cdubbs727
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Posts posted by cdubbs727
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I watched the POV because I'm not sure when/if we're making it down to KI this year (think we're trying Dollywood instead). I won't spoil anything. But I'm beyond impressed. When this was announced, I really thought it was going to be a cheap Boo Blasters overlay or very screen-based. But the use of animatronics is great, and they've really put a lot of work into using projections, physical effects and new sets to make the ride look new and fresh. And I love that they've found ways to incorporate things from the old ride alongside new surprises. I think this is going to be a huge hit. Kudos to KI on this one; it looks like they pulled off something special.
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Haven't seen anything posted in this forum yet, so thought I'd share. This article from Attractions Magazine -- and other posts I've seen on FB -- show a first-look at the lobby for Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare. And I gotta say: my excitement level just went up. I love the animatronics in the queue....not just Maestro back home where he belongs, but also a No-Legs Larry animatronic. So much better than the TVs!!
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On 3/7/2026 at 10:41 PM, beastfan11 said:
So hardcore, bro. You’re the coolest guy on the theme park message board.
Yeah, I don't think "I got so wasted at the regional amusement park's haunted house that they kicked me out" is the flex he thinks it is.
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Cool story, bro.
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I'm really excited. I was in my teens when Phantom Theater opened, and had just gone to Walt Disney World, so I thought it was great that the park we went to every year had something that resembled Haunted Mansion (although even at my age, I understood it was a budget version of Haunted Mansion). By the time it was closed, I was an adult without kids, so it didn't really bother me. By the time my kids were ready for Kings Island, it was Boo Blasters...and they loved "the spooky house," but I was always so disappointed that instead of an inventive attraction that made an attempt to capture the feel of Disney, they got a lame shooter with ugly blacklights and cheap sets and blasters that rarely worked.
I'm not sure we'll get to KI this year; we're in Detroit and are choosing to try Dollywood this summer. but we have Gold Passes, so we can get to Cedar Point a few times. But if money and timing allow, I'd like to take a trip and see how it all turned out. I love the idea of honoring the past, and it sounds like they're really trying hard to make this a memorable attraction. -
1 hour ago, Hawaiian Coasters 325 said:
I think the park should look into building more Haunt buildings in backstage areas and converting the 2 former ride buildings (Crypt and Action Theater) back into indoor rides.
I agree. I'm not a Haunt person, so I guess YMMV, but I hate the amount of room they take up for mazes that are used for about a month. But while I prefer they use backstage areas, I would rather see them use one of the ugly boxes than have haunts standing around with signage but not operating in the summer -- I tend to think having stuff like Slaughterhouse or whatever is by The Bat just hanging around all summer looks trashy.
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I haven't ridden Drop Tower because that's the one that's a bit too much for me. I also haven't ridden KI's WindSeeker, but I have ridden CP's....it was also a bit too high up and stomach-churning for my likes, so I won't be trying KI's anytime soon.
And in terms of past rides, I was never able to ride the OG Bat, Demon, Rotor, or Bavarian Beetle. Just a bit before my time (but I did ride King Cobra several times).
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I doubt they'd bring back the water feature. It would probably require updates to the infrastructure (the water's been gone for 40 years), people don't have a history of treating stuff like that well, and I wonder if it would also cause the area to get a bit mosquito-y in the humid months. I also don't think we need to talk about changing the roller coaster's layout. It's not broke, doesn't need fixed.
But I like the idea of removing the TR:TR building to expand Rivertown. It definitely needs something fresh there; I feel like there's just one small stretch between the train station and the log ride that feels like RiverTown. A nice restaurant out there (BBQ would make sense, but Coney Mall has one) perhaps with outdoor seating and entertainment, would work.
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On 11/1/2025 at 11:56 PM, Losantiville Mining Co. said:
I have to wonder who in SF corporate wants to get rid of the winter events because (as we've said) it's looking that way. Fall and Winter events are the prime time to bring guests back and have them spend more money. They also, notably, add a lot of value to a season pass! So many people have remarked about the perceived value that Haunt and Winterfest add to their season passes, so why take that away (genuine question)? I cannot believe that most of the winter events held on that long without making enough money. It feels like it'd be a very slippery slope to cancel even more events next year.
I could more see them scaling the event down like this, first closing the areas outlined in red, then the ones in green if they need to cut even more. Cutting more than that would probably jeopardize the quality of the event too much (after already taking it down to the size of the 2005 event).
As for changing up the ride lineup, I'd vote to add Woodstock Express over Adventure Express if it needs another roller coaster. Losing the most accessible indoor attraction for this year's event is sad, but I think it's well worth it for Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare.
