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Carowinds: Traveler Reviews


TripAdvisor Traveler Rating: 4 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #2 of 42 attractions in Charlotte
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Attraction type: Amusement/theme park, Other
Address: 14523 Carowinds Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28241
Tel: 704 588 2600

Reviews you can trust

[ Date ] [ Rating ]
What a fun place! Some good roller coasters, good value, some BIG new ride for 2010 on the way

Carowinds

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5 of 5 stars
Flyer1965   10 contributions
North Carolina Mountains, North Carolina
Apr 23, 2009

We got a season pass for all the Cedar Fair parks, but you can buy one for just Carowinds for the price of two days discounted admission - around $60 bucks. Pretty good deal! It's one of the three closest theme parks, among Kings Dominion and Busch Gardens Williamsburg. My favorite for classiness would have to be Busch, and for just excitement and thrills, definitely, Kings Dominion. But this is a nice if overlooked amusement park. They have a new roller coaster Carolina Cobra that just opened this year which I rode, thinking it wouldn't be that much of a thrill but I underestimated it. It was pretty intense and very fun. My favorite has to be the former Top Gun roller coaster, now called AfterBurn, and the scariest and longest line was for Nighthawk, which is the former Borg/Star Trek coaster. That one you lie down on and basically fly suspended from your back facing the ground. It's amazing too, feel like you're going to fall out the entire time!
They have a water park built into the park, not huge, but should be fun to do that some when it gets warm later in the season.
It was very clean, staff was very friendly. They didn't all know answers to some of my questions because I went on what was the 3rd weekend they were even open, so staff is still learning the ropes too.
Brought my dog and they kept her in the kennel, which was pretty steep relative to Kings Dominion price, but still cheaper than paying someone to board her while I was gone to ride the rides. It's a smaller park than Kings Dominion (100 acres compared to 400 acres). Fewer roller coasters (11 vs 14). 2 wave pools at each, 4 sets of slides at Carowinds vs. 6-8 at Kings Dominion
There are a lot of kiddie-themed areas decorated to children's network such as Nickelodeon and Boomerang, so you see things like the "fairly oddparents coaster" and the "scooby doo haunted mansion" Lot of fun for people of all ages.
Carowinds is a good size to be able to split up a group that attends together and still be able to reconnect a few hours later in case everyone doesn't want to ride the same things. Something for everyone. They are in the process of ripping out the old log flume to create a VERY large piece of real estate right at the front of the park, and the rumors I've heard are it's for a new mega-coaster for 2010 season. We'll see, but whatever it is, it looks like it is HUGE and will go out into the parking lot even.
Looking forward to going back.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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My 5 year old Loves Carowinds

Carowinds

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5 of 5 stars
LIKETOTRAVEL125   17 contributions
NORTH CAROLINA
Apr 1, 2009

Went to Carowinds for Season opener on Sunday, No Lines, No Waiting. My 5 year old loves the Nick Section of Park. Although, all the rides are not open, yet. I think the season pass is a great idea because I can entertain my 5 year old every week for a couple of months for about $70.00 . I brought the passes off season so they were cheaper than pre and during season. Can't give feedback on another area in the park because we only visit the Nick Kids Section. I don’t think there is anything different from most theme parks.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Excellent Park

Carowinds

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4 of 5 stars
burtoja   8 contributions
Virginia
Jul 29, 2008
1/1 found this review helpful

We enjoyed our visit to Carowinds. They have great roller coasters and a neat little atmosphere. The only negative was that they did not run many coasters with multiple trains to speed lines along. Granted we were there on a weekday, but if they had run more than one train, the lines would have been very short. Be careful on Nighthawk...my keys jostled out of my pocket. However, Carowinds' staff is absolutely wonderful at handling the situation. They, of course, could not go inside the fence to look for the keys until after the ride closed, but they took my information and offered to help in calling to make any needed arrangements (I had back-up keys so this was unnecessary). Threee days later, they did find my keys, which is a real testimony to there customer service. I like this park and would go back if I had the chance.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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We loved Carowinds, can't waiot to go back!!

