I wonder if that would be related to the contract they had to sign saying that when they removed the Tomb Raider theming they had to take out everything that made that ride an adventure ride. Hmm.

Maybe....KI had to sign some sort of contract to keep the Spongebob movie for a certain period of time.

i think the contract for the movie doesn't go to nick but to the makers of the movie. im pretty sure they are separate in this case

Besides, a nine year contract would've been unprecedented, given other films in the theater lasting from one month to two or three seasons tops... They couldn't have (and shouldn't have) anticipated the popularity of Spongebob Squarepants lasting this long. It would've been contrary to much that happened at the park prior.

Just so you guys know, the film was created and is owned by SimEx-Iwerks, the same folks behind films such as Smash Factory, Fun House Express, and the Dino Island series:

http://www.simex-iwerks.com/Default.asp?id=4&l=1&mcat_rec=26&mcat_gid=3&mcat_pid=13&mcat_cid=0

They also have films based off of other properties like Speed Race, Dora the Explorer, Happy Feet, Polar Express, and more. Not to mention I believe they are the same company that actually installed the motion base system at the park.

Besides, a nine year contract would've been unprecedented, given other films in the theater lasting from one month to two or three seasons tops... They couldn't have (and shouldn't have) anticipated the popularity of Spongebob Squarepants lasting this long. It would've been contrary to much that happened at the park prior.

I highly doubt that the park just pick some random number out of the air and decided to go with that long of a contract. Im sure there were renewals in there.

I think it is time they just remove the theater.... Make way for a new coaster.

Or make it a better motion theater. Maybe make it 4d? that would be cool...

i thought action theater was already 4-d, the fourth dimension is the motion seats.

Generally the 4-D theaters have real...."effects" such as mist spraying, smells, touch.

While on my construction tour a few days ago, the Kings Island representative said that Action Theater will still be there and fully operational. The path will go around the right side of the WindSeeker.

Generally the 4-D theaters have real...."effects" such as mist spraying, smells, touch.

i always thought that the fourth dimension was either the motion seats or the "real effects," but anyway, that's just what i thought.

An example of a "real" 4-D attraction- the old ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter attraction at Magic Kingdom.

If comparing to this, I would not consider Spongebob to be a 4-D ride, but a 3-D attraction whose seats just happen to move.

EDIT: I just realized that the video doesn't do this much justice, but for whoever did not get the chance to ride this great attraction, you could feel the breathing and drops of saliva of the monster as he "moved" around the room. It was a really thrilling experience.

Edited April 3, 201115 yr by ahank

^^ It really was ahank, I have yet to experience an attraction like Alien Encounter.

Kings Dominion is still showing Spongebob in 3D. That would indicate to me that Kings Island will also continue it this year, as well. They've always kept those

simulator rides pretty uniform since they've had them. So, let's all just count on watching Spongebob for the 2011 season!

Alien Encounter was such a cool ride! I rode it when I was about 10 years old, and it's a ride I will never forget!

removed

Does anyone remember the "gorgeous babes" that greeted you after you won the race in Days of Thunder?

Kings Dominion is still showing Spongebob in 3D. That would indicate to me that Kings Island will also continue it this year, as well. They've always kept those

simulator rides pretty uniform since they've had them. So, let's all just count on watching Spongebob for the 2011 season!

Carowinds was playing Spongebob in 3D as well.

New entrance layout:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=147166775348820&set=o.155893938367

^I wonder how that'll affect Urgent Scare, saying the haunted house utilized the full exit for both additional scares and a photo-spot.

I am thinking Urgent Scare will either be gone or will be drastically different this year because of this.

I really hope they remove the old Action Theater entrance "tunnel" under Racer. It looks kind of unsightly with it still there.

id be willing to bet that it wont extend as far (exit wise).

That area's going to be so packed, with all of the WindSeeker, AT, and Vortex riders all exiting to the same place.

People wondering how crowded the back of Coney will be come Haunt if Urgent Scare returns in its old spot (all four of you) need look no further than X-Base with Death Row, Trail of Terror, Flight of Fear, AND Firehawk. Even if somehow the old entrance remains and the layout remains almost the same (having US's queue in the grassy field right behind the Windy Seeker and next to AT's old entrance), you have to figure in the immense crowds that flock to the haunted attraction and the drastically reduced amount of queuing space now that a brand new flat ride has been erected right smack dab in front of said attraction. One with an enormous footprint.

EDIT: This now begs the question of the future of two of the most popular Haunt attractions for the 2011 season - Trail of Terror and Urgent Scare. Dinosaurs Alive! sits in and crosses through the forest where the Trail resides, and I just talked about The Windy Seeker earlier in this post.