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Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare Construction Progress


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On 10/23/2025 at 2:21 PM, beastfan11 said:

 

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Per your point about the queue, I could see this potentially being what we end up seeing, but the orientation of the characters coupled with the size of the screen leads me to wonder if this is just an IAPPA demo/display. Maybe we see something similar to the original queue, with these guys existing elsewhere. 

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1 hour ago, beastfan11 said:

Per your point about the queue, I could see this potentially being what we end up seeing, but the orientation of the characters coupled with the size of the screen leads me to wonder if this is just an IAPPA demo/display. Maybe we see something similar to the original queue, with these guys existing elsewhere. 

I'm thinking the same thing, the general look of the set seems to remind me a lot of their IAPPA demo for Mr. Krabs from the Spongebob ride, but I assume the animatronics will then be shipped to be used in the ride elsewhere, potentially in the queue up above, or at the beginning of the ride to explain the concept of the ride

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Updates of the week (aka what I saw now and was already out there): Last month’s permit reports were leaked and the permits for Opening Nightmare were filed officially. I’ve seen like job values for these things and I have no clue if like this is normal or like an indicator of “woahhhh this ride is impressive” because Soapbox Racers cost like 10,000,000 to construct. But also, if it does have less of a construction value needed, I’m keeping with my belief that it’s going to open with the park at the start of next season. I also don’t fully know how the permits work, but I think that since they haven’t mentioned any exterior work the castle facade is getting a retheme vs a new outdoor queue or new entrance being constructed (The public permits have been lost to time, but I believe if memory serves my right the castle entry structure they added had to get approved) IMG_1501.jpeg

 

Also there’s a new (blurry) look at the animatronics for IAPPA. I spoilered it incase you don’t want to see, but this was in the background official Sally Dark Rides post, so I feel like it’s within fair game versus the photos in a photos down tour location. At this point I’m just so interested to see what their voices sound like.

Spoiler

IMG_1517.jpeg

 

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4 hours ago, BryanJay said:

Updates of the week (aka what I saw now and was already out there): Last month’s permit reports were leaked and the permits for Opening Nightmare were filed officially. I’ve seen like job values for these things and I have no clue if like this is normal or like an indicator of “woahhhh this ride is impressive” because Soapbox Racers cost like 10,000,000 to construct. But also, if it does have less of a construction value needed, I’m keeping with my belief that it’s going to open with the park at the start of next season. I also don’t fully know how the permits work, but I think that since they haven’t mentioned any exterior work the castle facade is getting a retheme vs a new outdoor queue or new entrance being constructed (The public permits have been lost to time, but I believe if memory serves my right the castle entry structure they added had to get approved) IMG_1501.jpeg

 

Also there’s a new (blurry) look at the animatronics for IAPPA. I spoilered it incase you don’t want to see, but this was in the background official Sally Dark Rides post, so I feel like it’s within fair game versus the photos in a photos down tour location. At this point I’m just so interested to see what their voices sound like.

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IMG_1517.jpeg

 

I wonder if the outdoor exterior will be the last thing to be worked on like it was in 2003 when Phantom Theater became SDATHC where all the indoor stuff was basically done and they had just started working on the outside according to this video. I actually wonder if there's any way to bring back the old entrance if possible.

 

https://youtu.be/7B6VKQnKMkk?si=vWiKMrQTdW5a_wAH

 

Screenshot_20251106_030713_YouTube.jpg

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There's a good chance that it will be worked on from January to March 2026. If it's just going to be a redressing of the castle (hopefully with some structural changes), I don't think they'll need terribly long to change the facade. I personally hope they'll at least take down the Boo Blasters signage before Winterfest. Keeping it up is probably nice in that it won't look blank, but it also feels like there's nothing happening with the project.

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9 hours ago, BryanJay said:

Updates of the week (aka what I saw now and was already out there): Last month’s permit reports were leaked and the permits for Opening Nightmare were filed officially. I’ve seen like job values for these things and I have no clue if like this is normal or like an indicator of “woahhhh this ride is impressive” because Soapbox Racers cost like 10,000,000 to construct. But also, if it does have less of a construction value needed, I’m keeping with my belief that it’s going to open with the park at the start of next season. I also don’t fully know how the permits work, but I think that since they haven’t mentioned any exterior work the castle facade is getting a retheme vs a new outdoor queue or new entrance being constructed (The public permits have been lost to time, but I believe if memory serves my right the castle entry structure they added had to get approved) IMG_1501.jpeg

 

Also there’s a new (blurry) look at the animatronics for IAPPA. I spoilered it incase you don’t want to see, but this was in the background official Sally Dark Rides post, so I feel like it’s within fair game versus the photos in a photos down tour location. At this point I’m just so interested to see what their voices sound like.

The one thing I've learned about the permits is that they can potentially be various permits issued for a project. My thoughts on the permit item that you shared is that it's in regards to just about everything on the inside. 

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2 hours ago, Driver8rws said:

Doesn't the new minions ride at Universal in Orlando use a "flashlight" gun?

Villian Con Minion Blast uses blaster type guns. The thing was actually kind of heavy. But it looks like the flashlights will be much smaller and lighter, with a light attached. Seems like you'll be pressing in a button for the flashlights? We may learn more on how this works at IAPPA.

Photo credit: Universal Orlando and Kings Island

Illumination's Villain-Con Minion Blast

Phantom Theater

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8 hours ago, kingsislandfan1972 said:

Any predictions on how dark the actual ride will be? I'm hoping darker than Boo Blasters at least.-_-

I haven’t actually been on this ride and I know videos aren’t accurate to the actual experience, but I think the lighting will be similar to the Haunted Hotel attraction Sally Dark Rides also developed. I don’t think PTON is a blacklight attraction like Boo Blasters was, so I think outside of the projections for the Ghost Notes you aim at the sets won’t be that exceptionally bright, but also not as dark as something like the Haunted Mansion or the haunt mazes at the park. 

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