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Nice piece. Feel very similar in the sense that it feels like a missing part of the park’s “soul” has been restored. Been feeling that since 2003, but caught a glimpse of it in 2022/2023 with PT Encore. Makes me want to get back on the ride ASAP!

When you look from overhead, you see how illogical the paver design was. Why they used the dark gray/black the way they did baffles me. Those should have been the "road" with the lighter used on BOTH sides for the "sidewalk" then an even lighter narrow row between the "road" and "Sidewalk" to delineate the "curb" that way the crappy spray painted line for the parade wouldnt need to be there. Then as someone above said - bump out in another 2-4 places. Even three evenly spaced bump outs would've been nice for additional seating and might giver room against the building to do a second row of trees or have brought back the streetlamps. With 3 bump outs, the light towers could have been integrated into pillars at the two corners of each bump out.

We shared a lot of the sentiments listed above.

I'm hoping that this is the kind of thing that bringing back a boots-on-the-ground Park President will fix. You've put it beautifully! I'd like to echo that there are some things that will probably be fixed in the coming weeks, but some of the other stuff is likely sticking around for a while. The gift shops in particular feel a little empty and stale right now. Just this past Saturday I was talking to someone about how burnt out I felt with the park after my first visit of the season. Some of that feeling dissipated after I got back to the park on Sunday, but I'm definitely in an era right now where I need to take things slower than I have been. This is going to continue to be a rougher stretch of time for Kings Island, but I'm hopeful that the steps that people like John Reilly are taking will be better in the long run. Creativity and the arts are what made parks like Kings Island thrive in the beginning! I absolutely love when the arts get integrated into anything (though I am incredibly biased as a creative and fine arts person myself). I'd really like to see people in the company who understand the importance of creativity, especially in spite of how the legacy Six Flags company operated. This will sound bad, but I really hope the AI merch fails entirely. Not only does it get the details wrong, it's also incredibly ugly! Also, the new AI magnets are $9 a piece. Even after considering the minimal amount of labor that went into them (which literally only consisted of printing, shipping/delivery, and stocking) there is no way these things should cost more than $5. That also feels like a stretch. I won't be buying them and I hope none of you do either. No matter what your opinions on AI are, please please please do not buy that crazy ugly merchandise!!

At first, I found the presence of soaps and the like pleasant as I saw that stuff at Sweet Spot but you have helped me realize the other side to it. Its clear between this and the AI slop shirts that are present that corporate doesnt care whether the products sold in stores look good and full of life. Corporate wants products that sell and thats it. Which means putting out things that are generic and/or AI slop generated instead of things that clearly had lots of effort put into them by graphic designers and the like. By working to cut costs so much, they have completely lost the points on why parks exist and why they continue to exist. If I had the power for just one day to have Cedar Flags do exactly what I want, I know precisely what kind of things I would make them make happen. Having it so they are creative people like illustrators and writers on the board of directors, for example. At least the quality of Sweet Spot treats remains excellent. It helps the kitchen and equipment for making the sweets is right there and if corporate tried to mess with what Sweet Spot has had going for so long, it would not end well. Fresh treats are important for a park to have, especially when so many mass produced treats have such a repetitive taste that is often really enjoyable at first until the satisfaction and joy diminishes as an example of the law of diminishing value. Corporatizing things only makes the world less full of life and diminishes the experiences that bring people to places like Kings Island. It is plastering a dull vibe and energy that is inconsistent with the life the arts and entertainment bring to society. And without the arts, the very meaning of what it means to be human could very well vanish. Art is ever present within Kings Island because posters, ride logos, fonts, treats, foods, drinks, inventions, rides, floral arrangements, and so on are all forms of artist expression when you get down to it. Creativity is why things like all the ride and coaster types in the world have ever been invented. Societies worldwide would not exist without creativity. And all of this is something corporate does not understand and does not want to understand.

Looks like alot of activity around Zeypher today. may be ready by this weekend.

My review: https://themeparksbydon.com/kings-island-phantom-theater-opening-nightmare-review/

I love your idea for the theatre stage. Its too close and the figures too large. If feels more like a store display window with a bunch of anaimated fugures in it. Even if they HAD to use the turntable (did they really?) It could have been incorporated into the whole stage set - like having "extras" or chorus girls running onto the stage to make it in time. I even like the idea of seeing some human (and ghost) audience members infront of the stage - like we are tru "opera boxes" a bit further back. Thats one of my only nitpicks and mainly a counter to those wanting reflected images back

I agree. MUCH better than Boo Blasters! But I also think the ride could be better. I wish that there was a more clear plot throughout the ride, although Boo Blasters didn't really have a plot either. I just don't understand the whole "shine the flashlight at the Ghost Notes!" thing. Like why? I did sense there were some "dead spots" throughout the ride where nothing was really happening and I was just waiting for the next scene and the next time I got to use my flashlight. Don't get me wrong I really like the ride and think it's a great upgrade, but if you strip down everything it's essentially a very similar ride to everything else that has been in that building. If I were to give it a grade, it would be a B

As they should.

