AdventureExpresser Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Arrived at Carowinds campground around 10 pm on Thursday, loved it that this campground was located right behind the park, so of course I took a long long walk around midnight around the park, checking things out, and semi after semi was arriving over by Thunder Road with that big blue metal track for next years coaster. The next day at the park, the first thing I notice is how well the grounds are kept, the landscaping was very good, the employees I came across upon entering the park were very polite and helpful. The first ride was Nighthawk, about a 25 minute wait, I favor Firehawk alot more, this ride was rougher and shorter. Next off to Top Gun, 10 minute wait for front seat, this has got to be one of the best inverted coasters I have ever experienced, thumbs up high for this one. Off to Thunder Road next, I don't remember which side was rebuilt but the gray side about beat you to death, and the blue side was far more smooth, this was a walk on all day. Glad to see the Southern Star back, I love that ride. Carolina Cyclone, need some brakes guys before you hit the corkscrews, you are going so fast it isn't enjoyable, your just getting your head knocked everywhere. As for the Hurler , some major retracking needs done, Son of Beast is like silk compared to the ride we had on this one, felt like it broke a couple of ribs. Went to Drop Zone and mind you this looks like the same type of tower that was at Kentucky Kingdom. Just as we start up we stop, and I hear the guys say the E-light has come on, and they started to make a joke and they started hollering,"Your all trapped and it is tore up" and started laughing, I didn't find this funny esp. after the incident in KY., But I rode it anyway after being trapped in the seat for over 20 minutes. I had a blast blowing the geyser up at the kids on the super saturator, but you can tell it is going because they have let it run down so badly, the trains don't even carry water anymore, and only one water geyser shoots up at them. Vortex was a favorite and so was the Goldrusher, all these rides were walk ons. Of course I had a blast over in the kids section, riding the Flying Eagles we used to have. Prices are pretty concurrent with prices we have at Kings Island BUT the portions. I started laughing when I ordered a 4 dollar ice cream cone and got it and it was no bigger than the size of a baseball, there were a couple of management personnel at a table right there and I took it over to them and showed them how ridiculous that was, and they said someone messed up but I told them I learned my lesson and I went back and forth to my camper the rest of the day for food and drink, but other than that it was a great day. Got to Hard Rock Park around 7 pm when it was cooling down, and the park was very dead, but I loved that. First of all I listened to people bickering all week about what a rip off the park is, they are going in expecting a Kings Island or Busch Gardens and I know you aren't going to get that especially in a parks first year. I have to say though I was expecting not good at all after listening to people but I found it quite the opposite, the park is beautiful and they have payed attention to every small detail to make sure everywhere you look you are going to notice how well they have themed the park. Of course everything was all sparkling and clean, the employees were wonderful, even the ones walking through the park to get somewhere would ask you how you were doing and say "Rock On". There are live bands playing throughout the park, from a coffeehouse, to a pub, to country in front of the lake, even seventies dancing over in front of the game area, with the employees in their go-go boots and tye dyed tshirts. Went to see the country Ice skating show, spectacular; the malibu beach party, awesome; and the stunt show, was really good. As for the rides first off the kids loved Kids Rock State Park, it was totally different experience for them than the same old kiddie rides you have at every park, I loved it also that they got to experience the Banana Splits because they loved them as much as I did when I was young. I couldn't keep them off Slippery When Wet, this is a longer version of the super saturator. As for me I loved the Life in the Fast Lane Coaster, a mine train style coaster but the employees are a show in themselves getting you all hyped up and when it takes off and they kick those powerful speakers on between your legs with that song, it makes a whole new experience for you, loved it that there were two lift hills and at the end was the metal rocker that blew a ball of fire up toward you as you enter the station. Maximum RPM was a fun coaster also, lets say the ferris wheel gives you a whole new meaning to roller coasters, actually it is a little scary thinking what if your mini cooper rolled out of the wheel, but the radio keeps flipping to different radio stations until it gets to "Sunglasses at Night" and that first drop is a good one. What can one say about Led Zepplin the ride, it is one awesome fast machine and you never know which way is up, I love it that it climbs the lift hill so fast while "Whole Lotta Love" is being blasted in your face, and that first drop is great, even waiting in line they put you in groups and you go in a room making you feel like your in a stadium watching classic Zepplin, loved it but kids really didn't. The Best for Last, "Nights in White Satin" has got to be in my top 5 dark rides of all time, just can't even explain the experience, it is a must for anyone at the Beach, I rode this ride 14 times that night and could have kept on. The second night we were there there was a horrible storm and we got trapped in a restaurant , they passed out complimentary Pepsi to everyone until the storm was over, but the power went out, so any food already cooked was given away and I found out they did this all over