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Phantom Theater

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Posts posted by Phantom Theater

  1. I don't see Cedar Fair ever installing something like Phantom Theater at KI or any of their parks. I would love to see some kind of haunted attraction return to that building, but there would most likely be no kind of animatronics like seen on PT. Let's hope they see the absolute state of disrepair Boo Blasters is in and renovate sometime soon.

  2. This sounds great and I hope more parks adopt this! I couldn't tell you the last time I used cash. Working in food and retail for 6 years, dealing with cash was annoying. People standing there, scrounging for change in their pockets/purse, handing me change after I've entered it into the register, making sure I have enough change before a shift, counting the drawer multiple times throughout a shift. I'm sure it will help with the flow of lines, although I'm not so sure how many people still use cash.

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  3. 18 minutes ago, BoddaH1994 said:

    Did you notice the arrows shoot out now? That’s the first time that’s worked since I was a kid.

    Yes I certainly did! (JoshuaEric is me, I didn't realize I had another account using my main email). I never even knew those existed. It was awesome to see everything working and I was in awe seeing all the guys arms working in the final tunnel with proper lighting. I can' tell you the last time I saw every one of them working, if ever.

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  4. 1 hour ago, FUN&ONLY! said:

    I would love to see Kings Island debut a new front entry plaza with a renovated front gate, new ticket booths, and new landscaping. Like @Hawaiian Coasters 325 said, they can just upgrade the facade of the front gate building. I would be okay if they completely redo everything else though. It would also be cool to see a legacy walk (maybe in Tower Gardens), a new ivy tunnel, some Oktoberfest love, and new live entertainment celebrating Kings Island.

    I definitely think the entrance building needs some kind of overhaul. This website has been posted a ton but the concept art is awesome - http://matthunterross.com/kings-island. It's not a new building, just an addition of dormers and a large centerpiece. The idea of a legacy walk in Tower Gardens sounds great! I would hope to see lots of colorful banners around the park, maybe signs at the entrance of rides explaining their installation and any records they might have broken, & specialty food booths in different parts of the park. Definitely need to sell some kind of birthday cake lol

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  5. 6 hours ago, Gabe said:

    The former Universe of Energy/Ellen's Energy Adventure building at Epcot is in the middle of a multi year refurb to the Guardians of the Galaxy indoor coaster. The Tower of Terror in DL was changed over to the Guardians a couple years ago and the orig FL one was almost given the same treatment until wider minds prevailed.  There has been talk of turning the former Wonders of Life building into Wakanda and inserting a Black Panther attraction where Body Wars used to be.

     

     

    Yeah, I am looking forward to the new Marvel stuff they use at WDW -- they just can't use the properties Universal uses or the Marvel name. DL can use those properties, just not the Marvel name. I don't think Universal will ever give those properties up for the reasons in my original post.

  6. 2 hours ago, Gabe said:

    Pre-Covid, when Disney was swimming in cash like Scrooge McDuck, there were strong indications that Iger/Chapek were in discussions to cut Uni a big, fat check to give up that ticket.  Now? Likely Uni continues to hold onto those rights for the foreseeable future.  I would suspect at some point once EPCOT is done, Disney will seek to bring more Marvel into the Studios park.

    2 hours ago, SonofBaconator said:

    In Disney's eyes, they're making money from another park just to use their IP. They're already making good strides with their Avengers campus out in California. I'm sure if that becomes a success Disney will want to duplicate that for Orlando. For now though I think they're happy to collect money from another park where they don't have to do any work.

    I highly doubt Universal will EVER give up their Marvel properties, no matter how big the check is. WDW cannot use any of the properties that Universal uses. Those properties are Spider-man, Avengers, X-Men and Fantastic Four, and the Marvel name (which can't be used in any attraction name, WDW or Disneyland). Disney is free to use any other Marvel properties, such as Guardians of the Galaxy, which I believe they are installing at one of the WDW parks. 

    Losing Marvel Super Hero Island at Islands of Adventure would be a huge blow for Universal Orlando, especially since Spider-man is probably one of Universal greatest rides and would make the transition to Toon Lagoon awkward. Unless they have an IP as strong as Marvel to fill it with (Lord of the Rings??), I think Universal will hold that contract very close to them for a long time.

  7. On 3/11/2020 at 12:12 AM, Shaggy said:

    Then along came Phantom Theater. 

    Phantom Theater was kind of an anomaly.  It was, IMO, one of the boldest and most unique things Kings Island ever installed.  This may shock some... but I actually rank it second only to "The Beast" as far as originality and uniqueness to Kings Island.  It really was a superb attraction - especially when it first opened - a real gem.  Frankly, its my personal belief that the decision to add something so unique was probably due, in large part, by what they learned with the Smurfs.  The KI executives probably didn't want to install another specific,  pop culture character-driven ride that would become old hat in a handful of years.

