Leaderboard

All these complaints about KI has Mike on a bender.

Dark ride

I currently have been hyperfixating on both Phantom Theater and Haunted Houses (mostly like Universal’s Horror Nights houses bc there’s no new ones at Haunt), so naturally I’ve been thinking on how to combine the two. Here’s my concept for a Phantom Theater themed Haunt house, inspired by elements of the Universal houses. I feel like the Haunt houses at Kings Island could benefit from more storytelling (something they’ve improved upon with Hotel St. Michelle and some elements of Alien Abyss). I don’t necessarily know if a Phantom Theater house would be the best direction for Haunt (If it’s too scary it would taint the IP in children’s minds, and a well-themed house would likely be a large enough investment that they would want it to be around for several years, potentially delaying any plans for an attraction return), but I’m also a sucker for an old ride returning through a Haunt (See Dueling Dragons at HHN). The following is my very rant-y concept for a PT house: The basic plot is that the house would vaguely be an origin story for how each of the performers from the attraction died (Yes I know in the original ride they’re not canonically ghosts but shhhh). Some scare aspects for this idea are taken from the Universal Haunts, so after each I’ll put a video link and time stamp for what I envision with it, warning for gore in some. Facade: The house entrance would be a recreation of the original attraction facade. Organ music is heard in the guest waiting area, with occasional snippets from the original Maestro queue recording. Before entering the house, an usher (perhaps Broken-Neck Nicki) explains the safety information and a brief explanation of the house’s plot Room 1: Theater Entrance A Candle lit lobby with torn curtains scattered around the walls. The queue posters from the original attraction would be displayed as well. A scareactor dressed as Maestro pops out of a curtain. “So you wanted to see the theater, did ya?” (1:17 https://youtu.be/-AhvQ-TJPdE?si=zVBwL88aL09T_EWY) Room 2: Hallway A long hallway with the dressing room doors from the ride. A Willard Warbler actor would abruptly slam a door open and shout at the guest. “Oh dear, close that door!” At the end of the hall, what is seemingly a mirror would ‘break’, with Larry the Usher popping out. (1:07 https://youtu.be/-AhvQ-TJPdE?si=zVBwL88aL09T_EWY) Room 3: Houdelini’s Rehersal Room A Houdelini actor pulls his demonic rabbit out of the hat. Turning to a corner, a short hallway is filled with bodies being mutilated by the magic equipment. Included is a sawed in-half Larry still in the box. A sculpture of the rabbit is seen mauling on Houdelini at the end of the hall. Room 4: Hilda Bovine Rehearsal Room A dark room with scattered wooden beams blocks the field of view. Rotting skeletons dressed as Vikings would be scattered across the room, along with props such as shields and music sheets. Hilda pops out from a hidden curtain and screams. “AAHHH!!” Room 5: Backstage A room filled with hanging theater sandbags that the guests have to walk through. A scareactor of one of the stagehands pops out, with a corpse caught hanging in the ropes next to him. At the end of the hallway is an electrical panel, which an electrified Gus the stage manager jumps out next to, shining a flashlight in the guest’s eyes. “The backstage is for performers only!” Room 6: The Great Garbanzo Rehearsal Room An extension of the backstage area, a cannon set next to guests fires smoke, seemingly into the ceiling. An actor dressed as The Great Garbanzo then jumps out, manically laughing. Room 7: Balcony Hallway A thin corridor with green walls. At the end sits No Legs Larry (either a live scareactor using a mirror effect, or just a prop), leading guest into the theater. “The show is just about to begin!” Room 8: Stage Guests walk across the stage filled with smoke. (1:54 https://youtu.be/u6xMv74SUBY?si=64JaPAl5DD6vtcME) A Lionel Burymore actor would pop out next to a castle facade, with stab marks clearly visible on his chest. Mannequins would be set up across the room dressed as Houdelini, Hilda, Garbonzo, Willard Warbler, and several theater-goers. A Maestro actor would be seen in the center, playing his organ. (1:21 Room 9: Prop Room Guest would enter the prop room, filled with references to the original attraction and leftover props from random past houses. A Mummy scareactor would emerge out of the original sarcophagus prop, with a rat puppet also being used. Room 10: Boiler Room A collapsed wall in the prop room would lead into the boiler room. Pipes and crates would be scattered across the room, with the original furnace moved over from Slaughterhouse. A heat effect would blast guests as they crossed, with two scareactors dressed as the boiler-men. “How about some heat?” Guests would turn into a final corner, with a final Maestro jumpscare at the exit of the house. “You’ll be back! You’ll be baaaack!”

