[Merthecat]

There's a solution to that, you know...just get a cat! Leave enough food in their bowl to last the day and they'll be fine!

[arby]

We actually have considered that.

[tarheel1231]

Some of the comments in this thread after Fury was announced suggested that this year was only the first year of the 3 year expansion. So I wonder if Cedar Fair meant the park was receiving a literal 3 year expansion (2014-2017) and not just a 3 season expansion (2014-2016).

[arby]

I'm pretty sure that 2016 is year 3 of this particular expansion plan. However as indicated in other threads, Cedar Fair feels that Carowinds is their next big place and is still indicating that they will continue to invest heavily in the park. They have also mentioned numerous times that this $50 mil plan is just phase 1.

BTW, I'm surprised that nobody has said anything about the construction office that is now sitting in the new drop off area. Interesting...

[uscbandfan]

I'm pretty sure that 2016 is year 3 of this particular expansion plan. However as indicated in other threads, Cedar Fair feels that Carowinds is their next big place and is still indicating that they will continue to invest heavily in the park. They have also mentioned numerous times that this $50 mil plan is just phase 1.

BTW, I'm surprised that nobody has said anything about the construction office that is now sitting in the new drop off area. Interesting...

I noticed some of that when I was there on Saturday. I guess I just dismissed it as a temporary location while stuff was being cleared out from the off-season construction. Don't really know why a construction office would be out there.
I would think they'd be setting up new offices around beyond the South Gate,,,, but then, who knows. Maybe they're planning something more for the entrance area. (Revamping of the original parking lot would be nice.) Then again, I think they'd wait until late in the season to begin anything new. But, what do I know?

[OakenBucket]

Now we know why the drop off area has been closed. and relocated at the bus parking.

[RollerBee]

I just figured they decided that having visitors walking across the parking lot was too dangerous and promoted parking in other free parking lots.

[uscbandfan]

That sounds reasonable. But, isn't the point of having the drop-off lot BEFORE the toll booth so they can better control the vehicles that are supposed to be there. I can see how a car dropping off in the bus lot could get "lost" on the way out and find itself in a parking spot. Carowinds wouldn't miss the $15 as rarely as it would happen but I could see it happening.

[FamousAmos]

At the new toll plaza, there is a lane for Busses. I'm sure that drop off's can just take that lane, go to the lot, drop off whoever, then leave.

[uscbandfan]

Sure. And, by far, most would. I was just making an observation that once the car left the bus lot, they come right out into the car lot and could essentially (especially later in the day when empty spaces are hidden everywhere throughout the lot) just pull in to an empty spot. Just a potential flaw in the mix but I seriously doubt it would be exploited a lot.

[Merthecat]

You know, if you have a Gold or Platinum Pass, you can go in through the toll plaza, and have your driver drop you off in front of the bridge over Fury. Then, when it's time to be picked up, your driver can just show their receipt from going through the toll gate earlier, and they get back in the parking lot and can meet you at the same place they dropped you off at.

[Edwardo]

I'm sure the people who designed it all looked at all possibilities. This is probably temp. And there are always tons of people in a parking lot any ways...

[RollerBee]

The webcam shows cars in the parking lot two days in a row. Construction workers?

[MarkD]

Now we know why the drop off area has been closed. and relocated at the bus parking.

Well, they couldn't really put it beside Thunder Road!

[RollerBee]

Nah then rumors would swirling even more.