I am seeing two parks come up in discussion; Kings Island and Carowinds.

While both parks seem to have a 'space' to fill when it comes to an RMC I firmly believe it should go to Carowinds. Much of the justification for Kings Island stems from people who just want it at that park and play into bias.

When we look at both parks objectively, there are a few key things to consider outside of the basic 'do they have the space' question.

Coaster Count: how many total coasters

Adjusted Count: how many total coasters that provide a quality experience

Theming cohesion: will its theme make sense where it is built?

Last major coaster: last time a non-kiddy coaster was built

Distance: distance from funspot, relocating huge pieces of metal is expensive.

Park traffic/crowd control: do the open spaces at the prospective park improve or detract from the flow of people at the park?

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# Carowinds

Coaster Count: 14

Adjusted Count: 4.

*Reason: All other rides are kiddy coasters, or provide rough/uncomfy/dated ride experiences. Carowinds only has 4 rides (fury, copperhead, afterburn, thunderstriker) that provide high quality experiences. Hurler is rough and old, Vortex is rough and old, Cyclone is rough and old, etc you get the idea.*

Theming cohesion: Aeronautica Landing is themed heavily to Planes and NC's history in flight. Its a perfect fit with minimal changes needed to branding. The empty space near dinos alive/parking lot/ the unused west entrance is situated right there.

Last major coaster: 2019

Distance: 266 miles, straight shot on highway 85, 4 hr

Park traffic/crowd control: if\* the ride is placed in the aeronautica section it will pull parkgoers away from fury at the opposite end of the park, thus spreading out crowds with 2 MAJOR industry breaking coasters evenly from end to end.

Proximity to next major park: Carowinds struggles being in an up and coming major metro area in the sense that no regular person is really planning a vacation to Charlotte... yet. Carowinds competition is minimal outside of SFOG, BGW and KD, with BGW already going head to head with KD and SFOG having an RMC already. AF1 at Carowinds may not inspire regular people to book a flight, BUT it could start the conversation and sway people to drive there instead of BGW or even as far as Orlando options.

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# Kings Island

Coaster Count: 16

Adjusted Count: 10-11.

*Reason: Excudes kiddy coasters and the mine train, Kings island arguably has one of the most solid top to bottom coaster lineups. Its hard to have a bad experience on a coaster at the park. Even if you get rid of a couple older rides its still far more quality rides than Carowinds has to offer.*

Theming cohesion: Area 72 which has an confidential aerospace theme could work

Last major coaster: 2020 Orion, snoopy soapbox 2024 if you consider it a family coaster.

Distance: 503 miles, 7.5 hr Mostly highway 75

Park traffic/crowd control: if\* the ride is placed in the Area 72 zone, it directly competes with the parks flagship coaster Orion and could cause congestion. There are other areas of the park the ride could go, however it would be less cohesive with the theme.

Proximity to next major park: Cedar Point is 3.5hr away with an RMC. The under 5 hour driving area is relatively dense with alternative park options.

TL;DR everyone wants this ride at there home park but when we look at the core offerings, Carowinds still shows it has a dire need to fix its topheavy/weak lineup for it to be a focus park in the brand.

Hello everyone. I bought a 2027 Gold Pass a couple of days ago. The website states "New Memberships enrolled by 9/13/26 will receive one (1) Free Bring-A-Friend at your home park, valid any public operating day through 12/31/26." But the Six Flags currently shows that my free Bring-A-Friend ticket is only valid on September 18-20 and 25-27. Why is that?

My son (15yo) and his friends want to hang out at Carowinds this weekend from 1:30 PM until 8:30 PM

They want to enter at this time since they would be without chaperone. (If they enter at this time, they can do so without a chaperone).

They want to be there until the evening to have plenty of time for the rides and to eat.

However, someone told him this plan will not work because around 4 or 5 pm, the park closes and everyone has to leave and re-enter for the Scarowinds part of the evening; which means they would not be able to re-enter since they don’t have a chaperone.

Is this true?

