[Preview Night 4/15/16 Trip Report!]

Glad you had fun, and glad that you got to accomplish some first time things. Adventure Express used to have lights like that and alot more theming then it does today. I remember riding it back in the 90s and early 00s and it was far better then it is today. Hopefully though those new lights mean that some TLC has gone into the ride as it defiantly needs some care. And yes, The Beast is awesome at night! Can't wait to visit myself! Thanks for the report! MaestroJr

[What ride did KI make the biggest mistake in getting ride of]

Phantom Theater by far was the worst mistake to remove. Sure Phantom was costly, and required heavy care and maintenance. But I think the main reason why it was removed was to keep with the current rides that Paramount wanted. I rode Phantom Theater in 2002, and many things on it needed desperate TLC, (like the furnace guys arm falling off that I saw one time). Instead of repairing, they went with the cheap fix of just replacing it with a ride with far less things that needed constant care. Also all the other Paramount parks were installing similar Scooby-Doo Haunted Castle rides, so I think that Kings Island just wanted to keep up and continue with the status quo. If Paramount never owned Kings Island, who knows Phantom might still be around today. I loved Scooby-Doo 's Haunted Castle as well but Phantom is my favorite and defiantly should have never left as it was far superior and much more creative. Hopefully though in a short while we will see something similar to Phantom be brought back to the severely lacking dark ride department. But I guess a dark ride is better then none at all!

MaestroJr

[Boo Blasters opinions and predictions]

Greetings fellow forum members, I would like to wish everyone a happy Kings Island opening day 2016, the off season went by so fast and I can't believe that the park opens in three days. I hope everyone is doing well and hope that its a great season this year. Safe travels for all who go Saturday, and it looks like it should be a great day for weather as well with temperatures in the 70s and sunny. I just wanted to start a thread on the current dark ride at the park and hear some peoples opinions on certain things. I really just want to hear what the community thinks so here it goes!

 

First off, do you think that it will be the last season of Boo Blasters, and if so what do you hope for in 2017?

 

Second, do you think that on opening day Saturday that all the props and blasters will be working like they are supposed to or do you think that they will be the same as the end of last season?

 

Third, what do you think will happen to all the Boo Blasters props and animatronics when the ride is retired?

 

And lastly, how long do you think Boo Blasters will run this year if a new ride is concieved? Do you think it will run all year, or get shut down in the middle sort of like what happened to Phantom Theater? 

 

Any opinions or predictions are welcome and I greatly appreciate hearing the communities input on our current dark ride Boo Blasters. I think alot about these issues concerning the ride and just want to hear what y'all think? I myself have enjoyed Boo Blasters and had lots of memories on it but I am aware of its probems, mainly the blasters in my opinion. Thanks for any comments and I look forward to a great 2016 at Kings Island! Thanks! Cheers, MaestroJr

 

 

[Inside the Demise of the Record-Breaking Coaster That Went Too Far]

Ah Son of Beast. I was there when they were building it up, and there when they were tearing it down. It scared the living daylights out of me when I was little, but its legacy and memories that I have of it will last a lifetime. I even have a bolt from it on my bookshelf. I remember the first time looking up at it and seeing and hearing people scream going down the 200+ ft drop and thinking "I'll never ride that". The thing I remember the most is the sound of the chain on the lift hill. Going up the lift hill on Adventure Express, and looking up at them climbing SOB's lift hill forever changed me on how big and fast roller coasters could be. Still though, I miss it. My memories of Son of Beast are very happy, but I do love Banshee. MaestroJr

[Throwback (kinda) to 2013]

Hey guys not much to say, but I thought with Banshee entering her third season of operation, I would just post a few photos I took of the ride back in 2013 during construction. Not much else to say. Enjoy!

 

Early construction, before we even knew what it was going to be! Early footers as well.

Couple of more showing lift hill completion without loop, taken Haunt 2013.

