Carowinds Day 1

Today, April 1, I went to Carowinds for the first time. This started my season of coasters with a bang!

When I arrived at the park, 1 PM, I wanted to ride Intimidator. The park was quite crowded since it was upper 70s temperature whise. Anyways I suspected Intimidator would be about as good as diamondback, but boy was I wrong. It was so much better! In the back is where I sat and it had amazing air time. It had a 30 minute wait. When I looked at other rides, they looked like they had a lot longer than that.

Because of the long lines, I wanted to take a trip on some of the small lined rides like Hurler, Goldrusher, and the splashing boat ride. Hurler was a pleasent suprise. I've heard so much grief about it, but I thought it was pretty good. Goldrusher was a mine train with an exciting ending. Other than that, it was kind of boring. The splash boat got me wet, as expected, which was nice since it was hot.

After all that, it was time to hit Thunder Road. I got a nice 15 minute wait even though the North Carolina side was broken down. I liked Thunder Road more than Racer at Kings Island for sure. It had more air time even though they are basically the same ride.

After Thunder Road, I hit Intimidator again. The ride attendant pushed my restraint in tighter than normal, and I didn't get much air time. After that, I went to ride Scream Weaver. Its a Witches Wheel type ride that made me queezy. I'm not riding that again.

I decided I wanted to go to ride an indoor attraction because of the heat. The only one they had was Boo Blasters. I really stink at that ride. I only scored 90 points where you 30 points for hitting a target. I don't even think my blaster was broken.

After that, I rode Thunder Road again. Then it was 6:50 and I rode Afterburn. I had ridden Montu and Raptor before, and I was wondering if Afrterburn would be at that level. It was. I rode it with a 30 minute wait than got a pop and rode it again. The park was closing at 8 PM, and I road Afterburn 6 times in an hour. I road it 5 times between 7:30 and 8. In fact, they just let me stay on the ride for the last 3 times without getting out. At 8 pm they closed the ride and the park.

Then, at 8 pm, I still saw Intimitador still running. I ran the fastest I've ever ran from Afterburn to Intimidator and got there right before they closed the line. I got on the last, or second to last, train of the day for Intimidator and Afterburn. I didn't think I would get night rides on both.

Overall I'm pleased with Carowinds and can't wait to ride some of the rides I skipped tomorrow and the other days!

Hurler was running very well this past weekend, with the trim after the first drop off, so you caught it on a good day. Thunder Road is just off a 5 year rehab (Read-Rebuild) and is running very well on both sides, save for a little bumpyness on the last 2 hills, but it's still a great ride.

What made Intimidator better than Diamondback? Pacing? Airtime? I'm curious because I've heard such wonderful things about Diamondback, and it's on one of my "priority" lists. Did you ride different seats for each of your rides on Afterburn and Intimidator? Where did you find offered the best ride?

I have only been to Carowinds once, and I was so young I couldn't ride anything, so this park still remains on the "must re-visit" list.

I still don't trust Hurler. The one at KD was in need of an industrial sized can of gasoline and some well placed matches.

Hah, Clint. You were at Carowinds the same time as Tyler. Dd you guys race?

bunky666 said:

I still don't trust Hurler. The one at KD was in need of an industrial sized can of gasoline and some well placed matches.

I've had really good rides on both, and really poor rides on both (and a few truly amazing rides on the Carowinds version). With wooden coasters, my advice will always be the same...ride them at least once per visit, and judge for yourself.

bunky666 said:
What made Intimidator better than Diamondback? Pacing? Airtime? I'm curious because I've heard such wonderful things about Diamondback, and it's on one of my "priority" lists. Did you ride different seats for each of your rides on Afterburn and Intimidator? Where did you find offered the best ride?

I have only been to Carowinds once, and I was so young I couldn't ride anything, so this park still remains on the "must re-visit" list.

I still don't trust Hurler. The one at KD was in need of an industrial sized can of gasoline and some well placed matches.

Intimidator had more airtime and more unique elements. Diamondback just had had a bunch of hills and one overbanked turn, while Intimidator had the most intersting spiral hills ever, and it the air time hills with more velocity than Diamondback. Diamondback and Intimidator are not exactly alike by any means and they both are great rides.

Afterburn and Intimidator are both are "Any Seat Rides". It just depends on what you want. Afterburn is best in the front, though, and Intimidator gives the most air time in the back. Intimidator also is fun in the front, though.

Josh, we were there on different days. I was there on the 30th.