Excitement level for Phantom Theater Opening Nightmare

[MaestroJr]

Just trying to get the pulse for how excited we all are for the new opening attraction our beloved new phantom theater. Are you
A. Super excited and can’t wait

B. Excited  but cautious, slight worry about how “cheap” it’ll be 

C. Sorta excited but deep down you know it won’t be as good as Original Phantom 

D. Neutral/Not excited or even maybe prefer Boo Blasters or Scooby 

I myself would choose B as while I am extremely excited and I hope that this ride blows me away I am slightly concerned that they will re use too many boo blasters elements or potentially the that new “flashlights” won’t work for long periods of time like the blasters, having said that I believe even a decent Phantom Theater ride is better than Boo Blasters any day of the week! Let me know what you think guys

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

I'm 100% (A.) Super excited and can't wait to ride it. Even if it's just above the level of Boo Blasters (a ride that I enjoyed), I think it could still be good ride. With this being a new + custom attraction from Sally Dark Rides there are so many ways for it to be a lot better than what we had. for 23ish years.

The thing I'm most worried about is whether or not it will just have a ton of dry jokes that fall flat. That's an issue with a lot of modern media. I'm also a little worried that the tone will have shifted a little too much, but it will probably be fine. The original characters were very antagonistic toward the guests and this one will be more friendly. I think Scooby-Doo and the Haunted Castle was also more friendly toward riders, but we'll see where PT:ON lands once it opens!

[TheCrypt]

I'm cautiously optimistic. I've warmed up to and enjoyed everything I've seen so far; just don’t want to get my hopes up. In general I'm excited that a fresh, quality experience is coming back to that spot. After being SDatHC for awhile and then Boo Blasters for even longer (and they were really just the same), it hasn't been a must ride for me in years.

[Outdoor Man]

Got to go with "C".

I think, on it's own, it will be a great addition. However, I'm of the generation that felt that the changeover from the original PT to SDatHC was unnecessary and have felt every iteration thereafter didn't stack up. My concern is that this new version is going to be cartoon'ish and leave the nostalgia longing. 

Kind of like the Disney line of "a modern adaptation of a timeless classic"... how has that gone?

[BryanJay]

I’d go with D, nothing will compare to Boo Blasters.

I’m joking of course, I’ve been dreaming for this since hearing about the original in my childhood that I never got to experience. I think there will be people who don’t fully know that it’s not a remake of the original and might dislike it because of that, but I personally love all the changes that I’ve seen. It seems very muppet-y to me personally, and I love the muppets so I might like it better than what the original actually was. I think it’s a miracle that a non-IP dark ride with 33 animatronics is getting built in 2026.

[TheCrypt]

5 minutes ago, BryanJay said:

I think it’s a miracle that a non-IP dark ride with 33 animatronics is getting built in 2026.

^^^ Very this. And at a regional park, no less.

[MaestroJr]

I agree I also hope it isn’t too cartoonish as the original theme was “scary” but fun but I hope the new one keeps the scary theme and doesn’t get too cartoonish, hope it’s   like the haunted mansion, Also curious how the interactive element will work 

[beastfan11]

125% thrilled. Been waiting for this since I showed up to the park in ‘02 as a ten year old to find my favorite ride closed. Everything so far seems fantastic and I’m happy that it’s not just a reboot/recreation of the original ride. Love the art direction and overall style. Pretty unbelievable this is even happening. 

[kingsislandfan1972]

A. honestly it looks like Kings Island is putting a lot of thought into this knowing they made a mistake of removing the original PT. Will it be as good as the original? I think so as well as adding new elements that weren't available in the original PT. I'm really excited! 😀

[cdubbs727]

I'm really excited. I was in my teens when Phantom Theater opened, and had just gone to Walt Disney World, so I thought it was great that the park we went to every year had something that resembled Haunted Mansion (although even at my age, I understood it was a budget version of Haunted Mansion). By the time it was closed, I was an adult without kids, so it didn't really bother me. By the time my kids were ready for Kings Island, it was Boo Blasters...and they loved "the spooky house," but I was always so disappointed that instead of an inventive attraction that made an attempt to capture the feel of Disney, they got a lame shooter with ugly blacklights and cheap sets and blasters that rarely worked. 

I'm not sure we'll get to KI this year; we're in Detroit and are choosing to try Dollywood this summer. but we have Gold Passes, so we can get to Cedar Point a few times. But if money and timing allow, I'd like to take a trip and see how it all turned out. I love the idea of honoring the past, and it sounds like they're really trying hard to make this a memorable attraction. 

[Hawaiian Coasters 325]

I'm curious in knowing what the budget for this thing is. Obviously putting in animatronics plus screens is not cheap! I'm curious if the pricetag is around the amount as a new coaster.

[Orion-XL200]

Initial permit, put the value of the project around $900,000.00, scope of working being: "Retheme existing ride with new decor & technology"

[johnjniehaus]

36 minutes ago, Orion-XL200 said:

Initial permit, put the value of the project around $900,000.00, scope of working being: "Retheme existing ride with new decor & technology"

Yeah so definitely not as expensive as a new coaster 

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

7 hours ago, Orion-XL200 said:

Initial permit, put the value of the project around $900,000.00, scope of working being: "Retheme existing ride with new decor & technology"

I think that $900k number was just for the renovations to the building, though I'd be curious to know if that also included the cost from Sally Dark Rides. Designing a new dark ride with custom animatronics and sets (even if they're pulling from existing concepts and animatronic skeletons) must cost at least $1m, right? I'd love to know how the cost of PT:ON compares to the cost of Camp Snoopy or Adventure Port as well.

[Orion-XL200]

I'm inclined to think that new decor and technology listed includes what is being brought in. 

[Shaggy]

16 hours ago, Losantiville Mining Co. said:

I think that $900k number was just for the renovations to the building, though I'd be curious to know if that also included the cost from Sally Dark Rides. Designing a new dark ride with custom animatronics and sets (even if they're pulling from existing concepts and animatronic skeletons) must cost at least $1m, right? I'd love to know how the cost of PT:ON compares to the cost of Camp Snoopy or Adventure Port as well.

Yes, I believe it was determined the $900K was for building modifications alone.  (I was confused by, and asked about, the low amount months ago.)  I guarantee the entire project is more than likely in the range of $5M+.