Just announced on the official Kings Island Facebook page KI Essentials Is Receiving A Complete Aesthetic Refresh.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1FPUk27sKR/
I honestly love the new animatronics compared to the old ones and I've actually ridden the original PT. These animatronics look a lot more lively and interactive more so than the original PT animatronics. I'm just hoping it's going to be more of a dark ride than Boo Blasters meaning less bright lights. ๐
I've been saying it for years that they need to expand the bathrooms that are on International Street right when you walk in, always a line there no matter what time of day.
My favorite bathroom currently is the one by Banshee & The Bat less riff raff.
As a hat collector, im hoping to see a Phantom Theater Opening Nightmare hat in the gift shops, if they hadn't already sold them yet. Also a nice Racer hat, The Bat, and Sol Spin hat would be nice to see. I was surprised to see a Flight of Fear hat this year, I would like to see more rides featured on KI hats.
I love it! Anything is better than the purple Scooby-Doo castle which was good for a decade or so but by the time the 2020s came it was definitely looking worn down and an eyesore. Fingers crossed we get eerie sounds (wind effects, ghosts moans, etch) on the outside/entrance just like the original PT.
This picture is from around 6 years ago but everytime I go to Kings Island I enjoy talking to Pops! This year I spotted him working at the Grand Carousel, I hope to see him again in the 2026 season!
Are they removing the FunTVs from the que? I'd really hope so, honestly it took away the haunted house vibe that Boo Blasters tried to have, I'd be 100% fine with just hearing the Maestro and No Legs Larry talk in the que as well as the eerie music being played. Boo Blasters used to do that in the early 2010s but it was replaced by the FunTVs for some odd reason. I'm hoping its a little darker in the que too.