I wonder if any melodies from Phantom Theater Encore will make it into the ride's soundtrack, even just as a musical Easter egg.

I already know I’m not going to last a day once the park actually releases merch, because I need phantom theater drink… I need $75 eBay reselling of the IAAPA poster which I’m not even sure is real because they’re selling like twenty of them… I need more footage because I’ve spent literal hours trying to find the footage they play on the side of the animatronics because I don’t know anyone going to IAAPA who can film it for me nor know if they even allow people to film that.

There are some clearer shots here on the Tower Topics FB group: 

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17T5g6WqKC/?

 

RIP to the Mighty Bosco appearing heavily in this thing, he’s probably still trapped in his dressing room

12 hours ago, BryanJay said:

I already know I’m not going to last a day once the park actually releases merch, because I need phantom theater drink… I need $75 eBay reselling of the IAAPA poster which I’m not even sure is real because they’re selling like twenty of them… I need more footage because I’ve spent literal hours trying to find the footage they play on the side of the animatronics because I don’t know anyone going to IAAPA who can film it for me nor know if they even allow people to film that.

We are going to try it at Kings Island probably during Winterfest or Opening day for Phantom Theater. Other than that, mom is really looking forward to drinking it.

So IAAPA is officially over. I have scoured literally every social media platform possible to find more/better footage of the BTS videos and concept art shown in the presentation, but if anyone took any they haven’t shown it yet (If anyone on this forum took it please share) but here’s all the new info/my predictions I have after the event.

-Rather than being an abandoned theater that the guests just happen to stumble into, I interpret the vibe now as more as a theater for phantoms and wandering spirits (think the original retirement home idea for the haunted mansion at Disneyland)

-The original soundtrack is rescored and will be present in this version. I interpret this as being Maestro’s new composition he discusses “Terror Toccata in D Minor” (unless of course he’s taking credit for bach’s work)

-The animatronics on display went through 3 different spiels, and I believe this is the setup we’ll see in the queue. However, I think the particular Maestro animatronic they used will be located at the finale to the ride as opposed to the queue, as this figure has full legs and a “bowing” movement. The Larry animatronic could be in the queue to show off how to use the flashlight, or at the very beginning if they changed from the concept art for the opening scene they showed off. At this point, I think Maestro on the organ is a scene they’ll save for the physical ride (I think in the first room where the graveyard is now), but I really love the dynamic between Larry, Maestro, and the guests they showed off, so I’m fine with that. But I think there will be more that they say in the actual queue, I’d say more of a 15-40 minute loop. 

- We saw new bts videos showing off the Boiler Men, Arpeggio, the vulture from The Beastie, and Willard being wrapped up (by the ghost notes I assume) into the mummy. 
-They showed off the flashlight technology, which I’m very curious to see how it works. I wonder if the scoring system will be off of points or how many ghost notes you capture.

-The park promises more updates throughout the Winter, which at this point I sorta hope they don’t show off too much more of the ride. 
Overall very impressed with the event, we got more than I expected. Thank you sally dark ride and Kings Island.

Thanks for the photos!

On 11/21/2025 at 10:20 AM, Cedar Fair Fanboy said:

We are going to try it at Kings Island probably during Winterfest or Opening day for Phantom Theater. Other than that, mom is really looking forward to drinking it.

If it's available during Winterfest, I definitely will try it.

On 9/30/2025 at 7:32 PM, BryanJay said:

Kinda shocked that I didn’t get around to making this before, but here’s my first speculation map (to steal horror nights terminology) of what I think we could see in Opening Nightmare. I hope it’s clear which most of the scenes are but I’ll highlight my base thoughts before anything major is shared about the ride so that it’s impressive if I get anything right:

- One of the areas that I’m 50/50 split about is if the Boo Blasters bridge entrance will be reused, or if a new short outdoor section will be built to enter the attraction. I’m not sure if this is feasible or a priority, but it would be cool to make the queue wheelchair accessible so that everyone can enjoy (what I’m very much assuming) will be theming in the queue.

-I’m also pretty split on what the actual queue ‘preshow’ will look like. I’m really hoping there’s a Maestro animatronic on organ like the original. Only two maestro animatronics being on the sheet from the construction teaser worries me, but this could also be a more advanced figure so who knows. Also I’m assuming the lightning affects return to this space.

-I think the statue busts are repainted and reused, but I also have a gut feeling there will be a tv screen placed at the end of the hallway to explain the game mechanics by Larry. 
- I’m fairly confident that the ride track won’t be changed in anyway, include the path the car’s face. I’m also reallly hoping at the first scene with Maestro holding the curtain stays with “So you wanted to see the theater did ya?” because that’s just one of those iconic scenes (even being featured on the made to thrill poster they put out).
-I think either in the spot for Scooby Doo or the portrait hallway, there’s going to be a flash of lightning that disguises an onride photo. I don’t think it’ll be something they sell, but I think the scoreboard at the end will show photos of each guest and there score.

-I don’t have many thoughts on the rest of the scenes individually because they’re hard to guess. I think where ever they put Garbonzo firing out of a canon, it’ll be in a spot where the cars make a 180 spin to see his feet dangling out of a wall or something.

-I think Arpeggio (the cat character) could be a thing where he’s hidden in each scene somewhere.

-I think the part where the original peppers ghost scene was is going to be the section with the most new scenes, and I’m very confident on the stage section being used in the final room. I think pepper’s ghost is going to be used in someway within the ride, either at the ending stage scene using screens, or with No Legs Larry at some point in the ride.

