Carowinds Theme Park - Kid Friendly Vacations fun on the NC / SC border | |
| Carowinds Theme Park is located 10 miles south of Charlotte, NC on the border of North Carolina and South Carolina. |
 |
Carowinds is now a Cedar Fair Theme Park - affiliated with all of the other Cedar Fair Parks....such as Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio.
Our family included Carowinds in our 2006 family vacations as part of a short fall break trip, and that was the first time I had visited in probably 20 years. Let me tell you, Carowinds has some of the best roller coasters that I have ever ridden. Top Gun is on my list of all time favorite roller coasters!
Carowinds is the home of two wooden roller coasters, and they are thrilling ones. Wooden roller coasters are rough on the back, but are fast!!!
This theme park is also home to 4 high-thrill steel roller coasters. The Vortex is a roller coaster ridden in a standing position. The Borg Assimilator is ridden flat on your back, facing down most of the time. The classic Carolina Cyclone was the first roller coaster in the world to turn its riders upside down four times when it opened in 1980... then there is the Top Gun Jetcoaster... the best that there is.... you ride in a seated position with your feet dangling through 6 inversions.
Our family plans to make Carowinds Theme Park part of our 2007 family vacations just for the roller coasters. We purchased the Cedar Fair Maxx season passes, and are ready to ride the roller coasters!!!
******UPDATE********
We visited Carowinds for the first time in the 2007 season on May 5, 2007. This trip was great and gave me more time to get some great pictures for the site as well as ride more of the rides that we did not get to ride in October 2006.
Our family trips have included side trips into Carowinds several more times - always adding to this section of the website.
******UPDATE********
The picture that you see to the left is of the Super Saturator - a roller coaster ride where the riders have control of water jets in the seats allowing them to saturate the viewers below. As you can imagine, this was a great favorite of the children.
The Super Saturator is located in the nickelodeon area of the park - this area houses rides for smaller children, and lots of water rides.
If you are interested in visiting Carowinds, Visit tripAdvisor for Carowinds Area Hot Deals!
|
Our Favorites |
|
Top Gun
One of my all time favorite roller coasters.... An inverted steel coaster with floorless cars suspended below the track. Takes you through 6 inversions.... you need to try this coaster after dark - amazing. |
|
|
BORG Assimilator
It soars riders through eight inversions, most while flying facedown, zooming toward the ground and turning skyward just in time for the next inversion. Yes, you heard right - you are upside down, flying face first toward the ground.... an amazing ride. |
|
|
Thunder Road
Twin-racing rollercoasters that take you backward or forward through two U.S. states - North and South Carolina. A wooden roller coaster that is a classic at Carowinds Theme Park. |
|
|
Scream Weaver
This ride is a classic theme park ride in cars that spin you sideways and then upside down over and over..... Actually this is one of the smoothest rides in the park. |
|
Our Recommendations
Arrive early and go directly to the BORG Assimilator... you will have to wait
for an hour and a half to ride it later in the day if you don't.
Cons
We have found that the park is not as efficient in queuing passengers onto the
rides as larger theme parks. Many times, roller coasters leave the station
with multiple empty seats - while there are many people waiting.
The park is not as clean as we have seen before. I spotted three workers
sweeping in one area, while there was trash laying on top of trash not too far
away from them.
Ticket Options
Carowinds One
Day Admission tickets
Carowinds Two
Day Admission tickets
Carowinds Theme Park SILVER Season Pass - unlimited admissions to
Carowinds Theme Park for the entire season.
Carowinds GOLD Season Pass - unlimited admissions to Carowinds for the entire season plus free parking.
Carowinds Platinum
Season Pass -Access to Carowinds Theme Park for the entire season
with free parking
PLUS access to all other Cedar Fair Amusement Parks and Water Parks....
- Cedar Point & Soak City - Sandusky, Ohio
- Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kingdom - Aurora, Ohio
- Canada's Wonderland - Vaughan, Ontario (near Toronto)
- Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom - Allentown, Pennsylvania
- Worlds of Fun & Oceans of Fun - Kansas City, Missouri
- Kings Dominion - Doswell, Virginia
- Kings Island & Boomerang Bay - Kings Island, OH
- Michigan's Adventure - Muskegon, Michigan
- Valleyfair - Shakopee, Minnesota
- California's Great America - Santa Clara, California
- Knott's Berry Farm - Buena Park, California
- Soak City Water Parks - San Diego, Buena Park and Palm Springs, California
- Gilroy Gardens - Gilroy, California
Check the Carowinds website for more information.
Our other Theme Park Reviews.....
Dollywood | Carowinds | Great America Theme Park | Boomerang Bay: Great America Theme Park | Kings Island Amusement Park | Boomerang Bay: Kings Island Amusement Park | The Nut Tree Family Park | Tweetsie Railroad | Universal Studios Theme Park | Wizarding World of Harry Potter | Harry Potter Theme Park | Harry Potter Wands | Islands of Adventure Orlando
Disney World Theme Park | Walt Disney World Family Vacation | Disney Animal Kingdom | Disney Epcot | Disney Magic Kingdom | Disney Hollywood Studios | Kid Friendly Disney Dining | The Best Disney Dining Book | Disney World Family Vacation | Disney World Dining | Dads Guide to WDW: An Interview | Disney Hotel Discounts
Hotels Inside Disney World | Hotels near Universal Studios | Downtown Disney Hotels
Kid Friendly Theme Park Tips - - Kid Friendly Theme Parks and tips submitted by our visitors!
Please Share your comments, tips, and ideas...