Our day began with another trip to the breakfast buffet, but this day was more usual with an order for take out we had to bring back up to Magan. V8 and Pineapples were now off all breakfast lists. After these meals, my normal routine back up in the room (as we all wait for Magan) is to lay back on the bed and sleep for a few minutes. Since my sleeping position for these 10 minute intervals is casket style, Magan and the kids referred to it as my Vampire sleep (blah blah blah transylvania mocking could be heard as I went into my slumber). For the small church service, we talked about things we remember and why remember them. I asked what happened on December 7, 1941...and all were quiet...until I saw a flash in Ruby's eyes, and she shouted "Hurricane Harbor" day. Which is the waterpark at Carowinds, but very close to Pearl Harbor, so she got the win.
As we left the parking garage on our way to Carowinds, we saw that someone else had come upon the same parking garage scanning problem that we had run into, but they apparently handled it differently. The barrier was completely busted and laying on the ground. I bet that support girl was still on facetime helping the other family, and maybe she said "Well, you could try busting through the barrier, but other than that, I can't help you".
We were early to Carowinds, so Belle wanted to grab a shirt she had found the previous day at the front store. But the only size they had at this store was and XL. I asked the clerk if they had any other sizes, and it reminded me of Six Flags Atlanta as he gave me a blank stare, and said "I think that is all we have". Sometimes frustrating if you try and compare it to a Disney or Universal response, but these are just high school kids mainly trying to make a buck. I will say that I saw two people at different times cleaning up trash on the ground around Carowinds, which never happens in Atlanta. So Belle got the XL and just tied it up at the bottom. We could tell that she really liked it anyway.
Since I was not getting the fast passes on this day, we prepared ourselves to be in with all the peasants for the day. Luckily, since we were there early, and apparently on Sunday, they let passholders to Fury before anyone else, we again were able to ride Fury twice with almost no wait. From there, we just hopped in line with some of the smaller county fair type rides that we had skipped the previous day, and really had no problems with lines for the full day.
Magan got to ride the Goldrusher with the kids and recreate a picture from 2015, albeit with some differences in the kids riding. We also lucked out to catch Ricochet (no fast passes available the previous day) right as it was coming out of a maintenance issue, so we rode with a relatively short wait. Davis forgot his deodorant on this day, and had to run back to the van so he did not stink in lines. It was actually sunny and in the mid-80s on this Sunday, so we did not want to smell him either.
There were alot of breakdowns on this day, which again made us think of Atlanta Six Flags. But we found a couple of Carowinds originals also. We found "Camel Guy" on the ride that reminded us of WonderWoman from Six Flags. "Camel Guy" was a young guy that just could not stop spitting. I don't think he had any tobacco, just enjoyed spitting. Then we found "Fury Man" who had his "Fury Family" that apparently had a deal with Carowinds to let him ride a few times in a row. He always wanted back row, and as they went up the giant hill, I saw what looked like him coming out of his seat to turn around and wave at the cheering crowd in the line.
McLain Waddell, known as "The Fury Guy" or "The OG," is the prominent enthusiast famous for riding Carowinds' Fury 325 thousands of times. As of early 2026, he has logged over 13,500+ laps, often visiting daily to get rides in. He uses the coaster for stress relief, often engaging with followers on social platforms.
We also saw a kid that almost got onto the Fury with some custom shoes that had like 3 inch soles. Pretty cool idea, but the operators spotted them, and did not let the kid ride. Magan found a couple of really nice rocking chair spaces to hang out and work on her "One Second a Day" app. And we saw a group of Indian guys that would not put up their phone on the Fury, one getting kicked off the ride. I will give this to the Carowinds staff, they don't put up with crap from anyone. Follow the rules, or don't ride. The Six Flags Atlanta guys are safe, but they all seem to just be day dreaming of being somewhere else. We also got in line for the Thunder Striker, but had to leave when it broke down about as we were going to ride...We saw where one group got stuck way out on the track in the sun...so we were just glad that was not us. Lunch was at Harmony Hall, where all I remember is Ruby dropping her breadstick, then destroying her pizza just so she could use the marinara sauce on the other remaining breadstick.
Neither me or Davis took time to keep up with all the rides on this day, but we hit Fury (2 times), Kaleidoscope, Gold Rusher, Ricochet, Zepher swings, and "The Elevator" one last time with mom. And while on the Elevator, we saw that the Thunder Striker had opened back up. So this would be our last ride of the day. And we got the very front row. It was amazing, but the wind was CRAZY, I could not hardly breath. Mom got her required funnel cake, and the girls got their "Fury Freeze" and "Cookie Monster" dipping dots.
We were all a little hesitant to leave, as we knew we had to take Davis to the airport, and weren't ready for him to leave. We stopped at one last store before we left, and what do you know? They had Belle's shirt in a Large. So of course we said that me and Mom were both wanting the same shirt, and we were hoping she would give us her XL from that morning. She smiled as she got her souvenir in the right size, and me and Magan got an extra souvenir. Ruby picked out a Snoopy with a Steiff pin in ear, so of course it was the most expensive. I guess I will let her play with it rather than save it for years like I did for my sister.
We left the park, playing a game of dodge the cones that Carowinds apparently wants you to try as you exit the park. Then slowly made it over to the airport. TSA was not getting paid at this time, so we heard stories of long lines. So we got Davis to the airport about 3 hours early. Very strange dropping your kid off at the airport, but after a few hugs, we waved to him and he was gone. He did send us pics and updates for the rest of the night to let us know he arrived and Magan even woke up in some mom trance 3 minutes after he had texted that he was back at his dorm in Tuscaloosa. I was out cold after he arrived in Birmingham. Me and the girls had a dinner that night at the Mellow Mushroom that Belle had spotted a block from our hotel while we were driving all around the previous night. Fun day, but I guess it is just me and the girls for the rest of the week.
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