Carowinds
Nick Central
Nick Central is a broadly bordered area that includes a vast array of rides geared towards the shorties. The majority of these rides are way too small for adults, but just right for the toddler set. Most of them involve very basic circular rotations at a low speed. We’re not going to delve too deeply into most of these rides, since there’s really not much information we can provide other than “it goes around in circles.”
There are, however, separate information pages for the following attractions: Rugrat’s Runaway Reptar, The Wild Thornberry’s River Adventure, Rocket Power Air Time, Phantom Flyers, and the Fairly Odd Coaster.
Dora the Explorer Azul’s Adventure - This is a 4 minute long train ride aboard Azul, which I just learned is the name of the train on Dora the Explorer. You learn something new everyday. Anyways, apparently there's an onboard recording that tells a short story that is illustrated by scenes on storyboards that you pass en route. Parents may ride this with their children if they wish.
Nick Jr. Jets - a hub and spoke flying attraction where riders sit in jet mock-ups. The entire apparatus slowly rotates, although there doesn't appear to be any change in the ride vehicle's height. For the under-54 inches set only.
Tommy’s Take Off - The larger version of the Nick Jr. Jets, this attraction features biplanes rather than jets. Riders can control the height of their vehicle via onboard controls. Again, looks like the adults are SOL on this one.
Backyardigan’s Swingalong - This is almost a junior version of your standard issue wave swinger. There's not a lot of height here, and the seats don't have the same latitude in motion that you get from a wave swinger. Only for riders between 36 and 54 inches.
|
|
|
|
Dora the Explorer Azul's Adventure (left),
Tommy's Take Off (center), Backyardigans Swingalong
(right)
Hey Arnold’s Taxi Chase - This is a junior steel coaster themed around (surprise) the cartoon "Hey Arnold." With a height of 15 feet and a top speed of 16 miles per hour, Taxi Chase is for kids and credit whores only. Be warned, though - you credit whores are going to have to borrow someone's kid to ride it.
Flying Dutchman’s Revenge - Ah, here's an attraction everyone can ride. This is a Mack Seastorm ride, wherein the ride vehicles go around in circles. The speed of the ride fluctuates, and the ride vehicles rotate up to 180 degrees as they move along (they're not freespinning, however, so it's not too terribly rough on the easily nauseated).
Lazy Town Sporticoptors - Okay, I have to plead ignorance on this attraction. Research has shown me that this is a Premier Pedal Rail attraction, wherein the ride vehicles are actually powered by the riders' pedaling action. What I don't get is what happens when a rider doesn't bother pedaling. Does the entire ride just stop? Inquiring minds want to know (but, in keeping with the name of the ride, said inquiring minds are far too lazy to queue up and find out the answer). Anyways, this ride provides an elevated view of the Nick Central area.
 |
 |
 |
Hey Arnold's Taxi Chase (left), Flying Dutchman's Revenge
(center), Lazy Town Sporticoptors (right)
Nick-O-Round - a nicely done carousel (a PTC carousel from 1923, incidentally) with characters from the Nickelodeon universe displayed on top.
TV Road Trip - a small driving ride with cars on a rail. The name is derived from several TV themed props. Kids under 42 inches have to ride with a grown up.
Little Bill’s Cruisers - a very small circular moat with "speedboats" doing rotations. The very young seem to love this ride, especially because each speedboat has its own anchor bell. The people who work this attraction must realllllly love kids.
Boots’ Balloon Race - Karen likes monkeys (as you may already have figured out), so she probably supports this attraction. I'm sorry, but in my mind it will always be Peter Potomus' Magic Flying Balloons. You can take away the theme, but you can't take away the magic. Okay, I don't really care that much. But saying "Peter Potomus" is FUN. Anyways, it's a balloon ride. The balloons go up and down a bit. Adults are allowed to ride it with their kids (and are required to if said kid is under 48 inches)
|
|
|
|
Nick-O-Round (left), TV Road Trip (center), the ride formerly known as Peter Potomus' Magic Flying Balloons (right)
Back to Carowinds Park Directory
Back to ThemeParkSushi's Main Page