There is a reason I did not post the AI designs on the KIC social channels. The channels that did, the replies are nothing but negative feedback on the designs.

I was looking at the merch and this one really popped out. Sorry the shirt is not flat for the best look of the logo. Does the normal park guest not realize or care the train's placement is not practical and makes no sense?

Did anybody else notice the park didn't put up any signs at all for the grand carousel's 100th anniversary? The park probably realized they would have to use something other than AI to honor that type of anniversary.

Removing the elevator attendant is kinda like removing the park ambassadors. Seen on the bottom line, but lots of intangibles that cannot be measured are now gone. Anyone that has worked the elevator attendant position can attest to the guest interaction that you got (and more so than probably any other associate position in the park) and undoubtedly had positive impacts on a guest's experience that day in the park. Whether it be answering a question, offering up ride or food suggestions, to just maybe listening to them vent a little bit if they had a bad day, it is all valuable interaction that is now gone.

I was very impressed and pleased with it when I rode on Thursday. I feel the production quality is very high and the flashlights are very cool; the real time tracking is great. I think it is important to keep in mind that this is a brand-new effects based ride. They are still working out the volume of music and sounds effects, how to keep the flashlights consistently working and keeping all the effects inside the ride consistent

Kings Island opened for the 2026 season last weekend and Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare gave its first rides and brought long lines all weekend with lines reaching up to 3 hours at one point. While the focus is clearly on that along with the other exciting improvements and events happening this season, it is never too early to start speculating for the future. This thread will be used to address any rumors or speculation about what may come to the park for the 2027 season. This will also be the place to share any potential hints or signs of work on a 2027 attraction if anything is coming. One thing we do know is 2027 will be the 55th anniversary of the park. I'm going to start by saying I think a new major rollercoaster is all but off the table for a few reasons. 1) There hasn't been any signs of work on any potential/rumored new coaster site whether it be The Vortex site, remainder of old SOB site (outside of the dirt pile in the junkyard which constantly fuels speculation this time every year but never becomes anything), or the front gate area. Unless they pull a Siren's Curse or Legacy Six Flags and start land prep/construction later in the season, I think we can rule out anything major. Under legacy CF, whenever KI added a major new coaster, land prep/clearing and/or teasing started or was underway on opening weekend. 2) Six Flags already has 3 major coaster projects under construction and/or being teased: *Project Purple at GAdv *Magic Mountain's rumored thrill glider *Whatever Fiesta Texas is building in CrackAxle Canyon Also don't forget Carowinds is building a major record breaking water attraction for next year that is well under way that will likely be an expensive addition 3) Six Flags is in major debt so I doubt there is room in the 2027 budjet for a 15-30 million dollar rollercoaster at Kings Island Since a coaster is likely out of question, that leads us to a couple of other options. With the positive sentiment/debut of Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare, does the park decide to add another indoor attraction the following year? You have 2 buildings that can be used. Before Phantom Theater was announced, it was rumored the attraction for this year was going in the old Tomb Raider/The Crypt building. So do we see another heavily themed immersive ride go in there after all these years? The introduction of The Conjuring: Beyond Fear last Haunt likely throws doubts into that, but anything is possible. Then there is the old Days of Thunder/Spongebob 4D building that is currently used for Hotel St Michelle for Haunt which this Haunt would be its 5th season. Could we see the park decide to add an attraction of some type in there? We'll see. Then that brings us to the flat ride department. You have 2 options you can go down. Do you go with a thrilling flat ride? The last thrilling flat ride added was Sol Spin in 2023 and before that WindSeeker in 2011 and before that Delirium in 2003. So the park doesn't add thrilling flat rides often. With the departure of Xtreme Skyflyer last year, that space is empty outside of being used as queue space for a Haunt. I personally think an S&S scream n swing would be a perfect fit there and you could have it tie in with the spooky theme of Banshee and Bat next door. I always thought "Phantom Flyer" would be a good name for it and would tie well with the park with Phantom Theater and would pay homage to the original name of Linus Launcher in Camp Snoopy as its original name was Danny Phantom's Flyers. There are other options as Zamperla has a major catelog of thrill rides to choose from. Then you have family flat rides which the park has leaned heavily into in recent years. The question is what would you do with it? Do you do another Camp/Planet Snoopy expansion? Do you add one or 2 in like Coney Mall or Action Zone or Rivertown? Or do you do a package with a thrilling flat ride which I think would be the most likely option. Then finally we get to Soak City. The last expansion was last year and before that was 2016. With the mixed response to River Racers, do you even want to attempt another water coaster? WhiteWater West also has other slide options they could do. There's also the option of adding one of their even bigger play structures like what KD got back in 2021. There's also the very possible possibility the park just takes a year and focus on park improvements. After all, the company is in major debt so maybe they decide that KI has recieve enough new rides since 2023 that they give them the year to just focus on sprucing up the park and making it better. Banshee is due for a repaint and Bat too so if they decide to take an off year, that would be the year to do it as repainting rides does cost a pretty penny. I would love to hear your thoughts on what the park could see in 2027 and why. Let's enjoy the 2026 season, but also have a little fun speculating! Speculate away!

