Carowinds...what's the deal....

Joshua H · 07-04-2003, 02:40 AM

Is it just me, or is Carowinds long overdue for a LONG coaster...Top Gun, Hurler, and Thunder Road are about the only three coasters of any length that the park has...Maybe they are just saving up money to build something awesome, but I don't like waiting in long lines for short rides like Vortex, Cyclone, Rugrats Runaway Reptar, The Flying Super Saturator, and Ricochet...Don't get me wrong, I think Paramount is the best thing to happen to the park, but I wish they had some awesome one-of-a-kind rides!!!

Frito · 07-05-2003, 12:19 AM

I haven't been to Carowinds myself, but I have been to Kings Dominion, also owned by Paramount. From what I see on PCW's website, Paramount isn't at all interested in building anything big at Carowinds. From personal observation, I think PKD is used as a test site for new type of coasters (i.e. Volcano and Hypersonic), so they build them short. If it works, they build bigger and longer versions at their other parks. And seeming how Paramount hasn't built a bigger and longer version of anything built at PKD, I would say those coaster failed. Which I personally think they do.

Coasterholic14 · 07-14-2003, 06:37 PM

Well, i live in charlotte, nc, so i can easily go to carowinds. This park is long overdue a new coaster, the last thing they really put in was Top Gun, and after that Ricochet, beyond that Nickelodean has payed for all of its rides (runaway reptar, and re-theming like half the park to Nickelodean). Personally, i dont think Paramount even pays attention to this park at all, no funding, no nothing. This parks technology is way outdated, especially compared to the other paramount parks...why dont we get Flight of Fear, or any launch coasters, or any really decent coasters. Top Gun is fun, but they need something new. When we go there, we ride Top Gun, Carolina Goldrusher, Hurler, Scream Weaver, and a few other rides, thats it. We have gotten season passes every year, but arent bothering next year unless they really do something spectacular. We usually spend 3-4 hrs there b/c we have the pass. Thankfully, b/c we have a gold pass, we dont have to pay for parking, which is $8.00 btw...few great parks even have that price...Busch Gardens Williamsburg isn't even that expensive, and it's a much better park, and it has a tram service. Also, the park is a paved oven, and its hotter than hell on a sunny day, and there is no real shade. Paramount better do something big, and they better do it fast, or that parks gonna go out of business withing 5 yrs or so.

Harpo · 07-14-2003, 11:03 PM

Although it was small, I must admit that I really enjoyed the Flying Super Saturator. I'd like to see Cedar Point install one of those in the Soak City water park. (I did Super Saturator while fully clothed -- I think I'd enjoy it more in a swimsuit!)

I had some interesting comments about the park from my visit on July 4, 2002. My notes state: "Ride operators were painfully slow. Staff, in general, did not seem too friendly. ... Park claims 11 coasters. Including Taxi Jam (junior), I could only find 10."

The coasters I rode were:
Vortex
Ricochet
Carolina Cyclone
Carolina Goldrusher
Hurler
Nickelodeon Flying Super Saturator
Top Gun
Thunder Road

Adding Taxi Jam to the list, can you find an 11th coaster that was in the park in 2002? Are they being really weaselly and counting Thunder Road as two coasters? (Although I did both sides, I only counted it in my log as one coaster.)

One thing I would really have liked to see: On Goldrusher, I would like to see somewhat fancy signs when crossing the state line, similar to what would be seen when on the highway. Of course, the same thing could be done on Thunder Road, but I just felt it would really add to a fairly mild mine train coaster.

I must admit that I was really surprised at just how dull Hurler was, both at PKD and PC. If a park has to stoop to a level of cloning a ride, they could at least clone a good one.

You are reasonably lucky with your version of Ricochet, however. While not the best Wild Mouse coaster that I've experienced, it was far superior to the yawner at PKD. If they could kill the trims, it'd be better.

Coasterholic14 · 07-15-2003, 02:46 PM

Yes, I should have said, "watch out for the trims." We call them "Carowinds Brakes", they'll kill ya...on every coaster, brace yourself at the end. They enjoy taking u from 60-0 in .0000000000000000000000000000000000001 seconds...not literally, but they do like sudden stops, not smooth ones.

07-04-2003, 02:40 AM	#1
Joshua H Front Seat Rider Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Tennessee Posts: 164	Carowinds...what's the deal.... Is it just me, or is Carowinds long overdue for a LONG coaster...Top Gun, Hurler, and Thunder Road are about the only three coasters of any length that the park has...Maybe they are just saving up money to build something awesome, but I don't like waiting in long lines for short rides like Vortex, Cyclone, Rugrats Runaway Reptar, The Flying Super Saturator, and Ricochet...Don't get me wrong, I think Paramount is the best thing to happen to the park, but I wish they had some awesome one-of-a-kind rides!!!

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07-05-2003, 12:19 AM	#2
Frito Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 113	I haven't been to Carowinds myself, but I have been to Kings Dominion, also owned by Paramount. From what I see on PCW's website, Paramount isn't at all interested in building anything big at Carowinds. From personal observation, I think PKD is used as a test site for new type of coasters (i.e. Volcano and Hypersonic), so they build them short. If it works, they build bigger and longer versions at their other parks. And seeming how Paramount hasn't built a bigger and longer version of anything built at PKD, I would say those coaster failed. Which I personally think they do.

07-14-2003, 06:37 PM	#3
Coasterholic14 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 67	Well, i live in charlotte, nc, so i can easily go to carowinds. This park is long overdue a new coaster, the last thing they really put in was Top Gun, and after that Ricochet, beyond that Nickelodean has payed for all of its rides (runaway reptar, and re-theming like half the park to Nickelodean). Personally, i dont think Paramount even pays attention to this park at all, no funding, no nothing. This parks technology is way outdated, especially compared to the other paramount parks...why dont we get Flight of Fear, or any launch coasters, or any really decent coasters. Top Gun is fun, but they need something new. When we go there, we ride Top Gun, Carolina Goldrusher, Hurler, Scream Weaver, and a few other rides, thats it. We have gotten season passes every year, but arent bothering next year unless they really do something spectacular. We usually spend 3-4 hrs there b/c we have the pass. Thankfully, b/c we have a gold pass, we dont have to pay for parking, which is $8.00 btw...few great parks even have that price...Busch Gardens Williamsburg isn't even that expensive, and it's a much better park, and it has a tram service. Also, the park is a paved oven, and its hotter than hell on a sunny day, and there is no real shade. Paramount better do something big, and they better do it fast, or that parks gonna go out of business withing 5 yrs or so.

07-15-2003, 02:46 PM	#5
Coasterholic14 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 67	Yes, I should have said, "watch out for the trims." We call them "Carowinds Brakes", they'll kill ya...on every coaster, brace yourself at the end. They enjoy taking u from 60-0 in .0000000000000000000000000000000000001 seconds...not literally, but they do like sudden stops, not smooth ones.