I'd love it if they could turn one of the arcades into a warming station, though moving all of the equipment into temporary storage might be too much work. Maybe I'll try to come up with my own Winterfest wish list and post it somewhere here.
I feel like you could probably lose Action Zone, as I'm not sure there's anything too memorable there that you couldn't just move elsewhere.
Losing Antique Autos would take a really great, Christmas-y attraction. It's fun to drive through there with all the lights ... would definitely be missed. And if they ever had to close the train, I feel like that would be the final nail in the coffin for Winterfest. I think it's personally a bit too short of a train ride, but it's probably the most traditional Christmas attraction you can have an amusement park. Feels like it's essential.
I wonder if they're actually losing money on the Winterfest buffet on International Street. I'm sure they sell out, but I'm also sure it's a lot of money to make all that food. I wonder if they'd be better to make it a drink-and-dessert place. Stop in, do hot cocoa with a toppings bar. Some deserts. Maybe open up the bar. Limit people to 30 minutes in there to warm up, enjoy their drinks and enjoy the view, and then keep people moving through and spending money.-
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Glad to see this. I like Looney Tunes, but the innocence of Peanuts has always been a nice fit with the kids' area. And honestly, anything to keep the legacy CF parks from having to appear any more like a Six Flags.
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On 8/28/2025 at 6:40 PM, DoomPlague said:
Excited to see how it turns out.
I am a bit conflicted about the character designs though. The Maestro seems Disneyfied but I get that they want to keep the ride family friendly.
Also hoping the flashlights are just actual, focused flashlights that you shine on things to interact with them. That would be a good way to avoid taking the interactive nature away from kids who like it and pleasing those of us who didn't like that we miss scenery because we're struggling to hit those targets.
Concept art definitely seems like "Maestro Babies". But like you said, I think that's probably better for the kids.
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19 minutes ago, Dane said:
Just hoping for a more PG-13 scary like the original was rather then a overly cartoonish one.
Based on the concept art, I think you're going to be disappointed in that. But it makes sense -- this is a kids' ride. It always has been. It's probably going to be spooky, but not scary, with some humorous moment scattered throughout.
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9 minutes ago, DJSkyFoxx said:
Happy for the PT fans as your wish has been granted. I will give it a try at some point next year.
It will be interesting to see how it all pans out.
Still curious though. This doesn't fit the 2026 Family Thrill attraction...unless that's been canceled in lieu of this...or there is still something waiting around the corner for the old Crypt building (highly doubtful...)
I think there's probably a lot of elasticity in what's meant by "family thrill attraction." They can say this is spooky and "thrilling" and bases are covered.
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9 minutes ago, super7 said:
Lord its still going to be a shooting ride. That means half the capacity of the original Phantom theater and probably lots of cheap screens.
as much as I loved the original Phantom theater and thought blue blasters was absolute garbage. It’s hard to get excited about anything this cost cutting company does these days
I think that interactive element is here to stay...that's what the kids seem to want. Disney has several of them; they're popular and encourage people to re-ride. I don't mind the shooting element, so long as the flashlights/blasters actually work.
I'm sure this is going to be pretty screen-heavy. I do hope there are some animatronics throughout. Even Universal seems to understand the days of screen-centric rides are ending, and animatronics are the bigger draw.
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Posted this in the BB thread, but I'll put it here, too: I'm a bit bummed that this apparently is going to use the same layout as BB. I really wish they'd make it a bit more fast-paced and fun (maybe I was spoiled by MIB at Universal and its spins). I also hope that, since it appears they're going to continue making it a shooter, the blasters/flashlights get a major upgrade and actually work. I would have loved for them to have placed this in The Crypt, but this is likely the cheapest option, so we'll have to sit with that eyesore empty for another year (the building itself isn't too distracting, but that empty entryway sure is).
But, the concept art makes me smile. I like the new designs and the idea seems like it will straddle the line between honoring the past and making a fun new experience for families. I'm hopeful it's going to be a fun addition to the park.
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On the one hand, I kind of am bummed that it sounds like this will use the same layout as BB, and will even keep the shooting concept (the flashers will probably continue to be blasters that might or might not work...hopefully they'll be overhauled).
On the other hand, fun! I like the reimagined look -- definitely going for an energetic, family friendly ride, and it will hopefully straddle the line nicely between honoring the past and giving families a fun, new attraction. Not bad!
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16 minutes ago, KI Guy said:
They've been trying to save money and get the same ROI. It just doesn't work that way.
