[tarheel1231]

To those of you that are more knowledgeable about the logistics of attendance/are generally “in the know”, how likely is it that Carowinds hits the 3 million mark this year, if it hasn’t already? I would assume it’s a given, since the first phase with Fury and Carolina Harbor was projected to grow attendance to 2.5 million, and from what I’ve read and what we’ve seen from Cedar Fair, it seems to have exceeded that. Surely another big coaster addition would push it into the 3 million range, right?

[Cameron]

As long as we don't have weather like last year I can easily see it happening.

Weather absolutely killed the park last year.

[dirkdiggler1992]

Based on this recent CLT Business Journal post the parks attendance for 2017 was “about 2M”. We also added Winterfest that season. https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2019/03/21/photoscarowinds-prepares-to-double-launch-into.amp.html. 2015 the park did pass 2M for that year https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/print-edition/2016/02/26/carowinds-breaks-2-million-mark.amp.html. No mention of anything as high as 2.5M. I believe the chain doesn’t usually give out attendance numbers for specific parks unless it’s a growth they want to show off like Knott’s big 2018 boost.

Seeing as ridership numbers for the top 5 attractions in 2018 all took a dip (Fury - 2017 / 1.5M riders vs 2018 / 1.3M riders), I highly doubt 2018 seen any attendance gains over 2017, the park also lost a few Winterfest days because of weather. So for fun let’s say it was hovering around 2M, I just can’t see the 2019 additions giving the park a 50% year over year boost surpassing 3M guests. Also the last couple weeks of August are running on less days than we are used to seeing.

Anecdotally though does the park seem to have gotten busier year over year since 2015? I know we’ve since added Winterfest but a 2M to 3M jump you would feel in a park our size.

[Coasterphreak]

Also anecdotally, it's unlikely the park will see 3M unless they expand the weekday operating season.

[uscbandfan]

If there is ever a 50% increase in attendance over what the park is seeing right now, I hope that either more days in the operating season or a significant expansion in land area and rides is the reason. I already don't go to the park on weekends because of how crowded it is. (I might would go on a weekend if I could afford my family to have a fast-pass). We pick several Tuesdays or Wednesdays throughout the summer to take off work and go to the park.

Can you imagine if 50% more people just showed up on top of those already there on any given day?

[coasterbruh]

I don't think more people coming to the park would be that noticeable if they are constantly adding capacity eating options like more rides, shows and places to actually sit and eat. The park has, overall, added so much more things to eat capacity over the last few years till it's become almost impossible to do the water park and the regular park in one day.

[tarheel1231]

New blog post about the hotel:

https://www.carowinds.com/blog/2019/new ... 019-update

[mdsmith98]

So on a YouTube channel I saw the park now has a Mac and cheese bar? Anyone know where that is? I couldn’t find it on the website.

[Jonathan]

I believe that's referring to the burrito place near the front gate. One of the options instead of a burrito or bowl is a mac n cheese bowl that you can put toppings on.

[mdbraves]

Yes they renamed the Burrito Cafe (I forgot what it is called now) it now serves the Mac and Cheese bowls with toppings and still serves the same entree’s as the burrito cafe did. It’s just all under the same roof

[mdsmith98]

Thanks guys. I’m gonna have to try it out sometime.

[yawetag]

As a warning, it didn't look that appetizing when I went in for a soda. I'll probably still try it myself.

[mdsmith98]

I am obsessed with Mac and Cheese, so I am definitely going to try it at some point. Plus I have the dining plan, so I won't be missing out on too much if i'm not a fan.

[anthonydj]

I have not had time to post this during opening weekend but does anyone think Mountain gliders should have the “safety seatbelts “. Meaning the plastic cover over it so the ride operator has to come by and unlock it. Just thinking about safety here. Thoughts ?

[mdsmith98]

I thought the same thing, but then I thought maybe the seatbelts lock during the ride and you can’t undo them until the ride stops. I of course wasn’t going to try it, lol.

I don’t know if that’s even a thing, but I hope it would be.