Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare Construction Progress

[beastfan11]

I’d settle for a few pictures of a gutted building. Just fascinated by this stuff. Couldn’t be more excited!

[BryanJay]

Random Phantom thought number 6 probably: When will the ride actually be completed inside? From my understanding, the original PT was still being worked on until the very last minute before the season opening. Scooby Doo had the inside completed around January, but Phantom closed in July as opposed to September, but also I don’t believe they had Winterfest at that time so that could’ve sped construction up (?) I assume anything from Boo Blasters is out at this point, but I wonder if possibly any phantom stuff is inside the building (or if they rush construction on that in the weeks between Winterfest or vice versa, the outdoor parts of Boo Blasters are removed during that time.

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

I'd assume the demolition process is easy, especially if they aren't saving the sets. Some figures might be sent back to SDR for the next Boo Blasters (send that stuff to Cedar Point after a refurbishment) while the others could probably get scrapped. Unless they only have one small team working on it I think it should go somewhat quickly.

[kingsislandfan1972]

2 hours ago, Losantiville Mining Co. said:

I'd assume the demolition process is easy, especially if they aren't saving the sets. Some figures might be sent back to SDR for the next Boo Blasters (send that stuff to Cedar Point after a refurbishment) while the others could probably get scrapped. Unless they only have one small team working on it I think it should go somewhat quickly.

I wonder if they would take the old BBOBH props from KI and make a new Boo Blasters at Cedar Point, nowadays I think CP is lacking a dark ride since the removal of Disaster Transport.

[kingsislandfan1972]

11 hours ago, beastfan11 said:

I’d settle for a few pictures of a gutted building. Just fascinated by this stuff. Couldn’t be more excited!

I agree, I too am curious what the building looks like gutted, however I feel like KI is going to keep it a secret (unless some pictures get leaked) until the ride officially opens in 2026.

[beastfan11]

2 hours ago, kingsislandfan1972 said:

I agree, I too am curious what the building looks like gutted, however I feel like KI is going to keep it a secret (unless some pictures get leaked) until the ride officially opens in 2026.

Closest we might get: 

https://dafe.org/articles/darkrides/phantomPharewell.html
 

Ha!

[kingsislandfan1972]

2 hours ago, beastfan11 said:

Closest we might get: 

https://dafe.org/articles/darkrides/phantomPharewell.html
 

Ha!

I'll take it! 

[Orion-XL200]

On 10/17/2025 at 7:28 PM, kingsislandfan1972 said:

I wonder if they would take the old BBOBH props from KI and make a new Boo Blasters at Cedar Point, nowadays I think CP is lacking a dark ride since the removal of Disaster Transport.

BBOBH is not needed at CP....a new dark ride yes...just not BBOBH.

[beastfan11]

Per the Tower Topics Facebook group: 

Edit: Added spoiler tags. Mods, feel free to remove if not cool. 

Spoiler

 

Spoiler

 

Spoiler

 

Spoiler

Original Facebook Post: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15JMpuh15Qk/?

TikTok link: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTMHwYrCH/

 

 

[BryanJay]

So this is my personal thoughts to start out with, I really don’t like that this got leaked. I know that the TikToker nor person who shared it on Facebook meant anything wrong by it, but personally it would’ve been cool to see these in action at IAAPA (With the stage setup I do think for sure we’ll be seeing them.)

Below, even though its probably out there here’s my thoughts on these:

Spoiler

Oh my godddd Maestro looks soooo good. Much better than the AI teaser, I’m glad he has his tuffs instead of the bowtie. I’ll have to see how he moves and sounds, but already better than the original (though I do wonder what context he’ll be used in, as it doesn’t look like what I’m REALLY hoping the queue will look like with him sitting on his organ, but it doesn’t fit any of his locations from the original.

 

Also I watched the original TikTok and I found an additional animatronic they didn’t pick up on: This is literally the most unexpected and deep cup easter egg they could’ve done. My hopes are actually way up for a ride I was already so excited for. 

