Bye bye, Boo Blasters

[weberc3]

Hopefully this means we will be getting a Phantom Theater Redux or something similar.

[cdubbs727]

2 hours ago, SPONGEBOB_FAN_97 said:

Do we think it’s Looney Toons or Phantom Theater?

Bugs Bunny and the Phantom Theater

[ReedObsessor]

This could be a KI version of Darkoaster, but with Zamperla.

[WoodVengeance]

4 minutes ago, ReedObsessor said:

This could be a KI version of Darkoaster, but with Zamperla.

There's not enough space for something like that in the Boo Blasters building.

[Browntggrr]

10 minutes ago, WoodVengeance said:

There's not enough space for something like that in the Boo Blasters building.

That is assuming the ride stays within the confines of the building.

[Sonofbeast2.0]

It definitely will sit vacant next year. 
★1. If they could have use an upcoming attraction to sell additional 2026 passes they would be doing it.
2. The existing ride mechanism is unchanged from the Phantom Theatre (1992). Even if they reuse that again it's doubtful they could have it ready in 8–9 months. This is the park that couldn't open a two-flat ride expansion in time afterall. :-|
 

I honestly think the MVP sale will carry itself based on the value. I could see this getting announced at the tail end or after that sale.

It will be a game of wait and see nonetheless.

Could always just turn it into a Haunt attraction for the next 5-15 years.

Sent from my CPH2655 using Tapatalk

[johnjniehaus]

2 minutes ago, Sonofbeast2.0 said:

Could always just turn it into a Haunt attraction for the next 5-15 years.

Phantom Theater haunt maze? 

[super7]

This ride has always been pure cheap garbage. Especially compared to the two high-quality rides that previously occupied the space.

If they don’t immediately replace it with a quality slow, moving dark, right. They are just going to further alienate, the non-thrill customers and chase more of them away. There’s already not enough to do for that group of customers at the park.

 

However, if  another  dark ride is put in that spot, it’s not going to be a quality attraction. We saw what they did at Knotts with Knotts Beary Tales compared to the original attraction.

 

 

[disco2000]

If it is not going to open next year, then why eliminate this year an indoor attraction for Haunt and Winterfest unless there is some imminent issue that they don't think it will last until end of December?  That would give them roughly 15 months if it is a 2027 attraction.

[KI Guy]

1 hour ago, IndyGuy4KI said:

Didn't they start the MVP sale before any real announcements happened anyway?

That's a fair point, but the same logic still applies. They started the sale because there are not going to be any significant investments chainwide for 2026. They are deeply in debt and are depending on the MVP sale to drive pass sales at a similar rate without the investments. If they're going to invest then the MVP sale makes no sense at all.

The only times I can recall their announcing a new ride after pass sales were the late announcements for Firehawk (relocated late with little notice to the park) and WindSeeker (large chainwide package sale done at the last minute).

[Browntggrr]

^^ If it's not opening next year (and I put it at less than 50/50 it will open), it's likely due to the logistics of clearing the current ride components out, refurbishing the building for everything needed for the new ride and then new ride construction.

It's not easy working within the constraints of a current structure.

That being said, can it be assumed the current structure is staying?  And if so, is it staying as-is?  It should be understood that building is approximately 54-55 years old.  

I personally want it to take over a year to be completed for what could potentially be a better ride experience.

 

[RollerColt]

Personally I’d love to have an indoor boat ride again. 

[jzarley]

A little off topic, but the Enchanted Voyage ride at KI is the thing that I credit most with launching my life-long love of theme parks and attractions. I rode it for the first time at age 6 and still remember the feeling of it being the most incredible, beautiful thing I had ever seen (I was from Zanesville, so that was probably accurate ). I know there’s some old Super-8 ride footage of it on YouTube, but I’ve avoided ever watching it because I’m pretty sure the reality wouldn’t hold up to my memories. And, I want to remember it as the most incredible, beautiful thing ever 

[RollerColt]

The timing of announcing this is interesting. I feel like if this was part of the 2026 family thrill ride, wouldn’t they have announced this much earlier in the summer so families would have more time to say goodbye? Maybe I’m overthinking this…

[CartersCoasters]

Can't wait to see the horrible Flight of Fear wait times DOUBLED during WinterFest and bad weather!

[super7]

It is stupid closing this ride before Winterfest if they aren’t going to replace it immediately. Winterfest needs indoor attractions.

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

31 minutes ago, Browntggrr said:

That being said, can it be assumed the current structure is staying?  And if so, is it staying as-is?  It should be understood that building is approximately 54-55 years old.  

I'd assume the current structure is staying unless Six Flags is willing to drop the dough for an entirely new warehouse-style building. The cost of the building itself probably wouldn't be too high, but factoring in the cost of a new ride system and a company that is hemorrhaging money, they need to reuse what they can. If they can get by with using the building as it is now they'll do it. 

If they do tear down the building I hope they choose to save as many of the surrounding trees as they can and make the entrance not as awkward.  It would also be a great opportunity to move the entrance over to be across from the First Aid building so the attraction is not permanently tied to whatever IPs stay/take over Planet Snoopy. 

 

1 minute ago, RollerColt said:

The timing of announcing this is interesting. I feel like if this was part of the 2026 family thrill ride, wouldn’t they have announced this much earlier in the summer so families would have more time to say goodbye? Maybe I’m overthinking this…

You might be thinking too logically for Six Flags... Closing it sooner gives them about 7-8 months to do everything instead of a 3-4 month timeline with even more potential to spill into the normal season. Kings Island has barely opened any attractions on time in the last 5 years and needs to start a course correction. I don't think the building will sit vacant for a year unless Six Flags is willing to further degrade the guest experience at one of their most reliable parks. 

