Carowinds for Spring Break Anyone?!?!

TODAY is the opening day for Carowinds and I couldn’t be more excited. It’s also the first day of Spring Break for many students. I can definitely see Carowinds being a Spring Break destination for families. I had an opportunity to preview the NEW Plants vs. Zombies 3Z Arena earlier this week at the media event. Here’s what you can expect…

Press Release: Charlotte, N.C. (March 23, 2016) – Carowinds and PopCap Games – creator of one of the world’s most beloved video game franchises, and an Electronic Arts (EA) studio – announce the biggest, baddest battle in the universe as the world’s first intra-active 3-D digital experience, Plants vs. Zombies™ Garden Warfare: 3Z Arena, debuts to the public on March 25.

This state-of-the-art attraction, designed exclusively for Carowinds, is based off the Plants vs. Zombiesâ„¢ Garden Warfare franchise – a hilarious and over-the-top video game series that includes the critically-acclaimed Plants vs. Zombiesâ„¢ Garden Warfare 2, now available in stores and for digital download on Xbox One, the all in one games system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, and Originâ„¢ for PC.

The fate of the world hangs in the balance in Plants vs. Zombies™ Garden Warfare: 3Z Arena, as the evil genius Dr. Zomboss (the leader of the zombie horde) makes his newest attempt to collect all of the world’s brains. Having secretly overheard Crazy Dave, heroic horticulturalist and sometimes-brilliant nemesis, mention “golden gnomes”, Dr. Zomboss decides he must seize the mysterious power of the gnomes for himself via a challenge to Dave and the plants! Players will step into the biggest, baddest battle in the universe as Team Plants and Team Zombies go head-to-head in a quest to collect the most golden gnomes, while traveling through time and space, and theme parks.

“We are thrilled to bring the world’s first intra-active 3-D digital experience to the Carolinas,” said Brad Marcy, vice president and general manager, Carowinds. “With digital attractions becoming an increasingly popular part of the modern amusement park, partnering with a renowned electronic games company like EA makes great sense. Plants vs. Zombies™ Garden Warfare: 3Z Arena creates larger than life entertainment that our guests are sure to embrace.”

Players will mount up on one of the 68 motion-based seats, which rock forward and backward nearly eight degrees in each direction, all the while shooting from a hand-held laser device at a 14’6” x 26’ screen. 3-D glasses provide an enhanced reality and added effects for players. The stakes are high as the respective teams attempt to overtake their foes. Plants vs. Zombies™ Garden Warfare: 3Z Arena is located in the newly renovated Action Theater in the County Fair section of the park.

“Creating fun memories from unique moments is what the Plants vs. Zombies™ franchise is all about and the 3Z Arena is another way people will get to take part in the eternal struggle between the plants and zombies,” said Jeremy Vanhoozer, senior creative director, Plants vs. Zombies franchise. “We’re thrilled to partner with Carowinds, and can’t wait for people to dive into this innovative digital experience.”

Can we just talk about the 3,000 Sq Ft. Starbucks for one moment! I think that it’s one of the things I’m most excited about. I’m notorious for heading to Starbucks in the morning for my Hot Chai Tea Latte. It’s how I start my day and it’s so tasty! In the afternoon I’m ready for a Venti Chai Frappucino frozen with no whip cream! The fact that I can now get my fix at Carowinds is EPIC! My family has the tendency to spend all day or the weekend at Carowinds.

Season Passes are the way to go! I have a family of six and I end up saving in the long run. You can experience this epic season with a 2016 Gold Season Pass that provides unlimited visits to Carowinds and the all-new Carolina Harbor Waterpark, as well as free parking, free admission to SCarowinds and more! They are currently available for as low as six easy payment of $16.50 on the Carowinds website.

Bonus: The Carowinds Mobile App has been updated. I’ll give you my thoughts in a separate post. I will tell you that I like it, it looks good, it’s user friendly and is convenient for a busy mom like me. I like anything that I can do with ease! Reminder: Carolina Harbor Waterpark opens on May 21, 2016. Feel free to take a look at my related posts to see all you can expect from Carowinds in 2016!