 

I was initially worried that Sally Dark Rides might’ve not understood the references and significance the original ride had to Kings Island, but I truly think there’s people on the design time passionate for KI’s history.

 

[beastfan11]

2 hours ago, BryanJay said:

So this is my personal thoughts to start out with, I really don’t like that this got leaked. I know that the TikToker nor person who shared it on Facebook meant anything wrong by it, but personally it would’ve been cool to see these in action at IAAPA (With the stage setup I do think for sure we’ll be seeing them.)

Below, even though its probably out there here’s my thoughts on these:

  Hide contents

Oh my godddd Maestro looks soooo good. Much better than the AI teaser, I’m glad he has his tuffs instead of the bowtie. I’ll have to see how he moves and sounds, but already better than the original (though I do wonder what context he’ll be used in, as it doesn’t look like what I’m REALLY hoping the queue will look like with him sitting on his organ, but it doesn’t fit any of his locations from the original.

 

Also I watched the original TikTok and I found an additional animatronic they didn’t pick up on: This is literally the most unexpected and deep cup easter egg they could’ve done. My hopes are actually way up for a ride I was already so excited for. 

 

I was initially worried that Sally Dark Rides might’ve not understood the references and significance the original ride had to Kings Island, but I truly think there’s people on the design time passionate for KI’s history.

 

 

Spoiler

Good catch with the vulture! 

[BeeastFarmer]

57 minutes ago, BryanJay said:

So this is my personal thoughts to start out with, I really don’t like that this got leaked. I know that the TikToker nor person who shared it on Facebook meant anything wrong by it, but personally it would’ve been cool to see these in action at IAAPA (With the stage setup I do think for sure we’ll be seeing them.)

Below, even though its probably out there here’s my thoughts on these:

  Reveal hidden contents

Oh my godddd Maestro looks soooo good. Much better than the AI teaser, I’m glad he has his tuffs instead of the bowtie. I’ll have to see how he moves and sounds, but already better than the original (though I do wonder what context he’ll be used in, as it doesn’t look like what I’m REALLY hoping the queue will look like with him sitting on his organ, but it doesn’t fit any of his locations from the original.

 

Also I watched the original TikTok and I found an additional animatronic they didn’t pick up on: This is literally the most unexpected and deep cup easter egg they could’ve done. My hopes are actually way up for a ride I was already so excited for. 

 

I was initially worried that Sally Dark Rides might’ve not understood the references and significance the original ride had to Kings Island, but I truly think there’s people on the design time passionate for KI’s history.

 

Which is worse, unauthorized photos, where she supposedly was told no photos, or AI slop?  ( Cross threading)

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

I still don't think the original teaser is AI, it's just the highly animated style that makes it look that way.

Spoiler

The new stuff looks really good! I'm glad they're going for a more colorful design than the original and that we can see it isn't just a scene-for-scene recreation either. Hopefully we can see more official stuff soon.

 

[BryanJay]

 

Also confirmed from a non-leak source when we’ll be getting our first looks at IAAPA. (Gee I wonder which quirky characters we’ll be seeing) 

[Phantom Theater]

A friend shared these with me. Taken near a work area with the door wide open that employees could see. If not allowed, sorry, please delete. Seeing the rid system is neat, it's so much simpler than I imagined it to be.

[BryanJay]

2 minutes ago, Phantom Theater said:

A friend shared these with me. Taken near a work area with the door wide open that employees could see. If not allowed, sorry, please delete

Now this is the type of leak I can get behind. Funny how history repeats itself 

[Shaggy]

Humor me as I trip down memory lane for a bit...

Most know that the park gave behind the scenes tour to Acer's and members of Dafe when they were loading out PT late in the season after its closure...   

But in addition, I was fortunate enough to "play" (park personnel supervised - of course) throughout the building during conversion of PT to Scooby.  Although it broke my heart to see things in shambles, junk piles, tossed into garbage cans etc (aside from the animatronics - which were all gathered into the maintenance bay in one big bunch.) it was pretty cool to actually handle the props & figures.  When they cleared out PT - it was done in stages.  They first removed all the figures. then removed all major props (like the cannon, gargoyle, furnace etc)  Most of what remained were the wall props, signage, antiques, small chandeliers etc.  Those all were literally thrown into garbage cans & dumpsters.  