Courtesy of ungrounded uncensored Facebook group. They talked about the station is actively being completely cleared out. Now I can’t Remember the last picture I have seen of the station but these pictures it looks a little more cleared out and empty from the last time Ive seen it but it could very well have looked like this for awhile just not sure. I’m not reading anything into this as I don’t think there is much too this.

A lot of people have been saying the structure is in bad condition due to being left abandoned for so long. If this is true, I'm curious as to why it hasn't been demolished yet.

Seems like a good spot for a bar.

If there’s clearing and work being done on it anything like that is good news it’s just weird and useless for it too still be there if there’s no real good use for it so tear it down or use it. it would be cool for a future theming fly through for a new coaster. Don’t use the station as the actual station. location of the station for a new ride somewhere else and have the coaster fly through this old SOB station and have theming elements in there possibly tying back too SOB.

Maybe sometime in the next 10 years we can get more pieces of the park's "soul" restored! A boat ride, a Vortex successor, an Action Zone replacement, and a return to character for Rivertown would be nice to have. As for the Pepper's Ghost effects, I agree that it could have just been fun to have again even if it didn't make sense within the "story".

It should be the first thing you see before they become "real" but as you said, I think the goal was just to have the effect - not actually tell a logical story sequence as they do at the disney versions. In this version- it could actually be having a scene not using the current characters, but maybe the "ghosts of theatre greats past" who could share the stage with the current cast, but I think you'd have to show them throughout the ride as photos, posters etc to establish thesre are "dearly departed theatre greats" so when they reappear as pepper'sn ghosts it makes sense. I think thats way more thought than they were giving this refresh

Never thought about how it technically could not make sense to have physical ghouls... and then seeing ghosts afterward.. esp garbonzo I think specifically is shown as a robot and then in the peppers ghost room. Absolutely true. But, it's a unique spectacle that adds variety, and for a kid, could be the coolest thing for awhile. And thats what it was for me. So, I wouldve liked it to return (the effect) or to be met/ exceeded in visual "cool" factor.. and for me, it didn't match it. Some agree, some dont. Apologies if my post specifically was too whiny in that aspect. I wonder how, if we did get a peppers ghost effect, how it could be done that maintains narrative sense.. but I dont know if I'd care too much.

After my most recent visit to Kings Dominion I was thinking about how nice it would be to have some more variation in the outer wall so it isn't just rectangles inside of rectangles. One more set of "balconies" (where the seating extends into the grass) would be nice, especially where the paths to Oktoberfest and Planet Snoopy meet International Street. That could open up space for some sections of the black pavers to be replaced with short or ground-level planters. That's part of what gave the old I-Street some of it's shape and I think it would help. The current setup is nice for having the tables spaced out like they are, but I think adding two more balconies and making some planters would help bring back some charm. Adding some lights along the edges of the fountain might be nice, but I'm curious what they would be lighting up?

The same mentality of they will show up regardless applies to the purchase of goodies as well apparently....

You are absolutely correct. No creative/the arts, no Kings Island. No Disney World. No Disneyland. No Pokemon. No Magic The Gathering. No Skyrim. No Minecraft. No nothing. I dont actually know lots about art history overall, its just that so many things I know have fit together like puzzle pieces especially now that Ive watched like 300 animated shows. Dang, itd be so cool to get a animated show about Kings Island.. A 4 parter special for Phantom Theater.. A debut episode about The Racer.. All that with a twist of all the rides and attractions basically coming to life so that there are sentient characters that represent them all. Could always go the Cars/Planes/Brave Little Toaster route for the likes of The Racer. Imagine how beautiful the animation would be when made with love by the efforts of animators, scriptwriters, voice actors, concept artists, and so on..