Well I hope you enjoyed that little step back in time. Just a couple of pictures of Banshee's early life. Defiantly loved watching it be built, and certainly love riding it. Can't believe it's already been three years! Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed! Thanks, hope y'all are staying warm. MaestroJr

 

 

 

[I need advice for Kings Island in the summer of 2016]

Since I never ride Delirium, or EXtreme Skyflyer. I'll just give you some coaster advice. First off, with Firehawk, being a grown man, in my experience with it, it really gets tight and squeezes your midsection. It's still a very fun ride, but dont be surprised if it gets a little uncomfortable in a certain region. And with Drop Tower, (I still call it Drop Zone), my advice would be to look up and not towards the ground. You go higher then anything in the park, but when you drop its so much fun!! Before you drop though, I would look either straight ahead, or up. Looking down for me makes me more nervous about the drop. And lastly with Banshee, you may want to first ride The Bat if your not used to that type of coaster. The Bat is really fast,and right behind Banshee, and will let you know if you want to step it up to its neighbor. Honestly, first time riding Banshee, I was nervous as hell. But once you start flying, and dipping, and looping. You'll want to ride it over and over again! Also on Banshee, since your doing so many loops, and going really fast, you really wont be nervous on what lies ahead beacuse you wont be able to see it. Banshee is loads of fun, and my guess is that after you ride it once, it'll be one of your favorites. It certainly is for me! But in the end, I hope y'all have a great time! Kings Island is the place to make many memories. Have Fun. MaestroJr

[My Childhood at Paramount's Kings Island]

Also I remember feeling unsafe on it my first time riding the Ghoster Coaster. It seemed to be so high and I remember my brother was so scared that he tried to free himself of the restraints and then he grabed on to me. Ah, memories. Still I remember enjoying it after I found the courage to ride it. Same with Phantom Theater, once I became aware that Maestro wasn't real, I really enjoyed Phantom. Also along with The Beastie, Scooby's Ghoster Coaster was my first roller coaster. I remember also my first time riding Adventure Express how fast I thought it was, and going up the first lift hill and looking up at Son of Beast, I remember how scared I was of Son of Beast. Cheers, MaestroJr

[My Childhood at Paramount's Kings Island]

You are right, that is the Fast Lane sign. That picture was taken more recently as I posted that picture just to show one of my favorite rides as a kid. None of my family took a picture of Adventure Express back in the 90s  when I was a kid, so I took a picture of it more recently and posted it on here just as a tribute to one of my favorite rides as a kid. Every other picture was taken in the 90s/early 00s except the one of me sitting on Son of Beast's remnants a few years back. Good observation!, and good question!, MaestroJr

[Why do people hate the Paramount Period of KI?]

Being born in the 1990s, I loved the Paramount years the most because the first time I visited Kings Island, Paramount theming was in full force. I remember riding things like Phantom Theater, and The Beastie, Scooby's Ghoster Coaster, Adventure Express, when it actually had great theming, and all the effects worked. And I remember all the hype about Son of Beast. All my friends back in grade school would talk about how they conqured the mighty Son of Beast. I grew up looking up at that ride, which is why I was so sad when they removed it. It was like watching my childhood being ripped to the ground. I personally love the Paramount years the most. Thats when I had the best memories at Kings Island. But I can see for people who grew up in the 70s/80s why they dislike those years because people generally love and look back fondly on their childhood and not someone elses. I personally love the Paramount years at Kings Island the most, and I am very fortunate to have been there in the 90s/early 00s. I'll always cherish the memories I had at Paramount's Kings Island and always will be happy and grateful of the time that I spent there as a kid. Thanks, MaestroJr

[My Childhood at Paramount's Kings Island]

Thanks y'all so much for all the comments and memories of your own, sorry it took me so long to reply to this forum. I figured people who grew up or were born in the 90s and the Paramounts years of Kings Island like me, would enjoy some of the pictures from mine and your childhood. I hope everyone had a great Christmas, and hope that y'all enjoy the rest of the holidays and have a happy new year. Only about 3 or so more months until Kings Island reopens. Look forward to seeing y'all then. Best wishes, happy holidays, MaestroJr.

[My Childhood at Paramount's Kings Island]

Hi guys, a couple of weeks ago I posted a Scooby Doo's Haunted Castle or Boo Blasters on Boo Hill blog and I just want to thank everybody for their opinion and honest responses. I of course chose Scooby Doo's Haunted Castle as my favorite. But I also mentioned that I would post some of my pictures of the Paramount years at Kings Island. Well, this whole story of mine will contain pictures of me and my family riding rides during my childhood and also the Paramount years at Paramount's Kings Island. Most of these pictures were taken during the late 90s/early 2000s. I hope you enjoy and I hope that if you grew up in the late 90s/ early 2000s like me then you will enjoy some nostalgia from a shared Kings Island past. Enjoy some memories! Please excuse the pictures quality, I have to take a picture of the picture and then upload it, so it isn't the best quality.