I've got a slew of pics somewhere - but here's a handful I found on an old thumb drive.  Bear in mind these were taken on a really bad digital camera - in very, very dim light.  Not sure these add much to the topic - but figured some might enjoy.  I think I shared some of these pics in the past - can't recall for certain.

Some notes:

The prop room "sword" I'm holding was very light-weight... like a blow-molded plastic or lightweight plywood.  It was in a trash can and I pulled it out to fake a "chop" at a friend (whom I edited from the picture for privacy...) The other was still on the wall.  If you look, you can see where the loose one had previously been bolted to the mechanical rod on the wall.  The washers on the back of the handle were there to help counterweight the length of the sword as it rocked up and down.  If you look closely, one of the handle "scrolls" was broken off - a testament as to how they just tossed it in the garbage during removal.

As for the "electrical panel" it was all simple plywood panels with aluminum handles hinged and what equivalated to Christmas lights fed through the various holes.  You could access the scene other side of it via a hidden passage... it basically masked the back of the figures in the dressing room doors on the other side of the wall.  Of all the things in there - I wanted to take the "Schedule" sign home with me... Oh, I begged to no avail.  I wonder if it somehow survived.  But I doubt it, since most of the non-animatronic props & signage was being thrown away.

Everything was filthy.  Dust covered, spit on everything, gum blobs everywhere - and lots of real spiderwebs.  There were hydraulic fluid stains and grease where the figures were located.  So much so, I felt like I needed to shower when I came out after crawling around in there...  You could tell precisely where every prop and figure had been - because when they first installed them they used black spray paint to "age" everything - they lightly sprayed all around every item to make it seem like it had been there for decades.  

By January, the full Scooby install was underway - and PT was a memory by then.  The most shocking thing was how they just built a plywood platform over the big pit that housed the Peppers Ghost scene. Every single time I rode SDATHC as well as Boo Blasters, as I passed the fireplace scene I thought "The stage is still under here."  When I first saw them building the platforms over the old stage I thought to myself "At least it makes it easy to convert back if they ever wanted to."  I wonder if they will.....

Most of the scenes were on platforms that were about a foot or so off the actual building floor and matched the level of the omnimover track.  The height of the platforms increased as the scenes progressed in order to achieve the height needed for the Pepper's Ghost "performance" scene.  There were trap doors in most where maintenance could crawl under to inspect/fix wires and electrical components that powered the figures.  The figures were all on independent stands that bolted to the floor or scenic element.  Their power cords then ran through holes in the floor to a cable system that ran from scene to scene.

I suspect that, with today's technology and the "ghost light" added effect - they will avoid any authentic Peppers Ghost effect.  More than likely they'll use large digital screens for those effects.  The original was achieved (of course) by giant floor-to-ceiling panels of glass which were (from what I was told) lowered in through the roof for PT.  Those large panes were used for the projection/mirror effects but there were separate windows between the guest vehicles and the reflection panels.  (I was also told this was done to avoid what happened at Disneyland - where a guest shot a bb gun at the large glass panels in the Haunted Mansion and cracked one.  DL later installed a second set of smaller glass panels between the vehicles and the large Pepper's Ghost ballroom panes.)  When PT was removed - the large panels were literally shattered and removed.  I cannot imagine they'd spare that expense, or go to the lengths required, to re-install them.

[Hawaiian Coasters 325]

Also for those who don't know, the area under the load/unload turntable is a tornado shelter. 

[beastfan11]

One of the best days I’ve had on these forums. Appreciate everyone sharing pictures, info, and memories. Really made my day. So excited for next year. Thanks for keeping the hype train going. 

[Chuckatronics]

2 hours ago, Shaggy said:

Humor me as I trip down memory lane for a bit...

Most know that the park gave behind the scenes tour to Acer's and members of Dafe when they were loading out PT late in the season after its closure...   

