[Littlegiles]

^ It is starting to look like Carowinds Food Court.

I thought the style of the Starbucks was really nice looking and I'm hoping that means there will be some style changing going on there at the entrance plaza. I know it was talked about and put on hold last year. The "art deco" look never really seemed very Carolina to me.

[arby]

Yeah, I think that was a Paramount thing but the change happened before my time. It is one of those things that some people don't understand - it costs a lot to redo the look of buildings when you're not drawing in more crowds. As all of these great announcements are sure to increase the profitability of the park, I think we'll see most of the park get a face lift over the years into the new Carowinds.

[coasterbruh]

^...that is what I like about you. A man of few words.

Was great speaking with you today. Now I'm ready to start planning me a FL trip.

You can go with seasonpassdiningplan he seems to love the place hahahahaha!

[chknwing]

So they stated that phase 1 was fury 325, phase 2 is this water park expansion. both big investments. What could phase 3 possibly be? hotel? revamped county fair?

[FamousAmos]

This is where the Starbucks will go:

Starbucks loacation.jpg (758.3KiB)Viewed 2733 times

Both of those buildings are going bye bye.

And as for the licensing thing. They pulled Mike off to the side right before I left. They went to the office in the back of Harmony Hall to (possibly) discuss this. I am not 100% sure though, so don't hold me to it

[RollerBee]

Yay, It is long past time for the Art Deco trash to go. I hope the rest of the trash goes soon too.

[coasterbruh]

So they stated that phase 1 was fury 325, phase 2 is this water park expansion. both big investments. What could phase 3 possibly be? hotel? revamped county fair?

Flats! Flats all over the park!

[gabed]

So they stated that phase 1 was fury 325, phase 2 is this water park expansion. both big investments. What could phase 3 possibly be? hotel? revamped county fair?

If I had to throw a random guess out there, I'd say Vorgarou and a new hotel, or at least the announcement of one since a nice hotel would take longer than a single off season to construct. Unless they got to work at the beginning of next year, I can't see one opening until around 2018 or so. I also wouldn't mind seeing some more flats go in!

[arby]

My guess is a flats package and some family rides. Of course they continue to step up the game on food and entertainment so that seems to be a given.

[redrunner97]

This is where the Starbucks will go:

Starbucks loacation.jpg

Both of those buildings are going bye bye.

And as for the licensing thing. They pulled Mike off to the side right before I left. They went to the office in the back of Harmony Hall to (possibly) discuss this. I am not 100% sure though, so don't hold me to it

I would love if they ripped out this whole area and replaced it all. It's trashy, out-dated, and ugly.

Ideally, I would like a Luminosity-esque stage where Carowinds Cafe sits, and rip up all of those lined brick and asphalt. Put in brick pavers that make the state line stand out (the current design does the opposite IMO). Put in a nice round fountain with seating around the edges of it. re-do the gift shop and include a small cafe with outdoor eating, and a big gift shop on the rest of the footprint. And lastly, a grand Carowinds sign for inside the park with the original NC/SC sign and a bigger, grander one too (plus some dogwoods in the new CW Plaza)... I know, I'll keep dreaming lol.

[FamousAmos]

They want to get rid of that stage entirely
I mean, we kinda have been expecting this for a while now, sooo...

[uscbandfan]

They want to get rid of that stage entirely
I mean, we kinda have been expecting this for a while now, sooo...

That would go perfectly in line with re-creating the lake with a awesome coaster replacing Vortex and Nighthawk that I had mentioned before. There would be nothing in the way of the awesome view as you crossed the bridge into the park.

[mightyray23]

Will Cedar fair test out the new technology at Carowinds? The October attraction was said to be "one of a kind"

[coasterbruh]

It was actually "worlds first" . . .

[uscbandfan]

Well, Plants and Zombies IS a video game and they have said that they are looking into the realm of combining roller coasters with digital technology. It WOULD make sense.

But, here's my question... Does anyone know what it would be like?

I've ridden those SIM roller coasters in the mall that load a dozen people into them, and show a POV on the screen in front while jerking the car around to "match" the g-forces. I've also seen those IMAX videos with and without 3-D glasses that make you feel like you're flying. (Carowinds actually used to have a dome that they projected one of those onto the inside of near the restrooms across from Cobra. I liked the video but sitting on the hard floor in there was the pits.)

I guess I will reserve any judgement until they come out with it.

Anyway, do we see a combination of those technologies? Maybe it would be cool to have a pod that you get into that you can't see out of that has screens all around the inside and the pod actually follows an indoor track (dark ride) but a video plays on the screens inside to make it look like your zooming through canyons or whatever. Any other thoughts?