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If a footer for Top Gun was 70' in the ground, how deep might the footer(s) be for the Eiffel Tower or Drop Tower? What is the deepest footer at KI? They are technically footings. And the depth and size of footings depends on many factors. The forces of the ride, the bearing capacity of the soil, the soil conditions, how far below grade their is firm bearing soil, etc. I believe that The Bat`s deepest footing is around 50' deep. I do not know how deeps the Eiffel Tower`s footing is. But it doesn`t necessarily have to be deeper than The Bat`s footings. It is likely larger in terms of area, so that it can disperse the point loads over a larger soil area. Footings do not always need to bear on bedrock either. Sometimes bedrock can be so far below grade that it is cost prohibitive to do so. I know that both Drop Tower and Wind seeker use piles and a pile cap for their foundations. Not sure if the Eiffel Tower uses a similar foundation system. Think of it like this. If The Bat has a load of 10.000 pounds coming down on a footing, and the bearing capacity of the soil is 200 pounds per square foot, then it would need a footing equal to 50 square feet to obtain the 10,000 pound force that is being exerted by the ride. (which is just over 7 feet square). If the Eiffel Tower has a load of 30,000 pounds coming down on a footing with the same bearing capacity, then its footing would need to be 150 square feet to be able to handle the loads. However, if the soil conditions were such that there was only 150 pounds of bearing capacity at the Eiffel Tower location instead of 200, then it would need a footing that is 200 square feet in area. Does that make sense? Obviously, the above example is a simplified demonstration, and there are many other factors involved. All the numbers I used above were created just for the demonstration and do not reflect actual design loads for either ride. Actual ride foundations are designed by licensed structural engineers in conjunction with a soils report for the site conditions. I hope this lengthy post sheds some light on the subject. I know it was a bit technical in nature. Sorry that I have not been posting as much lately. With three jobs and still getting stuff set up in my new house, I do not have much time these days to hop on here.

Apparently I'm getting old because I've definitely transitioned from "Wow that sounds like fun!" to "Stay away at all costs, way too many people." That being said I hope everyone going this weekend has a great time!

...which is always better than that Skyline... Terp, who just HAD to.

You, sir, get a gold star.

Really? To me, if you were going to spring for a Fast Lane, the Plus will be a no brainer...

^^ ( to Terp) I do declare... When you left the station and turned to the right you went through a fog/mist bank similar to the mist around the Banshee sign with color lights under the track with a jungle soundtrack. Then you dropped over the hill to the first tunnel. At the entrance to the tunnel there was an active crossing signal with ringing bells and lights flashing...kind of an indication of danger. Then as you went through the tunnel, there was mood lighting and in the rafters there was an anaconda sized hissing snake. Then you left the first tunnel and into the second where arrows popped out of the walls as you went through. Then as you climbed the lift you could hear it creak as if it were falling apart. Then you drop down the hill through the course and through the ivy covered structure with mood lighting and into the next tunnel. Inside here you went into the volcano with red lights and fog. You could hear a loud wind or howling through to the last tunnel. At the end, it remains virtually the same with the statues drumming and the main statue, however it dumped a trickle of water onto the train as you passed under. It was a wonderful night experience! All in all it was a MUCH better experience before there became a lapse in upkeep.....here's hoping that Matt updates this ride soon to it's former glory and then some!!!

Without the long walk to the ride, the "Highway to the Danger Zone" would only be a side street to the Danger Zone.

Big Noodle-fans should get their photos in while they can. The last chance to snap a photo of, or with, the Big Noodle at Kings Island is Sunday, July 13. The Big Noodle, emblazoned with the Kraft macaroni and cheese slogan, "You know you love it," is made of fiberglass and measures an incredible 20 feet long, nine feet high and weighs more than 2,000 pounds. Literally thousands of park goers have had their photo taken with the Big Noodle since its installation in May. It is not immediately known what may replace the Big Noodle on International Street.

Cirque Imagine added their long-awaited new act today. It's really cool! Something you must see. Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

A post secondary education and a lot of money...

The standard all-day lockers are $13, and they are big enough for a small bag. They are available at the front gate and at Soak City. Larger lockers are available for a higher fee. Hourly lockers start at $1/hour with a 2-hour minimum. They are located at Banshee, Flight of Fear, and Rivertown. Single use lockers are $2 and are located near The Racer. You can use them as long as you like, but they can only be opened once. Perhaps you could use one thread for all your 6/30 trip questions, rather than making a new thread each time.