But in addition, I was fortunate enough to "play" (park personnel supervised - of course) throughout the building during conversion of PT to Scooby.  Although it broke my heart to see things in shambles, junk piles, tossed into garbage cans etc (aside from the animatronics - which were all gathered into the maintenance bay in one big bunch.) it was pretty cool to actually handle the props & figures.  When they cleared out PT - it was done in stages.  They first removed all the figures. then removed all major props (like the cannon, gargoyle, furnace etc)  Most of what remained were the wall props, signage, antiques, small chandeliers etc.  Those all were literally thrown into garbage cans & dumpsters.  

I've got a slew of pics somewhere - but here's a handful I found on an old thumb drive.  Bear in mind these were taken on a really bad digital camera - in very, very dim light.  Not sure these add much to the topic - but figured some might enjoy.  I think I shared some of these pics in the past - can't recall for certain.

Some notes:

The prop room "sword" I'm holding was very light-weight... like a blow-molded plastic or lightweight plywood.  It was in a trash can and I pulled it out to fake a "chop" at a friend (whom I edited from the picture for privacy...) The other was still on the wall.  If you look, you can see where the loose one had previously been bolted to the mechanical rod on the wall.  The washers on the back of the handle were there to help counterweight the length of the sword as it rocked up and down.  If you look closely, one of the handle "scrolls" was broken off - a testament as to how they just tossed it in the garbage during removal.

As for the "electrical panel" it was all simple plywood panels with aluminum handles hinged and what equivalated to Christmas lights fed through the various holes.  You could access the scene other side of it via a hidden passage... it basically masked the back of the figures in the dressing room doors on the other side of the wall.  Of all the things in there - I wanted to take the "Schedule" sign home with me... Oh, I begged to no avail.  I wonder if it somehow survived.  But I doubt it, since most of the non-animatronic props & signage was being thrown away.

Everything was filthy.  Dust covered, spit on everything, gum blobs everywhere - and lots of real spiderwebs.  There were hydraulic fluid stains and grease where the figures were located.  So much so, I felt like I needed to shower when I came out after crawling around in there...  You could tell precisely where every prop and figure had been - because when they first installed them they used black spray paint to "age" everything - they lightly sprayed all around every item to make it seem like it had been there for decades.  

By January, the full Scooby install was underway - and PT was a memory by then.  The most shocking thing was how they just built a plywood platform over the big pit that housed the Peppers Ghost scene. Every single time I rode SDATHC as well as Boo Blasters, as I passed the fireplace scene I thought "The stage is still under here."  When I first saw them building the platforms over the old stage I thought to myself "At least it makes it easy to convert back if they ever wanted to."  I wonder if they will.....

Most of the scenes were on platforms that were about a foot or so off the actual building floor and matched the level of the omnimover track.  The height of the platforms increased as the scenes progressed in order to achieve the height needed for the Pepper's Ghost "performance" scene.  There were trap doors in most where maintenance could crawl under to inspect/fix wires and electrical components that powered the figures.  The figures were all on independent stands that bolted to the floor or scenic element.  Their power cords then ran through holes in the floor to a cable system that ran from scene to scene.

I suspect that, with today's technology and the "ghost light" added effect - they will avoid any authentic Peppers Ghost effect.  More than likely they'll use large digital screens for those effects.  The original was achieved (of course) by giant floor-to-ceiling panels of glass which were (from what I was told) lowered in through the roof for PT.  Those large panes were used for the projection/mirror effects but there were separate windows between the guest vehicles and the reflection panels.  (I was also told this was done to avoid what happened at Disneyland - where a guest shot a bb gun at the large glass panels in the Haunted Mansion and cracked one.  DL later installed a second set of smaller glass panels between the vehicles and the large Pepper's Ghost ballroom panes.)  When PT was removed - the large panels were literally shattered and removed.  I cannot imagine they'd spare that expense, or go to the lengths required, to re-install them.

