Paramounts Carowinds Theme Park

After spending at least 200 dollars in the park, I was escorted from my last ride of the day on the Intimidator by security because I wanted to wait for the front seat. I had done this on every ride the whole day including the Intimidator. I was told that I must fill in the empty rows and could not wait for the front, this way the customers who got to sit in the front seat would be random. Every other amusement in America creates a longer line for the front seat so people could choose to wait the extra time. However, after discussion with the security guards and ride manager, they made it clear that the employee in question was acting on ride policy when she asked us to leave the front seat line. I might also point out that at least 4 groups of people were in front of us waiting for the seat and I would wonder why they were allowed to wait and we were not.

I enjoy going to Carowinds. I bought a season pass so i could go all summer. But the restrooms are nasty.

i took my daughter there for her birthday. we had a really good time, however several hours after eating at the juck box dinner i became very sick. on the way home we had to stop several times. one of the last stops my daughter actually had to call 911she was so scared and dindt know what was going on. come to find out i had food poison. after getting better i called carowinds and had wanted them to pay for my medical bills and two days out of work. that was all!!! they called back to say just because no one else had reported getting sick they could not do that. i know for a fact i got it from there! the doctors even said it too! i pray if you read this take your on food in coolers! i pray you dont eat there or the same can happen to you. most people that get food poison chalk it off to be a flu bug or a 24 hour thing. i have had surgery several years ago that i can never throw up so it is really bad on me and i have to seek emergancy help. you would think that someone like them would care about the customers. you would think they would want to make things right?????? thank you. may god bless you and your food.

Pros: go ride the rides but pack your own food!

Cons: after getting food poison(i pray you read this)

Depending on the time of year, Carowinds can be a great place to take the kids. We have season passes and start going early in the season when it opens. They have a great variety so our 2 year old has as much fun as our 5 year old. The Dora show is great too and keeps them entertained.
The adult rollercoasters are great too. The Borg is one of the scariest I have ever been on!! Long lines but worth it for 40 seconds of terror!!

Pros: Lots of fun for all age kids

Cons: at times long lines

Long lines. Slow moving. Dirty. No paper in bathrooms. Bathrooms far apart and nasty. I've been to other Paramount amusement parks (fav. is Cedar Point). Even short lines moved slow at Carowinds- and God knows the Carolina sun is not that forgiving in summer. The ride "directors" didn't seem to know how to effectively shuffle people on and off. The bathrooms were gross- wet floors, no TP, long lines, nobody on duty to assist. It made taking my kids to the restroom worse than normal. I didn't expect perfection but some TP would have been nice. Stalls were dark, too, and that did not hide the grossness. My daughter stood in line for an entire hour for a kiddy ride with my four year old... the line was not long at all and it wasn't all that busy that day. When she got to the ride she was told she couldn't take him and he couldn't go by himself. ...So my husband took him and had to start at the back of the line!!!! I just wouldn't spend the cash there again. Not for almost $45.00 an adult... no way.

Pros: cute idea on kids rides

Cons: VERY slow moving lines

THis is the best place ever. I had so much fun playing all of the games, especially that basketball one where i met this really cute guy named matt he is really nice and he should be a manager

Pros: HOT guy at the basketball game

Cons: none

I don't get alot of the over critical jabs at Carowinds. I live in High Point, NC (about 90 miles from Carowinds) and have a Platinum Season Pass. I've been to many amusement/theme parks including Busch Gardens Williamsburg & Tampa, several trips to Disney World, Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios, Six Flags over GA, Kings Dominion, etc...etc. There is bad, overpriced food in each and every one of them...nasty restrooms in each and every one of them (the worst restroom I ever saw was one at Disney's Animal Kingdom) and yes rude employees at each and every one of them (even at Disney...*gasp*). Now granted, given the size of some of the bigger parks I've mentioned you are bound to find more things you might like about those parks, but Carowinds is an excellent amusement park. Top Gun is one of the best coasters ever designed. It is amazing! Thunder Road is a classic woody! The Hurler screams with speed! The Carolina Cyclone is a Carolina steel classic. The Borg and Vortex are not favorites of mine but I understand those who enjoy the change of pace they present. My whole family enjoys The FairlyOdd Coaster, Runaway Reptar, Rocket Power, the River Adventure, the Super Saturator, the classic Goldrusher, Ricochet and many others. My children are ages 15, 12, and 4 and we have an absolute blast every time we go to Carowinds. They even improved the laser guns on Scooby's Haunted Mansion so that now that is one we ride every time we go. No, Carowinds is not perfect. I do hope Cedar Fair injects more energy and politeness into the employees. They have said that they will incorporate the food from their other parks into Carowinds and I seriously hope they maintain the Paramount license long enought to have some theming around next year's Transformers: The Movie (a Paramount release). Other than that, I love Carowinds! It's MY park...it's OUR park (the Carolinas) and its a damn good one. I guess it's all in the eye of the beholder.

