About Carowinds
Carowinds offers a thrilling amusement park experience with a variety of roller coasters and attractions, making it a great destination for families seeking adventure. The park's cleanliness and friendly staff enhance the overall experience.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families looking for a fun day out with a mix of thrill rides and family-friendly activitiesGroups with older kids who enjoy roller coastersFamilies who prefer camping and want to stay close to the parkSuitable for thrill-seekers aged 10 and up due to intense ridesYounger children can enjoy kiddie rides and games
Why families love it
- Variety of roller coasters, including Fury 325 and Thunder Striker
- Clean park environment
- Friendly and accommodating staff
- Fun games with prizes for kids
- Early entry for Gold and Platinum Pass holders
- Campground accommodations with friendly staff
Insider tips
- Visit on weekdays to avoid crowds, but be wary of school field trips
- Arrive early to maximize ride time before lines build up
- Consider bringing snacks if food options are a concern
- Check ride availability before planning your day
Good to know before you go
- Visiting during peak school field trip days
- Arriving after noon when lines become excessively long
- Limited food options, primarily deep-fried items
- Long wait times for rides, especially after noon
- Inconsistent opening times for popular rides
- Crowds
- Crowded during weekends and after school hours; expect longer wait times after noon
- Value
- Gold and Platinum Pass holders receive perks like early entry and unlimited visits, but the value may diminish if rides are not operational. Pricing for food is considered high for the quality offered, mainly deep-fried items.
- Food
- Limited healthy food options; mostly deep-fried items available
- Accessibility
- No specific accommodations mentioned for special needs; parents should inquire directly with the park
- Safety
- Rides undergo test runs before opening; safety measures are in place but can delay ride availability
What parents say
"Great park! Went for the roller coasters and it was great! We were able to ride 6 of the roller coasters and rode at least 3 of them twice. The park is clean, the employees are polite and friendly. My only complaint is that food options aren't very good. Most of the food is deep fried, specifically deep fried chicken. Some lighter food options would be great! Maybe deli sandwiches, salads etc. Overall I really enjoyed my time there and would definitely go again!"
a week ago
"With all due respect to a large theme park, if you say you're giving all these great perks to Gold and Platinum Pass holders then you need to hold up your end. We've been Gold & Platinum Pass holders for a few years off/on. Yes, this does give great perks such as early entry into the park, unlimited visits until Labor Day, etc. We got early entry into the park on Sunday, April 26th at 09:37 and made a beeline for Fury 325 which undoubtedly is one of the main attractions of the park. Only to find it closed still. For over a hour we wound up standing, waiting, debating whether to run to 1 of on"
a week ago
"Me and my relatives went here for the first time and it's beautiful. They are at the border around NC and SC. "Where Carolinas meet" Thunder striker was The best. The only downside was that when we were going down for the first time my heart went topsy turvey and I thought I was gonna pass out. Speaking of it, my brother puked 2 times, one time on one of the rides. which was that I think it was the flying cobras which wasn't as bad and we also had a loopty-loop and when we got done we changed my brother's clothes, played some games and won alot of prizes. Which also give a point. We had our s"
a week ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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