Carowinds, Charlotte

We are North Carolinians and each summer we do a family trip (meaning our little family plus our other relatives). We're going back to Carowinds this year after taking a break and exploring other places. The rides are great for our kids (they are 6 and 7) and while it can be expensive for food, I can't complain too much about the quality and we go in knowing we're going to buy X amount of things for X amount of dollars, and a cup that gets us free refills. It's an amusement park, folks... plan extra $ for higher priced food into your budget, because there's NO outside food or drink allowed in this park at all! The best thing about it by far, though is the fact that if you're done riding the rides and want to cool off, you can head over to the Boomerang Bay water park and enjoy that area! Then, when you're done with the water, you can go right back to the rides. Overall, the trip to Charlotte is convenient and inexpensive. Check for deals! When we went, we got coupons from the school and grocery store for discounted admission. We also use the MWR office on Ft. Bragg as well as check online for specials at the actual Carowinds website. We enjoy it, and that's why every couple of years we go back!

I am a nursing mother. I was not allowed to bring in any water. I drink 3 liters + every day. They searched my bag and made me get rid of my liter of water. I didn't give in and pay for water, I just got several free cups of water at the concession stands. So, they ended up paying for all of those tiny cups when they could have just let me bring in mine. And, they have a NO rain check policy. So if it thunders and rains all day and the rides are closed, tough luck. If you have diabetes or any other need to bring in your snacks, tough luck. You can't bring them in. You can walk out to your car in the heat if you want your own snack.

loved the rides especially the intimidator and river rapids ride and boo blaster was fun too. have a 9 and 15 year old and both had a ball on everything. love how you can get free water everywhere you go. went to emerald point this year and they wouldnt give you water even if you had your own cup.we will definitely go back to carowinds again.was also very clean.

Likes: The rides were great once you actually had a chance to ride them. Dislikes:The average wait appox 30 to 40 minutes per ride child or adults. If you have children 40" inches or below take them somewhere else and save big bucks. My child was a half inch from getting the pink band, but was giving the white band. So get have them wear big healed tennis shoes, if they are border line. It makes a huge difference on ride selection The cost of drink and sandwiches for a family of 4 was $45.00, and the 16 oz drink was $4.25.

Easier to drive to than Disney,The motels won't cost you $900.00 for 3 nights at the Hilton in Downtown Disney and the park won't cost you $868.00 for 2 days either. The rides are way more exciting to ride and lines are shorter on average.

this park is way too crowded and the people that work there are rude and they wont let you bring in your own drinks or food so guess what you have to pay 5 - 7 dollar and food for 1 person is about15 dollars you have to wait on a ride for about 45 min to a hour so you can ride about 6 or 7 rides in the whole day not to mention the last time me and my wife was there she had he bag stolen we left it on a binch for not even a min we turn around and its gone and when we go to the secruity they did nothing!! Are season passes were in the bag and guess what if we want to get new ones it will cost us 25 $ a piece im never going back it so poorly managed it rediculse

This park had all the things that you need. Roller coasters, waterpark and a kids amusement area for the smaller ages. The only surprise that we had was how big it actually was. It felt like we walked forever to get through the whole park and still on day 2 we found areas that we had misses. Nice place to visit and bring the kids for vacation.

My family and I have the most fun at carowinds than anywhere eles that we go. There is so much to do,and the best thing that ever happen to carowinds is the wonderful smooth ride "the inteminator" WOW everyone should at least take the chance, I'm sure it will be the ride of your life. Every visit for me and my family has been very exciting and the price wasn't so bad either. Season gold tickets for four was only 280.00 for the whole year. Have fun and enjoy! I'm sure you will. Brenda Braswell

We live close to Carowinds and when we have family come to visit from out of town, its was nice to go there. However I have to say, as the price for addmisstion goes up, the less rides there are working. The roller coaster that has changed names now 3 or 4 times, you know the one where you lay down, has not been runnin the 3 times we have one to visit. Most of the eateries we outside seating, when the temps are over 100 degrees, some where to go inside to cool down would be nice.

I enjoy rollercoasters and after moving to South Carolina, Carowinds was the closest amusement park. A couple of us went there on a Monday to check it out for ourselves. We were able to ride all the rides within 2-2.5 hours and then we spend 4-5 hours in the water park. The park seemed way too over priced. I went to Cedar Point in Sandusky Ohio from 10am-10pm and still had 1-2 rides I didn't ride and I only paid around $30. At Carowinds we were done and ready to go home by 5:30pm and we paid $45. I'm sure there's better things to spend your money on than an over priced amusement park.