But wait! There's more! Six Flags St Louis. Rainy days at amusement parks never get me down! We arrived at the park on the tail end of storm and rain #3 for the day. Yikes! Glad it's included with our Six Flags passes. We processed passes as we walked in the gate AT the gate. They use a finger print system. Scan the print out then take the finger print and we were done. We had to go have parking added to our cards at another area, but that was fairly quick. We waited in line for about 45 minutes for The Boss. So it went from rain to Sunshine just after we had our passes processed and got in line. Quite the welcome if you ask me! This was the longest line all day. Almost everything else was walk on or two trains max. The Boss is a decent ride. I will reserve my review of most of the coasters though until my next visit. After riding Timberwolf the previous day, I was still dealing with a headache and tensed up a whole lot on several rides. We did see three deer while riding The Boss though. This was my favorite ride at the park. Mr. Freeze. Shoots you like FoF, but backwards. It's a fun ride. Not crazy about this ride or this color scheme. Loved this! Excalibur. Beastie1980 Really loved this one as well. All effects were working as were the guns. For my No Chickens. Remnants of past rides at other parks. Advantages to this park are people that are not tiny can fit comfortably in the rides. Loved the theming for rides as well. Princess Sparkles. Princess Sparkles has turned into Mike Wazowski. Down time on a trip equals selfies. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ryan, To answer your question about pile caps. There is a concrete base, which maybe visible sticking out of the ground, and is made of concrete and essentially ties all the piles together. Think of a pile cap as sort of a beam sitting on top of lots of columns, which are the piles. The piles do not necessarily have to go down to bedrock (which would be end bearing piles). They just have to go down to strata of soil that has sufficient bearing capacity. Sometimes friction piles are used when bedrock is too far below grade. Friction piles working by transferring the load from the pile cap into the soil through friction along the length of the pile. There are other factors involved with using piles as a foundation system. Sometimes there is a week layer of soil close to the surface, and then there is good bearing soil some 20-30 below grade. In this instance, the piles are used to essentially support the building on the good soil, while not putting any load on the bad soil. Clay, for example, is a bad soil to put foundations on, since it expands when wet. In this area of the country, there is a lot of clay in the soil. Before the structural engineer determines which type of foundation to use, they will look at the soil cores which are taken at various locations on the site. These soil cores will determine the soil bearing capacity as well as the conditions on the site. With this information, the engineer can decide with the project owner what foundation is most cost effective. Soil cores are usually taken long before any active construction is done, since these are needed to design and produce the drawings from which the building/ride will be built. I hope that makes sense.

Bring a friend for $14.99 and Spirit Song aren't at the same time. Spirit song is Thursday through Saturday, Bring-a-friend-cheap is on Sunday. I end up going to the park every year during Spirit Song. I don't attend SS, it just works out that way. I agree that the crowds are big, and the general pre-teen to teen age group is kind of annoying, but I've never had someone try to push their beliefs onto me. You know where it DOES happen a lot, surprisingly? The Waffle House over by The Beach. I'm not kidding. To clarify, I'm talking about people handing out the pamphlets and whatnot. The other place where it's bad? Cyclones games. If going to US Bank Arena isn't punishment enough... I went to a few games last year and there were people literally standing on milk crates warning us that we were all going to Hell. We just paid $13 for minor league hockey and were forced to drink PBR and/or RC Cola. It's hard to scare a group that's been through so much together.

Yep, that's pretty sad in this day and age. However, it is nice to see the crusaders that have made accessibility into law have not wasted their efforts, and the media acting as a force of good: getting this publicized acted as a pressure point to getting it fixed.