Oh, the neighbors are going to LOVE this! Will the drones rattle their windows like Diamondback does? ( Get it? A rattlesnake rattling windows? (But that was a complaint of theirs))

Adding to the theory of it being removed, I agree. I think this will mean they're taking out the haunt attraction, whether its to revamp the building in to something more or remove it entirely. cause its not like the haunt attraction was struggling. theres always lines for it everytime i go.

Between this speculation and the SOB speculation (as always, but still fun to look at) I'm tempted to go this friday and give it a go checking out the haunt stuff during the day at KI. I'd like to see the cool decorations and lantern interaction spots and definitely would like to check out the madame lights on tour. I've always wanted to go in the building and check it out cause it seems massive and ive never been inside it, but the haunt lines have always kept me away from it.

Somewhat off topic of the current conversation in the chat, but I love that there is still discussion about SOB and I love seeing all the theories and ideas about revivals/reboots. But I also grew up obsessed with youtube channels like game theory and stuff, so I'm always all about theorizing stuff and connecting pieces together, even if they don't always make sense or actually connect. just fun stuff creatively. this chat honestly makes me want to go to haunt this friday to try and check out the SOB inspired lantern spot and all the stuff people are talking about in here. gives some use to my pass I bought before my friend group split up earlier this year.

Not at all what I am trying to convey. Kings Island is a very pass heavy park. People have grown up with it and have an emotional bond to it. So Six Flags can bank on a certain amount of revenue each year from inexpensive pass sales. But they make their money on per cap sales, such as what I mentioned. They start things off really well, but objectively reduce expenses in following years. For example, Grand Carnivale. The first year was incredible. But each year since, it's been chipped away. ( Notably, I think this year's parade was the best one yet, but things like the performances in China, France, Germany, Italy etc have all been axed). Live entertainment has been cut severely this year. It seems the food has improved over the course of the season ( I haven't been since June) but they were cutting corners earlier ( Sysco chicken fingers at the chicken shack vs years past hand breaded never frozen fingers sticks out to me). The French Corner was redone into a bistro/bar. Alcohol is a high margin product, hence why they installed so many. But it seems that the bars are fully staffed while drinking refill stations are either closed or understaffed, so you have long lines, empty syrup boxes and no ice. But, the passholders still show up in droves and spend money. This is out of emotional connection, loyalty, or just a good bang for the buck but with reduced quality. That's the hook that Kings Island exploits, and rightfully so. I guess what your interpretation of my thoughts are could be partially correct, however. If pass sales decline significantly, per caps also decline. Given time, with a poorer financial condition, the park could invest money into quality and capital expenditures to bring the people back in. Like everything else, this industry is cyclical. The merger and post COVID debt will certainly be a challenge in the next few years. But we will see 2017-2022 glory years again. It will just take time and patience.

Beast FL line is currently back to the Photo Booth. May the odds be ever in your favor.

Ah woops, sorry for the double post! An extra one:

For those interested, it is two train ops.

I never got to experience action theater but I'd love for something to go in there. Kings Island has so many old ugly buildings sitting around that need to be used for more than just a seasonal Halloween attraction. Imagine having two additional indoor attractions/dark rides of some kind... Definitely give you more to do when it's hot, rainy, or cold. Side tangent I want to know why on earth they flattened the beautiful, historic Vortex station house during the demolition of that ride but have kept every old ugly paramount generation building? We still have the big white box (tomb raider), still have the action theater, and the hideous SOB station but a beautiful building like The Vortex Station House immediately gets the wreaking ball despite being built in 1981 for the original Bat

Working on any ride under normal operations is one thing, knowing the design of the panels and what it can/ can't do when it is not under normal operations as well as not being present when the accident happened is another. What needs to be considered was the state of the ride prior to the accident- which will come out as the investigation continues.

Enthusiasts are part of the GP.

I would really love to see this make a come-back. It was such a fun experience and another place to go on a hot day to find relief in AC. It was also a nice way to break up the traditional riding experience of flats and coasters. There are a lot of possibilities at play if they ever brought it back. Especially now in the digital age where they no longer have to worry about physical film (then again I believe I once saw a photo of Kentucky Kingdom's motion theater using floppy discs! ). I realize if they were to revitalize the AT they would need to do some serious upgrades from the projection system to the sound system to the actual simulator system itself. But I think it would be really cool. If they were to take advantage of any of the merger stuff ( if legally able to do so ) they could have something Peanuts related on one side and something DC related on the other. Imagine a 3-D Batman experience on one side where you're jumping, fighting and running through Gotham City and on the other side of the theater have a Flying Ace experience where you're ducking and diving and doing silly Snoopy antics. I could see both themes being a good time for everyone.