BryanJay

So judging by the sheet at the bottom, here's the confirmed animatronic list we have so far: 1-2. Maestro 3-4. No Legs Larry 5-6. The Great Garbonzo 7-8. Houdelini 9. IDK TBH. Willard Warbler or Lionel Burymore I'm guessing (There's at least 1 Willard for sure physically on the table) 10-11. Stage hands (I can't make out what they're being named in this one. 12. Gus the stage manager (?) (AKA the guy with the flashlight) 13-14. The Boiler Men. 15. The Demon Rabbit. 16-17. Hilda (Not pictured but the helmets are visible.) Judging by the list, my basic scene layouts are as follows: The portrait scrim effects for the main performers return. The "Caught in the Ropes, Backstage, Houdelini, and Hilda scenes return basically as is. The hallway with doors has a physical Willard animatronic, but is mostly a screen (Maybe Bosco makes a physical debut?). The pepper's ghost scene returns at the end, but is achieved through screen projections. I'm also thinking from this list that Arpeggio (The new cat character) appears in each scene via the screens (same as the demon rat which is certainly going to be a gag that returns.) My main questions are if outside the list, they're more animatronics with physical face movement. These figures look like they have static faces (Which I'm 100% fine with, the original had these two), but the glaring ommisions from the images on the table are additional Maestro figures for the queue and opening scene (So you wanted to see the theater, did ya?). I'm really hoping that maybe they're being worked on separately, but I'm honestly so glad that there's so many physical figures being made for this attraction rather than cutouts or screens.

Animatronic construction... will have to get used to them but at least there's a lot of characters! Featuring what I think are the Great Garbonzo, Willard Warbler, Lionel Burymore, and the rope characters.

I’ve been marathoning it since 9:30 lol, I went on a walk on at park opening, then waiting 60 minutes immediately after, and then it’s been steadily around a 25-35 minute wait for most of the day. But crowds are starting to pick up now, the fastlane is out to the bridge which I’ve never seen before. The accessibility line at the exit to the ride also stretches outside, which is what I’ve seen as the main source slowing down the line. But like if you’re debating on wanting to come to the last rides tonight uhhhh…. It’s crowded! 200+ minutes. Go away! Run!

Taken from the KI Facebook page, the facade’s been constructed for the Boo Blasters tribute haunted house (Nah JK it’s order of the dragon, which I’m also really upset is about a vampire and not the mythical creature)

The Cinema Slasher merch is so strange to me, because it’s so clearly personalized for Kings Island but very clearly isn’t generically Halloween enough to sell well without a house to tie in with, so I would not be surprised whatsoever if we were supposed to get a Cinema Slasher house and the budget for it got replaced when Six Flags made the decision that the legacy Cedar Fair haunts should all get The Conjuring Beyond Fear (I know people talked about Slaughterhouse potentially closing last season, so it could’ve taken up that space. Or honestly Killmart could fit the circus theme well enough because I know Slaughterhouse has a scareacting crew that has a cult following status and has been present in a KI haunt house since the very first seasons).

The more they advertise this, the more excited I get that they’re putting effort into this rather than just making a half-hearted retheme. It’s rare that theme parks announce what’s replacing an attraction before they announce what’s replacing it (Boo Blasters wasn’t particularly beloved but people still seem to be somewhat sad about it) and I’ve NEVER seen a giant sign advertising a new attraction right outside of the attraction it’s replacing, alongside a merchandise line that they released the day after the announcement into the park (I don’t think any recent additions like Camp Snoopy or River Racers had anything like this).

For those who were wondering like myself, I got confirmation that Rick Bastrup (one of the original creators of the original Phantom Theater) is working with Sally Dark Rides on Opening Nightmare, so I’m even more confident this ride will live up to the original.

Drew the other characters in the style of the logo (better than the AI thing) Can’t wait to see what they look like and who makes an appearance in the final ride.