I agree with the person who said that Carowinds isn't for all northerners. The food isn't that bad. I mean you don't come for the food anyway. The bathrooms aren't that far apart either. My only complaint is the price for disposable cameras. I forgot to bring my camera one time and their prices are outrageous. The rides are amazing & if you don't like it then don't come back. No it isn't Disney World, but the rides are a ton of fun.

Pros: Rides

Cons: Gift shop prices

This is an awesome park, it is clean and everything is close. The waterpark is attach to the amusement park so you can walk from one to another. Carowinds have an amazing rollercoaster like "the borg" where you ride upsidedown and "the Vortex" where you ride stand up. At the waterpark they have the usual wavepool and a lot of diferent slides.

This is my 4th. consecutive year that I bought the season pass with the season parking lot, I really recommend it.

The kids love it and they always ask to go there in the hot summer and believe me they dont have to insist.

Pros: Waterpark attach to the amusement park, no crowded on weekdays, good ambience

Cons: weekends after noon usually is crowded, for some rides you have to wait long time

If you are a local it is something to do with the kids in the summer -if you get a seasons pass. If you live outside of a 50 mile radius I would not make a special trip. The water park is the best part but the staff, food and lines can be dissapointing.

I went to Carowinds on 5/19/06 with my school chorus and the rides were fun but we were supposed to perform and no-one not even the judges showed up! We waited for about 15 minutes still not audience and no judges. We ate at a buffet style lunch but the food was horrible! HotDogs were cold and Hamburgers were bricks! Me and a friend went to The Pastry shop kind-of towards the exit and the line was long and hot!

Pros:GREAT RIDES // GREAT RIDE VIEWS
Cons:LONG LINES!!

Pros: Great RIDES // GREAT ATTRACTIONS // GREAT RIDE VIEWS // FUN WATER RIDES

Cons: lack of sercurity // long lines

Not reccomended for ALL yankees....... It is alot easier (especially for we southern folk) if you don't plan to visit and waste your time complaining if you decide to visit.... If you DO happen to enjoy your experience, then thank you and the warmest of wishes... If NOT... please continue toward florida because Mickey and the gang are waiting for you to daunt the Goofy suit for the daily parade through Magic Kingdom...

Pros: all

Cons: shading in heat

The staff at Carowinds is lazy and rude. The operators and security turn a blind eye to rampant line jumping on every ride. The operators on the flume ride were literally yelling at guests because they weren't the proper size party. Hopefully, Cedar Fair's recent purchase of the Paramount parks will give Carowinds a Cedar Point like level of quality before the 2007 season. As for 2006, I'll spend my money on a road trip to Sandusky!

Cons: staff, food

Its not sumer unless you go to Carowinds at least 2 times. The rides are great. Be prepared to stand in line in the middle of the day. Go early and stay late. I recommend the wave pool around lunch time. The price is a litle high, but you can get good deals on their website.

Pros: great coasters, plenty of parking, alot to do

Cons: ticket price, food price

Carowinds seemed ok but the hours suck, by the time you get there and go on a few rides, and maybe grab a snack they're closing they need to be open longer to be worth the money

Cons: short hrs

Everyone I communicated with at the park was rude and not helpful. The staff seemed to be bothered and annoyed at the heat and the crowds. The Nicktoons cafe had decent food, but the facililty was not very clean. Waited for the Borg Assimilator in 95 degree weather for one hour. I got almost all the way to the platform and they announced the ride was temporarily delayed. Fifteen minutes later it was back on, then delayed again immediately. All said I waited for one hour and 30min and never got on the ride. The staff wasn't very friendly and offered no water or an explanation for the delay. Rides seemed like they would have been fun, if you could ride all in one day. The friendliest people were the staff on the Rip Roarin' rapids that waved at you from their lookouts throughout the ride and before the waterfall.

Pros: Rides, Good Parking, Good Food

Cons: Staff, Lines, Facilities

Carowinds can be a good or bad experience, depending on what you are looking for. If you want many coasters (more than most theme parks) and short lines this is the park for you. If you want themed attractions with everyone in costumes and a good selection of children's, especially older children's rides, this is not the place for you. By older children's rides, I mean rides for kids who have graduated from the circular rides but may not be ready for most coasters (6-10 years?). However, it does have many character greeting oppurtunities and shows, although the latter lacks in quality. All in all, I like going to Carowinds because I like riding roller coasters and I like the fact that, with a season's pass, I can ride virtually all the coasters within an hour and spend the rest of my day somewhere else.