the park instead of having to throw it away, but they gave everyone in the park refunds or free tickets to use another time. As for prices I think food prices were comparable to other parks but the quality was far better, souveniers were high but anyone that has been to the hard rock cafe knows that. My biggest fault I could find were that the queues were horrendously long and you couldn't bypass them you had to walk through everyone because they were on different levels. If anyone wants more info on "Nights in White Satin" I will try to describe it the best that I can, just ask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 In my personal opninion, the ride ops on Drop Tower at Carowinds should have been immediately dismissed. The first time. Such insensitivity on a drop ride after the national publicity the Kentucky incident received is simply inexcusable. Even if that incident had never happened, a ride malfunction is NEVER something for an op to joke about in such a fashion: "Your all trapped and it is tore up" and started laughing, Imagine if a rider had a heart attack under those circumstances, or somehow worked out of the restraints and died. Again, simply inexcusable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdventureExpresser Posted August 4, 2008 Author Share Posted August 4, 2008 Believe me I did report this to PR in the park and they weren't too happy about it either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WooferBearATL Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Uhhhh, I've heard ride ops say many odd and off the wall things on Drop Towers. It certainly goes with the territory. I think people are being a bit hyper-sensetive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdventureExpresser Posted August 4, 2008 Author Share Posted August 4, 2008 Well I love having fun also, but the lady next to me with her little kid was from Ohio also so she knew of the story also and she started going into a small panic so I had to try and calm her down, NOT MY JOB , but I was considerate to try and keep her from going into a panic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WooferBearATL Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Well I love having fun also, but the lady next to me with her little kid was from Ohio also so she knew of the story also and she started going into a small panic so I had to try and calm her down, NOT MY JOB , but I was considerate to try and keep her from going into a panic Oh, agreed. People go into panics when they are taunted on the drop rides all over the country. Should they do taunts like singing Ring Around the Rosie or Telling People That They're Just Going To Have To Stay Up There? Maybe, maybe not. It's really for the park to decide. I think that I'd put up with general taunting on a drop ride better than slanderous taunting at say a Heckle and Howl? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 You mean like making fun of people with mental retardation or of people of transgendered status? No park would ever do or allow that. You know better. There are limits, after all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dare-to-fly Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Especially due to the sensitivity of some members of the general public, this kind of joke is nuts. I was humored the day of the roll back on Backlot when the operator asked "did you run out of gas?" This was an obvious attempt at humor, and didn't imply that riders were "trapped." Other comments: 1. Glad you enjoyed Afterburn, and I prefer it to Raptor. So far I would have to agree. It's the best one I've been on, but I can't really claim all that many. 2. Son of Beast is smooth compared to Hurler???? Ignoring the Rose Bowl maybe, and Hurler was my favorite coaster in the park. I can't say a thing for Thunder Road, as it was down when I was there, but I highly doubt "beat you to death" is the right phrase...especially considering #3 note... 3. Carolina Cyclone in NO WAY needs brakes except the brake run, and the same is true for every other coaster on the planet! Personally, I ranked CC very highly. You're just used to Vortex, where you're slowed to a crawl before the corkscrews. Coasters are supposed to have speed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigellinus Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 You mean like making fun of people with mental retardation or of people of transgendered status? No park would ever do or allow that. You know better. There are limits, after all. What about the CP ride op's on SkyCoaster saying, "3, 2, 1...DIE!!" That's kind of illegit if you ask me!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 I can only imagine the plaintiffs' lawyers' field day should their jesting prediction come true: "See, they even knew what would happen, and yet they allowed the riders to be hoisted to their inevitable doom anyway. Thoughtless, uncaring beasts that they were and are, and Cedar Fair employed them and allowed them to continue to be employed, knowing of their uncaring attitudes towards guests, which inevitably resulted in my clients' untimely deaths." Sheesh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigellinus Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 ^^Don't forget, according to the PointBuzzer's, a supervisor bared (beared?) witness to it, and simply said, "I....wouldn't do that again". Nice employee counseling! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browntggrr Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 3. Carolina Cyclone in NO WAY needs brakes except the brake run, and the same is true for every other coaster on the planet! You should clairify your comment to your un-engineered, one sided, factless opinion. The many of us understand the need for brakes, and in some cases, welcome them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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