It was Griff’s birthday this past weekend, and thanks to our season passes for Carowinds he was dying to hit up SCarowinds for the first time.
What is SCarowinds, you ask? It’s a spooky season event in the Carolinas, where Carowinds (the amazing amusement park) is transformed into a fog-filled haunt complete with ghouls, haunted mazes and night roller coaster rides.
Whether you are like me and heading there with your children under ten, or chaperoning your adrenaline-seeking teenagers, SCarowinds requires a game plan! From strict park policies to surviving the frights, here is the parent’s survival guide to making SCarowinds a killer success.
1. RULES YOU MUST KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
Night time hours have different policies than the normal day time hours.
First, guests ages 15 and younger must be accompanied by a chaperone who is at least 21 years-old with a valid government photo ID. One chaperone can accompany up to five minors, and must stay inside the park with them all night.
Second, there are no costumes or masks allowed for guests over 12. Leave that to the park performers!
Third, once you scan your ticket and enter the park there is no turning back! Re-entry is not allowed.
2. IS SCAROWINDS TOO SCARY FOR YOUNGINS’?
Although it can be a little scary, I would say this depends on your child. Owen was living his best life at the age of seven, but he had his buddies with him that also felt brave doing the loser dance in the face of the masked park performers.
Griff, on the other hand, watches horror movies and therefore found the actors more realistic. He wasn’t as fond of the fact that they could walk right up to you and invade your personal bubble.
The darkness does provide a layer of fright, and when the heavy fog rolls in and the scare actors take over it can be a little alarming for littles. Make sure your children know what to expect so you don’t have to cut your visit short.
If you have really young kiddos then you can skip the nighttime event, and instead head to Carowinds during the day for Tricks and Treats. It’s not scary, full of family fun like pumpkin painting, costume contest and trick-or-treating stations. You get all the magic, but with none of the night terrors.
3. HAUNTED MAZES VS. SCARE ZONES.
Scare Zones are just open-air sections of the park with roaming scare actors. Griff tried to avoid these at all costs as we roamed from ride to ride.
Haunted Mazes require a pass to attend these immersive, indoor mazes with intense scare tactics and special effects. We did not even attempt these with my kids, and I would suggest not trying until you have teens.
INSIDER SURVIVAL HACKS:
1. SET UP A DESIGNATED MEETING LOCATION.
It is easy to get lost in the darkness of the park, so having a dedicated meeting area (should you get separated) is key to making your children feel safe.
2. HIT YOUR FAVORITE ROLLER COASTERS AT NIGHT.
Fury, Copperhead Strike and Thunder Striker are a different experience in the darkness of night. The thrill of these coasters deepens while looking out over a pitch black night, only lit up by Halloween glows. Line up right as the park opens or later in the evening during peak maze times to help skip the long lines.
3. CONSIDER FRIGHT LANE IF YOU HATE LONG LINES.
SCarowinds is super popular on the fall weekend evenings in October, I hear. If you want to experience all the fun, without spending hours in line, upgrading to the Fast Lane is worth considering.
We got lucky as it was supposed to be a rainy evening, but instead turned clear. There were almost no lines for the rides, so Griff and I had no wait at all to ride our favorite coasters. And just a five minute wait got us in the front row, which is quite a thrill in the darkness of night.
VERDICT.
SCarowinds is definitely worth it, and I would highly recommend visiting! If you are looking for a memorable fall tradition that you can start early with your children, SCarowinds is it! Nothing beats the spooky fun and big coaster thrills at night.
Have you been to SCarowinds? Add your tips in the comments.