 

First off will be pictures of Scooby's Ghoster Coaster (which was removed for expanding the Nick Universe part of the park) 

Me and my Brother on Scooby's Ghoster Coaster.

Mom and my Sister

Me and my Brother again

Me and my brother, Im the one on the left in the light blue shirt

Me and my brother with Flintstones characters

Me on the old Flintstones Bumper Boulder ride

Adventure Express sign

Me eating La Rosa's pizza 

Im a triplet by the way. The three of us on the swing ride. If you notice the blue buidling in the background, that actually is Phantom Theater (its exit door) If you look close enough, you can see Phantom Theater's exit door sticking out of the buidling. 

Next is one of my favorite pictures. Its me and my brother with Scooby Doo, in front of Scooby's Haunted Castle. Who else took a picture with Scooby and the Mystery Machine as a kid at Kings Island?

Us at FearFest

Hard to make out, but this picture is actually the gas tank that explodes on what was then the brand new Italian Stunt Job. And the Eiffel Tower.

Ice Cream place at Kings Island, think it's called Ralph's Ice Cream

Me in front of Son of Beast.

And lastly, a modern picture of me on Son of Beast after the tore it down.

Thanks so much if you read this, and thanks for letting me show you some of my favorite memories as a kid. Ive always loved Kings Island and always will. I will always cherish my memories as a kid at Paramount's Kings Island. And I hope that if you remember some of these rides from your childhood that you get a kick of nostalgia. Thanks so much, Cheers!

[A Tomb for the Crypt?]

Which was built first, the building and then the ride, or the ride and then the structures coming after?

Also, I really like your KICentral username.

[A Tomb for the Crypt?]

Which was built first, the building and then the ride, or the ride and then the structures coming after?

I would imagine that probaly the building was constructed first and then the insides of the ride were built. That makes the most sense to me.

[A Tomb for the Crypt?]

Remember back in the day when King Cobra lost its greenish-yellow color and turned into kind of a white/swampy green color?

[Boo Blasters on Boo Hill or Scooby Doo's Haunted Castle]

This is an issue that has always interested me as various members have always had different opinions. My question is this, which Kings Island dark ride do you prefer?Scooby Doo's Haunted Castle or Boo Blasters on Boo Hill? My favorite has always been the Scooby Doo version of this ride. I think it worked better, performed better, and was defiantly superior to the modern day equivalent. And also I seem to remember the blasters on it working. I rode Scooby Doo's Haunted Castle in 2003 when it opened and defiantly had high expectations considering that I was used to Phantom Theater. I thoroughly enjoyed Scooby Doo's Haunted Castle in its first years and while I agree that it wasn't as unique as Phantom Theater, it was great for kids and also seemed to fit right in with the Hanna-Barbera Land theming that was present at the time.While I LOVE Phantom Theater, in my personal opinion Scooby Doo for me was always a close second.

 

At the time Scooby's Castle opened until the time it closed I loved it and I will always cherish my memories of it and my hundreds of rides on it. In my books it has a special place in my heart as the late 90s/early 2000s was and always will be my favorite time at Paramount's Kings Island. 

 

But I want to know your opinion which ride for you is better? Scooby's Haunted Castle or Boo Blasters on Boo Hill?

 

Thanks for any responses. Sincerely, MaestroJr

 

P.S. Maybe I'll look through my personal scrapbooks and find some pictures of the Paramount Days at Kings Island and also I may have a few pictures of Scooby's Haunted Castle somewhere in my collection. Also I have a few of Paramount's Kings Island cups that I may post pictures of. Thanks again!

[Dark Ride at Kings Island]

Yes, the music does loop throughout the entire ride. And yes it is frustrating for those of us who remember past rides such as Phantom Theater. And Phantom had a great original score which was made to play different parts in different parts of the ride, such as beginning, rehersal rooms, theater, and the prop room. Even Scooby-Doo had great music from the show and actually generally the guns on it worked. I actually rode it in 2003 when it was brand new and was very impressed with its simplicity and fun overall family ride. But now I just wish that Phantom Theater would make another apperance. Like Ive said before I rode Phantom Theater in its final season in 2002, and it was clear that it was old and broken, but still I enjoyed every bit of it. But now with Boo Blasters I just wish they would add something new and put it out of its misery. But I also would be thankful for a Peanuts themed dark ride. That would actually fit in with the area, as Phantom Theater was never right in its place near Hanna-Barbera Land. As kids were very afraid of it and especially of Maestro in the balcony when you walk in. Cheers, MaestroJr

[11/01/2015: Best Closing Day Ever!]

