Carolina Cyclone • Carowinds

My first looping coaster. Its a good Arrow in my opinion. I'm tall enough to clear the restraint so no headbanging, transitions are awkward though. Main discomfort was not enough leg room, except for ...

My first looping coaster. Its a good Arrow in my opinion. I'm tall enough to clear the restraint so no headbanging, transitions are awkward though. Main discomfort was not enough leg room, except for front row.

It's an old Arrow looper, so it is a bit janky and tosses you around some with those tangent-radius transitions. I never experienced headbanging, but that's because I'm tall enough to make headbangin...

It's an old Arrow looper, so it is a bit janky and tosses you around some with those tangent-radius transitions. I never experienced headbanging, but that's because I'm tall enough to make headbanging impossible with Arrow OTSRs. After having ridden Loch Ness Monster, which I found had the tendency to snap my neck forward during the loops, I was expecting that here too, but I didn't experience it. I would definitely still recommending keeping your head back against the headrest though. After reading other people's experiences with Arrow corkscrews, I was expecting the ones on this ride (which is the first Arrow to feature them that I have ridden) to be painful. The entry into the first corkscrew does have strong laterals, but I didn't experience any discomfort. The entire layout has sort of a fast-paced, frenetic kind of intensity that I don't really experience on newer coasters but enjoy quite a bit. There's a bit of a rattle if you ride in a wheel seat (even-numbered rows), but odd-numbered rows don't have this. Odd-numbered rows also have quite a bit more legroom, so if you have long legs, definitely pick one of those. Overall I don't get the hate for this. It doesn't really measure up to more modern loopers, but it is still fun.

It has some fun moments but it's a pretty standard arrow looper. I guess it serves a purpose, probably a nice introductory coaster for kids looking to ride bigger rides or a first ride with inversions...

It has some fun moments but it's a pretty standard arrow looper. I guess it serves a purpose, probably a nice introductory coaster for kids looking to ride bigger rides or a first ride with inversions. I didn't experience any issues with head banging but this one gave my wife a headache. I probably wouldn't go out of my way to ride it again except with my kids when they get older.

I love Arrow coasters, especially the custom loopers like this. They always look amazing and have a sort of quiet old school smoothness to them when they’re moving slowly. I have to mention I loved th...

I love Arrow coasters, especially the custom loopers like this. They always look amazing and have a sort of quiet old school smoothness to them when they’re moving slowly. I have to mention I loved the train colors that were so 70s/80s with their yellow/orange/brown stripes. I rode it in the front and in the middle and probably recommend the front a bit more for a smoother ride. I hope these old Arrow coasters are preserved for a long time more just because they represent a cool era in the 70s and 80s when 4 inversions on a steel coaster was brand new technology. It’s kind of like getting a chance to drive an antique car once in a while.

Somehow Carolina Cyclone isn't one of the arrow loopers that are just a mess. This one somehow pulls some nice forces. The loops have positives, and there's even some moments of airtime. It's still an...

Somehow Carolina Cyclone isn't one of the arrow loopers that are just a mess. This one somehow pulls some nice forces. The loops have positives, and there's even some moments of airtime. It's still an arrow looper, so there's headbanging on the corkscrews, but not enough to give me a throbbing headache for the rest of the day.

This is a pretty typical Arrow from the 80's where there are clearly advances to pioneering coasters and multiple elements included in the ride - but it's not very comfortable and while it's enjoyable...

This is a pretty typical Arrow from the 80's where there are clearly advances to pioneering coasters and multiple elements included in the ride - but it's not very comfortable and while it's enjoyable, it doesn't hold up to today's more dynamic coasters of scale. I liked it nonetheless. I won't seek it out again, but if I'm passing through and the lines are short, I'd give it another whirl.

I have a great deal of nostalgia for Cyclone, but it's still just your average Arrow looper. The loops are surprisingly forceful, but the layout is rather boring and the classic Arrow profiling makes ...