Pity some haven't enjoyed this wonderful park like my family does! Season Passes 4yrs running and WILL buy again! Best time to buy passes is when they're offered at lowest of season, just before/through Scarowinds (we attend every year). I've got Platinum Passes allowing parking in reserved section near "Top Gun" gate for FREE. We go at least 3-4 times/season - all for about $300! About 11 roller coasters, "Top Gun," "The Borg Assimilator," and "The Flying Super Soaker Saturator" being my personal favorites. Sometimes like to spend majority of day at WaterPark, until closing then a few coasters. LOTS for young'uns to do. Love all the entertainment - "School of Rock" does exactly that! Yes, food is pricey, it is anywhere you go for entertainment, even the movies! We keep coolers in vehicle for mealtimes. I've never had problems with staff, either. M-Th is less crowded. Love This Place!

Pros: Variety, Value, Fun, Fun, Fun!

Cons: Add more carnival ri, Pricey Food, Some Long Lines

I've been going to Carowinds since I was little, I love it. It can get hot, but that's what the water rides and the water park is for. I'm 17, and I recently went with 3 other teens and had a blast! In my opinion, this park is not just for young kids. (For whoever said that on one of the reviews) There's plenty of rides and most of the lines are fast moving. There's people who sell lemonade, water, and icees around the few lines that are a long wait. There's plenty of things to do for all ages, and plenty of time to do them. The parking's fine, it's worth the cost, the staff could be better but isn't terrible. The food's a little pricey, but what amusement park isn't a little pricey with food. I think if you live around Carowinds, it's a great place to go!

Pros: great rides, fast lines, water park

Cons: food pricey, some ok staff

carowinds' claim to fame is the big nick central section they have. it really is fantabulous for kids. if you plan on going more than 2x get that season pass it is a STEAL w/all the perks it includes. like any other amusement park the food here is totally overpriced so i recommend packing snacks, lunch, water, etc and either backpack it or leave it in the car and eat whenever you get tired of all the rides.

Pros: ticket prices, fast moving lines, conveniently located

Cons: overpriced food

Overall the rides are fun, there are a few big coaster, but that is fine, since you have to wait in line so long that you only have time to do a few. Plus, if you go in the summer, it is so hot that you cannot stand to be out in the heat waiting in lines for too long. I am a small cold natured person and found it to be miserable. I highly recommend going toward the beginning of summer, when there is less humidity. There is a water park if you do choose to go during the summer, but the line are VERY long. If you do plan to go, bring a fanny pack and a water bottle, so you can refill it. As you can guess bottled water is 3 or more dollars a bottle there and it is a must.

So overrated is Carowinds! First, comparable to Knott's Berry Farm in attractions- not up to the scale of Disney at all. How did this get to be one of the top ten? Second, the customer service on the rides and at the facilities was so extremely poor. Three rides were shut down as we were in line, there was no rush from the attendants to assist the waiting guests. Giggling attendants giving no care to the waiting guests while the rides were being fixed. Food facilities had no napkins, no Coke, no straws and no lids because they ran out. Bathrooms are few and far between. The rides are run of the mill average.

Cons: Staff, Value, Facilities

Use to be the days that Carowinds had something to offer all age groups. Since Paramount bought the park chain, all of their parks have suffered tremendously. Some say that there are better parks, and yes I have to agree. That being said, if you look at their cleanliness, safety, and training of their employees, those aspects are hard to beat. They have to focus on 2 states standards, and they adapt the highest standards of each to the entire park (GREAT JOB). If however, you are over the age of 10, you are out of luck for rides and entertainment. Please just judge the park for yourself, go and visit, or check them out online.

Pros: discounts available, location, some very good rides

Cons: to large a kid focus, no entertainment, world class coaster??

Carowinds may not be the best park in the world but it is in my backyard. Where else can you live and have the beach 3 hours away... the mountains 1 hour away... tons of upscale and outlet shops... and Paramounts Carowinds??? In the Rock and Charlotte areas that is!It's a great place for kids and families. Scareawinds which debuts evrey October is in increadile and the park improves yearly... so for some critics of the park take advantage of what the area has to offer... you can't complain if you don't!!!!!

Pros: fun rides, scareawinds, entertainment

Cons: parking fees, emp. are rude, long long lines

I went to this park when I was 12 years old and now I am 27. I vowed I would never go back and have not been back since. I f you leave in the area it give you something to do. However, the only way for me to go back to that park is if someone pays my way. It was just a poorly designed park with limited shade trees, and air condition spaces..