Congradulations on your 300th! Vortex is a truly special ride and one of my favorites. Best wishes to you on your way to your 400th ride!

[Dark Ride at Kings Island]

What I think will happen to Boo Blasters is the same thing that happened to Phantom Theater back in 2002. Next season it will most likely run till half-season, and then close to begin the transformation process. I rode Phantom Theater right before they closed it down and it was clear that something needed to be done. Boo Blasters is still way less functional then Phantom ever was, even at the end of its life, Phantom was still fun. Hopefully Kings Island has a bright future with dark rides. And hopefully with the popularity of the Peanuts movie, we will get a Peanuts themed dark ride.

[Typhoon Tower Coming to Coney in 2016]

Should be an awesome addition to Coney Island! Southern Ohio families will have many waterparks to choose from come summer.

[2015 KIC Off Season Poll Series Week I: Last Ride of 2015]

My final coaster (unplanned) was Firehawk. Final ride was Drop Tower. Awesome season and awesome Haunt. So excited for next year!  Also riding The Beast at 11 pm in the cold rain was awesome as usual.

[Great Autumn day at the Park 10/24/15]

Well, I had a great time at Kings Island Saturday. It rained for a little bit but I still had a fantastic time.

 

Rides I rode, mostly in the dark

Diamondback-2

Beast-2

Racer-2

Bat-1

Firehawk-1

Drop Tower, I still call it Drop Zone.-1

Boo Blasters on Boo Hill-1

Vortex-2

Flight of Fear-1

 

Mazes

Madame Fatales Cavern of Terror-2

Carnevil-1

Slaughterhouse-1

Board to Death-1

 

Took some pictures of the Phantom Theater and Son of Beast props being used this year, as I think somebody mentioned that they wanted to see them in action, so here you go!

 

First off they had old tombstones of all the old rides on International Street.

Next, in the queue line for The Beast they had the orignal pannels from the original Son of Beast trains in a casket.

Also in the queue line for The Beast they had a Light Bulbs crate and a Flash Powder barrel which are both from Phantom Theater!

Also, dont get mad at me, but in Madame Fatales Cavern of Terror I took a picture of the other two Phantom Theater props being used. I know your not supposed to take pictures in mazes, but I snuck this one in and I think all of us Phantom Theater fanatics will love this picture that I took. Its the Great Garbonzos cannon and the Phantom Theater mummy!

That was a really cool find! Also I found the Phantom Theater furnace in Slaughterhouse, but couldnt get a picture of it.

More pictures of Phantom Theater stuff and remnants that I took.

And last but not least, The Bat at midnight.

Overall, I had a fantastic time and hope you enjoy my pictures. I was very pleased to find all of the Phantom Theater props, plus the Son of Beast pannels as well.

All those Phantom Theater and Son of Beast props were in plain sight if you would like to see them in person. I love finding all the old ride remnants as it gives me a kick of nosatlgia. Especially Phantom Theater and Son of Beast. Well I hope you enjoyed reading this and I hope that if you went too Saturday, that you had as much fun as I did. Thanks so much, MaestroJr

 

 

 

[Kings Island Trip Report-10/11/15]

I agree with you 100%, put a Peanuts themed dark ride into the Boo Blasters building and put Phantom Theater in The old Crypt building. But it is still a shame that all the original Phantom Theater stuff will be removed. I always loved finding those old remnants. Ah, memories.

[KI Survey]

I of course rode Phantom Theater back in the day but would for sure like to see it come back. As I am sure most people would and it does have a chance of returning. I never rode Son of Beast but I do own one of its structure bolts and I also have stood on its track. With parks permission of course.

[Phantom Theater stuff at Haunt part 2]

Has anybody else seen Phantom Theater stuff at Haunt? And also where exacly in Madame Fatales is the Phantom Theater cannon? I know its in the museum section, but is that a part of the maze or queue line?

[Kings Island Trip Report-10/11/15]

Glad you had a great time and also happy that you got to see those Phantom Theater faces, they are super cool to look at! I always wondered why they kept them in there and also why they dont recreate the effect. Unfortuanatly if a Peanuts dark ride gets put in they will probaly remove them permantly. Glad you had fun., MaestroJr