From Amusement Today: Kings Island’s Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare scored with fans and snagged the prize for the first time in the category of BEST NEW FAMILY ATTRACTION.

Kings Island Central wants to congratulate Kings Island on its well-deserved latest Golden Ticket Award. Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare has revived a beloved dark ride, which includes new technology and a storyline that features a fresh way to interact with the characters

The original Phantom Theater opened in April 1992 as the third incarnation of Kings Island's dark ride in that building, which included Enchanted Voyage and Smurf’s Enchanted Voyage.

Learn more about the original Phantom Theater on our past attractions page here: https://kicentral.com/parkhistory/past-attractions/phantom-theater/

I hope we didn't see the same for IB. Every time I went this year it was a pretty busy day and I had not seen it that busy since I was a teenager.

On 9/10/2026 at 1:47 PM, RollerColt said:

If I'm Epic Universe, I am calling Vekoma to install one of these in the French Harry Potter district for a flying broomstick type of experience. Or a Quidditch match!

That is a great idea!

@OwenFromTheRacer you made that all by yourself? That is amazing.

I don't know how they will get out of the current rut they are in. If they would run the park like they did for our 50th anniversary season every year, I think they could get ahead.

The last time I checked, this was not a junior high school hallway. Since you guys want to air your grievances with each other on every thread (and I thought my message was clear the other day about treating everyone with respect here), either cut it out, or you can find somewhere else to argue with each other besides KIC, for I have had enough. This is a place to have fun and forget about the outside world for a bit.

SIX is now green by saving on AI resources by not having it come up with a new name, logo, and slogan for the ride.

Do they hope that you will get confused and just put everything on your pass to get it purchased? That is what is seems like anyway.

7 minutes ago, DonHelbig said:

They didn’t buy something at a yard sale without having a plan for what they were going to do with it, not knowing what extra costs they might incur, not knowing if they could even install it in a park. They want the chatter it’s generating. It takes the focus off the negative news cycle they’ve been in.

I agree, they knew where they wanted it to go before they made the purchase. No question in my mind there.

 

24 minutes ago, Losantiville Mining Co. said:

All of this right here. The chain probably still needs to get quotes for land grading, modifications to add capacity/adjust the layout to fit in a park, and look into permitting to make sure they can even install it in a park. I bet that's why the location announcement will have to wait until the end of this year and why the coaster construction may not even be finished until 2028/2029.

We have a prime example of a coaster that was planned for a park but didn't work out, so it was moved to Kings Island with Orion. If the plans for the park originally intended for ArieForce One do not work out, it will just get moved elsewhere. That is another reason for the delay in the announcement. Now, that is just my opinion.

Let's all take a step back and a deep breath. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, even if they don't align with yours or seem repetitive. We are all here because we love our park, and some passion may be interpreted differently by the next person.

I think we can all agree the park can do better in certain areas, and we can discuss that further in a separate thread. This is about ArieForce One at KI; any further off-topic posts will be removed, regardless of the member.

Back on topic, assuming KI gets this coaster, I am trying to picture where it would fit best in the park. Area 72 makes sense, or Action Zone by removing Timberwolf and possibly Congo Falls, even though I hate to lose another water ride in the dry park.

If we can't get an RMC any other way, then I want it for KI. Maybe that's me being selfish for our park.

I am very surprised to see SIX buy this coaster. It seems Carowinds or Kings Island is the good top tier park for this coaster.

I don't want to rule out a lower tier park for it, for they might get a bigger ROI.

4 hours ago, Imperial79 said:

Just released from Marcus Leshock on his X account, Six Flags has purchased ArieForce One, now on to speculation to where it will go!

Who is this guy and why is he the only one who seems to have this information?

Coke needs the same system they have at Herschend parks with the barcodes on the cups. It could work with passes for the paper cups as well. Scan your cup/pass and you have 20 seconds to fill up your drink. Then you have fewer staff at stands and they could be keeping the drinks and ice filled instead of scanning passes and asking if you want to convert to a souvenir cup instead of paper when you already have said plan.

Back on topic. I don't think KI is getting AF1. I would be totally surprised if it does. Nor do I think this announcement on Monday and Tuesday has anything to do with it either.

51 minutes ago, DonHelbig said:

I’d be more inclined to renew my pass if they announced they were committed to keeping the drink refill stations stocked with ice and were upgrading the technology at the turnstiles to get guests in quicker like other parks have done.

This morning, it was about 8 to 10 second delay between the scan and being able to accept the entry on the screen.

1 minute ago, Hawaiian Coasters 325 said:

I believe it stays in the US, but I would be completely shocked if KI gets it. However, I have heard rumors that Six Flags bought it, but there are rumors of every park chain so take with grain of salt

Yeah, I have seen SEAS, SIX, Enchanted, and the new Cotaland.

Might as well throw Indiana Beach in the mix at this point.

On 8/31/2026 at 9:39 PM, Losantiville Mining Co. said:

Update on this:

I was trying to figure out how to capture evidence that it's happening and finally got a screenshot tonight when I logged on and went to check the 2026 KI Food Reviews discussion. As you can see I've posted in that thread at least three times since July 28th, but it still started me out before super7's post when I clicked the button to start me at the first unread. I can't figure out why it would do this beyond something not counting posts as being "read" correctly.

Asked @malem to look at it. Now sure he has gotten to it yet. I experienced what you are seeing today as well.

Just now, KI FANATIC 37 said:

I hope it doesn't go to Europe, I never had the chance to ride it.

Yeah, me neither. I would like to ride it somewhere on US soil.

2 hours ago, DonHelbig said:

Would you travel to Europe to ride it?

I hope it stays in the US!

I think it is interesting that back, at the 50th year at KI we were so happy we were a CF park and so proud of our park. When word that SIX and CF were thinking about merging we panicked (rightfully so). Now here we are discussing if/when we can get sold off from SIX. Right this minute I am glad we are a SIX park over Enchanted though.

On 8/29/2026 at 4:49 AM, BeeastFarmer said:

I wonder if the genius(s) that thought the brand recognition of the Six Flags name was worth keeping are regretting that or laughing as they float in their golden parachutes?

Several people in my sphere asked me about the X2 situation and have told me never to ride a roller coaster again. The media reports Ive seen here, rarely say MAGIC MOUNTAIN but always say Six Flags.

Oh, and I listened to a podcast yesterday on the way home from work, apparently KI's PR person is based out of California but is responsible for KI, KD, Cwinds and Canada. Make it make sense.

I guess that explains why @DonHelbiggot the Knott's marketing he received. Proofreading and attention to detail is a lost art.

Just when your thought it could more disjointed.

On 8/24/2026 at 9:19 PM, brenthodge said:

Is Dollywood really still a regional

Park though?

After this weeks loss of Dolly; I want to say now more than ever, no.

Cool and sad at the same time.

11 hours ago, beastfan11 said:

Naming your park “Mid” is certainly a choice.

Someone in marketing did not listen to kids talk.