I have a great deal of nostalgia for Cyclone, but it's still just your average Arrow looper. The loops are surprisingly forceful, but the layout is rather boring and the classic Arrow profiling makes headbanging frequent. I still think this is a good first "big" coaster for kids if Carowinds is your home park, though. 5.5/10 - "They need to fix this thing" -Kid sitting next to me

This ride sucks there is no way around it. I honestly think this might be the worst coaster I've ever been on, I'm not even trying to be mean-spirited it SUCKS! First of all, let's get into the positi...

This ride sucks there is no way around it. I honestly think this might be the worst coaster I've ever been on, I'm not even trying to be mean-spirited it SUCKS! First of all, let's get into the positives of this ride (even if there are very few). The first part of this ride I really enjoyed. sure lots of discomfort, but still very enjoyable. I honestly think the best part of this ride is the first two loops, there awesome! Another thing I love about this ride is how it looks. the cyan color scheme and the photogenic look of the corkscrews when walking by, is outstanding! Anyways, let's go to the dreaded parts, the damn corkscrews and helix. They RUIN the whole ride! ATON of head banging, and discomfort! it honestly feels like your ears are going to fall off because of how much headbanging and how you smack your ears against the seat! In other words, let's get into the one last positive that I can think of (so I don't seem like a negative bastard). I really like how the station looks. I like the wood and how gloomy it is, it makes it look sorta intimidating. To sum this ride up, it's decently rideable. and ok I guess. My final ranking is a strong 4/10, Just ride it for the first part of it.

This ride absolutely beat me to a pulp when I rode this. The headbanging is nasty and jolts you suddenly against some of the worst restraints I've ever seen that feel as hard as concrete. The coaster ...

This ride absolutely beat me to a pulp when I rode this. The headbanging is nasty and jolts you suddenly against some of the worst restraints I've ever seen that feel as hard as concrete. The coaster is also very short, though I wanted this painful ride to be over as soon as possible. The only positive I can say is that the inversions were quite fun, but not enough for me to swear to never ride it again.

I am terrified of roller coasters but I really wanted to start liking and riding them. This rollercoaster was my first true not family coaster and I’m glad I went on in. While I might not have much ex...

I am terrified of roller coasters but I really wanted to start liking and riding them. This rollercoaster was my first true not family coaster and I’m glad I went on in. While I might not have much experience on rollercoasters I believe this is a perfect roller coaster for someone to get over their fear, and while not being anything special you will have fun on this coaster. It is also as perfect intro to inversions in my opinion.

My biggest surprise of Carowinds. Went in with low expectations because of the ride model being one of my least favorite kinds. Was waaaay smoother than the similar rides I’ve been on and is super we...

My biggest surprise of Carowinds. Went in with low expectations because of the ride model being one of my least favorite kinds. Was waaaay smoother than the similar rides I’ve been on and is super well maintained with a beautiful paint job and color scheme. The forces were strong and expected and it wasn’t bad at all, first drop on corkscrew at CP is better but CC is better for everything else.

This ride surprised me quite a bit. I went into it with no expectations and ended up loving it. I do have a soft spot for Arrow, but this ride really surprised me with it’s super fun inversions and ov...

This ride surprised me quite a bit. I went into it with no expectations and ended up loving it. I do have a soft spot for Arrow, but this ride really surprised me with it’s super fun inversions and overall experience. The new paint job looks great as well, props to Carowinds for breathing some new life into this old beast. Definitely don’t ride this if you’re sensitive to rattling or head banging, I am used to rougher rides but this one was a bit too rough for my wife. Try keeping your head forward going into and through the corkscrew, it’s definitely the toughest part of the ride.

I love how the whole ride keeps up a great pace. The first half is great with boarderline ejector on the drop, and two intense loops back to back. The second half isn't as good. It's fast paced, but i...