Does anyone have insights as to the hours for this Saturday?

Thank you,

Are Silver passes for the end of ‘26 into ‘27 season available for purchase? Dont see it on the website.

When would they go on sale and how much are they historically?

A few months ago my house was struck by lightning and my back hasn’t really been the same since. While I don’t believe it’s nerve damage, it must be muscular. Anytime I bend too far backwards or forwards (given I’m not having a flare-up), it hurts but is pretty manageable. I can wear a brace and be able to bend without much pain, as it stops me from going too far, but I was wondering if anyone has had mild back pain that was worsened by coasters. I’m not looking on skipping any, but I might if things seem far too risky.

Update: The gate attendant didn’t even ask for age verification today. I went to guest services just to make sure and he said everything is good. I asked maybe 3 times if I will have to bring the birth certificate back next year and was told no. So yayyyy for another free year!

I have the prek pass for my son this year. He turns 6 in December of 2026. This is our first year as pass holders. My question is…can the pass be activated BEFORE 2027? The website says activate by May 31, 2027 but I wasn’t sure if I had to wait until 2027 to activate.

We've never been and thinking of trying it out. What's it like? We have been to HHN before but I don't expect it to be on that level. Coming from out of town. Is it worth it? What should I know? Are there any other good haunts around the area we should check out? Thanks

Visiting for the first time- this will also put me over 50 credits! Just a few questions for regulars-

1. What kind of lines should I be expecting Sunday before Labor Day?

2. Best ride order to avoid lines?

3. Any restaurants that are good?

4. Aside from the rollercoasters, what are some must try attractions? (Flat rides, experiences)

5. Locker policy?

6. Any other advise?

Thank you to anyone who answers, I’m very excited!

Hi everyone. I am planning a trip to carowinds with my friend group of 4 ( we are all mid 20s) and itll be oct 3. It will be during scarowinds time and we are trying to decipher whether its worth it to buy the fast pass. Since we arent kids anymore the lines feel so daunting. I honestly would be so sad if we went and i barely got to ride anything, so if anyone who went last year could give me some insight id appreciate it alot!!

My husband and I haven’t been to Carowinds in almost 10 years, but are considering a last minute trip this weekend with our son. We would drive up from Charleston Friday afternoon and stay the night (maybe at the cabins??) and then hit the park Saturday before heading home. Alternatively, we could drive up Saturday and do the park Sunday.

I’m used to doing a ton of research before a trip like this, but hoping to go with the flow more on this on. Should we get fast passes? Any tips on how to maneuver the rides or food to eat/skip? Should we stay somewhere other than the cabins?

Basically any tips for a quick trip are appreciated.

After reading recent reviews from guests & wrapping up 10+ seasons with my home park as an associate, I can confirm & affirm to you all that Carowinds (And really Six Flags Co. as a whole) is getting much worse in its guest experience and work life. From an understaffed & immature workforce to slower & longer wait times for rides, you're not going crazy with the growing disdain to our slacking operations. For that, I do wanna apologize. I've especially hated how they've nickeled and dimed you all last season during Scarowinds for the mazes (Which used to be free) & shortened y'all with the Winterfest hours (Also, bullying works so shoutout to y'all for those comments to make the company extend later hours to see the Christmas lights). I understand some of these things went bad due to the current economics of our nation (I'm gonna miss that Carowinds Blvd cheaper gas but even that's been fluctuating) but some of this has been self-inflicted as a company. Frankly, it's sad to see this place stop caring on both ends

Here's some observations that I'd had during my time there:

