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I too like some of the others on here thought the Phantoms were too "cute" or "friendly" when I first saw them but the design has grown on me. In the original they were borderline creepy and I think that's the difference in the two attractions - original phantom they were meant to be creepy and haunted. The new one they are supposed to be engaging characters once again but they are a bit more family friendly. I think it has the potential to be a great ride and as I have said before I think it's great that people are being creative and not just bringing back a 30 year old ride. I know we still have beloved old dark rides at Disney or Knoebels but when you are creating something new for today's audiences I think it's natural that it changes a bit from what the expectations of a dark ride were in 1992. Oh I also don't think I've mentioned yet that I think the red "box seats" or doom buggies look better than even the original ones did. The greyish blue was classic of course but the red gives it a real restored theater vibe. Really digging the red ride vehicles

Absolutely they don't look the same but I think everyone knows that even if they create a carbon copy of the original somehow it still wouldn't be as good in the eyes of the original fans. So pleasing the original fans is not the goal. The goal is to bring back characters that are popular in park lore and to create a ride that original fans will enjoy because it's a new version of the original and create something that appeals to the average guest and to kids because while I know phantom theater is located on international Street technically it's so close to Planet Snoopy that alot of kids go through that building

100%, my dude. They look significantly better than the original figures. Not that they were bad or anything, but 34 years allows technology to develop in such a way that, on a surface level, makes them superior. The movement and articulation of the new Maestro when specifically compared to the original makes it obvious. To go further, yeah… I adore the art direction of the original ride. Everything about it. But I’m not going to sit here and say this new direction looks worse. I know that’s mostly objective, but come on: Ultimately, comparison is a thief of joy. I’m just hyped for what’s in store. Sally knows what they’re doing. Based on what little we’ve seen in the Curtain Call BTS series and via the filed plans, it seems like it’s going to be done right. Only time will tell…

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. 😅

I think the ornaments are from either a small holiday photoshoot that Sally Dark Rides did or it's from a potential holiday overlay mock-up for PT:ON. There were also some photos with Maestro in a Santa costume, but all of these photos were taken in the SDR workshop so we probably won't know much until later this year. As much as some commenters like to say the art style is "too cartoony" I really like the new looks for everyone. It's taken the original characters and mixed their appearances with No Legs Larry's puppet form from Phantom Theater Encore. Either way, isn't it better for everyone to look more "lively" in preparation for the theater's grand reopening? I'd much rather that than going to see them in their less mortal, more corrupted state

In 2026, Cedar Point’s pioneering looping coaster marks 50 years since it opened in 1976. http://sanduskyregister.com/go/6c78ba01489fd

Ugh. More Fast and Furious. Was hoping for something different for east/west coast.

Oh I don't disagree but let's face it times are changing and they aren't giving parks new additions like they used to with the exception of Cedar Point. I'm not saying I agree with them not investing in a other major coaster I'm just saying it can always get worse. At least they are still improving our water park, giving us a "new" section of the kids area, and bringing back a beloved dark ride. I look at a park such as Great Adventure that lost nearly 8 rides I believe since 2022 and I say, I'm so thankful we're not that park because there's always a worse end of the stick to get. Kings Island might not be the top flagship investment park it historically has been but at least so far I would say they haven't screwed us like they have some of the smaller parks and how they did great adventure

And the same can be said over the whole Wonderland conversion hack....

On a different tangent...I often wonder why Six Flags doesn't market adjust for California? If costs are significantly higher to operate there ( labor, fuel, taxes etc) shouldn't a daily meal plan reflect this? Why is it the same price there as it is, in say, Oklahoma, where operating costs will be much lower? ( I don't know the price in Oklahoma or if it's even offered, just using it as a for instance)

I think this is just the existing rule of "You must have the wristband on your wrist and cannot use two at once" written out and posted publicly. Technically with the season pass meal plan you're supposed to have everyone there to scan each pass with the passholder present, but it doesn't always get enforced because parents don't want to have to deal with their kids being in a food line. In reality, the policy saying "no sharing" probably means "no giving your wristband away" rather than "we will watch you eat and make sure you don't share food with your family and friends". There are quite a few people online who like to leave dining wristbands in bushes if they leave early enough in the day and make a post saying to come get them. This new policy might be trying to cut down on that. Associates are already supposed to throw away discarded wristbands and nobody needs more plastic littering the parks/harming the foliage or animals that might get to them before humans do.

What does it even mean and how would it be enforced? Are they gonna watch you eat the meal?

Wonder if this new "No Sharing" policy will make it to the other parks....

The database that needed to up was upgraded was done this weekend by @malem . 🥳 With that announcement, let's make sure our forums are not a threads of emoji codes by using emojis sparingly. 😁 Thanks for your help on behalf of the KIC Admin. 🙂

Depending on how much extra programming is involved, it should be relatively "easy" to switch out the screen media, LED lighting, etc. for a holiday overlay. Perhaps guests could be helping to recapture escaped jingle bells for a holiday concert at the Phantom Theater.

KI did have a 4th of July event in Picnic Grove https://cpfoodblog.com/kings-island-4th-of-july-bbq-2015/ The question is, would it actually be worth it to do it now with meal plans being available, better quality food around the park, etc?