Carowinds is about great rides, Fast moving lines, you can ride more than one ride a day. It's safe for your family, Clean bathrooms & grounds. Rides for the young and old. Thunder Road is repeat fun, BORG Assimilator is awesome, Drop Zone takes your breath, when you get hot go to the waterpark for rides and swimming. Take the family on Rip Roarin' Rapids, or Ricochet. The're 5 live shows & for the little ones there is a whole area with rides and a playground. There are centers W/ diapering, nursing, family bathrooms, all staffed during park hours. The only complain I have is the high food & drink prices. While this isn't the biggest-- It is the one we make the trip to the most. My 3 kids love it the most (they are 18,13 and 9). Entrance prices are inline with other parks of this Quailty.

Pros: Safe - Fast moving, Lines - WaterPark , included W/Addmission

Cons: High drink prices, High Food prices

Carowinds is horrible. It is almost identical to Paramount's Kings Dominion, but they made all the rides smaller and renamed them. I highly recommend Paramount's Kings Dominion in Virgina rather than this. It's a ripoff if you love theme parks.

Cons: , small

I went to Carowinds during the Halloween thing they did, called "Scarowinds". It was from 7pm to 11 or 12 midnight. It was absolutely the most incredible amusement park experience I've ever had! The roller coasters were open, and the entire park was modified and decorated for Halloween. There were several "haunted" rides and trails to experience. It was the best! I'm going back this year.

Pros: incredible atmosphere, fairly cheap, great rides!

Cons: open just a few hours

We have been regulars at Carowinds for many years. It is a great value. Excellent rides and small crowds make this a great place to visit every year. We have purchased season passes for the past three seasons and have used them often.

Pros: uncrowded, great kids area, great rides

Cons: expensive food

Carowind's is really fun and they have wonderful rides! They have some of the best roller coasters in the world.

Pros: good food, great rides, good parking

There is no way that Carowinds is the best place in the Charlotte area. It is overpriced and crowded

I feel that Carowinds is more for the 11-20 crowd.. the children attractions are minimal and boring for children ages 6-10.. It is sad because I do believe it is a nice theme park but they lack attractions for this age group

Pros: Easy to get to

Cons: % of family can enjoy

Im a local, and Ive been to carowinds plenty of times. The park is very clean and very well maintained. Its a fun place to go with friends but the ridage is kind of dinky. Top Gun in cool and the Vortex is short but sweet, however they don't have the repeat ride value like certain Apollo's Chariots in certain Williamsburg theme parks. Still, with the Frenzoid and backwards Thunder Road, its a sure fire fun day.

Pros: Frenzoid, Coasters, Cleanliness

Cons: Price, Temperature (HOT)

The Hurler definitely lives up to its name, but if you're looking for family fun, get out your wallet. It is expensive to get into the park. If you want to play games, that too will cost a pretty penny.

Carrowinds has changed alot over the years and even changed Owners 2 times. Overall I think the Changes made have been Positive and it is a Great Family Park. Has some Great Thrill rides, decent food and a Cool Water Park.

Pros: Rides, InExpense, Water Park

Cons: Crowded on Weekends, yr to yr changes

I don't like amusement parks, but my daughter loves them. Carowinds has so many rides for the little kiddies (8 and under) so it's not a wasted day for us. She prefers Carowinds to Disney or 6 Flags - so much so that we've flown from Bermuda (where we live) to Charlotte for 3 visits in the last 2 years (of course, we had other things to do there too). We'll be back again real soon.

It's nothing I get excited over, but great for kids.
The Waterpark was an added touch. The best time to go is in August. There is virtually no waiting.

Name one major concert or major professional sport where you can attend for less than $30? I'd be surprised if you can. And you're talking 2-4 hours of entertainment at most. Now name a place where you can attend for $31.99 or less (there's always a discount coupon available) and spend 8-10 hours doing a variety of activities. That's right. Carowinds. Folks who complain about the price aren't paying attention to the price of entertainment these days. A theme park is an incredible deal. And as for parking and food prices, I give you concerts and sporting events once again. You always pay for parking and overpay for food and souvenirs, but that's a part of entertainment in America. For what you get, there's no better value than a theme park. And the thrill of Top Gun beats a Chris Weinke touchdown pass any day of the week!

Pros: Length of Visit, Variety of Activities, Helpful Staff

Cons: Summer Heat, Few Major Thrill Ride

Coming from NY/NJ (Six Flags) and OH (Cedar Point) I can't help but be underwhelmed by Carowinds. It's almost as expensive as either park and offers far less entertainment. Buy season passes if you plan on going more than once, and eat at the Subway on premise if at all, it'll save you some cash. It looks like it's been redone since most of the reviews on here, fairly clean, well painted, though some of their customer service people need some training in manners, since I supposedly moved to the gentle South.

Pros: Fun, WaterPark, Season Pass Priv's

Cons: Expensive, Crowded, Bad Customer Service

The rides were great and the park was very clean.