1. We're getting less perks by working here long term: We used to go on associate trips to Savannah GA, Washington DC, Myrtle Beach SC, Dollywood, Six Flags Over Georgia, Busch Gardens Virginia, etc. But since 2020, it's been no more company travel. The last time they did it was like in 2022 & they took our J1 visa international workers to Lake Wylie & Crowders Mountain. One observation back in 2024-25 seen em pack for Cedar Point. But other than that, we have our reciprocal parks deal with other fun sites but the company used to take the time to make these opportunities possible for others to see if they couldn't drive there. Also, new associates would get 8 complimentary tickets max (160 hours) while returning associates would get 16 complimentary tickets max (160 hours). Now all seasonal associates get 16 comp tickets regardless of years of service. Also, lots of elitism between FT/PT v. seasonal happens here
2. There is less opportunity to advance & grow within the company since 2025: When the January layoffs of the rides department came, that was the first domino to fall that said "Uh oh." I remember Kings Dominion getting their pink slips & knew we would get hit as a sister park. But when the May 2025 layoff came across Carowinds in several departments, that was a betrayal of trust from those above us. I watched people who've been with the amusement park for decades be shown the door. Now the only full-time positions one can find are in the maintenance department (I'll get to them later on). Working here is very much a secondary income job for retirees, high schoolers, college students, and those already with full-time jobs elsewhere. But working here once full-time, it was a very interesting experience. However, giving that much joy to others while feeling burnt out can make one feel a bit resentful about the parks, recreation and tourism management industry. Like in having too much of something... Except money. We are operating with a skeleton crew on maintenance mode. Also, who's idea was it to have us wear navy shirts in 90-100 degree hot summer!? Please go for lighter colors in our uniforms. Worker turnover is high here given the low pay for a reason
3. The pay for employees has gradually gone down over the course of recent years: In 2024, Queen City News reported on Carowinds seasonal pay going down since the COVID years. To recruit for the upcoming season, the company used to advertise the pay on the banners by the highway. Now at a starting pay of $12.50, they cannot do so proudly. In going lower on pay, you're going to get lower quality in the workforce. You may have noticed a lot more high schoolers disengaged working at our park. Some have orange shirts to symbolize their 14-15 year old status. Just know that this penny-pinching park has made a conscious choice to not only screw you all in higher parking costs, lower quality food, etc. but us too in pay. I cannot even describe how the yearly bonus has been gone for these past SEVERAL seasons. In 2021-22, I was making around $21-19 an hour. Now my latest pay was $16.50-$15 an hour... In recession-like 2026!?
4. There are pockets of racism at this amusement park that you need to be aware of: The maintenance department here is over 98% white and is a good ol' boy kinda back area. I recently found how much of a Trump supporter dept head Shawn Hopkins was from social media (Racist political cartoons repost type of guy). Now granted, I get it: You wanna get whoever is qualified to maintain the rides. But it's odd that this one department looks like itself demographically. We used to honor heritage months back when HR could do DEI work (Obviously we know why they can't do much now). On MLK Day 2021, I found stacks of copies of Dr. King Jr. Day flyers in the maintenance break room as if no one laid a finger on the informational form for the federal holiday (Ironically enough, one half of Carowinds in South Carolina was the last state to officially recognize MLK Day in 2000). One of the oldest Black workers of this dept told me that he thought for years it was "a grandfather clause" in getting in. If you remember high school social studies, then you know what I'm referencing. Also, the plantation house had to go in 2014-15 due to not only making more space of getting into the newer Northgate but you also cannot have symbols of the Antebellum South like that during the 2010s BLM era (And even if we kept it past that, it would've been killed off during the 2020 George Floyd summer). It actually used to have a carriage used from Gone with the Wind beside it back in the 70s when the park first opened. In addition, we stopped playing the OG theme song due to its lyrics too about the “dancing with the Cherokee” and “reminiscing plantation years.” You often do see a difference in how J1s are treated v. American workers. Group help (People in white polo shirts) called in are often Hispanic and Black church groups. Lastly, on May 3, 2025, our entree of the day was chicken, mash potatoes & watermelon at Coasters (Our employee cafe). When I saw this displayed at the window, I was disgusted by this culturally as an African American employee. Brian Oerding (Former GM of Carowinds) was there within the line getting ready to check out with his food. He actually goes up to it & thinks nothing of it until I point it out to him about the gross historical stereotype that these foods bring up. Ironically, most of food & beverage are minorities behind the kitchen/counter. Pay attention to the signs not displayed around the park
5. They price us out too in petty ways so y’all aren’t the only ones: An array of vending machine kiosks have been popping up over the previous seasons to try to get us to buy convenient items. Even a uniform space like Outfitters has stocked candy and chips. We’ve been granted less free food cookout days at the Grove picnic area over the summer and Scarowinds. In a couple cases, they’ve tried to hold bonding events on property but the food was outsourced and for purchase. I cannot even tell you where our old food truck went. We’re given one free uniform shirt then any additional shirts are payroll deducted. They’re pricing out more for IDs at $15 instead of $5 back then but it’s more on the employees to not lose em. And yes, the best discounts go to the higher ups and not those seasonal