I generally liked it. It's at the very least a HUGE upgrade from Boo Blasters. My only issues are that the dialog could be a bit more clear and maybe more use of music through the ride (especially for a ride themed to a theater with a maestro). I'll give it a A-.

On Friday, it took me right at an hour to get through the Fastlane line. When I was a few people behind the Fastlane scanner (where the 3 lines merge) there was a person sighing the green sheets in the exit hall. They would just open the door and lets 2 or 3 groups in. Groups being a family/those together. Then one group from the regular queue and a group from Fastlane. So 3 to 4 groups of people for 1 group in the regular line. I felt bad for the regular line queue for they were really getting the shaft on throughput.

To be fair, Phantom is one of the more inaccessible rides due to the use of stairs in the queue and the ability for anyone to ride it. I do agree that the Accessible line was very long this weekend, but there was a more-than-usual amount of guest waiting in the standard line too. Hopefully the wait times are able to be lowered as operations become smoother, I do think the added accessibility door within the queue should really help with that on a typical day, previously that was the job of the ride operator and the process of signing the green sheets slowed operations. I do really fear the longevity of the some of the smaller set elements. I'm hoping the newer technology and BTS infrastructure work that I believe wasn't done for the Scooby Doo conversion should help. But I really fear that it won't be long until we start seeing videos of kids climbing on Larry in the queue line. I think they should've had some additional barrier in place besides the queue line.

Home Run by KI & SDR. The line was deceivingly long Sunday afternoon. We rode near the end of the operating day, so was in the line room when the Fast Pass and Accessible lines closed. Once those were exhausted, the main line went very fast. I don't recall hearing anything from the original musical score from the original- thought that was to have been played somewhere. Good (ride) add though. From here, it's really on the "guest." For instance, I get that some are physically unable to navigate the line queue; but I don't feel like that is a license for your party-of-10 to skip to the front of the line. The accessible line was out the door and down the walkway a bit with what seemed to be a lot of able-bodied people surrounding one. We'll see how long it is before line queue props are damaged from enterprising <18 guests going to places off-limits. There are a lot of moving parts to keep maintaining, so I hope KI is up to the task; lots of "burnt out bulbs" that weren't replaced from last Fall on those front buildings though....

People would press the button on the other side all the time especially when down for a variety of reasons. And I will say it has led to "incidents" happening in the past, but I will not go into anymore detail to protect the park and other people's jobs as well as me. Good on the AP flat ride ops still being 2. The person who told me that has a long history of spreading false rumors and I'm sure you can take a guess who so I didn't believe him but I walked past the flying scooters and saw it is in single so I wasn't sure. Its cost cutting. I was told by one of the ops who worked with me when I was there.

Yesterday was kind of a dozzy. Zephyr was still disassembled. The geese have really made their presence known. Racer was doing low speed operations with only one train around 12. Invertigo, The Beast, Drop Tower, and Adventure Express all closed. Still had a good time there though, many of the lines were just repulsive looking so ended up doing things like Woodstock Whirlybirds.

I am hoping this is temporary, and an opening weekend thing, but you may be right. It could be another cost cutting measure.

I think the only big change I'd have made to the ride scene layout would be to bring back the big theater scene but without the Pepper's Ghost effects. Make guests feel a little closer to the stage than before, though. Put some smaller animatronics on stage and in the audience, but keep them corporeal. There could still be Ghost Notes floating along the back wall and a flat surface for the tracking system as well. The PT Encore scene music stays, the Ghost Notes and game aspect are kept, you're just not right up at the front of the stage. Other than that I think everything else will be fixed as the ride continues to cycle with public guests. To add to this, I hope Kings Island decides to put in another family dark ride elsewhere in the park. I've been advocating for something in an expanded Action Theater but it doesn't have to go there.