I know this next week will be crazy. I am doing this so I can at least get part of it done. We were up and out of my place at 3:01 this morning. We had a fairly uneventful trip minus finding out a gas stations restroom facilities were not in working order. Sometimes you gotta save trees. One thing that was discovered a couple weeks ago is there is apparently chewy ice. It's hit the Midwest. Not sure wuh it's chewy vs crunchy. We got to Worlds of Fun about 10:30. One thing I really like is they has employees directing people where to park. The park is not a huge park by any means, but it's named appropriately. This park is indeed a world of fun. First ride was Prowler. It's a very nice coaster. Zach and I rode the back seat of the second train of the day. Katie and Melissa rode front seat. For the record it does not say "do not climb" and Melissa was an ape in Tarzan. Boomerang. It's pretty much like Invertigo like Kings Island with different trains. I do not like the color scheme. I have to say I like it better than Invertigo. Next came Mamba. Thanks to the previous occupants of the seat, they rode in a seat that had a protein spill. Spinning Dragon I really like, but love Steel Dragon at Waldameer much more. Patriot is a great ride. It's not as great as Banshee. It is far better than Raptor in my opinion. This was the only disappointment is Timberwolf. It's the worst coaster I have ever ridden. Katie hit her 50th ride on Mamba. Melissa hit 50 on Timberwolf. My favorite pic of the girls. For Dee and Rick - wish you all would have been able to make it you would love it. Final ride during the daytime was Thunderhawk. I think we broke the ride. I hope it's operational tonight. Going to take a nap and head back to the park until midnight. More to come. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

June 26, 27, 28, 29, 2014 I created a topic for a lot of this stuff, but I wanted to have a rundown of what's going on at Kings Island this weekend since it's a lot of stuff. Thursday, Friday, Saturday - Spirit Song returns to Kings Island with three nights of Christian Rock music in the Timberwolf Theater. Park admission and concert ticket required in order to attend. More info can be found here: http://www.spiritsongfest.com/ Friday - Dive in Movies are back! This time Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and friends are back as Kings Island presents Disney's 'Toy Story' as the second installment of Dive In Movies in Kings Island's Soak City. Free with park admission! Get there early for the best seats! More info: https://www.visitkingsisland.com/events/things-to-do/events-and-promotions/DiveIn-Movies Saturday - In what is the greatest invention since the Fudge Push Pop, Kings Island will stay open late with the first midnight closing of the season! It's a fantastic opportunity to get some night rides on all of your favorite attractions! More info: https://www.visitkingsisland.com/events/things-to-do/events-and-promotions/Midnight-Closings Saturday and Sunday - The Johnsonville Big Taste Grill returns to Soak City offering some awesome Johnsonville products to hungry park goers. This 65' grill requires its own semi-truck to get haul it around! More info: https://www.visitkingsisland.com/events/things-to-do/events-and-promotions/Johnsonville-Big-Taste-Grill Sunday - Gold and Platinum pass holders can bring up to four friends for $14.99 each! What a great way to have a great time while increasing your popularity with your closest circle of friends! More info: https://www.visitkingsisland.com/events/things-to-do/events-and-promotions/June-15-Bring-Up-To-Four-Friends-for-Only-1499-Each Sunday - Breakfast With the Characters makes its return for Gold and Platinum pass holders! Join Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy (and if you're really lucky, Franklin) and friends for a delicious breakfast in the Festhaus! A ticket is required for this event. Seating is limited. More info: https://www.visitkingsisland.com/events/things-to-do/events-and-promotions/June-29-Breakfast-with-the-Characters

A few things I noticed today at the park: Drop Tower no longer plays Van Halen, and is officially dead to me. Banshee, while certainly not rough by any stretch, seems to be getting a bit shakier in the last few rows than it was on Media Day and the first few weeks of the season. That single pop of airtime in 7-1 on Vortex is the greatest sensation that one can experience on a roller coaster in Ohio. Possibly the world. The Bat is still awesome no matter what anyone says. My phone rang while in the tunnel on Adventure Express. My ringtone is that tunnel's audio. My phone, zipped up in the pockets of my cargo pants, produced that audio much louder than is done by the ride speakers, and that's sad. Though the ride speakers WERE working today. I rode a second time to double check. I do not have the willpower to resist blue ice cream, and my wallet hates me for it. For what it's worth, I recommend buying your blue ice cream in Planet Snoopy, as the color is actually correct there.

I just Keep Calm, and ride other slides at Soak City.

The biggest locker typically has four wheels and tires and can be found in the parking lot. An additional fee is generally not required for its use. Helpful Terp

Hydra, that song is stuck in my head again! I hadn't thought of it since we heard it over and over again waiting to sign in at Coasting for Kids! While watching that I couldn't help thinking there should be a Haunt version of this, with some of the iconic characters from Haunt doing the dancing. Better yet, have it start out with the people in the current video, then the scareactors come in, chase them off and take their place. Maybe dance for a little bit to "Best Job Ever" before The Undertaker or The Overlord makes everyone come to their senses and cues up a more Haunt-appropriate tune.

