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Do you find The Smiler rough?

Do you find The Smiler rough?


  • Total voters
    114
I get what I call ‘gertslauer shoulder’ on both smiler and saw the ride.... it’s because I end up ‘hanging’ in the harness and all my weight goes through my shoulders... however I’ve ‘learned’ how to ride it and enjoy it despite it not being exactly smooth.
 
Wait... are we actually supposed to like the smiler? I always thought it was #awful

If you haven't got a headache from the vile theme and that horrific blaring soundtrack competing with decibels with the noise of the ride from the queueline; you're sure to get one on the ride itself. I find it rough in the context of the ride as a whole, not the smooth mechanics of the ride.
 
Wait... are we actually supposed to like the smiler? I always thought it was #awful

If you haven't got a headache from the vile theme and that horrific blaring soundtrack competing with decibels with the noise of the ride from the queueline; you're sure to get one on the ride itself. I find it rough in the context of the ride as a whole, not the smooth mechanics of the ride.

I do not think I could have put why I hate the ride into better words.
 
Wait... are we actually supposed to like the smiler? I always thought it was #awful

If you haven't got a headache from the vile theme and that horrific blaring soundtrack competing with decibels with the noise of the ride from the queueline; you're sure to get one on the ride itself. I find it rough in the context of the ride as a whole, not the smooth mechanics of the ride.

I actually think the Smiler is the second best ride in the park (Nemesis is my #1). I find the first half really smooth, the second half isn't as smooth, but still not bad.

The theme is ingenious imo - the ride is crazy and demented, so the theming suits well. The soundtrack is unpleasant in the queue, but I get why they play it there.

I think the ride is very Alton Towers. A world first, a dark theme and pretty unique.
 
I also find Smiler to be my 2nd favourite Alton ride; many hate it, but I love it for its relentlessness and craziness! While it isn't the smoothest of coasters, I also wouldn't say it's unbearably rough!
 
Wait... are we actually supposed to like the smiler? I always thought it was #awful

If you haven't got a headache from the vile theme and that horrific blaring soundtrack competing with decibels with the noise of the ride from the queueline; you're sure to get one on the ride itself. I find it rough in the context of the ride as a whole, not the smooth mechanics of the ride.
I couldn't disagree more, but each to their own I guess. I personally think the themeing rides the line between enjoyably light-hearted and awesomely sinister absolutely fantastically. The ride itself can be partially rough but I've personally found that that differs hugely with body type

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I honestly can’t make my mind up about The Smiler. When I first rode it in summer 2017, I genuinely loved it. Not quite enough to top Nemesis, but easily in second place. I mean, after continually hearing how unbearably rough it was, my first ride on it may actually have exceeded expectations, because it honestly wasn’t.

But since then, the entire experience has gotten worse – so not just the ride. The queue last Scarefest was bad. Like, really bad – and that was the Fastrack queue, I dread to think what the main queue was like. And the ride itself was rough, significantly more than I remember it being. It’s at the point now where I’ll ride it just once in a two day visit.

:(
 
Eh, it's strange how much of a marmite coaster this one is among enthusiasts. I really enjoy the theming and haven't had a rough ride on it so far, but my god does it needs a repaint. Despite that, it's still my number 1 at the park personally. I don't really care about roughness if the layout and theming makes up for it :)

I've been keeping tabs on whether people are saying it's rough this season, and all I've heard is 'roughest its ever been' or 'smooth as butter.' I wonder if its different trains that make a difference, in which case, couldn't they just replace each train and go back to it being smooth? Otherwise it's probably seat, or body type as Michael suggested.
 
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Been on today (thank you for single rider!). Only the second time ever
been on it and the first time since a double shoulder op. Didn’t fair too badly at all. But wasn’t in a rush for a re-ride.
 
Eh, it's strange how much of a marmite coaster this one is among enthusiasts. I really enjoy the theming and haven't had a rough ride on it so far, but my god does it needs a repaint. Despite that, it's still my number 1 at the park personally. I don't really care about roughness if the layout and theming makes up for it :)

I've been keeping tabs on whether people are saying it's rough this season, and all I've heard is 'roughest its ever been' or 'smooth as butter.' I wonder if its different trains that make a difference, in which case, couldn't they just replace each train and go back to it being smooth? Otherwise it's probably seat, or body type as Michael suggested.
I wonder about the body type thing, I'm 6'2" and not skinny but not too big and I've never really had any trouble but my girlfriend (5'7" and decently thin) finds that she hits her head. But we have similar things on Rita which she also hits her head on and Thirteen which I can't ride because it's just too painful for me

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Complete contrast from my back left hell last week. Three super smooth rides on it today. Not sure if it was something to do with the weather?
 
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