Carowinds

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4 of 5 stars
kadejah98   14 contributions
georgia
Jul 9, 2008
3/4 found this review helpful

Okay, i read a lot of reviews about Carowinds , some good some bad, but im always a believer in checking things out for yourself, so we went for the fourth of july and of course it was packed, but we tried to be smart and get there at about 9 30 tobe the first group there,
(not gonna happen) it was already packed BEFORE THE PARK OPEN, but it was a holiday so it was expected. We first walked in, and the park was soooo beautiful my kids were extremely excited and so was i and my husband, we didnt know where to go first, but we seen the nick characters walking around dancing, chucky, tommy, dora, sponge bob, the squidworse character (think thats right) and a few others, so we went to nickcentral, and we begin to ride on everything, great kid rides, and since my husband is afraid of heights, nick was perfect for him as well, we did the bootz balloons, cars, spongebob ride, kids did boats cruise, we loved the 3d sponge bob ride, (reminded me of jimmy neutron at universal studios)and the scooby ride was pretty good reminded me a little of buzz lightyear at disney world magic kingdom, we dont docoasters, cause none of us are thrill riders like that but we enjoyed everything else, we then changed clothes and headed to the water park which was beyong my expectations, i was thinking of the water park at wild adventures but carowinds water park was above and beyong beautiful, and with lots to do, the only problem we had was it seemed as if it was gonna storm so they closed thepark up, butwe walked to a different water slide and took off our shoes, and it was no more than 3 minutes we looked back behind us and SOME ONE (BELIEVE A CHILD OR A PARENT TOLD THERE CHILD TO DO IT) STOLE my little sons ""car"" sandals, so we went back to our vehicle where our other belongings were and changed clothing ,my son was kinda sad, but i bought him some more once we left the park KINDA SAD TO TAKE SOMEONE THINGS, and IF THAT PERSON EVER READ THIS SHAME ON U!!!GODBLESS YA, ok but anyway, we eventually got something to eat, and that was a complaint wondering why a burger/fries cost 9 dollars, i advised my husband before we went to lets NOT eat at the park but he loves the food at the parks like the footlongs and things , it brings back the good ol days i guess, so we bought a few items and yes they were pricey, we wanted to check out the entire park before getting season passes so next trip we will get season passes, we are located 4 hours away from charlotte we live in georgia, and it was a drive, but it was a nice weekend getaway, WE STAYED AT THE STAYBRIDGE WHICH WAS WONDERFUL, we were welcomed with delicious cookies at the front desk, and once we got to our room we had giftbaskets awaiting us with goodies in them, and drinks around the room, extra toothbrushes and things that would be needed,its only a 7 minute drive from carowinds in a great area, so I ADVICE ANYONE TO STAY HERE, the place is beautiful, 2 bedrooms 2bath, fullkitchen, while your at carowinds check out the PREMIERS STORE, GREAT GREAT STORE AND CHEAP FOR SOUVENIRS, and the nick store is cool, but all and all we had a blast and WILL GO BACK just on a cooler day OH AND ONE MORE THING, I KNOW EVERYONE REMEMBERS THE TRAFFICE ON THE FOURTH OF JULY GETTING OUT OF CAROWINDS WAS HORRIFIC A 2HOUR WAIT, just advice for future trips (on the fourth or holidays park across the street, or you wont get out no time soon) hope this review has been helpful to someone, any questions feel to ask me , but overall our experiences was a good one!! WE HAVE SEVERAL PHOTOS WILL PUT THEM UP LATER

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Excellent Family Theme/Waterpark

Carowinds

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5 of 5 stars
Laurana532   6 contributions
Atlanta, GA
Jul 1, 2008
1/1 found this review helpful

My family went to Carowinds for a few days. We took our six year old son and my elderly parents. My mom was able to get a motorized cart to ride on and my son had plenty to do. There are rides for all ages. An amusement park and a water park are connected. You can use one ticket for both and go back and forth between the two.

Recommend buying the pay once go twice ticket and also highly recommend renting a cabana at the water park. The cabana fits up to six people and you can leave your belongings and not worry about them. Note: the lifeguards at the water park take their jobs very serious. They are very strict about following water safety. There are about three shows - two kids and one family. The family show is ice skating and is worth seeing.

A great place to stay is the Comfort Inn located near the entrance of Carowinds. The rooms are spacious and you can get poolside rooms. It was great to walk right out to the pool. The breakfast offered a variety of items. The hotel overall was very comfortable and quiet. There are plenty of places to eat close by. Be sure and ask about TBones. A great place to eat overlooking a lake.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Carowinds Address

14523 Carowinds Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28241 Tel: 704 588 2600