    I first rode Phantom Theater in June of 1992.  I remember waiting well over an hour to ride it. (The line stretched through HB Land.)  I was amazed by it when I first rode - it definitely had a VERY similar vibe akin to Disney's Haunted Mansion (on a lesser scale - complete with its own take on the "Doom Buggies.")  Actually, it was terrifying to many kids when it opened, and there were LOTS of crying and screaming children.  The problem with Phantom Theater was, with time, the ride's figures wore themselves out.  Many don't know this, but year after year the rubber masks and hands had to be replaced.  They would break down, melt and deteriorate because of the constant movement and heat from the hydraulics.  There was a whole shop inside the building (actually located just behind the cars as they faced the "Hilda Bovine" mirror-breaking scene) that housed spare parts for the ride/characters.  When they needed replacements, they called up AVG Inc (who did the animations and theming) and ordered the parts by a catalog number.  AVG had molds in storage and they'd re-pour the necessary rubber mask or hand.  Once the rubber was spread in the mold, they filled it with spray foam insulation - this created a sort of "form" inside the mask or hand.  They then had their coloring/facial accents hand painted by artists according to the original detailed design specs.  They were shipped to KI on the foam heads and hand forms.  When I toured the ride after it's closure and before it was converted to Scooby, I personally saw a whole bin of those heads & hand forms obtained from ordering replacement masks over the years. I asked if I could have one - but no dice.  They felt like the equivalent of a nerf football.

    Frankly, the park HATED to lose Phantom Theater.  But the ride's animatronics and effects had virtually worn themselves out.  Being Paramount at the time, they already had worked with Sally rides at two other parks - and Sally came on board having already secured the Scooby licensing.  And as we all know, Scooby is arguably the most time-enduring and most famous Hanna-Barbera character.  

    Had CF not opted to drop the (no doubt) hefty licensing fee required to continue with the Scooby theming, I have no doubt the ride would still exist and be as popular today.  When the licensing was dropped, that forced a generic overlay.  Although very basic... and quite frankly, flat... the "Boo Blasters" theme is not one that's necessarily going to wear itself out theme-wise.  Its not based on specific characters or being driven by a specific cartoon entity.  In other words, kids dont know any of the "characters," so they aren't emotionally invested enough to get tired of them.

    Should it change to a Peanuts themed dark ride - which it could - it might breathe new life into the ride.  But again, it would likely stagnate since it would be a very specific theme that is, IMO, already lost on kids...and adults... today.

    It will eventually change.  It'll have to.  The effects, animatronics and technology will wear/age out.  When it does, the park will make the determination of where to take it. 

    I cant imagine KI without a dark ride... but we'll just have to wait and see what happens.  I pray for something unique and bold again.... so future generations will have something to discuss as passionately as we do "Phantom Theater."

    This was a fantastic read -- thank you! I can't believe I missed it in March. I definitely agree that PT was one of the boldest and most unique rides KI ever had. Haunted attractions are a dying breed, and even though I was very young when PT was removed, I still knew that KI had lost something very cool and unique. I hope to see a haunted attraction go back into that building sometime, but I don't believe that will ever happen. The omnimover system is definitely not made with shooting style dark rides in mind. It is very slow and the cars are so close together, its obvious it is meant for a dark ride with sets and characters with a story. 

    • Like 1
  8. 4 hours ago, Stitch said:

    Of the three eras of Kings Island's kids area, which theme did you like the best? While I first experienced the area as Hanna Barbera Land, I have to give my vote to Nickelodeon Universe. I think Paramount's use of the properties and addition of theming worked well.

    Sadly, I only go to experience HB Land in it's form between 2000-2005 when it was mixed with Nickelodeon Central. I barely remember it, mostly just Boulder Bumpers & the Jetson's ride. Nick U was okay IMO, much like most of Paramount's themes, it seemed very just slapped on and not really "themed". All of the rides from Nick U exist today in the exact same form, no difference in the ride experience, just a different name. The only ride to suffer from de-theming was Scooby's haunted castle, which isn't even Nick. Planet Snoopy seems very bright and well taken care of, and being themed around a classic comic strip and movies gives it longevity. 

    From pictures I've seen, HB land looked to be the best. My vote went to Snoopy since I've experienced Nick U and can compare the two.

