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What is the Carowinds Rain Policy? | Simply Explained

When you're visiting a theme park, rain is one of the few things that you can't control, that can still impact your experience.

In this page, we will go over what Carowinds rain policy is.

What Happens if it Rains in Carowinds?

In Carowinds, the park remains open when it rains. If it is a light shower, outdoor rides will remain open but if the rain begins to pick up and/or thunderstorms are on the horizon, outdoor rides will temporarily close. They will open back up when the weather is suitable to continue.

carowinds coaster

The rides that will naturally be affected the most by severe weather are the outdoor rides.

When it rains, the park will monitor the weather and re-open rides accordingly as the weather improves.

Carowinds has announced a four-phase action plan that they will follow when it begins raining.

Four Phase Summary:

Phase 1 - If there's lightning or a storm within 15 miles, the tallest rides will close.

Phase 2 - If there's lightning within 10 miles, the rest of the taller rides will close.

Phase 3 - If there's lightning within 5 miles, the flat rides will close.

Phase 4 - If there are still strong storms over the park, the indoor rides will close.

Refunds During Rain

Unfortunately as of the time of this writing, Carowinds does not offer refunds if your day is impacted by severe weather.

lightning storm

You'll want to familiarize yourself with our Best Tips for Visiting Carowinds guide that will ensure that you arrive to the park extremely prepared, and know all of the 'hacks' to maximize your time and money.

Know About iPhone Rain Notifications

If you're visiting a theme park, especially on a day that there's a chance of rain, you'll want to enable rain notifications.

iphone weather app rain notifications

We use this at almost every theme park that we visit, and it notifies us ahead of time when the rain is approaching, or when the rain is clearing up.

When we receive the notification that the rain is approaching, it gives us plenty of time to seek shelter, or find an indoor ride.

Rain is Stopping Notification

When we receive the notification that the rain is expected to clear up, we know that we can start heading over to rides very soon.

iphone weather app better weather incoming notification

This small feature gives us a 'leg up' on everyone else on the park, as we're able to know what's going to happen a few minutes before everyone else.

Preparing For the Rain

We've made a checklist of items to have and do in case of the rain:

  • Bring a Poncho or umbrella
  • Download the Carowinds App - extremely handy as it provides live wait times, an interactive map of the park, allows you to pre-order food, and even locate the closest restrooms.
  • Know what the indoor rides are, and ride these rides when it rains
  • Watch a show inside

Our Poncho Choice

Poncho's in particular are very cheap, and very worth it.

This unisex, lightweight reusable poncho has worked wonders over the years at dozens of theme parks.

 

poncho

 

Our Umbrella Choice

The most reliable umbrella that we've used over the years has been the Repel Umbrella.

 

umbrella

 

The main reasons are that it's:

  • Wind Resistant - Won't Bend or Fold During High Winds
  • Portable - Easy to Put Away After Use
  • Only Takes 1 Button to Open and Close
  • Non Slip Grip Allows For an Easy Hold Even During Severe Storms
  • Can Be Used For Both Men and Women 

Many visitors are prepared for the rain when they come to the parks, but they forget about the wind!

Don't overlook the fact that there will be plenty of wind if there's rain.

Be aware that if you do bring an umbrella, you may need to store it in lockers throughout your day, this is a major reason why visitors prefer ponchos.

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