No sure if this has been mentioned, but it appears they have primed the entire facade of the former castle entrance.  

58 minutes ago, Shaggy said:

No sure if this has been mentioned, but it appears they have primed the entire facade of the former castle entrance.  

Hopefully they go back to the greenish look or just do something very vaudville era looking. And please get rid of the castle pinnacles. Don't want a slapped up new paint castle entrance to an attraction they are paying so close attention to details on the inside 

Spoiler

Here's my thoughts based on the footage and images - I think the animatronics looks great, que looks fantastic, and the load area does too. I think it will take me a minute to get use to the opera boxes being two and two now instead of every other. Curious how that will feel on ride especially if you are in the back box? Will you have to look at the other box blocking your view during the turns? I saw some footage of the que preshow which they mentioned might not be the final cut but it's so great having the original voices for maestro and Larry. I will say Archie the cat sounded like the most fake meow I've ever heard and that's annoying. I wish he sounded like a real cat and not a cartoon voiceover person speaking the word "meow". Doubt that will be changed but that's honestly my only gripe at the moment because it cheapens the experience and makes it seem very fake. The rest of it though like oh my goodness the Phantoms are back in all of their glory from the que chandeliers looking better than ever to the que being a bit dark which is really cool and then the loading area with the curtains and windows it all looks really really well done! 

 

I know I’m a little late to this, but am I the only one that think these “trapezoid things” have been removed?
It really looks like it but I can’t tell if it’s the camera blur or just my eyes deceiving me

13 hours ago, Fishdinner said:

I know I’m a little late to this, but am I the only one that think these “trapezoid things” have been removed?
It really looks like it but I can’t tell if it’s the camera blur or just my eyes deceiving me

I think you’re right. 
 

I'm cautiously optimistic as always, the ride has a lot of potential but I also know that this is SIX operations so I'll keep expectations low so that if it's a success I'll be far more happy than before. Which I'll be frank, I like the idea that they're rejuvenating it for a new audience and all but I miss the old PT vibes that we had. Hopefully we can get some decent call backs and a true come to form from the old attraction.

Looks like some paint showing up, unless I’m crazy and imagining things (which is possible and likely). 
 

58 minutes ago, beastfan11 said:

Looks like some paint showing up, unless I’m crazy and imagining things (which is possible and likely). 
 

No your not crazy, they're tearing the top down

37 minutes ago, Cedar Fair Fanboy said:

No your not crazy, they're tearing the top down

My friend, that may be true, but I can assure you I’m still crazy. 

3 hours ago, beastfan11 said:

Looks like some paint showing up, unless I’m crazy and imagining things (which is possible and likely). 
 

This actually looks like something being added rather than removed. I suspect they might be balancing out both sides of the facade. There's something up with that circled area that doesn't make much sense with what we've been seeing.

Not sure what they are doing to the entrance...wish they'd just knock the dang castle down and put up an original facade 

22 minutes ago, johnjniehaus said:

Not sure what they are doing to the entrance...wish they'd just knock the dang castle down and put up an original facade 

If it means more budget for the actual ride experience/show, I think it’s worth it to update what’s there. But yeah, an original facade would be preferable. Guess we’ll see. Ultimately, I’d say what’s inside the building will matter more. 

48 minutes ago, beastfan11 said:

If it means more budget for the actual ride experience/show, I think it’s worth it to update what’s there. But yeah, an original facade would be preferable. Guess we’ll see. Ultimately, I’d say what’s inside the building will matter more. 

Don't disagree that the inside counts more than the exterior but still sometimes I feel like what's another $20k or whatever it is? Fixing the exterior of the building is probably minimal cost compared to the rest of the ride. I get tired of parks getting cheap right at the end when they do these refurbishments. I understand being budget conscious but the old school do it right or not at all vibe in me is still strong haha

50 minutes ago, johnjniehaus said:

Don't disagree that the inside counts more than the exterior but still sometimes I feel like what's another $20k or whatever it is? Fixing the exterior of the building is probably minimal cost compared to the rest of the ride. I get tired of parks getting cheap right at the end when they do these refurbishments. I understand being budget conscious but the old school do it right or not at all vibe in me is still strong haha

Totally. I’d really love to see something akin to the original facade, but I’m hoping this is more of a situation where they feel like this is more of an opportunity to build off of what they have as opposed to any type of budgetary constraints. Mentioned this elsewhere, but I feel like adding something similar to the original marquee would go a long way in taking this from a castle to a theater, amongst a few other changes. 

Now I understand what I was seeing. There was something behind the turret that was the exact same color as something below it. 

It does look like there is something either wrapped around the left turret or something is different (more than just paint) on the right turret. The two spikes near the peak are gone and it kind of looks like there has been some additional work to those top two turrets. I really want to say that the right turret actually looks to be down to the bare steel structure. That could be the different colors playing tricks on my eyes, but where the left turret looks like a white bucket the right one looks like a circular steel plate on top of a cylinder.

Looks like the top of the castle has been painted a browinsh/goldish color

It also looks like some red paint on the castle towers

Why does it have Nickelodeon vibes for some reason haha! 

Still a lot of the orange shaded concrete from 2006 around the area, too.

5 hours ago, johnjniehaus said:

Why does it have Nickelodeon vibes for some reason haha! 

Might finally be getting that Little Bill’s Giggle Coaster RMC reboot we’ve been wishing for. 

It looks like today is landscaping day for Phantom Theater! I still can't tell if there are queue stanchions along that new concrete, but I can definitely see the dirt mover parked next to it. There's also a trailer parked out by the exit bridge.

Opening day queue predictions.

queue will extend into the Enchanted Theatre. Utilizing rope switchbacks throughout the space. Will likely be a 3+ hour queue

I wonder what this could be. It it looks to be more than just a flatbed or a vehicle. It could be a structure because it hasn't moved all day and looks small enough to be placeable (like the Winterfest sheds). I don't think it's Snoopy's Doghouse since the shape looks off.

^^that honestly looks a little bit like the frame from the display at IAAPA

There was a relocated merch stand which could possibly be the structure if it hasn’t moved, which could justify having to build the concrete expansion. It could also be entrance for an extended queue line, as I think the assumption from most people is that they’re building one.

 

For as excited as I am for Phantom, I’m sorta dreading the opening weekend for it. Here’s hoping that the weather is thundery and horrible, so that it’s a quirky thing because there’s a thunderstorm in the ride plot, but the line will maybe only be one hour instead of 4+.

I personally am going to wait a few weeks for hopefully the hype to die down before riding it. I didn't ride Sol Spin or Cargo in 23 until right after the hype died down. I am definitely not going to wait 3-4 hours to ride it. 

A potential spoiler of the exterior....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDie0UKOk0s

Spoiler Alert! Doesn't look like much of the castle was changed just updated paint. 

I'm fine with it, there's more new paint and architectural changes than there were with the conversion to Boo Blasters so it's much better. 

Screenshot included in the spoiler because the video was taken from a moving car and is hard to see.

Spoiler

The white isn't my first choice, but it might grow on me like the character designs did. It could be more gray than white. Hopefully whatever it ends up being will look very good in the end. The windows appear to be blank for now as well.

 

Also while ik it's hard to see it and it could just be the sun shining on it, but it looks like the facade from the metal part of the building has been painted purple instead of the greenish/greyish color from the past which would honestly be a nice touch.

Man. If the filled in the castle dental molding, it would’ve looked 100% better. Looks fine from this perspective. What’s inside matters the most. 

Definitely still looks like a castle.