  9. 15 hours ago, Tr0y said:

    Your right, also not washing my hands would be pretty much like not wearing a mask and would increases my chance of spreading COVID. If it’s not the park’s responsibility for me giving myself COVID, then they shouldn’t require me to wear a mask, and only the people concerned with getting COVID should be wearing mask and socially distancing to protect themselves. I’m not trying to argue about closing the park, that’s the last thing I want to see is the park closed. I just want the park to do the right thing, protect people in order to keep itself open. If you look at all the B&Ms Kings Island has they all have black seats now. They’re black because that color doesn’t show as much how nasty the seats are because they don’t clean the seats like they should. Like the old Diamondback seats you can see in the above post.

    Not washing your hands does increase the chance of spreading the virus to yourself, not so much to others as long as everyone washes their hands and uses sanitizer. I think you have a misunderstanding of what the mask is intended to do. It is to decrease the chance of spreading the virus from your mouth or nose. To have some people wearing masks and some not completely negates the point of the mask mandate. The park already cleans the trains, just not every time they empty. I'm not sure how often you touch the back of your clothing or hair and then put your fingers anywhere on your face or into your mouth, but it would be wise not do so. 

    Wear your mask to help slow the spread to others, wash your hands to decrease the chance of contracting it yourself. 

  10. 8 hours ago, Tr0y said:

    It’s not about me protecting me, it’s about the park protecting everyone from everybody. If I had the choice I wouldn’t be wearing a mask, but the park requires us to wear one to protect others. Yet they’re not protecting us from us by not requiring hands being sanitized prior to riding, or sanitizing seats and lap bars. Those seats are disgusting remember the old Diamondback seats? Those black blotches in the headrest are from people:

    Not wearing a mask increases your chance of transmitting the virus to someone who cannot protect themselves from that. You can wash and sanitize your hands after touching surfaces, and you yourself would be responsible for getting yourself sick if you don't. They do sanitize the seats and lap bars, but not after every train empties. If the park wanted to protect everyone from everybody, they'd be closed.

    • Like 1
  11. 1 hour ago, Tr0y said:

    The park NEEDS to sanitize the ride seats, and lap bars from the previous riders. Especially when they don’t even require hands to be sanitized prior to riding. Just come ride and touch everything. Who knows if you washed your hands free of COVID, after eating finger licking good BBQ at Coney Barb-B-Que then afterwards get on Diamondback. 

    I agree, but the park can't hold your hand (no pun intended!), it is your responsibility to be cautious and not touch your face and wash/sanitize your hands after touching surfaces. 

    • Like 2
  12. 20 hours ago, ohiocoasterfan said:

    Call me stupid but all this conversation seems like nonsense in the midst of a pandemic. Literally the only thing we have seen is markers on Columbia Rd. Now we’re talking about a new coaster spanning from SOB station?

    Based on an open electrical box apparently we’re getting a new coaster. There is literally nothing to suggest this except one member pushing views to his site and another one that must be a fanboy of his. It ain’t happening!

    It's just fun speculation :) I just think it's odd that that area is being worked in and there are markers on Columbia. If they removed The Bat, thats a lottttt of space for a new coaster. The start of the demolition could be SOB station coming down., not reusing it lol. 

    • Like 1
  13. 19 minutes ago, KI Guy said:

    With an uncertain economy for Cedar Fair and KI just having gotten an expensive coaster it's likely the odds of getting one or more flat rides within the next several years is high.

    What would you guys like to see?

    The Coney Sky Ride idea seems way more feasible now that Vortex is gone. Unlikely, but it would fit better! I would love to see a top spin return to the park, but overall I would like to see two thrilling flats and two or three mild flats. I def think they should try and fit something into the Oktoberfest area (like spinning keggers) and bring some more attention there.

    • Like 3
  14. 21 minutes ago, cdubbs727 said:

    So for those of you who have been to KI since its reopening, what is your opinion about how their safety measures are working? Are people wearing masks? Are they social distancing in lines and at restaurants? How is the case load in southern Ohio? And how have the crowds been (part of our hope has been that travel might be lower this summer, and that we might have low crowds on that Monday and Tuesday). 

    I'd prefer answers from people who are taking this seriously and share my concerns. I don't really have patience to hear from anyone saying this is overblown and all the procedures are pointless. 

    I spent 6 hours there this past Saturday. Majority of people were wearing their masks properly and keeping distance. In line for AE, there were three teens that would not keep away from me, but other than that, everyone used the markers. I watched an employee tell a girl that her mask had to be over her nose about three times on one occasion, so they do seem to betaking it seriously. 

    One thing I did find kind of weird was the spacing in the lines. All the rows are open with markers, so you are 6 feet away from the person in front of you, but standing right next to people on your left or right. Seems like they should have closed every other row and used the extended queues and set up temp queues if necessary.