They literally just announced shirts with that logo lol

THE OFFICIAL LOGO LOOKS SOOOOOO GOOD!!!

oh my god they had this planned since the beginning. (Also the musical note ghosts are either going to make or break the attraction, it’s so stupid I love them)

Quick thoughts because I'm freaking the heck out, but I've also had an hour to reflect on it: - 99% of my fears were relieved when they said there's multiple animatronics in this, especially that Lionel Burymore gets one, he's so underrated. Hopefully there's a few more characters that aren't listed that make a cameo in this. - I think two things are true: 1. The design of Maestro looks off and it'll take time to get used to. 2. The original animatronics looked like they were melting even during construction, so I think it's not horrible. I'm very curious if AI was used to make the promo art. It looks like it might be to me, but I'm optimistic it's not. The designs will look better in person I'm sure . - I wonder if the track will be extended/a preshow will be added. The release says there's 26 scenes, and even in Boo Blasters saying there's 20 scenes in the ride is generous. Considering it hasn't been used the past year, it wouldn't be shocking if the track was extended into that space, or maybe even use some of the space in the original theater scene (I'd be SHOCKED if the pepper's ghost effect returns in any actual way during the ride considering the flashlight aspect.) It's my hope though that the Maestro animatronic stays in the queue and no screens are placed there. - I'm split about the shooting aspect, because on one hand the musical note ghost bit sounds childish, but also when I zoomed in to see what they looked like, they made me laugh with how stupid they looked, so I think it could be silly. -I hope they keep the original music, even if it's a new recording. It's just so iconic to me, and I hope it makes an appearance. - The name is perfect, I'm glad they didn't use "Phantom Theater:Return of the revenge of the Maestro" I'm sure I'll have more to say tonight when I'm done with work, be those are my initial thoughts. I have some fears, but honestly just really happy people will know these characters again.

I'm crying. We are so back.

I’m very confident that Thursday’s the actual announcement and not other teaser. I think part of what made the first part of the teaser work so well is it presents the uncertainty over if the new ride is a Boo Blasters replacement or going in the Crypt, and I think any continued parts to the teaser would ruin this mystery, or add further hints that it’s PT that really isn’t needed. I also don’t think the PR team wouldn’t post a countdown on instagram if it wasn’t that day (also lines up with going before the closure so they can advertise the new attraction on any construction fences that might go up.

This photo from Kings Island shows them.

Offering it now, if the park uses AI for anything related to Phantom Theater, I will personally redraw it free of charge

I’ve listened to it like 100 times, I can barely hear “So you wanted to see the theater did ya?” in the static (mostly listening for like syllables). But it might just be nonsense because anything else is a stretch. I’ve never seen any of the Conjuring movies so idk if wind chimes have any significance, but a lot of the Maestro’s dialogue in the original attraction references like portals to another world. “You have entered our world, now escape if you can!” Honestly I love the fact that there’s a teaser campaign that isn’t just “Phantom Theater’s coming back to Boo Blasters”. As of yesterday there’s apparently more construction walls outside of the Tomb Raider building, which makes me even more confused. I’m still sticking to my theory that PT goes in Boo Blasters as a flashlight shooting ride, and nothing goes into Tomb Raider, but the fact that I’m not sure about that is so interesting to me.

Personally as a huge fan of Phantom Theater, I’m so glad that they’re announcing it when they are because 1. We should know if the same ride system and layout is being used, which if it’s not I’d have a chance to say goodbye to that. 2. Permits would’ve been leaked in September for at least Boo Blaster’s demolition, so I’m glad there’s still a sense of mystery where there’s not physical leaks for phantom’s return (thought it’s heavily implied) and also there’s still the mystery of what the crypt building is doing at the end of the video. Also random thought for the last day of Boo Blasters since it’s on topic: I wonder if anything special will happen that day. https://x.com/kingsislandpr/status/1956008390989066620?s=46 I wouldn’t be totally shocked if they switched out the opening voice to this for the last night/weekend as a tribute for all the hardcore Boo Blasters fans (who I’m sure exist somewhere)

This was a prop in phantom theater, yes. And the furnace is in Slaughterhouse. (Me when my degree in phantom theaterology pays off)

The animatronics were placed outside the building the first year the haunted house operated. They were all then destroyed (rip) but the mummy’s sarcophagus and garbanzo’s canon was left in the house until they were removed for the encore show.

