Carowinds Season Pass Holders Frustrated Over Lack of Available Reservation Dates
Charlotte, NC – May 2025 — What was meant to be a summer of thrill rides, water park adventures, and family fun has instead turned into a season of frustration for many Carowinds season pass holders. The popular amusement park, which straddles the North and South Carolina border, has come under fire from its loyal base of season pass holders due to increasingly limited reservation availability — a requirement introduced to manage crowd levels and staffing issues.
Over the past few months, dozens of pass holders have voiced their concerns across social media platforms and forums, with complaints ranging from being unable to reserve desired dates to a general lack of communication from park management. “We paid hundreds of dollars for these passes expecting flexibility and frequent visits,” said Amanda Lewis, a Platinum Pass holder from Concord, NC. “Instead, it feels like we’re constantly fighting just to get in.”
Reservation System Rollout
Carowinds, owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, implemented the reservation system in 2020 as a COVID-19 precaution. While many parks have since rolled back such restrictions, Carowinds has kept the system in place, citing crowd control and operational efficiency. In recent seasons, however, the system has become a flashpoint of controversy.
“I tried to book a Saturday in June, and every single one was already full — and that was in early April,” said Daniel Ortiz, a father of two who purchased Gold Passes for his family. “Weekdays are sometimes open, but for people who work or have kids in school, those are almost impossible.”
Growing Demand and Shrinking Access
Part of the problem, according to insiders, is that the park may have oversold season passes without adjusting the reservation cap accordingly. Multiple guests have reported that even general admission tickets are available on days when pass holders are locked out due to reservation limits — a move that has left many feeling shortchanged.
“I could buy a day ticket and go, but not use my season pass that I already paid for?” one Reddit user posted. “That’s absurd.”
Adding to the frustration is the lack of transparency around the number of reservations allotted to pass holders versus single-day guests. Park officials have not released detailed information about how many reservations are available on any given day or what priority, if any, is given to pass holders.
Communication Woes
Many customers also criticize what they see as poor communication from the park. “We don’t get notified when new reservation slots open up. We don’t get clear answers when we call customer service,” said Sarah Mendez, a teacher and frequent park visitor. “It feels like they’re just hoping we’ll stop complaining.”
The park’s official social media pages have faced a deluge of complaints, and while Carowinds has responded to some comments with stock messaging, many users say their concerns are being ignored. Even more troubling for some is the perception that customer service representatives are not empowered to offer solutions or alternatives.
Financial and Emotional Toll
For many families, a season pass is a major investment — one that they expect to deliver value over the course of several visits. “We budgeted for this,” said Justin Tran, who lives two hours away in Columbia, SC. “Now we feel like we wasted our money. We would’ve been better off buying two or three single-day tickets instead.”
Beyond the financial implications, the reservation limitations have taken an emotional toll. “My kids keep asking when we’re going to Carowinds, and I have to tell them ‘maybe next month’ — and then that month is full too,” said Teresa Wilson, a mother of three. “It’s heartbreaking.”
Park Response
In a brief statement issued last week, a Carowinds spokesperson said the reservation system is under review and that the park “appreciates the feedback from valued guests.” The spokesperson added that Carowinds is “working diligently to balance guest experience with safety and operational capabilities.”
However, critics argue that this vague response is not enough. “They need to fix it now, not later,” said Lewis. “Summer is short. Families want to make memories — not fight for access to something they already paid for.”
Looking Ahead
With peak season fast approaching, it remains unclear whether Carowinds will make meaningful changes to the reservation system before the summer rush. Some hopeful pass holders are watching closely for updates, while others have already vowed not to renew next year.
The situation serves as a cautionary tale for amusement parks nationwide: in a post-pandemic world, guests demand flexibility, transparency, and above all, value. If those expectations are not met, even the most loyal customers may start looking elsewhere for their summer thrills.
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