Tidal Wave Bay
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Tidal Wave Bay offers multiple wave pools and comfortable lounging options, making it a good choice for a relaxing day during hot weather. Even when crowded, it's often possible to find less busy spots.
Key Highlights
- ✓Features two distinct wave pools.
- ✓Numerous very comfortable lounge chairs are available around the pools.
- ✓Can be not too crowded on specific holidays (e.g., Father's Day).
- ✓Offers spaces to get away from crowds even when packed.
- ✓Lifeguards are numerous ('everywhere') and attentive ('keep gud eye out').
Standout Features
- ⭐Two wave pools.
- ⭐Comfortable lounge chairs.
- ⭐Abundant and attentive lifeguards.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Consider visiting on specific holidays like Father's Day, as it might be less crowded.
- →Ensure non-swimmers wear life jackets and are supervised regarding pool depth.
- →Avoid arriving right at opening time, as pools may be broken down or closed for the first few hours.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Wave pool can be closed unexpectedly, even on hot days (e.g., Sept 3, 2023, 90°).
- ⚠Frequent pool breakdowns/closures upon opening ('first two hours as they are most of the times we come').
- ⚠Maintenance issues persist despite management change (Cedar Fair takeover mentioned).
Price & Value
Season passes may not offer good value due to reported frequent breakdowns and closures, leading to dissatisfaction among repeat visitors.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No accommodations mentioned
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •No food policy mentioned
🚗Parking Info
- •No parking details mentioned
👥Crowd Levels
- •Can be not too crowded on specific holidays (e.g., Father's Day).
- •Can be packed at times, especially on hot summer days, but less crowded spots can usually be found.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Lifeguards are numerous ('everywhere') and attentive ('keep gud eye out').
- •Parental guidance is needed for non-swimmers regarding life jackets and pool depth.
⏰When to Avoid
- • Going without confirming wave pool operation, especially on anticipated busy days.
- • Arriving right at opening time, as pools might be broken down.
- • Buying season passes if frequent breakdowns and closures would significantly impact enjoyment or value for money.
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
2026 Gold Pass
$8/mo* (for 10 months after $19 initial payment, or $99 total)Duration: Now through End of 2026
The best value pass for unlimited fun.
Includes:
- •Access to 40+ Six Flags Parks (including Six Flags Over Georgia, valid in 2025 and 2026)
- •Unlimited Visits (Now Through the End of 2026)
- •Free General Parking
- •Admission to SCarowinds & Tricks and Treats
- •Includes Winterfest
- •Renewal Pricing Available
- •Easy Payment Plan
- •10% Food & Merchandise Discounts
- •Bring-A-Friend Discount Tickets
- •Pass Perks
- •Early Entry to Park & Water Park
- •10% Six Flags Hotel Discounts
2026 Prestige Pass
$16/mo* (for 10 months after $35 initial payment, or $195 total)Duration: Now through End of 2026
Experience the ultimate VIP treatment at Carowinds.
Includes:
- •Access to 40+ Six Flags Parks (including Six Flags Over Georgia, valid in 2025 and 2026)
- •Unlimited Visits (Now Through the End of 2026)
- •Free Preferred Parking
- •Admission to SCarowinds & Tricks and Treats
- •Includes Winterfest
- •Renewal Pricing Available
- •Easy Payment Plan
- •15% Food & Merchandise Discounts
- •Bring-A-Friend Discount Tickets
- •Pass Perks
- •Early Entry to Park & Water Park
- •10% Six Flags Hotel Discounts
- •Preferred Entrance (2 hours daily)
- •1 Single-Use Fast Lane Per Visit
- •2 FREE Bring-A-Friend Tickets Annually (valid July 28, 2025 - end of 2025 season at home park, then at all 40+ parks in 2026)
- •Access To VIP Area
2026 All Season Dining Plan
From $99Duration: 2025 & 2026 seasons
Dine all season for one great price, with lunch and dinner every visit.
Includes:
- •Lunch and dinner every visit for the 2025 & 2026 season
- •Maximum of two meals per day
- •Four-hour interval time between meals
2026 Season Pass Drink Plan
From $36.99Duration: 2025 & 2026 seasons
Enjoy unlimited Coca-Cola® Fountain Beverages all season.
Includes:
- •Unlimited Coca-Cola® fountain beverage refills
- •15-minute interval time between refills
2026 Season Pass Drink Plan+
From $36.99Duration: 2025 & 2026 seasons
Enjoy unlimited Coca-Cola® Fountain Beverages, ICEE, hot chocolate, and coffee all season.
