beastfan11 Posted October 25 Share Posted October 25 On 10/23/2025 at 2:21 PM, beastfan11 said: Reveal hidden contents Good catch with the vulture! 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterJack Posted October 25 Share Posted October 25 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 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Losantiville Mining Co. Posted October 25 Share Posted October 25 This particular display is almost definitely only for IAPPA. It could be used for a ride scene, but the stage lights and overall size are just about perfect for a convention booth display piece. The screen and surround reminds me of the one for Tinker's (RIP) as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Driver8rws Posted October 29 Share Posted October 29 The new Maestro animitronic looks like a crosseyed doofball cartoon character that should be drooling and saying "duuuuuuhhhhh...." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingsislandfan1972 Posted November 1 Share Posted November 1 I wonder if the original voice of Maestro will be returning to voice him in the new ride? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beastfan11 Posted November 3 Share Posted November 3 On 11/1/2025 at 3:17 AM, kingsislandfan1972 said: I wonder if the original voice of Maestro will be returning to voice him in the new ride? I believe he did for the Encore pre-show announcements, so I’d hope so. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingsislandfan1972 Posted November 3 Share Posted November 3 12 hours ago, beastfan11 said: I believe he did for the Encore pre-show announcements, so I’d hope so. That would be awesome if he returned! I wonder if we'll get some old restored audio for the new ride as well. Fingers crossed the Maestro returns to his booth in the que! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted November 3 Share Posted November 3 KingsIslandFan1972 said: "I wonder if the original voice of Maestro will be returning to voice him in the new ride?" He is. 3 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beastfan11 Posted November 3 Share Posted November 3 13 minutes ago, Shaggy said: KingsIslandFan1972 said: "I wonder if the original voice of Maestro will be returning to voice him in the new ride?" He is. Safe to assume he’d be doing the other characters too? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BryanJay Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 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) 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 4 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beastfan11 Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 Counting down the days to IAPPA… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaestroJr Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 I’m actually mainly just interested in seeing how the flashlights work and how much of the ride will be animatronic based and how much will be screen based Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingsislandfan1972 Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 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) 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. Hide contents 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 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Losantiville Mining Co. Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion-XL200 Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 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) 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burlguy41005 Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 Would love to see some pics of the prgress....really hope they use the peppers ghost effect.... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Driver8rws Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 15 hours ago, MaestroJr said: I’m actually mainly just interested in seeing how the flashlights work and how much of the ride will be animatronic based and how much will be screen based Doesn't the new minions ride at Universal in Orlando use a "flashlight" gun? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamondback_Is_King Posted November 7 Share Posted November 7 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 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingsislandfan1972 Posted November 7 Share Posted November 7 Any predictions on how dark the actual ride will be? I'm hoping darker than Boo Blasters at least. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BryanJay Posted November 8 Share Posted November 8 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingsislandfan1972 Posted November 9 Share Posted November 9 We just had to get a picture with the teaser! The outside building pretty much looks fhe same as far as I could tell. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beastfan11 Posted November 9 Share Posted November 9 Cool video that may be of interest to some here: About halfway through the video you catch a glimpse of what seems to be PT:ON concept art: Feel like I can make out a few: Boiler Room Changing Portrait Hallway Maestro at the beginning of the ride? Reminds me if this… Some kind of explosion? Maybe the new Garbonzo ending that Rick Bastrup alluded to? What do you think? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BryanJay Posted November 9 Share Posted November 9 I’ve been aware of this concept art for awhile now. On one hand it’s a leak so I didn’t really want to give it more attention, but since it’s been cycling around now, I do truly think these are conceptual sketches and not the actual scenes from the ride because it contradicts with what I’ve been hearing from some people building it. From my view most of these are too low quality to make out, but for example there’s two versions of the theater scene: One with a smaller-scale version of the pepper’s ghost effect and one with a screen. I believe the 3rd concept art is of Larry in place of Maestro’s stage in the beginning scene, and from what I’m told that’s something that’s been changed by this point. Slightly related, but I do hope after the ride opens, they display or share this concept art somewhere. I know recently Knott’s Bear-y Farm released a book about the history of the Knott’s Bear-y Tales dark ride, and while I was there around the time it opens I got a very cute illustrated kid’s picture book telling the plot of the ride, and I’d absolutely love for Phantom Theater to get something like that. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Losantiville Mining Co. Posted November 10 Share Posted November 10 All this not to mention the layout plans next to the concept art! You can't read much on it, but I can definitely say it looks like the theater scene will return. The track layout is the same. I think the concept art is in scene order as well. Even if they've changed the scenes, it's at least a base for the ride. The very cartoon-ish elements appear to be there, but I can't tell how much they persist from this image. I could also believe that most of the "working" items on that wall are for PT:ON alongside the 30 panels of scene concepts. There looks to be concepts for a balcony, a mirror, and a gargoyle dude there too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BryanJay Posted November 11 Share Posted November 11 Demolition Video I didn’t actually think they’d show something like this, but this is officially like the coolest video Kings Island has ever posted for me. This ride is going to be so good Also rip Boocifer 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beastfan11 Posted November 11 Share Posted November 11 Wow. Moving right along. Love to see it. I’m assuming 11/18 will be IAPPA related? Hope we keep getting updates! Gonna be a long off season. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted November 11 Share Posted November 11 If what they show is the completed demo (as stated in the post)... you can see they didn't remove the platforms/walls that were placed on top of the original theater (Pepper's Ghost) scene. It looks as though they may be re-using the "chase" turntable as well. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BryanJay Posted November 11 Share Posted November 11 29 minutes ago, Shaggy said: It looks as though they may be re-using the "chase" turntable as well. Them reusing that gag would actually fit really nicely since every ride in that building except the original Phantom Theater used it. Also funnier if they blatantly dress up the same figure as like Larry getting chased by the ghost notes or something and that’s their static figure. “Ahhh get away from me, help, save me, oh they’re gonna get me!!! Hey guys, the show is just about to begin, helppp!!” 1 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion-XL200 Posted November 11 Share Posted November 11 As much as I hated the whole "ahh get away from me" turntable setup for Scooby and Boo Blasters, that would be hilarious! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingsislandfan1972 Posted November 11 Share Posted November 11 Man I absolutely LOVED seeing this! I was actually wondering if they would show any construction process and it did not disappoint! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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