[gabed]

^ Correct me if I'm wrong here, but it seems like most water park announcements for Cedar Fair just come out of nowhere. Sometimes it's obvious that a park is getting a water park expansion, but never have I seen anyone within the chain tease one. This is what confuses me about what Carowinds is doing, either we're getting something big or we're just getting a water ride like coasterbruh has been hinting at. But no matter what, I'm still going to keep low expectations until the 27th.

[Jarsh]

I'm still going to keep low expectations until the 27th.

Perfect attitude. Low expectations prevent anticipointment.

Based on the marketing surrounding this "big splash" and the fact that TR is closing so early (even with the time needed for it's removal) this should be a huge addition to the park/water park. I mean, take the two slides that they added last year - they didn't start actually constructing them until real late. Heck, I didn't think they would open on time they were so late in getting started.

Now, just say if they started construction on this "big splash" in January that gives them five months to remove TR and it shouldn't take that long at all. If Thunder Road is closing this early it's for a reason. I would guess demo might last two months so we could see construction for water park stuff start in late September. That gives the park SIX MONTHS to build the "big splash" and that is a huge amount of time in the waterpark world.

[RollerBee]

-

[tarheel1231]

^ Hmmm... I wonder if they are going to have a Facebook giveaway like last time? They sure are advertising the "big splash"... it must be something *kinda* big. Does anyone know how they acted for KD's waterpark expansion? Did they tease this much? Did they even have a media day???

Our 2014 slides came kind of out of nowhere, and I know Dorney advertised for Snake Pit a few days before the announcement. Carowinds has been teasing this expansion since LAST AUGUST. We've already received an announcement date over a month in advance. I dont know how anyone could think this could be as miniscule as the other water park expansions we've seen around the chain. I would still welcome some drop box slides and a mat racer, though I'd miss Thunder Road terribly, but I think this expansion is going to be bigger than what several of us are expecting. Maybe Cedar Fair will try something at Carolina Harbor that they haven't tried before.....

[chknwing]

^ Correct me if I'm wrong here, but it seems like most water park announcements for Cedar Fair just come out of nowhere. Sometimes it's obvious that a park is getting a water park expansion, but never have I seen anyone within the chain tease one. This is what confuses me about what Carowinds is doing, either we're getting something big or we're just getting a water ride like coasterbruh has been hinting at. But no matter what, I'm still going to keep low expectations until the 27th.

if carowinds is just getting a water ride, why file a permit as a waterpark expansion?

[FamousAmos]

King's Dominion's announcement was all online, if I'm not mistaken. However, they did have a media day though.

[gabed]

^^Guess I forgot about that...

I dont know how anyone could think this could be as miniscule as the other water park expansions we've seen around the chain.

I'll admit that all signs point to this being a very large expansion, but there is a chance that maybe all this teasing is being done just for the GP. Not trying to be arrogant nor am I saying that we're smarter than the rest of the universe because we're coaster enthusiasts, but to the GP, a single slide complex is indeed a BIG splash. While we on the other hand just see it as another water park expansion. What I'm getting at here is that Carowinds could easily build something that is small to us but huge to the GP.

So yeah, I don't think we're getting the mother of all water park expansions. I could be wrong, heck, I hope I'm wrong! (Given my history on this site, me being wrong is a big possibility.)

[coasterbruh]

^ Correct me if I'm wrong here, but it seems like most water park announcements for Cedar Fair just come out of nowhere. Sometimes it's obvious that a park is getting a water park expansion, but never have I seen anyone within the chain tease one. This is what confuses me about what Carowinds is doing, either we're getting something big or we're just getting a water ride like coasterbruh has been hinting at. But no matter what, I'm still going to keep low expectations until the 27th.

if carowinds is just getting a water ride, why file a permit as a waterpark expansion?

Because that's the north carolina side of things..."its more than one way to make a big splash"...

[tarheel1231]

Hmm, that's funny, because the york county permit site is the one with the expansion permit. And accela is the site with expansions on both sides.

[redrunner97]

I'll concede that I might be overshooting this a little, but I'm gonna officially say my guess is new log flume and a sizable water park expansion / re-theme.

My rationale for the log ride is that they keep saying they're "giving the people what they've been asking for". To my knowledge, people rarely ask for new slides on facebook -nor did they beg for Thunder Road to be removed- but there has been a TON of posts on social media over the last couple of years clamoring for a log flume. I'd go so far as to say it's been the #1 most requested thing by the GP, even during speculation back when they were still teasing Fury 325. A flume would certainly be a "big splash".

Add to it that we know Carolina Harbor is more than likely gonna be used for a water park expansion; I'd guess that for 2016 most of their effort in the water park will go towards eliminating the Aussie theme (repainting the slides, renaming the attractions, re-themeing the shacks and bath houses, probably constructing new ones too). Maybe they'll add a couple new attractions (we already know about the Rain Fortress) but that the renaming to Carolina Harbor will be the big draw, since it can essentially be marketed as all-new to the GP. (btw, I'm still not over the fact that Carolina Cove would have sounded infinitely better...)

Maybe the "big" expansion (if there ever is gonna be one of those) to the water park will come in 2017, along with (presumably) Planet Snoopy, a Triotech dark ride, or Vortex 'Rougarou'-treatment, since we know these are probably happening sometime in the near future.

Anyway, guess we'll find out on August 27...

[tarheel1231]

Guests have also been asking for a separate water park entrance...... I'm sure we'll get a splash battle or log flume in the near future, but that doesn't seem like the path they're taking for 2016.

[Chris]

We're getting the Rain Fortress and it will be called 'Carolina Harbor.' There's more than one way to make a big splash on a rain fortress.


OK, I'm done guessing.

[kirkgun]

I already made my "realistic" guess, which is stuff I personally have no interest in.

Now I'll make my "wishful thinking" guess, which includes something for me!

Over and around the new water park entrance (and making a great big splash) is a big, brown, dive coaster themed for the Wright Brothers.

[lingerdog]

Crazy thought, but, has anyone ever converted a shoot the chutes into part of a log flume?

[shane235]

^ Not that I know of. I'm not sure if that would really work...
My final prediction: Water park re-theme to the Carolina's and water park expansion of a couple new slide complexes including some drop capsules, also a Water Fortress called Carolina Harbor. Maybe a new lazy river.
My final wishful prediction: All of the above plus a water coaster/log flume themed to Blackbeard in County Fair and a new fountain in a new water park expansion.