[fishels]

No. It is included with park admission.

EDIT: I did find the wifi spotty at times this year when the crowds were bigger but since we are one of their experimental parks with that, it takes some time to work the bugs out.

Ok very cool.

[FamousAmos]

Well, I certainly got dinner and a show tonight!

In all seriousness though. I've had more fun today than I did at last year's announcement (and I actually didn't film much video this time, and even took several pictures too . This one's for you Wormy )

I do have a lot to say about today, so please bear with me here. I will do a personal trip report this afternoon with pictures if any of you are interested.

First of all, I'd like to express my opinion on this matter. I personally love this new expansion.
-The park is completely revamping the entire water park with all new theming.
-All slides and structures will get new paint and a good refurbishing.
-Some things are being taken out and replaced with new things.
-There is a new entrance to the park.
-A new exit to the parking lot which will exit out onto Carowinds Boulevard.
-There will be only four lanes.
-Carowinds Boulevard will be getting two extra lanes (one on each side) to help alleviate the traffic problem
within the next few years.
-The water park will have a completely different theme and overall branding than the other cedar fair water parks
-They're even going to add a lighthouse to "up the ante"
-The wave pool that is staying will be refurbished (new base, concrete, etc...)
-And to be honest, this new expansion will only add to the beauty of the park...

The main reason why they are waiting until October to announce the next "world-class attraction" is because they are waiting on the company to finalize the designs, create the animations, etc... In my opinion, I think that the teaser they showed us today is just a diversion; something to get us thinking. Also, to add as a filler. The new attraction would not have overshadowed today's expansion. In fact, it would have possibly made it even better and more appealing to the general public.

I think that's all I had to say. For now at least.

[RollerBee]

Hmm, I missed the teaser amongst the other stuff. What was the Teaser?

[tarheel1231]

Why did no one ask about the boardwalk shark?

[chknwing]

lol from facebook. Joshua Amos I had a wonderful time at the park today. I am super excited for next season and I can't wait. After the announcement in October, everything will seem to coast right along.

teasing like that is just wrong

[FamousAmos]

^I told them that I was going to say that. They were okay with it.

[fishels]

So besides the old wave pool what are we losing?

[RollerBee]

Oops, I misread the post above me!
Did I see a button to delete post yesterday?

[Chris]

Based on the Cedar Fair capital investments plan, we know that an "interactive dark ride / digital experience" is on the books for 2016 but has so far not been announced for any of the parks. We also know based on the Cedar Fair dark ride article that there are no Triotech dark rides planned for 2016.

They said there would be wifi at all paks next year in a previous announcement. Any chance " digital experience" is that?

[tarheel1231]

So besides the old wave pool what are we losing?

Nothing other than Great Barrier Reef, but I have to bring up again that I love how they have all the kiddie attractions together basically making a kid's section for the water park.

Screenshot_2015-08-27-20-00-05_kindlephoto-75995496.jpg (211.58KiB)Viewed 3413 times

[Chris]

My 2 cents.

<soapbox>
I value everybody's right to an opinion and actually relish hearing them. However, I am reminded every day of how blessed my family and I are to be able to travel. My wife works in an 'inner city' school where 90% of her students get free or reduced lunches. While the new slide complex might be cookie cutter to us, I am certain that to at least a notable percentage of the average guest at Carowinds, they are something new and exciting and a season pass to Carowinds is probably their primary form of summer fun. They can't afford to go anywhere else. I remember when we first moved here and could barely afford to go to Carowinds when season passes were only $50 each.
</soapbox>

I guess my ability to see the big picture that has taken me far in my career is coming into play here. I have an idea of the big picture that Carowinds is trying to achieve and it is going to take YEARS to get there and many phases to achieve it (unless someone has a spare couple hundred of million that you would like to donate to the park)

Universal is in the mecca of tourist areas and surpassed NYC recently in the number of annual tourists. While it is our favorite park, it costs us a lot of money to go there. It's really not an apples to apples comparison to correlate Carowinds and Universal Studios when season passes to Carowinds is still less than a four day trip to Universal Studios.

