Phantom Theater Renovation Plans from Mason City Permits

[CoasterJack]

*SPOILERS* (Please avoid viewing this pdf if you don't want to see each scene listed by name over the layout of the ride, animatronic layouts, other schematics, etc.)

Mason redid their whole portal system using OpenGov Citizen Services, which you can access by creating a personal or citizen account. I already have one from past uses. It's much easier to access their monthly reports which are posted and can be access without an account. I assume these will be listed on the December monthly report which should be available soon once we hit January. 

SPOILER:

It appears there's many different versions of the plans, in which the most recent version was approved after they omitted some HVAC renovations due to budget constraints. It's not like we know the entire ride itself from these documents, but it does list each scene by name and show a general layout of some figures representing what I assume are the animatronics. By looking at the wiring diagrams and equipment lists, you can generally tell where the screens will be located, as well as a few other certain elements.

If mods want to combine this with another thread or keep it separate, that's find by me. I don't think I'm breaking any rules as I think others have posted documents from the city of Mason, but I understand if this isn't allowed.

Project_Barnum_APPROVED_DWGS.pdf

[beastfan11]

Links broken! Ah! Thank you so much for sharing though. Maybe screenshots (with spoiler tags) if you have them? Sorry, I’m being a pain. 

[CoasterJack]

Sorry I didn't notice that, also trying to host family for the holidays at the same time so a bit of a delay.

Man I truly am terribly at uploading files and images to these forums, never can seem to get them to display right. Happy to include images, but the details seem to get lost when I screenshot or save specific portions. Also I'm not 100% sure how to spoiler tag things, so let's try this from a sharable link instead...

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HQ1HfZZwKczbdtpIEH67k34eAIrArv4i/view?usp=sharing

[PKIDelirium]

That one works. Unfortunately it confirms they're keeping the "castle bridge" for the entrance instead of reverting to the descending pathway and entering the building at queue level like the original.

[Orion-XL200]

From what I gather, the Pepper's Ghost is not going to return, unless that is "on stage."

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

Thank you for sharing this! Some thoughts before I go in and look: I'm curious as to why they went with the Project Barnum name and if it had anything to do with the Peanuts carnival ride misdirect (if you'd like to think of it that way). It's a bit of a stretch to get from PT:ON to the potential Peanuts dark ride from the survey and then also jump to the circus name, but it's something. One thing I'll definitely be on the lookout for will be how the new scenes appear to be handled and if there will be some screens with everyone's scores on them. Otherwise I'm happy we can at least see something technical from this project. I'm not too worried about seeing the scene names or plans yet. For me the real reveal will come when I actually get to see how everything looks in real life.

Now to go look — I'll put my thoughts in a spoiler below.

Spoiler

Typing as I go:

Very interesting to see that vicinity to nearby restrooms is taken into account on the first page. The pages also immediately have that distinct municipal photocopier/digital scan smudging that I've seen so much of. The corporate Six Flags logo is used while the Kings Island logo appears to be the original from 2007(ish) or the updated one with the final Cedar Fair icon. I can't read enough to see if it says "Cedar Fair Entertainment Company" below it, but it definitely looks to be that way. This just makes me more curious to know if/when any of that information needs to be officially changed with the city for legal reasons. 

Huh, the Cedar Fair icon and wording are removed by sheet E0.0 (page 3) and now have the new Six Flags logo in smaller text below it. 

This second figure on the Peanuts Showplace wall of the balcony is intriguing considering it is not yet labeled. I think this will be Larry with some boxes of flashlights. I'm glad to see Arpeggio and Maestro will be on their balcony as well. The scene names are a little hard to read (good, they're not the point of this particular sheet), but from what I can gather it'll be a nice flow from scene to scene. The figures and sets in these diagrams don't give too much away, and the screen usage seems to be restricted. I'm glad the main theater scene (18 - On Stage!) will be returning in some shape and form, even if it means we'll be closer to the stage than in the original. The shortened queue has me wondering where any overflow might fit in. The "scent" coming out of Larry's new balcony was unexpected as well. 

I'm super excited to see how the new queue hallway (2 - Portrait Hallway) compares to having the busts there. Whatever is there might hold up as a better illusion compared to the busts if guests have to stand there while they wait for the FastLane line to clear out.

Holy electrical diagrams, Batman! I forgot how nice it was to look at these since I haven't been able to do much architecture stuff after college.

I doubt the Pepper's Ghost will return in any physical manner. Between the beams from the flashlights to how it (or rather, the glass) was treated by guests in the original, it would probably be far too much work to maintain. Maybe some ghosts will appear on some of the screens instead  I'm not as put off about the bridge remaining as I'd thought, but I hope the castle is significantly modified so that it looks like a theater entrance.

Overall, this looks really nice! I could already see where some of the props/sets that have already been shown off will go. It's really cool to see stuff like that and assemble it in my mind like a puzzle. The demolition plans alone will help to show that this is not just another reskin of Scooby-Doo and the Haunted Castle / Boo Blasters on Boo Hill.

[Timchat2]

Seeing all the specifics is really driving home how incredible it is that our home park is getting a new dark ride of this scale. Really looking forward to seeing how this all comes together!

[beastfan11]

Spent today much time looking at this tonight and will probably obsess over it more tomorrow. But it looks like the order of these scenes might line up with the “leaked” concept art/storyboards shared previously via that YouTube interview. 

Just gotta say, wow.  Starting to feel more and more real…

[CedarPointer]

Interesting that it apparently uses cameras to detect the flashlights.

[Hawaiian Coasters 325]

Looks like Maestro is returning to the balcony in the queue! 

[SonofBaconator]

3 hours ago, Hawaiian Coasters 325 said:

Looks like Maestro is returning to the balcony in the queue! 

Also someone else on the right as you enter- likely No Legs Larry

[Cedar Fair Fanboy]

47 minutes ago, SonofBaconator said:

Also someone else on the right as you enter- likely No Legs Larry

My Guess is Kings Island recreating the Maestro pre show animatronic for the balcony and Larry in the receptionist or ticket desk. Because of it, the queue line indoors is shorten to make room for that desk. And it also looks like the Windows will get a upgrade to include new special effects.