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I truly believe KI already has a HUGE hit on their hands. This has as much, if not more, buzz than virtually all new attractions in the past twenty years. If this succeeds, as I think it will, I expect it will set the trajectory for all future installs at KI.

Small Spoiler alert this takes a sneak peak at the look of the indoor Queue portion. I came across this posted on Facebook tonight from the flooring company working on the indoor Queue not too much revealed in the video/picture. just gives a little more excitement knowing work is going on and things are coming along!

I have absolutely no clue what the quote is referring to, but glad to have an update finally. I can’t wait!

I have no information nor opinion on when the ride will open, but coming from the world of industrial automation, which this ride essentially is, it would not be the least bit surprising that it would take a couple of months to program and debug this thing. It's a very complex machine, with hundreds, if not thousands, of sensors, relays, contactors, pneumatic and/or servo actuators, safety systems, audiovisual hardware and software, PLCs, HMIs, etc., all subject to hardware infant mortality, all of which is designed to be efficiently and safely operated by minimum wage operators. No small task! When automated systems are complex, the number of failure modes skyrockets to the point that debug alone can take quite a while (think ~10 engineers & technicians working 6 or 7 12-hour days for weeks), to say nothing of the programming itself. For example, a typical automotive automated production system will run in debug for ~3 weeks once the hardware is "on its feet" to try to identify the myriad ways in which it can fail. Plus, even with those failure modes addressed, it will go on to exhibit dozens more failure modes once released to the wild.

Biggest and largest doesn’t move the needle. Experiences that are worth repeating do.

posted on KI instagram page, confirms that fan reception to the show gave the park the green light to return the long missed phantom theater to it’s rightful place, we in the community should pat our self on the back for this because we made it happen!

I wonder if the candles will return in the hallway que, I know when PT turned into Scooby-Doo/Boo Blasters; they kept the original Candles exiting the ride. Fingers crossed they are still there. 🤞

Here's to the last full month of the park being closed!

^^^ Very this. And at a regional park, no less.

I personally am digging the purple wallpaper. I get the sentiment shared here that the old version of the ride had a dilapidated elegance to it that the new one probably won't have. Is the new one a little more cartoonish? Yes. But I'm approaching it as a new version a new ride entirely not trying to replicate the old one. To me this is a restoration of the theater and won't have that same dilapidated haunted feel. It will pull the nostalgia of the original characters into a more "fun" reopening of the theater that has been fixed up for an opening night performance and isn't sitting in ruin anymore

Not a construction update but Kings Island just released this Phantom Theater Opening Nightmare Valentine on their Facebook page! 😀

Too much time has passed for whatever might eventually go in that spot to be a Vortex replacement. There wasn’t a plan for that spot when Vortex was retired in 2019 like there was with other rides. If Kings Island could go back in time, they wouldn’t have retired Vortex. They would have done what Busch Gardens VA did with Loch Ness Monster and put the money into it to preserve the ride for future generations to enjoy.

You are probably right, but with a new CEO, we might see some unpredictable changes?

Elizabeth Nadeu, The digital marketing manager has announced she is leaving Kings Island to take the social media and community manager position at P&G: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUo86ZCDIpJ5QSkQbDTE6spzt7I1Y64vNya3PA0/?img_index=1 I know some of you have mixed feelings about her, but she was always nice to me and I will miss her around the park and I wish her nothing but the best moving forward.

It is amazing on how complex these rides are, even if they appear at times to be just simple on the surface. They are so incredibly complex. Thanks @DispatchMaster for a description of how much actually goes into it. I do theater work and most would think lighting is just as simple as plugging in the lights...but it's so much more than that.

Vortex replacement… does that phrase even make sense anymore? I published a piece on this on TPBD. https://themeparksbydon.com/Vortex-replacement-term-outdated/

At Six Flags Over Georgia they have character meet & greets for the Monster Mansion dark ride, so fingers crossed we get one for Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare as well! 🤞

I have been wondering how a queue could work for a Vortex replacement and I mocked up a sorta idea of a queue line with a double sided locker system and metal detectors (like Siren's Curse). The station of the coaster would be higher than usual allowing for a bunch of open space underneath the station that would be used for the double sided lockers, the exit gift shop, on ride photo booth, and a merged queue that would also feature a "pre-show" for the ride. The coaster model I have is a modern Vekoma launch.

