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Kings Island Unveils Phantom Theater Animatronics, Sets April 2026 Debut

The reimagined attraction revives the 1990s fan favorite with a Sally Dark Rides collaboration.

Overview

  • At the IAAPA Expo in Orlando, Kings Island and Sally Dark Rides revealed animatronic versions of No Legs Larry and Maestro for the returning dark ride.
  • The attraction is titled Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare and will replace Boo Blasters on Boo Hill in the park’s dark-ride show building.
  • Opening in April 2026, the ride features 26 interactive scenes with updated animatronics, projection mapping and a guest-used spellbound flashlight.
  • The story centers on a storm that unleashes mischievous ghost notes from Maestro’s pipe organ, with guests helping recapture them aboard enchanted opera boxes.
  • Returning characters include Houdelini, The Great Garbanzo, Hilda Bovine and Lionel Burymore, joined by a new character named Arpeggio.