So many bemoaning the loss of the peppers ghost scene in the new Phantom Theatre. It wouldn’t make sense in the narrative and it actually never made sense the first time. We’ve seen these ghosts fully manifested, but then they become wispy image, only to go back to being fully formed again? The reason the peppers ghost works at Disney is the it’s really the first time we’ve seen the ghosts “manifested”. We see the "effect" of the ghosts on physical obect like books and candlesticks, Then they are transparent, then become more “physical” once you are in the graveyard. Thats one of the reasons the hat box ghost location has been controversial- it ruined the build up of the ghost logic. The first Phantom Theatre version just had the goal to copy Disney whether it made story sense or not.

it’s great that there’s such a high interest in this ride Practically every person in the world can ride this ride. A smaller % of the population can ride coasters. So it would be logical that this ride may attract more people. Maybe these parks will start figuring out that if they put in more attractions that everybody can ride, their attendance will quit being stagnant

My wife and I rode it today. I rode the original one as well. With that said. I love both of them. I try not to compare one to another, because it was a different time and different technology. I loved the theatrical show of Phantom from a couple of years ago. I still watch it to this day on you tube. I am very happy with this ride and will be looking forward to riding it a lot in the future as well. There is only one criticism I have, there needs to be hot air blowing on you when you go by the boiler. That would be a great effect. Overall, a 10 for me. I hope everyone enjoys it as well.

I had one ride yesterday and I loved it!! I would have loved to have done it more but the line was long. We waited about 2.5 hrs. It was so surreal seeing these characters that have lived in my mind since I was 7 years old get a second life. The queue was awesome and I am so happy to see Maestro back where he belongs, even though I'd love to have seen him back at a piano up there. As noted, the audio for Larry was too low. I was ecstatic when they gave out the Inaugural Performance keychain before boarding. The ride itself was awesome. I really like that energy that is around every corner, there are few parts that are still walls. My biggest dislike was the show. While cool to see all the characters performing, that scene is way too crammed. Getting rid of the turntable and opening that area up to the size of the original stage would have really helped that part out. I am very happy to see the reception this ride is receiving and I am glad kids today will experience something with so much soul at KI.

Great meeting you too!!

Hot take: I will actually really miss the 50th music loop. I’m kind of sad they changed it, I hadn’t noticed when walking in.

Unreal. Totally in shock. Loved the whole thing.

I was wondering if that would be an issue just with the amount of people in the lobby que area. Hopefully they can fine tune it as they go

I'd love to see the lampposts brought back, I just wonder where the park would put them along the street. They'd probably be best going in the side areas and toward the front/back of International Street. Without the planters under the trees I don't think there's a great place to put them around the umbrellas. The lighting towers need to stay on the sides of the fountain as well so we can keep having the fountain shows. There are quite a few cracked pavers, the History Walk does not have a stone made for 2025, and there are a few parts of the fence around the fountain that are on the verge of being broken from people leaning on them/bumping into them. I hope we can see some repairs made if they decide to improve any other parts of the I-Street area (like I really hope they will).

There are some cracked pavers too

The lampposts being brought back would have been so wonderful, a big missed opportunity for sure.

I'm crying. We are so back.

I just wish the new pavers made sense. They have the black “street” the narrowest part with trees in the middle?? Why they didn’t use the cobblestone on both sides with a “fake curb” of a lighter paver with black marking the street never made sense to me it would’ve even given them a great visual line for the parade instead of the stupid spray painted line. While they were at it they could’ve sunk sockets for removable stantion posts to go into to mark the route or the crossings it’s those kind of “missed opportunities” I’m talking about while it was already torn up. They could’ve created additional “patios” that extended over to the fountain with storage underneath for propane tanks for haunt to keep the area cleaner. And no idea WHY they couldn’t have brought back lampposts on the side closest to tgg he r buildings to make it look “street like” again. It’s not terrible, it just seems like they had the opportunity to really make sone infrastructure improvements and instead opted for mostly removal.

I get the idea of looking more modern, but being who I am, I prefer the nostalgic look/grandeur. Street lamps throughout the park would be wonderful, especially on the path behind junk yard coaster/behind the Eiffel Tower leading from Coney Mall to Rivertown.

I like everything but two things: 1. The pedestals. 2. Not bringing back the street lamps.

I agree with you. I mean, there are some things that I like....I like the new pavers and the uplights on the trees. The buildings having been painted and decoration accents on them are great. I had hoped that the fountains would be more like the fountain at The Island in Pigeon Forge....more of a show element throughout the day or heck even like Canada's Wonderland when their fountain was redone....they had a choreographed show to the music conducted by Snoopy which was cool. But yeah, the grandeur of the fountains is missing. I don't necessarily miss the pedestals, but I miss more water movement. I miss the bigger trees (but understand why they left), the newer ones are starting to get a good growth on them. I still am not sure about the stage at the tower end of the fountains. I do like the newer tables and umbrellas that aren't branded but give a great flow of color from above.