I love how the whole ride keeps up a great pace. The first half is great with boarderline ejector on the drop, and two intense loops back to back. The second half isn't as good. It's fast paced, but it's very rough. I kept my head forward and managed to avoid headbanging, but it was still uncomfortable. I also hate arrow looper trains. This ride could be really bad, but the good first half, and fast pace saves it.

Mad underrated Arrow. I love this ride because it's a forceful ride that is way smoother then people claim and it never has a line. The first two loops give lots of good positives and the corkscrews h...

Mad underrated Arrow. I love this ride because it's a forceful ride that is way smoother then people claim and it never has a line. The first two loops give lots of good positives and the corkscrews have cool interaction going over the path. The helix finale is super intense and a great way to finish the ride. I'd much rather Carowinds keep this ride then remove it.

I really love carolina cyclone, its a classic and while im 16 i greatly appreciate the rides from before my time. The ride is smooth compared to many arrow loopers and was the first to feature the som...

I really love carolina cyclone, its a classic and while im 16 i greatly appreciate the rides from before my time. The ride is smooth compared to many arrow loopers and was the first to feature the somewhat over used double loop double corkscrew layout. It holds up well for being the worlds first 4 inversion rollercoaster!! Also the ride has solid intensity during the loops that may surprise some riders.

I have a huge soft spot for Arrow loopers, and between all of the Cedar Fair parks, this Carowinds has the best one. It's smooth, pretty, well paced, and fun. Good first drop, two great loops, and ver...

I have a huge soft spot for Arrow loopers, and between all of the Cedar Fair parks, this Carowinds has the best one. It's smooth, pretty, well paced, and fun. Good first drop, two great loops, and very smooth double corkscrew. But it's the other touches I love. The hill between the loops and corkscrews had a surprise pop of airtime. The corkscrews go over the midway Cedar Point style. The helix was in a sort of trench, and was an element I wasn't expecting. And I adore a good helix. Overall, I hope that this and Cedar Point are the Arrow loopers that stick around, as they're the only record breakers of the CF Arrow looper bunch, and they're the best ride experiences, and the best looking on the park's landscape.

As I approached this coaster for the first time I was greeted by a long empty queue with a massive rain puddle from a storm long forgotten. After traversing the large water feature my party arrived a...

As I approached this coaster for the first time I was greeted by a long empty queue with a massive rain puddle from a storm long forgotten. After traversing the large water feature my party arrived at the walk-on station platform with a skeleton crew. We headed for the back car and climbed into the awkward purple plastic shells. We were sent off toward the lift hill already weary of this ride. The announcing ride Op locked eyes with mine and stared deeply into me as if to say, "I'm sorry for this." As the train climbed the hill the anti-rollback device seemed to clank out the Morse code for "S.O.S' over and over again. The blue track swerved left into orange track and sent us into some yellow tracked double loops. The loops were sluggish and heavy like a set of grandmothers bourbon soaked breasts. The next element was an uninspired pair of corkscrews that were installed by Arrow as if to say, "I dunno, put some corkscrews there I guess." The ride finished shorty after and my party exited the platform back to a world of beauty and excitement. This roller coaster exists as a monument to Arrow's demise. The entire coaster needs to be removed and the ground salted so that nothing can ever grow again in it's place.

Carolina Cyclone is a fun ride, but it has a strong rattle to it that can detract from the ride experience. There's some great forces in the back going over the first drop. The vertical loops are supe...

Carolina Cyclone is a fun ride, but it has a strong rattle to it that can detract from the ride experience. There's some great forces in the back going over the first drop. The vertical loops are super fun. The helix bit is really fun too. This ride has a lot of fun moments, but not a lot of moments that are better than average, just fun.

An Arrow looper that's got the standard 2 vertical loops and corkscrew plus a helix. This one's rides about the same as other Arrow loopers out there; it's enjoyable enough for a ride, and there neve...

An Arrow looper that's got the standard 2 vertical loops and corkscrew plus a helix. This one's rides about the same as other Arrow loopers out there; it's enjoyable enough for a ride, and there never really seems to be a wait for it.