Guest dtk1376 Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 I agree, Phantom Theater was amazing, the Scooby Doo theming wasn't terrible when they added it until it started not being cared for. I remember my 6 year old cousin used to cry every time we would ride Phantom Theater just from being scared. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark6495 Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Im no saying I expect a ride to stay forever (however, do look at Disney's Haunted Mansion), but to have a great themed ride that was very well done (Enchanted Voyage) to be replaced by another very well done ride (Smurf's Enchanted Voyage) to have that replaced by a very well done People Mover ride (Phantom Theater) and a stage, to have those replaced with a haunt and an also ran retro fit of Scooby Doo to the dethemed version of it to be come Boo Blasters, just makes me sad. The layout is still the same for Boo Blasters that it was for Phantom right? 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upstop Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 ^^ Correct. The actuation of the cars changed directions. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaestroMan Posted October 2, 2014 Author Share Posted October 2, 2014 The thing about Phantom is it has never fully left us. Every time I walk in to Boo Blasters, I look up in awe at the Maestro-less balcony and at the faces in the hallway(the one as my profile picture is my favorite) and I can remember what was once there. Every kid from 1992 and beyond has at least seen something from the Phantom Theater. Kings Island still has most of the props and animatronics but only uses a few at haunt. The animatronics just sit in storage and rot and they could be used to help theme anything Kings Island has to offer. I don't understand why they hold on to those things but wont use them. But at least we still can look up at the balcony, and see the furnace in slaughterhouse and remember what they where originally used for 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaestroMan Posted October 2, 2014 Author Share Posted October 2, 2014 I will try and get some pictures of that stuff when I go to haunt next Saturday 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spectrum91 Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Boo stinks, but it's not nearly as bad as Scooby was. At least you can ride it and not be ashamed to be there. You're joking, right? You seriously believe Boo Blasters is an improvement over Scooby-Doo? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoddaH1994 Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Boo stinks, but it's not nearly as bad as Scooby was. At least you can ride it and not be ashamed to be there. You're joking, right? You seriously believe Boo Blasters is an improvement over Scooby-Doo? Yes. Then again, I think ANYTHING would have been an improvement over Scooby Doo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcgoble3 Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Including a vacant building? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaestroMan Posted October 2, 2014 Author Share Posted October 2, 2014 I think Scooby Doo and Boo Blasters are equal, they are not the much different from each other and even recycle some of the props from Scooby Doo. And the are both not even close to Phantom 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaestroMan Posted October 2, 2014 Author Share Posted October 2, 2014 Somebody on youtube said that the animatronics are stored in Boo Blasters and that they are using them on the ride does anybody know about this? I know its just a rumour probaly 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark6495 Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 I always assumed the last ghost Boocifer is a refit of the original Maestro. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoraX Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 I remember Scooby Doo and the Haunted Castle being advertised as an interactive dark ride experience. Everyone thought that was the coolest idea ever. Then they rode it... Boo stinks, but it's not nearly as bad as Scooby was. At least you can ride it and not be ashamed to be there. I kicked your butt on it last week. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BB1 Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 Indeed PT is a gem. But then again, looking through my level electronic glasses, I see problems. First off, let's make the analogy of the props being Christmas light fixtures. They go out, so what do you need? Spare parts, which costs an arm and a leg. That alone could put you in the tank, now multiply that by 20ish 40ish. That's some major Boo Boos some one needs to pacify. Now other than that,could I see it returning? Yes, look at the KD for that matter. Could I see some or all of the props returning; yes, but I would think some MAJOR work will need to be done after the water damage alone No telling how deteriorated they are now. Heck, I would even start a Kick Starter for PT to return. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaestroMan Posted October 3, 2014 Author Share Posted October 3, 2014 I agree that they would need some heavy work done, but there are probably a few of them which are in decent enough shape to be used as props somewhere in boo blasters. And I know Kings Island could recreate the peppers ghost effect in the hallway they already have the bust in the wall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaestroMan Posted October 3, 2014 Author Share Posted October 3, 2014 As seen by my picture Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 Boo Blasters as the name of an attraction at Kings Island (more properly Boo Blasters On Boo Hill) is always capitalized here. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaestroMan Posted October 3, 2014 Author Share Posted October 3, 2014 Thanks Terp 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voicetek Posted October 3, 2014 Share Posted October 3, 2014 Indeed PT is a gem. But then again, looking through my level electronic glasses, I see problems. First off, let's make the analogy of the props being Christmas light fixtures. They go out, so what do you need? Spare parts, which costs an arm and a leg. That alone could put you in the tank, now multiply that by 20ish 40ish. That's some major Boo Boos some one needs to pacify. Now other than that,could I see it returning? Yes, look at the KD for that matter. Could I see some or all of the props returning; yes, but I would think some MAJOR work will need to be done after the water damage alone No telling how deteriorated they are now. Heck, I would even start a Kick Starter for PT to return. You start a Kick Starter campaign and I'll donate. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaestroMan Posted October 3, 2014 Author Share Posted October 3, 2014 I will too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaestroMan Posted October 3, 2014 Author Share Posted October 3, 2014 What is your favorite memory of Phantom Theater? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark6495 Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Saw the Fireplace tonight at Slaughter House ... Looks to be in a bit of rough condition 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoddaH1994 Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 I agree that they would need some heavy work done, but there are probably a few of them which are in decent enough shape to be used as props somewhere in boo blasters. And I know Kings Island could recreate the peppers ghost effect in the hallway they already have the bust in the wall Unlikely. They're all in pretty bad shape. They'd have to be recasted and at that point you might as well get new ones. They simply weren't designed to be left out in the elements, which they were during Haunt for years. Somebody on youtube said that the animatronics are stored in Boo Blasters and that they are using them on the ride does anybody know about this? I know its just a rumour probaly I've heard that too, although I'm not certain if it is/was true or not. I know for a fact that some were stored backstage in the Festhaus. A friend from entertainment took me back there several years ago and showed me. I brushed up against one by accident and my shirt was stained the light blue color of the character. They were literally melting due to age and the heat (it was probably in the 90s in there). This was before the performers used the upper part of the stage and the backdrop allowed for 4 or more feet of storage up top, which is where they were. I do not know if any of them are stored there now. The truth is, there are about two dozen of them that they still display, so that's a lot of room. It's likely that they're stored in more than one location. The fact that they're covered in burlap now is a big indication of the shape of the audio animatronics. They're probably so un-presentable that they had to cover them up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Not to mention they were creaky and getting unreliable at the ride's end. They are, after all, an ancient technology. From spare parts to finding someone who knows how to keep them working, it's just not worth the candle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark6495 Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Well could the unreliable creaky ness of them be attributed to poor upkeep? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Possibly, but I think age had more to do with it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark6495 Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Does a place like Disney constantly replace and remake their animatronics or is it a constant Maintenon thing? ( I'm think Pirates, presidents, etcetera) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Paging TTD-120-420.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BB1 Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 As per my history, the rides go through refurbs every so often. This would permit for animatronics to be reworked and etc. But i wouldn't think a full evacuation of the props, instead just reworks with their own parts. As i would think that WDW has their own or at least a reliable vendor of such technologies. But hey, that's coming from a 14 year in a row WDW visitor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTD-120-420 Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Paging TTD-120-420.... Paging GoodYellowKorn.... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkroz Posted October 5, 2014 Share Posted October 5, 2014 They're maintained and well-cared for. Every once in a while, technology leaps forward and they're rebuilt. The first human Audio Animatronics (a registered trademark of the Walt Disney Company, by the way ) figure line was called A-1. Their most recent incarnation is the A-100. The earliest Audio Animatronics were pneumatic. As the figures became heavier and larger, they became hydraulic. Many were updated when that technology became the standard (except the Enchanted Tiki Birds, who remain pneumatic. Otherwise they'd drip hydraulic fluid on the audience below whenever they malfunctioned). Hydraulics are still the standard. Technological leaps forward since have been in programming and internal actuators. Whereas a single actuator used to be assigned to each hand, for example, newer figures have one for each finger. Disneyland's Lincoln is also a great example of the newest, most fluid and lifelike technology in a refurbished figure. Instead of hydraulics, it uses electronics. Disney's trademarked the technology as Autonomatronic, which allows furrowing brows, wrinkling nose, drooping eyelids, etc. Even the lips-and-tongue articulation is beyond anything Disney had ever accomplished before, simply because you can fit more into a smaller space. Imagineer Tony Baxter has often discussed his desire to update the Indiana Jones hydraulic Audio Animatronics in Disneyland's ride with Autonomatic versions. Disney partnered with microelectromechanical engineering firm Sarcos to rebuild the figures for Pirates of the Caribbean and the Wicked Witch of the West at Hollywood Studios' Great Movie Ride, which are now very, very fluid in their movements. See also, Sinbad's Storybook Voyage at Tokyo DisneySea for surprisingly fluid motion from "it's a small world" sized figures. A great example is Spaceship Earth, which has some of the most sophisticated and lifelike Audio Animatronics out there right now despite their frames being from the 1980s. The next big leap appears to be projection technology. It was used first in the Sebastian figures on the Little Mermaid dark rides. His head was too small for the mechanisms required to power eyelids / pupils, so they instead used a miniature projector. They then famously used the same idea to bring the Seven Dwarfs to life on Magic Kingdom's new coaster. Supposedly, those figures are more properly robotic, using repetitive mechanical motions more than pre-programmed profiles. I'm not privy to that information, but the projected faces reduce quite a bit of mechanical strain while being totally lifelike! ANY Audio Animatronic takes lots of love and care. And unlike flames on Backlot, they can't be left broken for weeks at a time without really harming the ride experience. You know what's easier / cheaper? 3D screens... That's a conversation for another time... http://www.themeparktourist.com/features/20140709/19259/15-worlds-most-incredible-animatronics 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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