There was a time pre-merger when a hotel was in the future plans.

Just playing around with AI a little lol tbh I actually kinda like how this turned out! If this actually came to reality, it would give Great Wolf some legit competition!

I’ve seen a lot of discussion between fans about KIs additions over the past few years, some praise and a lot of downing. I personally have been a fan of what KI has been doing. In 2022 50th celebration with new shows and park improvements, 2023 Adventure Port, 2024 Camp Snoopy, 2025 River Racers and 2026 Phantom Theater. While these additions aren’t a crazy new coaster, they’re great improvements and additions to areas of the park that were lacking. KI is bound to get a new coaster eventually, but why hate on these small additions that make the park better?

For me half the excitement for the upcoming season is seeing all the mini upgrades done around the park to make it a nicer place. Stuff like during the 50th they redid the walls of Racer's station to remove the chainlink fencing and put in a more permanent looking wall.

This is the type of 4th of July event I think Kings Island should be doing outside of just a bigger firework show! This is Cedar Point's new America 250 event

Carowinds is planning to host a passholder q&a with park leadership as well as other festivities as part of pass preview night. I think KI should do something like this on pass preview day

IF they were ever to bring back any water features, you already know they would have to fence it off as much as possible. People are disgusting and disrespectful. That water would get so gross so fast. If teenagers think its funny to spit on people on rides, I can only imagine a bunch of idiots trying to hocker into the water or throw trash in there. This is why we can't have nice things.

I was optimistic about him being named CEO, and remain so after listening to the earnings call and talking with people that know him.

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/masonsymphonyorchestra/2000992 Saw this come across their story feed on IG. Thought this seemed pretty unique. Bought two tickets for my lady and I as we were both pretty sick this past weekend and didn't get to do anything for Valentine's Day. So this will make up for it. Pretty cool!

This is why a new gen Vekoma multi launch is my top choice for that area and it's pretty clear based on the survey back in November/December that the park and corporate are in fact looking into that. Ever since Vortex left there is no coaster that goes upside down that has a 48" height requirement. Banshee is 52" and Invertigo/FOF is 54". A ride like AlpenFury would be great, but it has a 54" height requirement I think.

I often wonder what a retracked Vortex would be like. Fresh track, fresh paint and in a dream world, new trains ( preferably the new Vekoma trains used on their current sit-down loopers ). And just think-with the awesome light packages those new Vekoma trains have that could have really made a statement for Vortex while it went up the lift hill and slithered through it's twisted steel structure. That alone would have really brought on some excitement for riders and bystanders alike, especially at night! I really believe that would have revived the classic coaster for long-time fans who quit riding or rode maybe once a year and it would have made new fans for up and coming thrill-seekers. Vortex was really such a good solid middle ground coaster. Thrilling enough for the adrenaline junkies but with a height requirement that met new thrill seekers at a more modest standard so more people could get in on the action.

After reflecting on it, it's most definitely the moving bust they're referring to and they'll be placed somewhere on the ride as the one prop from the original that returns. Also since the ride cars have continued to be called enchanted opera boxes, for sure they'll call the adventure an "Enchanted Voyage" in the queue, there's no way that doesn't make it in there.

I personally would love to see phantom theater characters return considering they did have a maestro character when the original opened. You know people would line up for photos with arpeggio (the cat) and larry

I'm personally in the camp of put boocifer in Coney mall for Halloween and let him for a few years like they did to the original PT characters. I personally don't love boo blasters and hope they don't give the new PT a cheapened look by trying to reuse a bunch of that outdated garbage

This is how you do it right. When I read this, my first thought was that traveling to SDC this year is a must. I love this ride and am so glad it's getting a more than proper send off.

