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Planning on visiting on Thursday, 6/11. We plan on getting there at opening and staying as long as we are having fun.
My main question is to ask what you expect the crowds to be like on a weekday, but early in the season. Crazy-packed, or just "pretty busy"?
Also, open to any good advice for making the most of it.
We are coming in from Raliegh the night before, staying with family.
Plan to be there at or before opening
Already have tickets
Will eat breakfast before arriving
Packing a picnic lunch
Having snacks and water bottles
Driving home after.
What else?
(I know this is a kinda dumb post, but sometimes one gets really good ideas from others who have recently done the same. And I'm curious about what people think the crowds will be like...)
This Thursday the park will probably be fairly quite. Charlotte schools are still in session (Thursday is their last day) and it is forecasted for 93 degrees.
Most everything else you have covered (minus dinner unless you eat that in the park). Ride the main attractions (Fury/Intimidator) first thing. Our wait this weekend for Fury was 10 minutes (Sunday morning within the first hour of the park opening). Walked right up for Intimidator.
Best time for the water park is right at opening and after 5.
If you have kids under 52", get them banded at the entrance near guest services. That way they know exactly what they can go on and not get measured ever time (and possibly turned away if right on the edge of being able to ride).
Free ice water at most concession stands...just ask.
Fill up with gas when you enter/leave the park. It is 20+ cents cheaper in SC than NC.
I don't think you will have much of a crowd. Be prepared for the heat though, as it seems you are.
Have a great time.
If you get in early Wednesday it might be worth your time to go to the US National White Water Center in Charlotte that afternoon and evening. Our friends from Raleigh always go to WWC and Carowinds when they come each year. VERY expensive 1 1/2 day trip, but both are activities you will not get in Raleigh. They have an older teen and a 11 year old and the whole family enjoys both, but love the white water rafting and zip lines at the WCC.
Thanks to everyone for their feedback. I'm still sitting at work (in Raleigh), so it will be late before we get in, close to midnight.
I grew up in Charlotte, and still have family there. NWWC is a fun destination. I've been going to Carowinds since Thunder Road was "the big new ride" back in the 70's, now it's the old, retiring ride. Ha! (I'm old!!!)
We are really excited and looking forward. I'll try to remember to post up about the crowds.
We had a great trip. Turns out that the advice about water was really helpful. It was HOT and MUGGY there, but we had a blast.
Lines in the AM were non-existent. We walked onto most rides for the first hour, and knocked out 4 or 5 coasters before 11AM. Crowds picked up, but never got over 20-25 minutes for coasters, maybe up to an hour for Rip Roaring Rapids, but that's always a long wait on a hot day.
Couple other tips for others (to pay it back).
The water rides don't open until 11 or 12
Thunder Road was not open in the morning, and we did not go back to see if it opened later. (No biggie)
If you don't want to wait for a water ride, just go to the log-flume thing's observation deck and you'll get sufficiently soaked.
Riding that log flume thing is a much shorter line, and while not the greatest ride ever, it absolutely soaks you! :-) Be sure to take off your shoes and leave them on the exit platform.
Not only did we have a great time, but I also got to stock up on my Bourbon Whiskey at Frugel McDugals ($142 worth), so there will be more amusements to come. I'm not really a big drinker, but I like to sip on decent to good whiskey. That was just four bottles of medium stuff.
I highly recommend the fast lane passes if your budget allows you to do so.
Why (out of curiosity)? I stated the lines were non-existent, so what else does it buy you? Are there other benefits? We stayed until 4PM, and rode everything we wanted. We got it all in, and had some to spare.
I could see buying a fast pass on a holiday weekend, but what else does it get you when the lines already are not bad?
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