Overall I’m very excited, I’m basically just using two photos and a press release to go off on, so if I got any of this correct I’ll be impressed lol. 

Really hope they use the peppers ghost effect...shame with it still there just behind the drywall....if not watch...a crappy screen based thing like Mystic Timers...hope Sally takes advantage of what they have the opportunity to utilize

There will be screens used throughout the ride. I find it highly unlikely that the Pepper's Ghost effect will come back — especially not on the scale it was in the original.

Any possibility that the screens might be used to give the ride a holiday overlay during WinterFest?

That's certainly possible, but if it's anything like Mystic Timbers and that is not accounted for to begin with then I'd guess it won't happen.

1 hour ago, Timchat2 said:

Any possibility that the screens might be used to give the ride a holiday overlay during WinterFest?

I know Sally Dark Rides have done this with the past with other projects (Treasure Hunt the Ride) and I don't think it would involve much besides changing out the models they used in-game and adding decorations to the ride. Personally, I hope they wouldn't do anything until like 2028 for a Winterfest thing, but also people love the Haunted Mansion holiday overlay so who knows. 

Potential spoilers from new documentary episode 

Spoiler

New look at the storyboards which still aren’t super clear to me and thus I’m not confident enough to say which scene is which. 

 

1 hour ago, BryanJay said:

Potential spoilers from new documentary episode 

  Reveal hidden contents

Unavailable

New look at the storyboards which still aren’t super clear to me and thus I’m not confident enough to say which scene is which. 

 

As excited as I am, I hope Kings Island doesn't reveal too much; I want to be surprised the first time I enter the ride building. So if I don't make it opening day, I'm going to avoid all POV spoilers which I'm sure some people will post.

I photoshopped some nonsense after thinking of meet and greet characters. Do y'all think we could see an Arpeggio meet and greet like this (Or Maestro or any other PT ghouls for that matter)?

1 hour ago, BryanJay said:

I photoshopped some nonsense after thinking of meet and greet characters. Do y'all think we could see an Arpeggio meet and greet like this (Or Maestro or any other PT ghouls for that matter)?

Thinking a meet and greet with Puppet Larry from the Encore show is a no brainer. 

1 hour ago, BryanJay said:

I photoshopped some nonsense after thinking of meet and greet characters. Do y'all think we could see an Arpeggio meet and greet like this (Or Maestro or any other PT ghouls for that matter)?

I don't know why, but when I saw this picture I thought of Kitty Claws at Holiday World 😂

At Six Flags Over Georgia they have character meet & greets for the Monster Mansion dark ride, so fingers crossed we get one for Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare as well! 🤞

Still waiting on KI to make the name "Krazeb" for the alien leader on FoF official

I can see Maestro be a walk around character along with his performers and friends. I could also see live actors roaming around International Street, acting like residences living here.

14 hours ago, YuYuYuuki said:

Still waiting on KI to make the name "Krazeb" for the alien leader on FoF official

What does this have to do with Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare?

15 hours ago, Cedar Fair Fanboy said:

I can see Maestro be a walk around character along with his performers and friends. I could also see live actors roaming around International Street, acting like residences living here.

I personally would love to see phantom theater characters return considering they did have a maestro character when the original opened. You know people would line up for photos with arpeggio (the cat) and larry

6 hours ago, Orion-XL200 said:

What does this have to do with Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare?

Because that's got all the lore and crap, FoF doesn't...

k

11 hours ago, johnjniehaus said:

I personally would love to see phantom theater characters return considering they did have a maestro character when the original opened. You know people would line up for photos with arpeggio (the cat) and larry

Maestro, Arpeggio, and Larry would be my picks for walk-around characters! They probably wouldn't be able to meet right in front of the facade due to the Peanuts licensing agreement, but that little path near the exit and/or on International Street would be great. For Maestro I wonder if they would go for a human character (like in Phantom Theater Encore), puppets (obviously in the case of Larry and Archie), or something more like the 1992 walk-around Maestro?

5 hours ago, Losantiville Mining Co. said:

Maestro, Arpeggio, and Larry would be my picks for walk-around characters! They probably wouldn't be able to meet right in front of the facade due to the Peanuts licensing agreement, but that little path near the exit and/or on International Street would be great. For Maestro I wonder if they would go for a human character (like in Phantom Theater Encore), puppets (obviously in the case of Larry and Archie), or something more like the 1992 walk-around Maestro?

I've said before that I would like them to convert the current Peanuts Showplace space to a Phantom Theater museum/gift shop area that features props from the old Phantom Theater ride as well as that being where the character meet and greet could go. They could move the Peanuts meet and greet to Beagle Scout Acres (which they sorta already have over there). Or they could go back to having Snoopy and the gang on International Street. Maybe bring back the Peanuts Block Party and have shows on the bandstand during the day like before?

posted on KI instagram page, confirms that fan reception to the show gave the park the green light to return the long missed phantom theater to it’s rightful place, we in the community should pat our self on the back for this because we made it happen!

1 hour ago, MaestroJr said:

posted on KI instagram page, confirms that fan reception to the show gave the park the green light to return the long missed phantom theater to it’s rightful place, we in the community should pat our self on the back for this because we made it happen!

So it was a test all along! Hahaha! 

15 hours ago, johnjniehaus said:

So it was a test all along! Hahaha! 

I disagree. I think it was a historical move for the 50th and then they realized there was still interest in the characters and story. Why not capitalize on what you already created when you know it is popular with guests instead of starting from scratch.