Years ago I went to Holiday World around July 4th and they had an all you can eat buffet cookout in their picnic area. I think that could be something KI could look into and they could sell tickets to it with a discount for those with a dining plan.

Bringing back some kind of Fourth of July barbecue or cookout might be the best option for "specialty" food. It would definitely help any additions if the event ran for a week instead of just two days. Cedar Point is supposed to host a one day America 250 event (info from the ACE No Coaster Con), but no other information like potential food offerings was given.

I actually really love Sir Pretzel and the reasoning behind his name, he’s my favorite now because there’s no previous design from the original to compare him to. (I had a shock seeing they slightly changed Lionel’s outfit in the background and I’m hoping they do him justice (as if he was a vital character in the original)) Also RIP Bosco for real now, iykyk.

Introducing... Sir Pretzel!

I wish Christopher the best in his new role. He was always nice to me when I spoke to him at the park.

My 2026 "wishlist" for KI: 1) New music in the park. While I think Area 72 and Adventure Port should keep their own soundtracks I think it is time for a reset on all the music in the park. The jazz on I street is outdated and just doesn't work with I-street. I want the orchestral soundtracks back. Or maybe since 2026 is the 250th birthday of America, celebrate that with patriotic music on I-street like what is played during Tricks and Treats in Coney Mall. Speaking of Coney Mall, it is time to ditch pop music there and do a custom soundtrack. I think you could split it into two areas. If you want to keep jazz in the park, you could have it in the front half of Coney Mall near Racer's entrance. Then in the back half by Jukebox Diner and Antique Autos, have 50's/60s style music playing. In Rivertown, please ditch the bluegrass covers of pop/rock songs and do actual bluegrass/country songs. Sorry, but as someone who likes rock music, hearing a bluegrass cover of "Enter Sandman" just makes me want to puke lol. In Snoopy, it's time to add a custom soundtrack for Camp Snoopy. I say move the playlist that plays in the Soapbox Racers queue line and have it play in the rest of Camp Snoopy. I just think it is a missed opportunity hearing Kidzbop in that section of the kids area. If you want to have Kidzbop in the Planet Snoopy section that's fair, but have it cut off right around the Snoopy's Boutique and transition to "Camp Snoopy" music. Finally for the rest of the park, I think pop is fine, but change the playlist. It's been the same list of songs the last couple of years so I think it's time to add more and maybe remove a few current ones. 2) More limited time special events. No I'm not talking about Food and Wine or Carnivale. I'm talking about pop up weekend events like the park used to do in the past. Like food truck fridays, dive in movies, etc. I also really would like to see the park bring the color run 5ks back. I don't understand why the park doesn't do that anymore. They could get some local organizations to sponsor it and/or have it raise money for a good cause. KI already does the JDRF walks and the A Kid Again Family Festival so they still do stuff like that, but I think a family friendly fun 5k in the spring time would be perfect. I like the color run idea as it really adds to the fun especially at a park like KI. KD still does Run and Ride so it's not like legacy CF has abandoned events like this. I also would like to see Grad Nites brought back (which tbh would kinda sting to fairly recent HS grads like me who didn't get a grad nite at KI). Multiple legacy Six Flags parks do Grad Nite and I believe I saw somewhere Carowinds is doing one so I think doing a grad nite would be great. 3) More New events: Now I'm going to talk about actual seasonal events. While nothing is confirmed, I'm willing to bet Carnivale is not coming back so something needs to go in its place. Obviously other parks in the chain have introduced "La Viva Fiesta" and while I think that would do well at KI, I want to see KI do their own take on a "Summer Nights" event. Like Cedar Point has Boardwalk Nights and Knotts has Summer Nights. Even Worlds of Fun calls theirs "KC Nights". So I think a custom event for KI would be perfect. I think "Island Nights" has a good ring to it and KI has used that name before, but in Soak City. Another event I'd like to see come to KI is some sort of Kids event like Kidzfest at Canada's Wonderland which is very popular there. Worlds of Fun also introduced their own version of Kidzfest and it seems to be doing well there as well. It would be a great way to show off our large kids area. When it comes to timeframe I think Food and Wine should be moved to late April through Memorial Day. That just makes more sense as Food and Wine feels more like a spring time event instead of a summer event. Then hold Kidzfest in June and Island Nights in July/August. Then Haunt and Winterfest during their normal timeframes. 4) A New Indoor VIP lounge: I know I'm not the only one who thinks this, but our VIP lounge is an embarrassment when compared to other parks in the chain. Plus with more people buying the prestige pass, a glorified patio next to the dumpster and restrooms is not going to cut it. It's time to take a page out of Kings Dominion and move it indoors. I personally think the best location for it would be the International Restaurant as it is a large indoor space with a great view that isn't used that often, but there are some obstacles that would likely prevent them from going that route. The next potential location is the Antique Photos building in Rivertown. The final location I thought of is the Graeters building. Idk if it is just me, but I don't usually see that many people in Graeters at KI. I personally wouldn't mind them moving Graeters somewhere else in the park like Rivertown and converting that building to the VIP lounge.

Really, multiple holiday overlays could be beneficial to KI as a passholder park the same way Haunted Mansion Holiday draws big local crowds to Disneyland. Especially with the state of the chain and the canceling of seasonal events. Would be a great way to drive attendance with something “new.” Whether or not that attendance would affect revenue is another story. Would be cool to see!