Carowinds Questions

On our upcoming vacation, we have a connection in Charlotte. It didn't dawn on me until the next day that we'll be just 20 minutes from Carowinds! So I'm considering changing our flight to a multi-city ticket, so we have a two night layover.

-Looking at a weekday in early June.
-Park hours are only 10-7. Is staffing a problem in early June at Carowinds?
-I would think we could hit all the coasters with Fast Lane, even with the limited hours. Yes/no?
-How is their weather policy? We would be rolling the dice in this aspect, and hoping they are more like Kings Island and less like Cedar Point if we get any rain/storms.
-Is it possible to get an Uber from the park to the airport area? I'm sure they are plentiful at the airport, not so sure about the area around the park.

Thanks!

I would think we could hit all the coasters with Fast Lane, even with the limited hours.

Yes. I'd expect you could do it without Fast Lane.

Danimales:

How is their weather policy?

Is this a troll? :)

Danimales:

Is it possible to get an Uber

Yes

Danimales:

How is their weather policy? We would be rolling the dice in this aspect, and hoping they are more like Kings Island and less like Cedar Point if we get any rain/storms.

It's been several years, but on one of my last visits there was a steady rain for a good part of the day. Fury and Intimidator never stopped running three trains. And the year I went on an Opening Day (this was before Winterfest when the park had a solid 4-5 month offseason) the park was operating in midseason prime condition.

They close early on days there's rain and low attendance.

I went there last year on a 10 to 7 day in August. Almost all the rides were open. The park was not crowded and according to reports, it wasn’t crowded any weekday day last summer.

Just be very aware of the way they operate though. If there’s any rain in the air and attendance is low, they will close the park early. They did this about 10 or 12 times last summer.

If I bought a ticket to the park, splurged for fast lanes, changed my flight, spent money on an extra night in a hotel, and then they decided to close up shop early because there's not a lot of people there... holy smokes would I be pissed.

Maybe I need to rethink this.

it’s happened to me multiple times at that park.

One time I was there in November it was 50° not a cloud in the sky and they closed at 3 PM.

Last year I was there on a Sunday. It rained for a couple of hours, and stopped raining at six. They were supposed to close at 10 but they closed at six because most of the people left during the rain.

if you’re going on a weekday, I would never buy a fast lane for that park. I’ve never seen a crowded on a non-holiday weekday.

There’s a Facebook page called Carowinds Fans Only. That page is very good about posting their early closures. Last year I believe they had 10 or 12

It’s just a risky park to travel a long distance to go to, without knowing the weather forecast when you make your plans. Kings Dominion and Busch Gardens Williamsburg operate the same way

It's a risky park to travel a long distance to go to...

And there's the rub. It's a park I would love to visit. But, as you said, apparently a little risky in terms of getting a full day. In our case though, we're already passing through. The extra cost of changing to a multi-city ticket is nominal, and an extra hotel night isn't that much more money either (we're coming back from the Caribbean and have an overnight layover to begin with). But adding all that up with using a vacation day... that's where the scale tips for me. I guess I'll just have to mull that over and just make a decision.

Many of us have had great days at Carowinds, including on some days with very dodgy weather. One of us didn't and complains about it often. Maybe that person has much worse luck than the rest of us? Hard to say.

Yes, and I've never been to a Cedar Fair park that closed early for weather or any other reason, if my anecdotal experience helps at all. I have trouble imagining anyone having such poor luck at so many parks. I think if I had that many negative experiences I'd probably consider finding another hobby.

Yeah, I wouldn't worry about it. The days it has closed early have not been for "low attendance" or cloudy days. It has been days when weather would prohibit the park from operating with any kind of normalcy and a possibility of that kind of weather is typically predictable in a short term forecast.

...OP is planning a vacation with flights so he can't really wait for the short-term forecast to get good.

Right, but I think what most of us are saying is that the odds the park will close early are slim.

Might as well call off the whole trip.

Nah, can't do that. Since it's on the way, I already promised the family a stop at Knoebel's too.

Alright, flight changed, we're going for it. Can't pass up the opportunity. Hoping for good weather and Fury's supports stay intact!

I’m hoping for you too.
But it’s clear that neither of those things really matter.

Vater:

Yes, and I've never been to a Cedar Fair park that closed early for weather or any other reason, if my anecdotal experience helps at all.

Had it happen to me just once: KI closed Soak City at 3 because of storms that weren't forecast to clear out til 6. SC closes normally at 7. They kept the dry park open through the storms. Seemed perfectly reasonable to me.

BrettV:

Yeah, I wouldn't worry about it. The days it has closed early have not been for "low attendance" or cloudy days. It has been days when weather would prohibit the park from operating with any kind of normalcy and a possibility of that kind of weather is typically predictable in a short term forecast.

That is incorrect as stated in my two experiences noted above. Both are early closures were definitely for low attendance. One of those days there was no rain at all and the other one the rain stopped four hours before the schedule closing.

Carowinds Only Fans Facebook is a good source to follow to stay informed of their early closings. It was definitely excessive last year.

Carowinds has OnlyFans?