2018 Nothing
2019 A Worse version of the old antique cars
2020 Cheapest Giga(ish) coaster they could get by with.
2021 Nothing
2022 50th celebration without major investment
2023 Worse (cheapest) version of Der Spinnen' Keggers and Skylab
2024 Half-baked revamp with Camp Snoopy
- Cheapest coaster they could get by with.
- Cheapest play area they could get by with.
2025 Cheapest Water Coaster they could get by with.
Lack of investment has consequences. Those old (steel) coasters they rely on to bring people in and fill the park out don't last forever either. They're probably not even keeping up with replacement rate at this point.
Kings Island used to be world class in everything!
I don't know, I think you're underselling some of those and forgetting others.
Orion's been a good addition to the park. Is it the biggest, most thrilling coaster in the world? No, but it's a very fun addition to the lineup. Adventure Port gave a retheme to a fairly dead area of the park. The Camp Snoopy addition is popular with kids and Soapbox Racers is a really good family coaster. They also have added good restaurants in the Brewhouse and Coney BBQ, and you left out that in 2022 they also gave International Street some much-needed improvements. They've added Carnival.
I kind of hate this idea that a great investment has to be a major coaster or thrill attraction. A major part of theme park audiences is not thrillseekers but families and people who are coming to get a dose of nostalgia. I think the park's additions have been good for that -- and it might be an investment that only pays off years down the road when today's kids are old enough to bring their kids.
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18 hours ago, kingsislandfan1972 said:
Its funny how a ride over 20 years being removed from an amusement park is still being talked about, just goes to show you how much this ride is loved and missed.
I'll admit that I'm kind of surprised how much love this one has, but I guess by the time it opened, I was a teenager and already was getting to be "over" the kids' section. If you were a pre-teen when this ride was operating, I can see why it has a nostalgic pull.
PT was charming. Yes, it was an attempt to replicate what Disney did with Haunted Mansions. But it was a solid attempt -- it had a fun story, original characters, a genuinely good Pepper's Ghost sequence, and some fun animatronics. It was spooky without being scary. It was Disney on a regional park budget, but you could feel the creativity and love put into it.
Compare that to Boo Blasters, which is Temu Haunted Mansion mixed with Temu Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin. My kids like Boo Blasters because it was the first ride either of them rode at Kings Island. But I doubt there will be calls 30 years later for it to come back.
My fear, though, is that PT fans might be expecting a bit too much. That original ride they loved isn't coming back; I doubt we'll see the same or even similar animatronics, and I also guess that screens will be prevalent (I really hope they change the ride system and ditch the shooting element). Maybe I'm wrong -- and at least there's still the hope they'll honor the original IP and designs, with a few musical Easter eggs. But there's also the chance this is a cheap way to placate fans and save money by slapping a Band-Aid on BB.
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6 hours ago, MaestroJr said:
My prediction is that it will utilize boo blaster current ride cars and system and just retheme it to Phantom Theater.
Reason A: Phantom Theater is already an IP well familiar with Kings Island faithful and nostalgia and marketing are a hell of a thing.Reason B: it wouldn’t cost very much but would still be a “new ride”
Reason C: they could utilize a lot of the props they already have and switch out the soundtrack very quickly and easily while also saving a buck.
Six Flags Fiesta Texas did a similar thing with their Scooby Doo haunted castle, they simply rethemed it with new guns and a new story with some old props but mostly new and voilà you’ve got yourself a new ride in Pirates of the Deep Sea, I personally think that merchandise featuring the Maestro would be very popular and not to mention nostalgic. I can’t wait for next weeks announcement and I for one seriously hope for a Phantom Theater ride in some capacity, I fully accept that the original isn’t coming back but a “new” version would be welcome, I will be seriously disappointed if they waste this opportunity with a lame ride not to mention they chose to play Tocata Y Fugue which is well known as the Phantom Theater queue music so they REALLY shouldn’t play with people’s emotions by selecting that if they are gonna go a different route so I hope they choose the Maestro and we can once again visit the Theater!
Don and Ryan both seem pretty confident it's a Phantom Theater reboot even before the teaser, and the breadcrumbs have been there for a bit. I think them bringing the Phantom Theater Encore show a few years back was a nice way to gauge interest (it's a shame they didn't make it a permanent addition; it was a fun show...maybe they can bring it back?). I wouldn't be surprised if they've been talking about brining Phantom Theater back for awhile, even before the Six Flags merger; it's in line with what they did a few years back with bringing the Antique Autos back and honoring the park's history. My guess is they've been figuring out the best way to do this.
