Kaicey W.
Yelp
Carowinds is great for something to do. Is it the greatest park ever? No. Could it be better? Yes. But is it good for what it is? Sure. There's a lot of potential here, and I hope they eventually reach it. Especially since it's pretty convenient to where I live. They seem to be experiencing some growing pains, like the rest of Charlotte right now. It feels like a shell of the park it was when I was a kid, but the three newer coasters they have are impressive and worth a trip in themselves. And it looks like they're working to add more new (hopefully good) rides.
Don't go into this place expecting what the theme parks in Florida offer; they are not the same. There is no real theme, anywhere. And the customer service and food options leave a lot to be desired. But if you keep those expectations in check and hopefully visit on a day with good weather, you should have a good time. And since there are only a few good rides, you can get those in and walk around or head out after just a few hours. Not great for those paying for daily tickets (and $30 parking), but if you live close enough to go more than once, the annual pass can easily pay for itself. For those with kids or that enjoy the smaller/ other rides that spin and flip around, there are plenty of other things to do on that front. Your mileage may vary. For me, I find Fury, Intimidator (still refuse to call it the new name), and Copperhead to be the best rides. The other coasters are definitely showing their age and will leave you feeling like you've been in a wreck. I was shocked at how rough Top Gun (Afterburner?) is now. And don't even think about riding that teal one over near where the drop tower was... instant headache. There's a reason it never has a long wait. Learned that lesson the hard way. Also learned there's a first aid station heading towards Copperhead that can give you some Tylenol for said headache.
As I mentioned before, there seem to be growing pains after the ownership changes over the years (I believe there was a merger around 2023, if I recall correctly). Things seem to change from one week to the next and can even vary from ride to ride or team member to team member. There isn't a lot of consistency that I have found, and I'm hoping that is another thing that will improve. I imagine an operation this size with the amount of people it takes to run and the amount of people it serves takes a lot of effort to manage. Hopefully, they will work on communication across the board and will find ways to take care of their employees that will in turn benefit the company and patrons. They definitely still bring the crowds and money to realize the potential this park has, so I hope it keeps being put back into it. Especially since the crowds plus lack of bigger rides means the ones they have can get slammed on a busy day. I guess time will tell what it will be, but as of the 2025 season, it's just good for what it is and where it is.