Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare Construction Progress

[BryanJay]

7 hours ago, kingsislandfan1972 said:

What do you think the estimated wait times for PT:ON are going to be for the first few month?

At least 5 minutes 

[westcoaster]

On yet another top themed attractions countdown list congrats Kings Island and Six Flags, #3 for the Phantom theatre. 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://blooloop.com/best-themed-attractions-2026/&ved=2ahUKEwijwK-mzIWTAxW-IkQIHc4sAlkQFnoECDkQBQ&sqi=2&usg=AOvVaw0zRzaXrV4M3fR6nFRKTjcS

Awesome! Maestroriffic, 

[beastfan11]

Really cool to see it in the top three with Disney and Dollywood. 

[Swiftdrawer]

19 hours ago, westcoaster said:

On yet another top themed attractions countdown list congrats Kings Island and Six Flags, #3 for the Phantom theatre. 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://blooloop.com/best-themed-attractions-2026/&ved=2ahUKEwijwK-mzIWTAxW-IkQIHc4sAlkQFnoECDkQBQ&sqi=2&usg=AOvVaw0zRzaXrV4M3fR6nFRKTjcS

Awesome! Maestroriffic, 

#3! YEAAAAAAHHHHH! This rocks! I was just thinking not long ago just how huge Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare could be and that it could be the greatest dark ride in the country outside of Disney and Universal. I am SO excited for it!

[Shaggy]

I truly believe KI already has a HUGE hit on their hands.  This has as much, if not more, buzz than virtually all new attractions in the past twenty years.

If this succeeds, as I think it will, I expect it will set the trajectory for all future installs at KI.

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

For my fellow KI webcam watchers, there is now a smattering of materials sitting near the castle facade! Some of these items could be for testing nearby rides, but I'm choosing to believe they're for Phantom Theater facade work.

[Hawaiian Coasters 325]

Looks like there's some sort of boom or reach truck right by the facade:

[Hawaiian Coasters 325]

**DOUBLE POST** 

Looks like the "boom truck" has moved to the other side of the facade

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

I wonder if the cherry picker is being used for fixes to the facade or if it is entirely what they're using to paint the castle. Right now it looks like it's actually closer to the top of the "gate" where the Boo Blasters sign is/was. Maybe they're working on that before they can work on the big mouth entrance. What I'd give to see something from the ground right there. 

About a month ago there was a comment from John Reilly on how Magic Mountain was planning to save some money in the long term by purchasing their own boom arm cherry picker, so now I'm curious if Kings Island would do the same. Most of the time I see one in the park it looks to be from Art's Rentals.

[Hawaiian Coasters 325]

The boom truck looks to have moved to the side facade towards Great Pumpkin and the showplace

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

I think there are actually two boom trucks, one on either side of the castle. You can see the arm of the truck on the right is nearly parallel with the castle's north parapet. They could be painting or replacing the window decals.

That new concrete definitely appears to be helping the truck to get closer; although I don't think they're supposed to be putting that much weight on brand new concrete yet. It looks like that "extended queue" concrete will be more for getting guests in line off of the main pathway. Any extended queue that goes down toward the original entrance path would need to break through the wall separating that hill from the Peanuts Showplace entrance.

[BryanJay]

A warning for anyone else who’s trying to go in spoiler free for the actual ride experience (which I’ve decided is me at this point, but maybe people who frequent the construction updates may not share the same view). There’s a media construction tour of the new ride happening today, and there’s not a spoiler embargo (I’ve already seen some photos inside the ride), so be cautious on social media if you’re wanting to avoid that. 
 

But also maybe today we’ll get logistical updates like an opening date, so that would be cool to see.

[beastfan11]

19 minutes ago, BryanJay said:

A warning for anyone else who’s trying to go in spoiler free for the actual ride experience (which I’ve decided is me at this point, but maybe people who frequent the construction updates may not share the same view). There’s a media construction tour of the new ride happening today, and there’s not a spoiler embargo (I’ve already seen some photos inside the ride), so be cautious on social media if you’re wanting to avoid that. 
 

But also maybe today we’ll get logistical updates like an opening date, so that would be cool to see.

What pages/channels are involved?

[BryanJay]

2 minutes ago, beastfan11 said:

What pages/channels are involved?

I saw it on an account called Kerney-cation on Twitter so far, I’m sure there’s more. 
 

I legitimately don’t know if I can hold off on watching the clips from this for a month. One of the small easter eggs in the  the clip I saw resold me on this ride for like the 5th time. I can’t wait.

[beastfan11]

2 minutes ago, BryanJay said:

I saw it on an account called Kerney-cation on Twitter so far, I’m sure there’s more. 
 

I legitimately don’t know if I can hold off on watching the clips from this for a month. One of the small easter eggs in the  the clip I saw resold me on this ride for like the 5th time. I can’t wait.

Appreciate you!!