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/real-estate/2026/02/13/great-wolf-lodge-mason-new-hotel/88607127007/?link_source=ta_first_comment&taid=698ef62aa9dfda0001d59006&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwZnRzaAP8KV1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeHLaKMZHHb7VjgWaozVdz12P0ygmcHGUnPRb1vKXjeI5s7vrLDpinIQp4Bi0_aem_2sxGtvF45YnGNUEw4imqjw This story seems to be on-and-off paywalled but the TL;DR is that Mason City Council recently approved the construction of a six story tower addition to Great Wolf Lodge.

I've been told this is on the park's Instagram page I believe. So if anyone has any burning questions about the original PT, now's your time to ask!

I recommended that she be the one hired for the seasonal digital content coordinator position prior to the start of the 2023 season. I wish her well in her new position at P&G.

You can see the back of the castle top from the Camp Snoopy and Planet Snoopy cam on their website.

At this point, I know no reason of this attraction not opening "on time," whether it's at the very first day of the season or further into April or even May.

A fossil was found during the construction of PT: ON... (a relic of a forgotten time perhaps? 🤔)

Who says they're not planning to do that? (They're probably not, but I'd love if this would happen eventually if the ride is a hit)

I felt like the park could’ve taken this opportunity to “rebrand” the highlighted area of the park strictly to Phantom Theater. Rename Great Pumpkin into “Ghoster Coaster” or something that ties into the PT IP. For the Enchanted Theater, you could have a smaller PT show, live character meet and greets, or transform the inside all together into maybe a PT gift shop.

I don't know why, but when I saw this picture I thought of Kitty Claws at Holiday World 😂

I photoshopped some nonsense after thinking of meet and greet characters. Do y'all think we could see an Arpeggio meet and greet like this (Or Maestro or any other PT ghouls for that matter)?

I can see Maestro be a walk around character along with his performers and friends. I could also see live actors roaming around International Street, acting like residences living here.

Maybe because Walt is frozen himself?

I could honestly see The Vortex replacement in 2028 followed by a parking lot coaster (Invertigo/Congo/TW area) along with a renovated entry plaza in 2032 for the 60th anniversary (which is crazy to think we are getting close to the halfway point to that year as the 50th year feels like yesterday). Assuming we don't run into another major financial disruption (ie another pandemic or major recession or even bankruptcy).

To my pain, I don't know if the plan is to open it with the park (though it seems odd to me that it would open the weekend after opening instead of having a soft opening with minor effects or adjustments being made during the weekdays the park is closed) but I also don't think it's likely for it to have been delayed. For reference, two months before their opening, RiverRacers hadn't been fully assembled, and the trains for Soapbox Racers hadn't arrived. Though I suppose I'm just "defending" the April 18th opening date because if manifest it enough I'll be able to ride it sooner. I think the reddit source is trustworthy, but I'm more inclined to believe the April date that has remained on Sally Dark Ride's site. Perhaps this is more of a personal want, but whether it opens with the park or if they hold a charity event, it would be a shame to me if there wasn't a clearly communicated opening day and if it randomly soft opened without notice a few weeks into the season. The crowd energy from fans at the last performance of Encore and the last day of Boo Blasters (and probably the Rick Bastrup Q&A, I'm still salty about having to miss that) was very fun to experience and I'd love to have it for the theater's grand reopening.

https://www.facebook.com/HolidayWorld/videos/the-raven-is-receiving-some-tlc-this-off-season-about-500-ft-of-new-track-is-bei/1898792870772154/ While Holiday World consistently retracks it's wooden coasters in the off-season, I'm really excited for this year's project. The Raven is being retracked from the 5th drop to the brake run during it's 31st season. This section has needed some TLC for the past few years as it has been known to have a pothole that would make the end of the ride a bit jarring. The Raven is honestly my favorite wooden coaster at the park.

It would be interesting to know. Obviously the original animatronics were probably more simplistic and the special effects didn't include screens or laser guns. So my guess is less programming but they could have run into some interesting problems just from the standpoint that it was a new ride and pretty good for its time