[tarheel1231]

Some pictures I took with a potato:

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Famous Dave’s is open

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More clearing has been done for the hotel

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Project Alpha

Trip Report:

This was my first visit of the 2018 season. Camp Snoopy is really well done and although I didn’t walk through the entire area, the section I did walk through was very impressive. The fountain is beatiful, and the “rustic” theming really compliments the area’s landscaping. I think it’s safe to say with the addition of Camp Snoopy, County Fair, and Carolina Harbor, Carowinds is on its way to becoming a true theme park again.

Here’s what I rode:

Intimidator: It really feels like this ride has been hit or miss when it comes to airtime. Today was a miss. The ride was fun as always but it just failed to deliver any noticeable airtime, even floater. I’m sure it’ll be way better come June.

Afterburn: Afterburn never fails to deliver, and it seems to get more forceful each time I ride it. It remains my second favorite ride in the park.

Plantz vs. Zombies: Fun little attraction, though it’s slightly less fun on the Zombies side as it tends to lose.

Electrospin: I mean it was fun but I got stapled in hard. It’s kinda hard to enjoy the experience when you can’t feel your legs

Fury 325: Amazing as always, especially in the back left seat.

Drop Tower: It was alright. The shock factor has worn off for me personally so I don’t find it as exciting anymore.

Hurler: This ride has really improved over the past three years, and it’s actually become a really decent wooden coaster. It’s almost as fun as Thunder Road was (and I say almost because of that trim at the beginning). It feels like the gap that was left by Thunder Road has been filled to an extent. I’d still prefer it if next year’s coaster was a GCI, but I wouldn’t be disappointed if it wasn’t. Carowinds at least has a solid wooden coaster.

Other Notes:
-The Carousel looks really nice in its new spot
-Kiddy Hawk’s new colors are great
-All of the rides except for the ones in Camp Snoopy were practically walk-ons.
-Personali-Tees was renamed to Stateline Designs
-The Snoopy statue that used to be outside of Kiddy Hawk has been moved into the camp store
-The area where Project Alpha is going is a lot smaller in person. If it’s a GCI, I can’t see something bigger than Apocalypse or American Thunder going in that spot. Not that size matters.

[gabed]

Rapid fire thoughts and observations about my first visit of the year.

- Camp Snoopy looks awesome. Another leap in the right direction for the park
- Kiddy Hawk’s colors look a lot better in person
- Amos’ model got moved to the back corner of Harmony Hall which was disappointing to say the least
- Carousel Park looks okay, other than the obvious carousel, the area looks no different than last year
- Saw a couple of guys in hard hats walking around the Project Alpha area.
- Speaking of 2019, went to guest services to get a “Bring-A-Friend” ticket for my cousin and told the lady up front how excited I was for all the changes in 2018. Her response was “Oh that’s all kids stuff, next year’s gonna be the big year” [Insert Dippin Dots Guy Joke Here]. Take it with a grain of salt I know, but it’s cool to see the staff acknowledge the elephant in the park

[coasterbruh]

- Amos’ model got moved to the back corner of Harmony Hall which was disappointing to say the least

Oh, so they didn't trash it as originally planned . . .

[uscbandfan]

^^Area does look small. However, they can build all the way out to the parking lot and even build over the top of the warehouse building that (I think) contains Dark Harvest.
If they did that, Thunderhead would fit in there. They can build over Dodgems too... or move it.

[tarheel1231]

That area is actually about 4.65 acres, there’s a lot of stuff they could fit.

[Edwardo]

I’d heard a bit back that the Dodgems building was a goner (they can easily move the ride to a new building as other CF parks have). If that’s the case tat opens a bunch of room up.

Regardless, I’d love a redo of everything in that area including the South Gate.

[tarheel1231]

I’m thinking Dodgem’s gets moved to Thrill Zone in between Drop Tower and the WinZone by Carolina Cyclone. The ride pad seems to fit.

[dabrian]

Headed to the park tomorrow for the first time since the Summer of 2016. Took last year off from all amusement parks to do other stuff so looking forward to the trip. My group of 4 is usually wearing Clemson gear so if you see us dont be shy.

[Barbwire]

I’d heard a bit back that the Dodgems building was a goner (they can easily move the ride to a new building as other CF parks have). If that’s the case tat opens a bunch of room up.

Regardless, I’d love a redo of everything in that area including the South Gate.

Thinking like a champ, or should I say, knowing like one!..lol. Great minds think alike!

[dabrian]

Finally felt the vibration on Fury some others have talked about on here. Had two rides in seat 4, one in row two and the other in row 4. Vibration was bad and two rides was enough for me.

[uscbandfan]

I was wondering if they had fixed it over the off-season. I guess that answers that question.

[tarheel1231]

I’m sure the spring break crowds are contributing to this but Hurler actually has a line for once. I’m at the park and the line starts near the bottom of the stairs.

[EDIT]Nvm they’re only running one train.

[pproteinc]

First change of 2018. They removed the log stumps heading up to the slide and replaced them with a green painted wooden ramp.

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[Justin]

Finally felt the vibration on Fury some others have talked about on here. Had two rides in seat 4, one in row two and the other in row 4. Vibration was bad and two rides was enough for me.

The intense vibration and bumpyness has always been a problem since it was built. Fury is should be smooth, period, especially at 95 mph. For the past few years, I notice that this happens at the beginning of June and lasts until the end of the season. But this year, it started at the start of the season. One of the factors that causes this are the wheels. Over time the wheels will square out and act like Walmart shopping carts. The high speed of Fury causes this, and obviously wheels would need to be replaced OFTEN. I don't see Carowinds buying new wheels every week to keep the ride smooth. That costs money $$$

This is a reason why Intimidator has trim brakes on the hops. It helps slow down the train over the crest and on keeps the wheels on the tracks. When the train wheels come off the tracks over the crest and slams back down on the tracks it squares the wheels out. Before they put the trim brakes on the hops, maintenance had to replace the wheels on Intimidator very often.

Overall, Fury IS NOT FUN when it IS NOT smooth. It feels like a death trap and all I think about is getting off the damn thing.

Benefit of Intamin coaster trains are that they have shocks. Intamins are always smooth . If B&M put shocks on the trains, I can see Fury being much smoother.

[Chris]

Finally felt the vibration on Fury some others have talked about on here. Had two rides in seat 4, one in row two and the other in row 4. Vibration was bad and two rides was enough for me.

The intense vibration and bumpyness has always been a problem since it was built. Fury is should be smooth, period, especially at 95 mph. For the past few years, I notice that this happens at the beginning of June and lasts until the end of the season. But this year, it started at the start of the season. One of the factors that causes this are the wheels. Over time the wheels will square out and act like Walmart shopping carts. The high speed of Fury causes this, and obviously wheels would need to be replaced OFTEN. I don't see Carowinds buying new wheels every week to keep the ride smooth. That costs money $$$

This is a reason why Intimidator has trim brakes on the hops. It helps slow down the train over the crest and on keeps the wheels on the tracks. When the train wheels come off the tracks over the crest and slams back down on the tracks it squares the wheels out. Before they put the trim brakes on the hops, maintenance had to replace the wheels on Intimidator very often.

Overall, Fury IS NOT FUN when it IS NOT smooth. It feels like a death trap and all I think about is getting off the damn thing.

Benefit of Intamin coaster trains are that they have shocks. Intamins are always smooth . If B&M put shocks on the trains, I can see Fury being much smoother.

Wow, so much incorrect information above that I don 't even know where to start.
I'll just say that it most certainly has been vibrating on opening day the last few years.