live near Charlotte? Being from Greensboro, it cost me close to $40 in gas each and every time I go to Carowinds. Not really worth it when they want $80 for a season pass.

I don't consider a 1 hour drive to be living near Charlotte. But I do agree it is closer than Greensboro.

It cost you $20 in gas to make a trip to and from Carowinds. It cost me $40. Pretty big difference.

[RiDeWaRrIoR]

Its really not a surprise we are getting the Dino's. I was really hoping we wouldnt get it but oh well. I just dont get where they are going to put it? I am assuming since the steaks and everything were in planet snoopy it will go there? I would think the only other spot would be where camp killauee is located pas afterburn? I mean that spot has trees and is bigger? Maybe it will go from there all the way over into planet snoopy? From the look of the map, that makes sense... I just dont get why we need dinosaurs if they had it at the zoo etc. But I guess the younger folks that like dinosaurs will be happy. IMO they should make this free or 1/2 price if you have a season pass.... I wish they would at least put some rendering pictures and more details about the location etc up on the website but I guess it might happen later on. I guess this is the ONLY thing happening next year in terms of new "attractions" I didnt see any mention of a dino movie in the action theatre and if they put the boring documentary thing like Kings Island in the theater... I would rather have spongebob. i was about to get up and walk out of that...

[Picklesthedrummer]

My biggest decision for 2013 is do I see it at Carowinds, Cedar Point or King's Island (if I decide to pay the up-charge that is). Oh that and which Windseeker I'd rather get stuck on...lol

Pick either Kings Island for it's well wooded area, or Cedar Point's for a great view of Millennium Force while doing DA. The best Windseeker to get stuck on would be Cedar Point's for it's scenery lol.

[hdmech]

Things that were never mentioned:

That DA will be ab upcharge attraction
That action theatre will be changed at all
Where carowinds has 5 acres of space to spare


Seems to me like this will be all in good time however.

[cwgator]

It is indeed going in the picnic area where the markers where/are. It was in the Herald this morning:

http://www.heraldonline.com/2012/09/21/4280807/carowinds-to-announce-multi-million.html

By Don Worthington — dworthington@heraldonline.com

FORT MILL — Carowinds will turn an underused picnic area into a primordial habit for it newest exhibit, "Dinosaurs Alive!"

The theme parked announced the latest addition Friday, inviting kids from the Science Olympiad Team at Lake Wylie Elementary School for a sneak peak at one of the animatronic dinosaurs dubbed "Carosaurus."

The students called the exhibit,"awesome," and "cool" and several wondered what it would like to ride a dinosaur.

The five-acre exhibit will feature 32 giant, roaring dinosaurs. Some will move and roar on command and children will have a pit for their own archaeological dig. The largest dinosaur is the Ruyangosaurus at 40 feet high and 60 feet long.

There will also be 13 scenes along the trails that are designed not only to entertain but educate. The exhibit was designed to meet education standards in North and South Carolina, Carowinds officials said.

Construction on the multi-million exhibit is expected to start in November, Carowinds officials said, and be ready for the 2013 season, the park's 40th year of operation.

The Dinosaurs Alive attraction is located at several parks owned by Cedar Fair parks, with the first one opening at Ohio's Kings Island in 2011

Read more here: http://www.heraldonline.com/2012/09/21/ ... rylink=cpy

[RollerBee]

It doesnt say which picnic area nor does it say that Road Rally will be removed. I have seen no mention of the 20 minutes video either.

[cwgator]

It's a little rough (below) but between the 2 picnic areas (I'm aware of), the one between Afterburn and Planet Snoopy seems like the logical place judging by the area available and tree cover.

[TrojanCamMan]

Reposting what I posted almost 2 months ago...

Here is what I have heard, and it does not seem far fetched. . .

The southside picnic pavilion, and Joe Cool's Driving School will be removed in the off season, and in its place, Dinosaurs Alive!, new picnic shelters will be built at the plaza picnic pavillion... There are a lot of survey markings everywhere down the North Gate picnic shelter pathway, and even some located at the season pass building, this kind of keeps that idea valid.