[Imperial79]

It was on Spectrum News 1 about an hour ago, said it would be ready for opening day, but we’ll see how that goes when the park opens. 

[Orion-XL200]

Just saw pictures and wow! I'm even more excited now! 

[MaestroJr]

8 minutes ago, Orion-XL200 said:

Just saw pictures and wow! I'm even more excited now! 

where at? 

[Orion-XL200]

ACE Mid-East (I think this region) shared via Facebook @MaestroJr

[beastfan11]

Soooo… You wanted to see spoilers, did ya? 
 

Proceed with caution. Hyped to hear it’ll be ready opening day! 

Spoiler

Photo credits: 

Great Ohio Coaster Club

Kernny-Cation

Really, reaaaaally loving how this is coming together. 

[Orion-XL200]

" Omnis Mundus est Scaena" - All The World's A Stage. 

LOVE THAT! 

[BryanJay]

Despite my wishes I have seen a few clips from Facebook (Since I don't mind them showing the queue and such, I've seen that already, I don't feel bad on commenting about them. I thought they'd be doing a full walkthrough.)

 

Spoiler

It is a very good consideration for them to break up the ride cars into pairs of two so each scene can be enjoyed. I also really love the callback of the announcer in the queue being the same as the announcer for Boo Blasters (I believe, someone can correct me if I'm mistaken). 

 

 

[Cedar Fair Fanboy]

1 hour ago, Orion-XL200 said:

" Omnis Mundus est Scaena" - All The World's A Stage. 

LOVE THAT! 

That is a dark way of telling everyone that this place isn't reality.

[TheCrypt]

1 hour ago, Cedar Fair Fanboy said:

That is a dark way of telling everyone that this place isn't reality.

It's an allusion to the famous line in Shakespeare's As You Like It. The actual monologue is much brighter as it comes from a comedy.

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

The entire quote from Act II Scene VII in As You Like It if anyone would like to read it (credit to https://poets.org/poem/you-it-act-ii-scene-vii-all-worlds-stage). Shakespeare is always nice to read every once in a while.

Quote

All the world's a stage,

And all the men and women merely players;

They have their exits and their entrances,

And one man in his time plays many parts,

His acts being seven ages. At first, the infant,

Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.

Then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel

And shining morning face, creeping like snail

Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,

Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad

Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,

Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,

Jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel,

Seeking the bubble reputation

Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice,

In fair round belly with good capon lined,

With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,

Full of wise saws and modern instances;

And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts

Into the lean and slippered pantaloon,

With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;

His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide

For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice,

Turning again toward childish treble, pipes

And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,

That ends this strange eventful history,

Is second childishness and mere oblivion,

Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

 

As for the media tour:

Spoiler

I do like that the cars are paired, though I wonder how well that will work overall with loading and unloading. This configuration will certainly help to make scenes feel more personalized. Do any other Sally rides use this style of omnimover vehicles (even these are actually made by Morgan)? My only references are the three remaining Boo Blasters and some of the other retrofitted dark rides. I can't remember what any of the Justice League rides use.

The queue and hallway both look nice and I suspect more will be happening before the official opening. They at least still have the queue stanchions that need to go in. Interestingly enough there didn't seem to be any holes left in the floor from the old queue format, so maybe we will see something other than the standard metal stanchions?

 

[kingsislandfan1972]

I had been trying to avoid spoilers but I couldnt help myself seeing the pictures today! I absolutely love the theming and it seems like they are putting a lot of effort into this, even more so than when it was Scooby-Doo and even the original PT. Also the animatronics look amazing! I'm glad that Maestro is back in his booth, the only thing I'm hoping for now is that the new ride will be as dark as the original. I love when dark rides are well basically dark, fingers crossed they brought that element back. Nonetheless I am still excited! 😊

[beastfan11]

Some footage…

 

[BryanJay]

Another update which I think was mentioned already, but the ride will officially be open for opening day and for passholder previews. I’m not expecting a charity thing at this point, but who knows. Tomorrow is Friday the 13th so maybe they’ll launch something?? 
 

I was nervous hearing about this event today, but I do appreciate their respect for keeping most of the surprises until opening day (because even without seeking them out I definitely would’ve gotten spoiled if they showed everything off by now) and this was a fun (hopefully close to final) update to tide us over until opening day.

[kingsislandfan1972]

9 hours ago, beastfan11 said:

Some footage…

 

I think it was funny how they mentioned Boo Blasters in the que! My prediction is somehow Boocifer is the villain in the ride! 🤣

[beastfan11]

4 hours ago, kingsislandfan1972 said:

I think it was funny how they mentioned Boo Blasters in the que! My prediction is somehow Boocifer is the villain in the ride! 🤣

That gave me a laugh too. A lot of references in that short pre show clip from the original ride, the Encore show, BBoBH, and more. Love the story treatment. You can tell a lot of love went into this.