If you're already dropping $320, what's 60 more bucks? I don't think the majority of people buying Fast Lane OR Fast Lane Plus are those who can barely afford it, but I could be wrong. $60 more is enough for dinner at the Reds HOF grille for a family of 4; could be used for part of an all day dining plan for 4, could cover the cost of parking and lunch at the Festhause, could be used to get on one of the "up charge" attractions, etc....At some point, people are going to say "enough is enough" and move on. $60 can be used in a lot of different ways depending on what the family is most interested in and can afford.

Maybe they'll have a fire sale. Sorry, had to.

Could we hold a candlelight vigil at closing time on the 13th? We need to give our noodly pal #jonathan a sendoff so grand, even Goble will crack a smile.

Digging for buried treasure? Terp, who likes to ask questions.

I am reliably told that as of today, wheelchair bound Kentucky Kingdom guests STILL do not have reasonable access to shows in the arena, but are reduced to watching through a locked steel mesh gate. In addition, access to Swampwater Jack's eatery is only available via an extremely rough wooden deck that is nearly impossible to push a wheelchair across, much less comfortably. In the past, parks with similar issues have received greetings from the United States Department of Justice.

BB1, a song "know-it-all" occasionally.

So THIS is what we were hearing during Coasting for Kids registration! My friend and I kept wondering why they were playing little tidbits of a "Best Song Ever" spinoff. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The graveyard is easily viewed. It's located under Batman, The Ride. It's actually along where those who buy a Flash Pass would walk. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We have a large group of people going and it will be an amazing day just from the people you are bound to meet and make friends with! I am so ready for some Banshee!!!!!! Registration is closing tonight! Badges are being made this weekend!!!!! WOO HOO!

He's big rig enthusiast...?

Paging Mr. Hart, come in Mr. Hart..one would think he should be front and center on this issue, not somewhere else ignoring the PR (and now legal) fiasco that his park has found itself in. Sounds like his lawyer(s) are about to get some more work.

^^why.....Why oh why

Knott's. Predictable me...

I was kind of shocked when I got to the bottom of the article and the park's management wasn't adamantly denying that no admittance for wheel chairs was their policy. I'm surprised even operating temporarily without equal access is legal in today's day and age.

Some of the decisions and actions at KK amaze me and some things do not. Seems like they truly stumble with the simple things...

To answer the sentence (there's supposed to be a question mark somewhere...) posed in the title: Yes.

They're buying T-Mobile?

You would dare sully the name of the Star Wars original trilogy?! Get. Out. Of. Here. Now.

RIP #Jonathan

Bye! jcgoble3, avoiding a one-word post

Aww, you mean I can't get my picture taken with it July 14th, my thirty-*mumble*th birthday? I'm heartbroken. Ok, not that I would. I went from being completely stymied by the existence of the noodle to feeling sad it is leaving. Weird, huh?

Maybe pour out some Easy Mac in his honor. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

But but but.... I thought it was there until July 31st...

Nah. It was planned during the Carl Lindner days, perhaps the only CEO ever to micromanage far more than Dick Kinzel ever dreamed of. The imperious Lindner would not allow employee input into such a thing, with or without darts.

Kentucky Kingdom Gets ADA Lesson: http://www.wave3.com/story/25855369/kentucky-kingdom-overturns-wheelchair-policy-after-troubleshooter-investigation In 2014. Seriously?

Commas are important. They help you discern the difference between "Let's eat, Grandma" and "Let's eat Grandma."

Ride operators may have to take test rides throughout the day to observe if the ride is working as it should. They look for anything that could interfere with the track, they listen to the ride (yes, you hear how a ride is supposed to sound while working on it and are able to report something that sounds un-ordinary) and they also feel out the ride. So technically yes, they get paid to ride Banshee or other rides, but they are doing a specific thing while doing so. Not every employee runs over to Banshee before the park opens to ride it. They've got their own things to do, to get their own ride or area ready for park opening.

Hey all, thanks for the feedback. I am in the video and had a blast making it. The dance moves were a bit hard to master at first, but it got easier as time went on. For those wondering, I am in a yellow shirt and hat and can be seen in The Beast and Breakers Bay parts as well as in the grand finale.

Okay I was just sitting in bed and came up with a really cool idea for BLSC but would require quite a bit of work. During that stop scene with the helicoper, the track will turn 180 degrees and send the train through the tunnel backwards and then at the final brake it will turn back around.