I think more than likely what will happen is Carowinds will end up going bankrupt again and being bought out by another company. This park has never been in good hands or good management. Paramount really didn't do it any favors and cedar fair hasn't either. (Stinky trash cans every 10 ft that smell like sewage)

Fury 325 and intimidator are bringing in the guys who hunt coasters for a living. Giga coaster hunters. But once that appeal has worn out. You don't have any other substance to bring visitors in.

I think the real reason the park is investing money is because they know without investments Carowinds will fail. So this is a return on investment thing. They're hoping that this money spent on Fury and the water park "upgrade" will turn a bigger profit in return.

I'd be interested to look at the books for this park and see what their profits or debts looks like sometime in the future.

One thing is for sure. They should have spent the money on actually building some air conditioned rides because Boo Blasters is a major joke (The guns don't work half the time) and if you've been on Men in Black from Universal you'll know what real indoor rides should be. Kinda impressive considering it is 15 years old and still one of the best arcade shooting indoor rides in history.

I've only gotten to this page but all I can think is, why are people still replying to this obvious troll? He posted about his displeasure about the announcement. No one replied. He posted again, this time making it more obnoxious and sure enough, he got what he wanted. A bunch of replies and back and forth. Ignore him.


EDIT: I just got to Jonathan's post. Sorry, I'll drop it.

[RiDeWaRrIoR]

Had a great time at the announcement! Everything looked good to me, not a big fan of body slides anymore but i may ride these, i dont know. The new show for next year seems to be really good, 30 min seems short though but i guess thats about right... Cant wait to see what else is in store and i will be following construction all winter for sure. I got some video of the announcement i will post later on, sure theres already plenty out there though.

[SeasonDiningPlan]

Had a great time at the announcement! Everything looked good to me, not a big fan of body slides anymore but i may ride these, i dont know. The new show for next year seems to be really good, 30 min seems short though but i guess thats about right... Cant wait to see what else is in store and i will be following construction all winter for sure. I got some video of the announcement i will post later on, sure theres already plenty out there though.

Are you really excited about new shows?
All I can remember is that repetitive country show they did in harmony hall where the guys on stage look nothing like country singers (My sister-in law agreed with me and they were the same actors from the old shows near Hurler)

Every time we would be in there eating our season dining plan meals, that loud and deafening music would be playing so we couldn't hold a conversation. It might be fun the first time you heard it but after the 50th time it got real old.

Shows to me at Carowinds are just singing. If its anything other than singing I might be actually impressed.
We will see what announcements come in October but until then I'm not holding my breath.

[gabed]

First things first, I couldn't be any more excited about this than I am right now. Carowinds is getting the only unique water park name in the entire chain! Carolina Harbor will finally be a water park with the ability to stand on it's own, (unlike Boomerang bay which was more or less an appendage to the park). DROP BOX SLIDES! So excited as I've never ridden any before and the way they themed the complex to Blackbeard is just amazing! Like Tarheel pointed out, I love that they're making that one area of Carolina Harbor the kids area, it'll make everything feel so organized. There's just so much to be happy about!

Random question before I begin my GP rant, does anyone know if Harbor House (love that name by the way) will be a full service restaurant or just an order and pick up type of deal? Given most of it's visitors will be soaking wet, I wouldn't be surprised if it's the latter.

Now on to the GP, I will never understand them. All they do is piss and moan about how much they hate the park, yet they return year after year and spend hundreds of dollars. I guess that's why I've learned to tune out their comments whenever the park makes an announcement.

[coasterbruh]

So besides the old wave pool what are we losing?

Nothing other than Great Barrier Reef, but I have to bring up again that I love how they have all the kiddie attractions together basically making a kid's section for the water park.

Screenshot_2015-08-27-20-00-05_kindlephoto-75995496.jpg

Dont forget about kookaburra bay over near county fair . . .