 

I'm really hoping we see the return of Phantom Theater, and am made more hopeful by the fact that we haven't seen a similar announcement from the other 3 parks with Boo Blasters rides. Six Flags has historically used Scooby Doo dark rides in their parks, but replaced all of them. I would not like to see a DC Universe / Battle for Metropolis take over that building either. The spooky ride theme has been present since 1992 and I hope it stays. 

Bring back the Phantom Theater!

[MaestroJr]

I would like to see the Phantom theater come back to the park in someway, I really hope that since they’re closing this in September that they’ll be a ride opening next year because if not, it seems stupid to close it so early, I really hope this isn’t like Vortex where a ride closure resulted in nothing replacing it, especially since dark rides are such a crucial part to theme parks especially for people who can’t ride coasters because they have certain disabilities and such. 

[kingsislandfan1972]

[SonofBaconator]

Quote

It’s the end of an era as the Boo Blasters on Boo Hill family dark ride will close to make way for future development. Since 2010, the young and young-at-heart have created cherished memories working together to blast whimsical ghosts, ghouls and goblins back to the underworld on this classic indoor attraction. Guests will have until Monday, Sept. 1 to take their final rides on Boo Blasters on Boo Hill before its curtain is closed for good.

It might just be me but that last sentence could be telling

[kingsislandfan1972]

3 hours ago, SonofBaconator said:

It might just be me but that last sentence could be telling

I agree... honestly if PT does come back in some way I wouldn't care how they would do it as long as they dont use screens. Also The Speelunkers returned to Six Flags Over Texas in a very respectful way after a long hiatus, so if done right like that ride I can see it working out! 

[ReedObsessor]

1 hour ago, kingsislandfan1972 said:

I agree... honestly if PT does come back in some way I wouldn't care how they would do it as long as they dont use screens. Also The Speelunkers returned to Six Flags Over Texas in a very respectful way after a long hiatus, so if done right like that ride I can see it working out! 

I haven't been to Over Texas yet.  I've been to Great America, and I did like the Battle for Metropolis ride, but I do recognize the screen dependency, and using screens on a Boo Blasters replacement may be as popular as having Tylenol as a sponsor for an SLC.

Two other thoughts:

- My "Darkoaster at KI" remark wasn't even original... Someone bumped a thread that began in February.

- If a Boo Blasters replacement is for 2026, how is this a "family thrill attraction"?  What you are saying lacks thr thrill component.

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

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. 

[kingsislandfan1972]

I remember last year Kings Island sent out surveys for possible ride ideas, one I remember was the extension of The Beast and the other was for a Peanuts screen based dark shooting ride... the concept art for the Peanuts ride looked very disappointing, I'm hoping KI doesn't go in that direction. 

[Tr0y]

28 minutes ago, kingsislandfan1972 said:

I remember last year Kings Island sent out surveys for possible ride ideas, one I remember was the extension of The Beast and the other was for a Peanuts screen based dark shooting ride... the concept art for the Peanuts ride looked very disappointing, I'm hoping KI doesn't go in that direction. 

The concept art looks similar to Toy Story Mania! At Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It’s a fun ride for all ages. 
 

**Concept art and reality subject to change**

[RollerColt]

6 hours ago, Tr0y said:

The concept art looks similar to Toy Story Mania! At Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It’s a fun ride for all ages. 
 

**Concept art and reality subject to change**

That ride was a huge hit for my kids this summer. 

[beastfan11]

7 hours ago, kingsislandfan1972 said:

I remember last year Kings Island sent out surveys for possible ride ideas, one I remember was the extension of The Beast and the other was for a Peanuts screen based dark shooting ride... the concept art for the Peanuts ride looked very disappointing, I'm hoping KI doesn't go in that direction. 

I thought this survey was fake, though I might be mistaken. 

[kingsislandfan1972]

14 minutes ago, beastfan11 said:

I thought this survey was fake, though I might be mistaken. 

I was hope so, I got it through the Kings Island email, I did think it was rather ridiculous when they talked about making The Beast longer! 

[beastfan11]

36 minutes ago, kingsislandfan1972 said:

I was hope so, I got it through the Kings Island email, I did think it was rather ridiculous when they talked about making The Beast longer! 

I’m hoping so too. Kind of a ridiculous concept. 

[DJSkyFoxx]

We as humans spend farrrrrrrrr too much time looking at screens. Which is why I fear this could possibly end up being a screen based attraction if they choose to keep the building and continue the tradition of dark rides. I realize animatronics cost a lot to upkeep and what not, but there is a sense of realness to them that gives the more analog feeling-something you can really touch vs another digital screen based thing that we as a society are already oversaturated with.

If there is going to be any screen-based attractions happening, I would much rather them bring back the FX theater with the motion seats. That is still something I wish all the time they would bring back because it was yet another option to escape the heat/cold and still do something fun. It was also another option to break up the bigger rides. It was just fun/thrilling enough to keep the thrill seekers happy, but not overly wild for younger/less thrill seeking guests. I saw it as the more mature dark ride of the park.

It is crazy to me to think that during my lifetime there were 4 indoor rides ( FoF, SDATHC/BB, FX Theater, TR:TR/Crypt ). And this isn't even counting the KI Theater. Shortly, we will be just down to one once BB closes for however long.