    Edit: Wanted to add that they did shut down AE while I was in line to sanitize the trains. They sprayed them down, wiped down all the touchpoints, and then sent them empty to dry off. Took about 10-15 minutes, but necessary.

    • Like 1
  15. Saturday I was able to ride Orion! Thankfully, I was able to get in just as they opened. I was allowed to get in line without a time ticket, and after the ride I got a return time of 11-12 and rode again. The theme of the ride is my favorite thing. I love that they tied so many rides in KI's history into a great story and themed area, and I particularly like that they continued with FoF's theme, despite it being over 24 years old. As for the ride itself, it was a blast. I think this is the first coaster that ever made me blackout at the bottom of the first drop. The speed and force of the ride is awesome. My only issue is the length, it is incredibly short. I overheard many people saying the same thing while exiting, but were also praising the ride at the same time. 

    Overall, this has been an excellent addition to the park. Banshee is still my #1 at KI though. Hopefully the next coaster is not another B&M.

    • Like 2
  16. 32 minutes ago, CoasterJack said:

    Also, if you wait till the end of the day, i've been three times and the time to go is like between 6 and 6:10, they'll let you on without an access pass, but they shut off the line depending on crowds around 6;15, so you've gotta time it perfectly. 

    I tend to try to leave by 4 since I have a 2.5 hour drive home. Thank you though!

    6 minutes ago, jimlaheyscar said:

    Get whatever reservation is available.  Show up around 10:15 am, park, and go inside the park.  Make your way to Orion.  Get in line or get a card.  Done.  You're making this too hard.  Reservations times don't really mean anything.  Plenty of people have gone in before their slot.

    Even on their busiest days (days with no reservations left) they had Orion cards til 1 or 1:30.

    I'm not making it hard at all, I'm actually trying to make it pretty simple for myself so I don't drive all the way there to be told the tickets are out. I tend to base my decisions off of what the park tells me they will do, which is "You will NOT be able to enter the park before your selected time, however, you may arrive anytime after." I'm not making a 12:30 reservation and showing up at 10 and being told to go somewhere for two hours lol. And my point still stands, if the cards are out by 1 or 1:30, and I have a 12:30 time, that's cutting it pretty close. Thanks for the tip though, wasn't very helpful.

    • Like 1
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  17. I think I figured out a good way to ensure I get on Orion when I go, but it means I won't buy a pass :( The day tickets have time slots as early as 10:30 on Saturday. The earliest passholder slot is for noon. I guess I'm just going to buy a single day ticket and go Saturday and hope for the best. Sadly, I think this will be the only time I will go this season, since I don't want to buy a single day ticket and then a pass on top of that just to ensure that I will get a ticket to ride Orion this Saturday.

  18. 9 minutes ago, MoreFogPlease said:

    Do you have a long drive and you’re worried the tickets will be gone by the time you get there? The ticket system has been a great change, in my opinion.

    Yeah, that's exactly my concern. I don't live that far away, just two and a half hours. If I drove all the way there and didn't get to ride it, I'd be very upset and not want to do anything else. 

  19. 22 minutes ago, brenthodge said:

    That echoes what we heard yesterday from a security guy saying the weekdays were very lightly booked. Maybe they hope opening it up more will increase the numbers. 

    19 minutes ago, NightlyBeast said:

    Or it might just be time to face the reality that we're in a pandemic and lots of people either aren't in a financial position to visit amusement parks or put their families safety ahead of fun. 

    Yeah, I've been kind of down about this whole thing personally. I still haven't purchased a pass, and neither has my mom for herself and my younger brothers. It just seems like such a bad time to go anywhere. I cannot bring myself to go to KI with the chance that I won't be riding Orion lingering over my head. It's completely stopped me from making any plans to go at all this season. I am really bummed out. Hopefully the ticket thing for Orion ends, otherwise I probably won't go this year :( 

     

  20. 1 hour ago, disco2000 said:

     

    This is a great video -- thank you for sharing! I don't think very many people believe the mask will prevent them from GETTING the virus, and if they do, they are incorrect. The idea is to help limit the amount of particles coming from you mouth/nose, helping to slow the SPREAD of the virus. If a mask only keeps 10% less stuff from ejecting into the air onto people or touchpoints, that's a good thing. It is a small part of a web of things to help slow the spread.

  21. 17 minutes ago, CedarIslander said:

    I rest my case. If you still feel that masks will reduce the spread of Covid, after the manufacturer tells you it won't, you're not worth my time. Good day, all. Go celebrate the freedoms that millions of Americans died protecting.

    One quick and simple question:

    If I am wearing a mask and I cough or sneeze, do you think more or less particles will eject from my mouth and nose into the air?

    • Like 4
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