coastergirl Posted August 7, 2006 Share Posted August 7, 2006 We are planning our first trip to Carowinds on Saturday. Has anyone ever been to Carowinds? Are there any rides that you know of that are a must ride? We are not planning on spending a lot of time at the park because we are just passing through so we want to make sure that we hit the best rides for our time there. Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted August 7, 2006 Share Posted August 7, 2006 Saturdays at Carowinds can be VERY busy. If you've ridden X-Flight at Geauga Lake, as much as I hate to say it, you can skip Borg if you must, and you probably will have to unless you go straight to it at opening. Top Gun: The Jet Coaster, the park's B and M, is an incredible ride and not to be missed. It is one of my favorite B and M's. In fact, I think of the B and M inverteds, the only one I like more is Raptor. Thunder Road is the park's version of Racer, and still has quite a bit of airtime, though the back seats of the cars are rather rough. The Hurler there is also a bit rough, and otherwise identical to Hurler at Kings Dominion. The Scooby dark ride is fun, and, though shorter than Kings Island's version, I like it better. I love the mouse, Ricochet. If you haven't ridden one, you surely do not want to miss it. The Super Saturator will get you very wet, if you are in to that! Vortex is their B and M standup, it's quite historical and never has a very long line, in my experience. I actually like Goldrusher, the minetrain, a lot. The line is usually very short, as apparently most people do not share my regard for that coaster! If both entrances to the park are open, you can save a lot of time in the morning by going to the South entrance (the one furthest from the parking toll booths), and starting at that end of the park. Sometimes, they do not open Top Gun at the same time as the rest of the park, but I believe they usually do on Saturdays. If you are getting in with a PKI pass, don't forget to go to Guest Relations first and get a ticket. Your pass will NOT scan at the gate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coastergirl Posted August 7, 2006 Author Share Posted August 7, 2006 Thanks for the information. Borg is the one coaster that my kids are really looknig forward to so I guess we will be standing in line. Do they have Guest Relations at both entrances so we can get tickets with our PKI passes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted August 7, 2006 Share Posted August 7, 2006 Borg is incredible in my opinion. It is well worth the wait, and if you are going to ride it, I would go in the North gate, the first one as you come in after the parking booths. And yes, they have guest relations at both gates. The North gate is normally the busier one, but it will put you closer to Borg. You could also use the south gate and hoof it up there, but with kids, I'd probably use the north gate. If you and/or your kids end up liking Borg, the wait for X-Flight at Geauga Lake is usually very, very short! How much do I like Borg, Top Gun and Carowinds? Well, my Paramount pass is to Carowinds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coastergirl Posted August 7, 2006 Author Share Posted August 7, 2006 Wow. you must really like Carowinds to have a pass there!! It would be quite a haul if you live in Ohio. When I pulled it up on Mapquest, it is over 7 hours for us to get there!! I am really not looking forward to the drive. We are leaving around 4 am so we can get there as early as possible and ride as much stuff as we can! I think if we use the south gates and hoof it up to Brog it will be us grown ups trying to keep up with the kids!! I'm not nearly as fast as I used to be. That's the way it is at PKI. The kids go running up to Face/Off and are first in line and then have to wait for us to catch up. We keep telling them they should just stop running ahead of us because they have to wait anyway, but at their age they wont listen to anything! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted August 7, 2006 Share Posted August 7, 2006 Borg is a LOT closer to the North gate than the South one. Especially if you are not there at opening, I'd just go in the North gates. Have a great time! Carowinds is one of my favorite parks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cewldre Posted August 7, 2006 Share Posted August 7, 2006 coaster girl... may I ask the directions mapquest has given you? I have gone down the past 2 years... first time I went, the directions were wrong and had me going no where near carowinds. When I got back, I sent Mapquest and email informing them... this year, got directions again, still wrong... I don't want you having the same problem I did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coastergirl Posted August 7, 2006 Author Share Posted August 7, 2006 coaster girl... may I ask the directions mapquest has given you? I have gone down the past 2 years... first time I went, the directions were wrong and had me going no where near carowinds. When I got back, I sent Mapquest and email informing them... this year, got directions again, still wrong... I don't want you having the same problem I did. We are coming from Columbus. US-33 toward Lancaster - 68.9 miles US-33 toward Chillicothe - 20.6 miles OH-7 / US-33 / OH 124 toward Ravenswood - .2 miles OH-124 E / OH-7 N. Continue to follow OH-7 - 1.9 miles OH-7 becomes US-33 / WV-68 - .4 miles US-33 E /WV - 2 N. - 2.2 miles I-77 S. toward Charleston - 180.9 miles I-77 S. via exit 81 toward Charlotte - 138.4 miles Carowinds Blvd. / US-21 Exit 90 - .4 miles Merge onto Carowinds Blvd- 1.4 miles Probably more info then you really needed but that's how mapquest has it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhantomTheater Posted August 7, 2006 Share Posted August 7, 2006 Thats a good route from columbus to carowinds, watch for toll in wv between Charelston and Virgina line. Also ride the Carolina cyclone, its a descent arrow looper with short lines usally. But dont miss Top Gun. I Recomend S.Gate because you can usually park closer to it then N. Gate. But N. gate is more impressive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted August 7, 2006 Share Posted August 7, 2006 The West Virginia Turnpike Toll is $1.25 at each of three gates, each way...unless'n you are driving a semi or sumthin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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