Let me know if you have any good photos of the animatronics/life size figures

[BryanJay]

2 hours ago, Shaggy said:

Of all the things in there - I wanted to take the "Schedule" sign home with me... Oh, I begged to no avail.  I wonder if it somehow survived.  But I doubt it, since most of the non-animatronic props & signage was being thrown away.

Thank you so much for sharing these photos and stories. Always a nice day to see new phantom theater photos. 
I’m 99% sure I’ve seen that schedule sign used in a haunt display. I’m not sure if it would still be around today, but a few of the random props still survive in haunt storage so it’s possible. 

[SonofBaconator]

2 hours ago, Shaggy said:

I was also told this was done to avoid what happened at Disneyland - where a guest shot a bb gun at the large glass panels in the Haunted Mansion and cracked one.

Fun fact, I was told they just slapped a fake spider over it to make it look like a spider web and called it a day.

[MaestroJr]

Cool to see boo blasters behind the scenes and also cool to see that at Sally Headquarters you can still shoot at the scooby doo and the haunted castle props, new Phantom Theater Maestro looks slightly more cartoonish but still looks good, I wonder how many Maestros their will be, im excited for the expo soon

 

[kingsislandfan1972]

I really enjoyed seeing some behind the scenes of the PT convering into SDATHC but it's sad to hear most of the original PT props were thrown away, I hope some were rescued and are restored for the new ride. I'm glad some props have been used for haunt such as the furnace from the original PT ride but seeing it in this state stained with fake blood is just disappointing and I wish it could be restored in some way.

[SonofBaconator]

I don’t know why the park didn’t preserve as much as possible- they could’ve made some cash selling some of the props off- even the minor ones like the old photos on the walls.

[kingsislandfan1972]

22 minutes ago, SonofBaconator said:

I don’t know why the park didn’t preserve as much as possible- they could’ve made some cash selling some of the props off- even the minor ones like the old photos on the walls.

I agree! Especially parks like Universal Studios sell their ride props after ride removals. But also this was back in 2002 when they closed PT in the middle of the season without warning so who knows what they were thinking.

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

1 hour ago, SonofBaconator said:

I don’t know why the park didn’t preserve as much as possible- they could’ve made some cash selling some of the props off- even the minor ones like the old photos on the walls.

Could it be that Paramount wasn't keen on cashing in on such things? (genuine question) 

They didn't seem like a company that really cared about nostalgia in their parks.

1 hour ago, kingsislandfan1972 said:

I'm glad some props have been used for haunt such as the furnace from the original PT ride but seeing it in this state stained with fake blood is just disappointing and I wish it could be restored in some way.

I bet some of that blood and gore could be stripped away with some effort. The state of the piece underneath would depend on what it's made of (fiberglass, wood, etc.) and how much restoration it would need. The new boiler piece (which looks suspiciously like one of the Boo Blasters set pieces) could possibly go in a more condensed scene than the original.

I do hope we'll see something like the original boiler though. It has a baked-in personification that wasn't seen in other parts of the ride. That aspect might help to bridge the gap between the two versions of the attraction.

 

On 10/20/2025 at 10:12 PM, Orion-XL200 said:

BBOBH is not needed at CP....a new dark ride yes...just not BBOBH.

I think anything would be better than nothing at this point. They could ship the pieces off to another park once the money came in for a better Cedar Point dark ride. I hear Magic Mountain is looking to replace their dark ride too  

[johnjniehaus]

7 hours ago, Losantiville Mining Co. said:

BBOBH is not needed at CP....a new dark ride yes...just not BBOBH

Cedar Point needs to bring back a new version of the pirate ride considering they still have the old building for it over by blue streak. 

[johnjniehaus]

14 hours ago, Phantom Theater said:

Seeing the rid system is neat, it's so much simpler than I imagined it to be

I was thinking the same thing. I never realized that it was basically just resting in the floor beneath it and was actually not nearly level with the floor in the building. 

[MaestroJr]

I kind actually hope that get some use out of Boocifer and reuse him for the Phantom Theater, i think hes an awesome animatronic that i hope doesnt just go in the garbage