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Another "wish" I have which won't happen this season and likely won't happen in the future as the ROI likely isn't worth it to those in charge is to see popular rides with very little shade get a shaded structure. I mocked up some "queue house" ideas for Diamondback and Flight of Fear (the old Firehawk queue which is used more than the current indoor queue). Diamondback's is based on the old Rivertown Mining Company building that used to be there and FOF's is based on the theme of Area 72

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.

This press release they handed out at IAAPA sets the opening in April.

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. 🤞

Me patiently waiting for April so I can have first dibs on rides...😶‍🌫️

I wait to ride the Monster again, it feels like FOREVER since I've ridden it. I can't wait to ride it with my kids in the future.

I really love that they posted about this. I always wonder why the park only promotes the newest additions when the supporting cast is still so strong. It's cool to see the park outwardly caring for something that makes the park unique and special.

Confirmed to be returning in 2026. Not a huge surprise, but still great to see!

I know this is about 2026, but I kinda wanted to look ahead a little bit to 2027 when it comes to capital. I think if 2027 is going to be another mild year in terms of investment at KI and they want to do something to market for 2027, my wish would be to "finish" Camp Snoopy. Hear me out: Camp Snoopy while they did a good job on it it feels unfinished to me. Ways they could finish it without needing to invest too much money would be: stain the concrete in the area to a more light brown color add Kite Eating Tree and Space Buggies into Camp Snoopy (retheming buggies to Pig Pen's Mud Buggies) add the 3 rides behind Surf Dog into Camp Snoopy add another playground to Beagle Scout Acres. More specifically a multi level play structure like what Cedar Point used to have on Forbidden Frontier. You can put it in the open space behind Pig Pen's Mess Hall If there's still space and/or budget left, add some sort of splash pad Finally, add a Camp Snoopy sign at the other entrance to Camp Snoopy right behind Snoopy's Boutique. Make it like the sign that was in the original concept art: Basically do what Magic Mountain is doing with their new Bugs Bunny World coming this year

Vekoma has really upped their game. All of their recent designs and track layouts have been stunning.

I don't want anything with the letters B&M associated with The Vortex plot. Give me a Vekoma, Mack, Intamin, or HECK give Zamperla a shot but please no B&M!

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 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.

I came up with a mausoleum concept for Banshee's queue. It goes over the main part of the queue that is usually first to open up when the line gets longer

After seeing the new options, I am also happy to have not bought anything yet. The new Regional Gold will be perfect for me, considering all I will be doing in regards to SF this season will be KI and SF:Great America primarily with many trips planned for both and it ends up saving me a decent amount of money. Even if its only a couple hundo or less in savings once all my add-ons are placed, that will still drop the monthly or will open me up to getting things I may not get on the pass otherwise.

Wait until the upcoming August promotion 🤣 New for 2027 - if you have owned a pass in the last 5 years, you get a 2027 Prestige pass for free. No purchase necessary. And if you accept this free offer before labor day, we will throw in a season long Fast Lane as our special gift. I joke, but who knows what level they may go to....I think season long add-ons for free will probably be the next version....

Every year it feels like they are restructuring the pass system and causing more confusion for pass holders of all kinds. I initially thought that as someone who purchased their pass during the MVP sale that my pass was going to be upgrade to Prestige, but then I re-read the article and confirmed that here. Although I wonder how many system glitches there could potentially be where those who bought their pass during the MVP sale get upgraded anyhow? And for those who bought Prestige passes already, I feel bad because there is nothing being upgraded or amended for them. I truly miss how simple it used to be to buy a pass and there weren't so many nuances along the way. Just when I feel like I have an understanding of how it works, they change it up again. And now I wonder how they will go about selling the pass add-ons. As in, will there be one set of add-ons for Silver passes? One set of add-ons for Gold passes ( regional only add-ons or APP level add-ons ) and then Prestige level add-ons? It's just. A lot. I realize they want so badly to seem like they are simplifying stuff, but instead they seem to be creating more confusion, questions and frustrations.

Just announced on the official Kings Island Facebook page KI Essentials Is Receiving A Complete Aesthetic Refresh. https://www.facebook.com/share/1FPUk27sKR/

What Giga? We got 2 Hypers!

Now what I wish they would do is expand the men's restroom up there so its not just one stall anymore.

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 😂

Great to hear that it's for sure coming back this season. I too am hoping for some more of the lights to be fixed and I personally think it would be cool if the pods were painted a different color and leave the main structure black. Guess we'll see

My biggest issue is that preferred parking and the VIP lounge are already comically overcrowded thanks to the clearance sale on passes that ran for like 3 months, and now they've just given free access to a bunch of people who intentionally chose not to purchase the prestige pass. You already have the park defenders scolding people for having an issue with it, too, since they didn't upgrade everyone who bought during the clearance sale, just the people who bought it after that. Presumably, though, a good number of people purposely didn't buy a prestige pass since the big sale, since Six Flags felt the need to make a public announcement about it. They did something similar at Wonderland when they discontinued the regular season pass (after selling tons of them) and replaced it with the silver pass, and upgraded everyone who had purchased a regular season pass to a gold pass, and the people who paid extra for gold passes were basically told "tough luck, your fault for buying a gold pass and not a red pass". And then they wonder why people are hesitant to give Six Flags their money.

The Reddit source claims programming starts the first week of March and will take to months (installation’s definitely still going to be happening awhile into February regardless of how long it takes to program. My understanding is the animatronics and ride cars aren’t at the park yet, but don’t quote me on that.) If taken literally that would place the ride’s completion date at the start of May, but since the park did say it opens in April I’m now leaning towards it opening with the park (if nothing has changed it’s essentially a difference of a week, assuming there’s not a charity thing that would happen before passholder previews.) I’m also optimistic because the park said since the beginning that PT’s set to open in the spring, and Camp Snoopy/Adventure Port were always advertised as opening in Late Spring/the Summer.

Oh no not this again lol. I thought this horse has already been beaten dead a million times lol. I respect your opinion, but I can't see how people couldn't be excited about a 300 foot coaster lol. Look I know it wasn't Fury or Millennium but it was the biggest investment in park history. Im going to end this talk right here as there's already a million other threads on this subject. Back on topic. I'm very excited about this mainly bc I never got to ride the original Phantom Theater. I was born like a month before it closed. I haven't been this excited about a Kings Island new ride since Orion. I'm also really liking the direction the park is going with updates. It's a much bigger improvement over the very few updates we got for RiverRacers.

Put me in the camp that hasn’t been this excited about a new ride at Kings Island since Mystic Timbers debuted in 2017.