Includes:
- •Unlimited Coca-Cola® fountain beverage refills
- •Unlimited ICEE refills
- •Unlimited hot chocolate refills (available seasonally)
- •Unlimited coffee refills (available seasonally)
- •15-minute interval time between refills
2026 All Season Digital Photo Pass
Not specified (Valid for all of 2025 & 2026 visits)Duration: 2025 & 2026 seasons
Capture all your memories with unlimited digital photos.
Includes:
- •Unlimited digital photos from every visit in 2025 & 2026
- •On-ride photos & roaming photographers
- •Discount on prints & souvenirs
2026 Season Pass Fast Lane
From $499Duration: 2025 & 2026 seasons
Bypass regular lines on select rides and attractions every visit.
Includes:
- •Bypass the regular lines on select rides & attractions
- •Valid every visit in 2025 & 2026
- •Limited quantities available each season
Birthday Packages
Only $68.49Duration: Per package
Celebrate birthdays with admission, meal, and snack.
Includes:
- •Admission
- •Single Meal Deal + Snack per package
- •One FREE Birthday Package included (with a minimum of 8 paid packages)
Haunted Attractions Pass
From $10Duration: Single night (selected date)
Unlock unlimited access to haunted mazes during SCarowinds.
Includes:
- •Unlimited access to haunted mazes all night
- •Does not include park admission
Haunted Attractions Express Pass
From $49Duration: Single night (selected date)
Unlock priority access to haunted mazes and an entry to The Conjuring: Beyond Fear.
Includes:
- •Includes a single entry to The Conjuring: Beyond Fear
- •Unlimited priority access to haunted mazes all night
- •Does not include park admission
- •Limited quantities available
All Season Haunted Attractions Express Pass
From $89Duration: All season
Enjoy season-long priority access to haunted mazes and The Conjuring: Beyond Fear.
Includes:
- •Includes single entry to The Conjuring: Beyond Fear each night
- •Unlimited priority access to haunted mazes all season
- •Must be added to a valid Season Pass
- •Limited quantities available
The Conjuring: Beyond Fear
From $15Duration: Single entry
An all-new, next-level interactive horror experience from The Conjuring Universe.
Includes:
- •Interactive, small-group experience through iconic scenes
- •Next-level horror experience
- •Does not include park admission or access to haunted mazes
- •Limited quantities available
Interactive Lantern
Only $39.99Duration: Per lantern
Illuminate your path and unlock hidden secrets around SCarowinds.
Includes:
- •Encounter interactive activities around SCarowinds
No Boo Necklace
From $18.99Duration: Per day/use
Give yourself scare immunity from the park's monsters during SCarowinds.
Includes:
- •Significantly reduces the likelihood of being scared by monsters in scare zones
Single Meal Deal
Only $19.49Duration: Single meal
Enjoy a single meal with a drink at participating locations.
Includes:
- •One entrée
- •One side item
- •One regular-sized Coca-Cola® fountain drink
All Day Dining
Only $32.99Duration: All day
Dine all day with an entrée and side item every 90 minutes.
Includes:
- •One entrée and one side item
- •90-minute interval time between meals
- •Drinks not included
Premium All Day Dining
Only $44.99Duration: All day
Drink and dine all day with meals/snacks and unlimited refills.
Includes:
- •One entrée and one side item, or a snack
- •Includes a Drink Wristband for unlimited Coca-Cola® refills all day
- •90-minute interval time between meals or snacks
- •15-minute interval time between refills
Souvenir Bottle or Drink Wristband
From $19.99Duration: All day
Enjoy Coca-Cola® Fountain Beverages all day.
Includes:
- •Souvenir Bottle: Free refills during your first visit, $6.00 (plus tax) for refills all day on any future 2025 visit.
- •Drink Wristband: Includes a paper cup for each refill on the day of your visit
- •15-minute interval time between refills
All Season Souvenir Bottle
Only $36.99Duration: 2025 Season
Enjoy free Coca-Cola® Fountain Beverage refills throughout the 2025 season.
Includes:
- •Free refills on Coca-Cola® Fountain Beverages during the 2025 season
- •15-minute interval time between refills
Fast Lane (Daily)
From $75Duration: Single day (selected date)
Bypass regular lines on 26 select rides and attractions.