Last year during the daytime tours, the Crypt included Hilda’s Mirror as a lantern effect… this would be absolutely crazy if they knew about this campaign that far in advance, but something to think about. Also could be something where like a prop from the ride representing each performer is in an abandoned attraction (Son of Beast station and Vortex plot next) Also for the flashlight, I think it’s 50/50 that’s its emphasized because the reboot will be a flashlight shooting dark ride, or at the end of the teaser video, the security guard runs into the stage manager from the ride (“No one’s allowed backstage!”) or maybe both!

https://x.com/kingsislandpr/status/1958529528403271795?s=46 Literally shaking, it’s 100% phantom theater

Literally the anticipation has been killing me too. I’m so curious if they’re like “saving” a new ride announcement to package with another announcement that might be controversial. Something like “Invertigo isn’t reopening or Congo Falls is closing, but here’s the new ride!!” Mostly because I suspect they announced Boo Blasters closing the same day as they confirmed haunt’s an uncharge to do a similar thing. My thought for the announcement is that it’s made sometime next week, or even on the last day for Boo Blasters so that they can put up themed construction walls for whatever the new attraction is. Also like 90% of the gp wouldn’t know, but there’s a high chance that in the first week of September permits leak whatever the plan is for the new ride. (Also unrelated slightly, but I’m kinda sad that a lot of people on Facebook and stuff seem to be confused that the Phantom Theater reboot and Planet Snoopy retheme is a 100% confirmed thing. Sorta lessens the impact they would’ve had coming directly from the park, but I’m still having a helpful doubt for the rumors so I’ll still be excited)

Basically bumping old thread to avoid making unnecessary ones. So with all the Haunt drama, I made a three year plan basically for what houses I’d bring to the event to refresh the lineup each year. Also with this, I’m assuming no new rides would be built that interfere with the venues, and that Six Flags keeps the IPs they currently own the rights to. As a recap for 2025- Order of the Dragon (Blackout Building) The Conjuring: Beyond Fear (Madame Fatale’s) 2026- Dark Ride (KillMart)- A KI version of the dark ride haunt house originally featured at Knott’s and brought to some other legacy Cedar Fair parks. I love the trend of bringing the Knott’s mazes that work well into the Six Flags parks, as you’ll see with a later house. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Slaughterhouse)-See other Six Flags houses for reference) 2027- Trick r Treat (Cornered)-Outdoor house based on the movie. Train of Terror:The Ghosts of Rivertown: Basically what they used to do for Tombstone Terror-Tory, have a live storyteller give like stories about the forest of Rivertown, and then have actors run out towards the train. The only issue is how to logically make a stop like before if they wanted to do that. Basically option A. unload at Soak City, make a small loop around the outside of the station around to the park entrance, then loop back and board the train back to Rivertown. Option B. Unload at Soak City station, and walk back towards Planet Snoopy with the path being themed (reusing a lot of props from cornered). Both present logical issues, but I think an elaborate ride overlay like this would be really special. For the actual train ride, I think scenes with ghost cowboys in the town scene, a yeti creature in the woods, the ghost girl in the fort, and tree monsters fitting in with Mystic Timbers would be cool. I don’t think they’d have the same popularity as a horror train experience, but extra spooky overlays for the Antique Autos (Route 666) and whatever the rumored dark ride is for 2026 () would be cool too. 2028- Puppets Unstrung (Hotel St. Michelle)- Enter an abandoned theater of sinister puppets, blah blah blah blah. The Depths (Alien Abyss)- Another Knott’s adaptation, lookup a video of that for reference. I think with this plan for the houses, the upcharge would really be worth it. Then after this basically replace two houses every year: It would be cool to add any additional houses to the lineup, but I’d prefer quality over quantity. Also for each year, add a new show or scarezone as well.