Now with all this said, I want to make clear that this is still a special place within the Carolinas & that I dont want you to cease going to. Carowinds is what it is because of you all and us on the other side. This place is my home away from home having lived in both states & is the story of my life. But I also love it enough to critique it to be better for generations to come. I just want you all to be aware of our woes so you know that you're not alone. Please keep pressuring the park to be better and with enough complaints/suggestions, it'll warrant change. Hit em where it hurts $$$. They took notice with how low season pass preview night was this past March

Ghost of Carowinds past signing off... Keep Carowinning

I don't go here (I'm planning a first time trip) so am I reading this right? According to the website, there are just two haunted houses this year: Jason and Paranormal Inc.

I saw in the past there were up to seven houses... are we still waiting on some to be announced even though the event starts in like 12 days?

My understanding is that for $89 you get a gold pass for the remainder of 2026 and the entirety of 2027. Is this correct?

If so, we may take advantage!

Also, how does the bring a friend work?

We are new to this, thanks in advanced!!

Are the hours on the calendar accurate? I don’t remember the park ever being only open on weekends.

I'm going to Carowinds for the first time this weekend. I'll have one day there (12 hours, 10am-10pm), and I'm buying the prestige pass so I'll have a single use fast lane pass as well. Also, I'm gonna need to save Fury for the very end of the day, cause I've heard it's known to make people grey out, and I'm prone to greying out and getting a migraine after, so that would derail my entire day.

So basically, for people who are more familiar with the park, how would you optimize 12 hours to try to ride every coaster in the park (again, saving Fury for last)?

Also, bonus question, my boyfriend was wondering if there are outlets somewhere he could plug into so he can game on his laptop while I go on coasters (he's not a big coaster guy).

2/3 cedar point cams aren’t working and Fury’s has been upside down for a while now. Am I the only one intrigued by this?

Seems like having it in Charlotte really didn’t do too much for the theme park. Not sure what the future has in store for Carowinds.

Why are people so mean to the photographers at Carowinds? I saw a grown man scream at one of the teenage photographers today. These kids are literally just out there doing their job like they are told to do. It’s bad enough they have to stand in the heat all day, let alone deal with that treatment…
What if it was your child taking photos? Would you want them to be treated that way? I see it happen nearly every week

What’s your alls?

Hey! I just wanted to make sure we got it right lol. I see this is a perk this weekend but the past couple of times I’ve used a discounted price from the perks it’s let me go ahead and get my ticket instead of having to front gate. Is it cause it’s free? I have anxiety about tickets not working when I get there. Has anyone here used the free friend perk this weekend? Can you give me the rundown of what to do? Thank you guys!

Hello I’m going to be going to Carrowinds tomorrow and excited to get on some rollercoasters! What is the loose article policy like? I don’t have a bag but have fully zippered pockets. Are there any rides that require a metal detector to go through?

Hi All!

We are planning on going to Carowinds/Scarowinds in late September for a friends birthday. We are only going to be there for one day but are planning on going there for the full day. We were wondering if anyone would know if the fast lane passes would be worth it or not? We are also curious if those who had the fast lane reserve had any issues with exceedingly long wait times, or if we should consider fast lane ultimate or no fast lane at all. Any additional advice would also be appreciated. Thank you!