Bye bye, Boo Blasters

[super7]

9 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. 

This would be worse than the current bad ride.   At least with boo blasters if one doesn’t want to shoot, they can still ride through and there are moving sets to look at. 

[robintodd]

58 minutes ago, DJSkyFoxx said:

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. 

After riding Justice League battle for metropolis at Six Flags over Texas I would love to see something like that at KI.  My first preference, of course, is that when Rick came to do the meet and greet at the Phantom Theatre Encore show, he signed a contract and has spent the last 2 years molding and modeling the anamatronics for Phantom Theatre's Revenge!

[CoasterJack]

29 minutes ago, robintodd said:

After riding Justice League battle for metropolis at Six Flags over Texas I would love to see something like that at KI.  My first preference, of course, is that when Rick came to do the meet and greet at the Phantom Theatre Encore show, he signed a contract and has spent the last 2 years molding and modeling the anamatronics for Phantom Theatre's Revenge!

I agree. Though in all honestly, I think KI just needs more dark rides in general. Keep the Boo Blasters building as something with more physical sets, and then build a Justice League ride or modern dark ride with a more dynamic ride system elsewhere in the park.

[Gordon Bombay]

They’re gonna remove the ride scenes, put down a floor, and make it a “premium” Haunt maze. Maybe two. Sure the track components will remain (and the hope will always linger), but most of the vehicles will rot outside with a few others used as Halloween decorations. 

[cdubbs727]

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. 

[Hawaiian Coasters 325]

I can guarantee you that they wouldn't close it this early if there wasn't any new attraction planned for the space for next season. They would likely wait until after Winterfest is over. 

[disco2000]

1 hour ago, Hawaiian Coasters 325 said:

I can guarantee you that they wouldn't close it this early if there wasn't any new attraction planned for the space for next season. They would likely wait until after Winterfest is over. 

What if there is an expensive fix on the horizon and they are concerned about the ride working until end of December and nothing is planned?  Didn't many people think Vortex had a planned replacement....

[Korey]

Honestly, I was totally caught off guard when the announcement dropped. Closing the current ride this early in the season definitely hints at a 2026 opening. If it were getting pushed back further, they probably would’ve kept it running a bit longer. Fingers crossed it avoids the delay list and we get something in 2026.

[Hawaiian Coasters 325]

1 hour ago, disco2000 said:

 Didn't many people think Vortex had a planned replacement....

Apples and oranges here. Vortex closed at the end of the regular operating season. Boo Blasters is closing in the middle of the season. Likely bc they want to start work on it asap so they can get whatever is planned up and running next spring. 

[KIBeast]

I would like to point out that I believed the new attraction was going to be a replacement for Boo Blasters and was correct. I also honestly believe Looney Tunes will be coming in, while Peanuts will be out. I don't believe that the license will be renewed at the end of the 2025 season.

[jcoop22]

5 hours ago, DJSkyFoxx said:

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. 

Use the WB license in the FX Theater. Although they’d need more storage elsewhere because that theater has just been a warehouse for a long time.

[disco2000]

4 hours ago, Hawaiian Coasters 325 said:

Apples and oranges here. Vortex closed at the end of the regular operating season. Boo Blasters is closing in the middle of the season. Likely bc they want to start work on it asap so they can get whatever is planned up and running next spring. 

First you said guaranteed it was a new ride and now you say likely...that is a big difference...

I am just pointing out an early closure could be just that - it could be a repair coming up they don't want to spend and nothing is planned.

Likelihood is it is some sort of new attraction, but it isn't guaranteed at this point until we see an announcement or something else other than a closure.

But at the same time, given the pass sale and everything else going on, why wouldn't they take advantage of this notice with a simple "being closed to make way for something new in 2026"?

Maybe it is just poor marketing 101 or they don't have anything planned.

[IndyGuy4KI]

On 8/12/2025 at 3:42 PM, disco2000 said:

Maybe it is just poor marketing 101 or they don't have anything planned.

I don't think we can make conclusions based on the current marketing creativity.

[Captain Nemo]

Or it could be a result of the 500 full time positions removed this past summer. All part of a plan to reallocate money and reduce expenses.
The Budget for practically everything has been changed. Change in price for Season Passes, now you pay less BUT there’s more ‘premium’ up charges. Now what was included has been hit with a $$$ signs. Low entry price looks appealing, but in park spending is higher. Nickel and diming resentment increases. And we end up where we are now. The guests are not happy, the board is not happy, the CEO is out of a job come 2026.
This is textbook price obfuscation and loyal visitors are noticing.

[kingsislandfan1972]

On 8/12/2025 at 2:29 PM, jcoop22 said:

Use the WB license in the FX Theater. Although they’d need more storage elsewhere because that theater has just been a warehouse for a long time.

I would love to see a Batman or Looney Tunes themed attraction in that area! Honestly I would just love to see Action Theater open again.

[Diamondback_Is_King]

At least they announced the ride closure...unlike some other parks

[kingsislandfan1972]

21 hours ago, Diamondback_Is_King said:

At least they announced the ride closure...unlike some other parks

That is true, I honestly heard when Phantom Theater closed in 2002 it was without warning and in the middle of summer.

[MaestroJr]

One thing Id thought id point out is when Scooby Doo and the mystery of the spooky swamp closed at SF: St Louis on 9-14-14 and the new Justice League ride opened the following June, I do not want a justice league ride and would much prefer a phantom theater ride even with the gun element but just saying it can be done quickly, I rode Boo Blasters yesterday and it’s really sad the state it’s in, only one of the three guns worked and half of the ride props where off or non functional,I will miss this ride but I’m ready for a change 

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

If the timing of this ride closure is so they can start working then I'd hope it would be done by Opening Day. I think the current setup of the ride also lends itself better to being Phantom Theater or another spooky dark ride. If it becomes a Justice League dark ride then it will need a lot of work beyond just adding the screens and reprofiling the castle (which I assume is what would happen with a conversion to PT). For a company trying to save money, it may be easier to convert Boo Blasters into a new Phantom Theater. 

Kings Island may be more of a regional park than a destination park, but I think it deserves something better than a ride most of the big Legacy Six Flags parks got years ago. 

[kingsislandfan1972]

My question is if Phantom Theater does return... does the big purple castle get removed completely or would it be reused but modified? Personally I think the purple castle should retire, it worked with the Scooby-Doo & Boo Blaster theming but in my opinion wouldn't work with a PT theming.

[specialk141]

I would love to have something like toy story mania! I know.... screens blah blah blah... but thats the most entertaining attraction I've ever been on!