As much as I'd love the use of The Crypt building at the end of that video to mean they're finally going to do something with that building (beyond a maze that's used for one month of the year), I do think you're right that it's going to be a retheme of Boo Blasters. There's no reason to close that building in September if they're putting the new attraction elsewhere...unless they plan to raze part/all of the building or do something with it as part of the retheme to Looney Tunes (which I still think is happening).
Will it use the same omnimover system? I hope not. It's been in use for decades and, honestly, that system feels so cheap and out of date to me. I'd love it if they could gut the building, put a new track in, maybe add some spins (ala Men in Black at Universal). Seems like if they were going to use the same ride system but just dress Boo Blasters up with screens and a few animatronics, they would be able to start after Haunt or Winterfest. Maybe they are going to clear all that out. Who knows!? It's exciting!
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Park's social media announced an announcement coming 8.28. Interestingly, in the video, a crew member is walking around Boo Blasters and stops at the organ and finds a music sheet, which I would think all but confirms it's a Phantom Theater return.
More interestingly, the final shot of the video was shot in The Crypt. Not sure if it's just an ending for the video or if it's teasing something going into that area (it's a very obvious cut, but could just be for dramatic effect...but it's so obviously The Crypt that it feels weird they'd include it if something wasn't coming there...they could have easily shot that moment in the queue or elsewhere in the ride instead of a wholly new building).
What if the Boo Blasters building is going away and the new Phantom Theater is in the Crypt building? (But that wouldn't explain why they have to close BB in September)-
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Did our annual family trip from Detroit to Kings Island this year, something we've been doing for more than 40 years as a family (I was the first to go, at age 3, in 1982). We always go the final week of operations because Michigan schools aren't back in session yet, and the lines are usually less crowded this final week. Because the tennis tournament drives up hotel prices, we've started renting a large house in Hamilton; the drive's about 30 minutes from the park, but it's a good price and we don't mind the extra drive time.
I have to admit I was a bit apprehensive about going this year, as the reports about cleanliness and operations haven't been encouraging all summer. But honestly, it felt like a good, normal Kings Island visit. The park was clean, trash wasn't overflowing, and there weren't any operations issues we noticed as out of the norm. It's a bit of a bummer that some of our favorite restaurants -- the French restaurant on International Street, particularly -- weren't open and there were no shows, but that's just the reality of going at the end of the season when staffing is a bit limited. Lines were down, particularly Thursday, when I don't think we waited longer than 15 minutes for anything except for Boo Blasters and the log flume. The Beast was running ridiculously smooth for the most part, aside from what felt like a nasty bump going into the double helix. I was worried about being too big to ride Banshee, but the expanded restraints in rows 4 and 5 were fantastic.
Food was largely great. The pub burger at Brewhouse was just standard, but the tots were good. We ate at Chicken Shack for our first time and really enjoyed it. The burrito bowl at Enrique's was fantastic. But I think the honey-soy glazed beef and Brussel sprouts I got from Grain and Grill might be my favorite meal I've ever gotten at Kings Island. We did the dining plan, which saved us a good deal of money, and you get a lot of food for that price. We did a final ride on Boo Blasters, several great runs on Mystic Timbers, and what will probably be my last ride on Adventure Express because that one decided to give me unrequested chiropractic work.
Staff was great. There were many people who said it was their first week -- assuming they were moved over to different locations when staff went back to school -- and aside from a few minor exceptions, they were friendly and on the ball.
A good trip; I was glad to see my worries from earlier this season were unfounded.
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12 hours ago, Losantiville Mining Co. said:
I could believe this is a change from what was planned back in November when that list was published. The original long-term plan (according to Tower Topics) was for a new 2026 addition in The Crypt's building, but once the poor financials were made more clear over the past few months and other projects were cancelled, this one may have been downgraded to a new dark ride.
It is still entirely possible for Kings Island to receive a "new" ride from another park next year as well.
I wonder whether the expiration of the Peanuts license plays a role. It's possible they had two areas earmarked and just recently made a decision not to renew Peanuts (if that's the way they go). If they're overhauling that area of the park, a new attraction adjacent to it is a good way to really brand it as something new. Assuming they do let the Peanuts license lapse and do plan to use that building for an attraction in 2026.
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2 hours ago, SPONGEBOB_FAN_97 said:
Do we think it’s Looney Toons or Phantom Theater?
Bugs Bunny and the Phantom Theater
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3 minutes ago, johnjniehaus said:
The enquirer said more information would be released concerning plans for the building in the coming weeks
Kings Island: "Yes; in the coming 52 weeks"
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Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare New in 2026
in Kings Island Central Newsroom
Posted
I haven't seen one -- seeing the videos, they all appear to have similar edits and camera placement, so I'm wondering if KI provided some footage and also gave guidance as to what could be shown.