Includes:
- •Bypass the regular lines on select rides & attractions (26 rides)
- •Valid on the date selected
- •Limited quantities available each day
- •Admission not included
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
SCarowinds presented by SNICKERS®
Select nights through 11/2 (e.g., October 3, October 4)
Admission included with 2026 Gold/Prestige Pass. Haunted Attractions Pass (from $10), Haunted Attractions Express Pass (from $49), All Season Haunted Attractions Express Pass (from $89), The Conjuring: Beyond Fear (from $15) are additional fees for haunted mazes/experiences. No Boo Necklace (from $18.99) and Interactive Lantern (from $39.99) also available.
Watch the evil awaken. Features haunted mazes and 'The Conjuring: Beyond Fear' interactive experience. Runs from 6:00PM - 12:00AM.
Oktoberfest
Select dates (e.g., October 4)
Assumed included with general park admission.
Family-friendly fall fun during the daytime, from 11:00AM - 7:00PM.
Tricks and Treats
Select dates (e.g., October 4)
Admission included with 2026 Gold/Prestige Pass. Assumed included with general park admission.
Family-friendly fall fun for all ages during the daytime, from 11:00AM - 5:00PM.
🍎Food Policy
- • Dining Plans: All Day Dining allows one entrée and one side item every 90 minutes. All Season Dining allows lunch and dinner every visit with a four-hour interval between meals (max two meals/day). Premium All Day Dining allows one entrée/side or snack every 90 minutes. Drink refills have a 15-minute interval.
- • Drinks: Not included with All Day Dining and All Season Dining. Single Meal Deal includes a regular-sized Coca-Cola® fountain beverage. Premium All Day Dining includes a drink wristband for unlimited Coca-Cola® refills.
- • Snacks: Only included with Premium All Day Dining, valid for designated snack items only, not valid for funnel cakes.
- • Adult Beverage Policy: Guests must be 21 years old to purchase, possess, or consume. Valid ID required. Maximum of two single-portion adult beverages per valid ID. Must be consumed within designated areas. Sales end one hour prior to scheduled park closing or at park management's discretion.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Fast Lane program uses wristbands with a barcode for an extra safety measure at attraction merge points.
- • No Boo Necklace: Significantly reduces the likelihood of being scared by monsters in scare zones during SCarowinds. Not permitted in Haunted Mazes or The Conjuring: Beyond Fear.
📅Booking Policy
- • Daily tickets, season passes, and add-ons can be purchased online. Some are online-only (e.g., Single Meal Deal, Premium All Day Dining).
- • Military & First Responder discounts must be redeemed online and require registration with ID.me.
- • Group activities and events can be tailored; a dedicated team is available to help plan.
- • Any paid park ticket can be upgraded to a Season Pass at any ticket window upon exiting the park.
- • Season Pass processing: Physical Season Pass cards are no longer offered at some parks (e.g., Carowinds); passes can be uploaded to the park's mobile app via barcode. For parks that still offer physical cards, they can be redeemed at the front gate on the first visit. Lost cards can be replaced for a nominal fee at Guest Services, or digitally added to the app via Live Chat/Contact Us form before visit.
- • Season Pass add-ons (Dining, Drinks, Parking) are passholder specific and non-transferable. The Season Pass must be used for park admission on the same date for benefits to be redeemed.
🚗Parking Information
- • Free General Parking: Included with Silver, Gold, and Prestige Passes (with exceptions at Canada’s Wonderland, Knott's Berry Farm, and La Ronde).
- • Preferred Parking: Available for Prestige Passholders. Accessed by scanning Prestige Pass at a toll lane for a ticket, then presenting the ticket at the Preferred Parking Lot (to the left of the front gate). Spaces are limited and first come, first served.
- • All-Season Parking add-ons: Can be purchased online for home park passes at Canada’s Wonderland and Knott’s Berry Farm.
- • Season-long parking: Valid for Knott's Scary Farm parking. Not valid for parking at the Knott's Berry Farm Hotel, metered lots, or Preferred parking lots at Knott's.
What People Say
Areas for Improvement
- Can get crowded during peak times (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Barbara Mintz
2 years agoFather's Day with the perfect day to enjoy this family type experience. It was not too crowded, in fact there are two wave pools. There are numerous very comfortable lounge chairs surrounding the pool.
double D ammit
a year ago9/3/23. Wave pool is closed today, 90°
Kris Moore
5 years agoThe pools were broke down for the first two hours as they are most of the times we come. I need to stop buying season passes. I thought when cedar fairs took over that they would get better. They haven't
Caleb Roberts
a year agoBest place to come during a hot summer day and relax. It can be packed at times but you can usually find somewhere in the pool to get away from the craziness.
ladi benjamin
3 years agoGreat just need to make sure if your kids can't swim have on life jacket. An wont go to deep. But lifeguards are everywhere An keep gud eye out.