Could be age i guess. Like you, i'm enjoting Galactica more with time. To my surprise the Smiler seems to be the most reliable thing in the park now, Have rode it well into double figures this year and it hasn't felt that rough at all.
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2018: General Discussion
- Thread starter MakoMania
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Could be age i guess. Like you, i'm enjoting Galactica more with time. To my surprise the Smiler seems to be the most reliable thing in the park now, Have rode it well into double figures this year and it hasn't felt that rough at all.
Sauron97
TS Member
Has anyone else noticed that the track for Galactica/Air is in a real state. When the hell are they going to give this a pressure wash?
It's a shame because the aqua blue color on Air looks really smart when it's clean. Supports the New Age/Futuristic vibe the ride is supposed to give to have a crystal clear track as well.
It's a shame because the aqua blue color on Air looks really smart when it's clean. Supports the New Age/Futuristic vibe the ride is supposed to give to have a crystal clear track as well.
Matt N
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Shambhala (PortAventura Park)
I would be inclined to agree about The Smiler not feeling overly rough this season. I rode in row 3, and I only felt a bit of a rattle, nothing that impacted the ride experience too much, in my opinion. The cobra roll jolt didn't even feel too bad! To be fair to it, the only truly rough ride I've ever had on Smiler was a back row ride in July 2017, and even that wasn't as bad as Saw or Colossus at Thorpe Park!
Joel3
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Nemesis
Exactly the same for me. I've rode The Smiler twice this year in April and it was not rough at all. Same thing with Colossus at Thorpe, no headbanging for the two rides I had on it in March, I was even at the back of the train!
TheAverageNerd
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Taron
I had a horrible ride on the back row of the smiler the other week, probably the worst I’ve ever had on it. I’ve had around 10 rides this year and it definitely feels more rough in my opinion.
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Do you realise how difficult it is to keep things clean, especially when it is open to the elements. I wash my car weekly and have it nice and shiny. Without diving it anywhere, the next morning it can be covered in dust and dirt again. It's surprising how much dirt can be blown onto things as well as rain isn't always clean. Plus birds like to poop all over it too. Unless they pressure wash the rides daily, those rides will never look spotless.
alee298
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Colossus or Oblivion
True, but the state of the track is very grimy and is definitely in need of a wash, there is being pragmatic then just being lazy about it!
Also saying it will just get dirty again is no excuse to not clean it anyway...
Error
TS Member
This is true, what with tree sap, leaves, dust, dirt, bird crap (bleeding brilliant aimers + seem to do only multiple airstrike fly overs) its impossible.
My post was never an excuse for then not to clean the rides. All that I'm just saying from my experience of maintaining my own home and car. I do like to keep on top of things, but I often wake up the next morning and when I take a look at my car, over night it has got dirty again just by sitting on my driveway, you would have thought that I've not cleaned it. My home and car is tiny compared to Alton Towers and if I'm struggling to keep on top of things, I dread to think how difficult for a team of people to keep on top of a huge place like Alton Towers.
I often hear people on social media and in reviews complain how run down the park looks, actually considering the size of the place, and it is very much open to the elements as well as guest that don't respect the place (including graffiti it as well as dropping litter, and all that wear and tear), I think Alton do a great job in keeping the place looking as good as it is. I would like to take a look at all those people homes that do complain about how Alton is looking tired and run down, I wonder if their own homes are well kept tidy, clean and are well organised?
alee298
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Colossus or Oblivion
I think the point here is Merlin need to pull their finger out a bit and at least make the place look more presentable, it won't cost much to jet wash something every few months, although Im sure with a rollercoaster the grime build up is less noticable in the first few weeks after a wash, although the trees and subsequent birds can ruin a clean object quickly
Danscott22
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- The Smiler
I haven't had a rough ride on The Smiler since 2013 on any row including the back which is why I rank it second at Towers. I feel the jolt coming out of the cobra roll but that's about it. I always keep my head forward and don't hold on, I don't know if that's why.
Rick
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Crux
I think the word 'rough' is very subjective and its definition differs wildly. If you take a ride like The Ultimate or Son of Beast - that's what rough means to me and I don't think I would peg Smiler with those rides. That said, it does have a couple of very awkward transitions that are sudden and sharp.
For me, The Smiler has a constant vibration - which is what I really don't like about it.
For me, The Smiler has a constant vibration - which is what I really don't like about it.
Sauron97
TS Member
I’m hardly asking for Galactica to be cleaned every 2 weeks!
It’s been left in a state for years, you’d have thought the Galactica ‘retheme’ would of been an excuse to at the very least give it a clean if not a repaint. I can’t even remember the last time Air was cleaned, and trust me, yesterday it looked absolutely filthy! @RoyJess
It’s been left in a state for years, you’d have thought the Galactica ‘retheme’ would of been an excuse to at the very least give it a clean if not a repaint. I can’t even remember the last time Air was cleaned, and trust me, yesterday it looked absolutely filthy! @RoyJess
James
TS Founding Member
The track was cleaned over the 2015/16 season for the Galactica retheme. Since it has only been two years, I doubt it will get a clean any time soon.
Sadly most of the other coasters look just as bad. The Smiler has to be the worst at the moment, it looks abandoned.
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Sadly most of the other coasters look just as bad. The Smiler has to be the worst at the moment, it looks abandoned.
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I don't think its a simple matter of getting out a jet wash. The logistics of running extension cables and water hoses makes if more of a bigger job, as well as they will only be able to reach the lower supports, to reach the higher track, they will need to probably build a scaffolding platform or get the guys harnessed up.
From my personal experience, you can't simply just wash or paint the worse bits and leave the best bits as the freshly cleaned/painted parts will make the rest look just as dirty.
As far as I'm concern, as long as the seats and harness are clean, then that is good enough for me.
From my personal experience, you can't simply just wash or paint the worse bits and leave the best bits as the freshly cleaned/painted parts will make the rest look just as dirty.
As far as I'm concern, as long as the seats and harness are clean, then that is good enough for me.
Sauron97
TS Member
It’s no easy job I accept that, but it’s all about good presentation, which is always more important than we initially assume. It’s one of those things in your subconscious that makes you think ‘That was a nice place’
Don’t say that! You’re playing in to their hands!
With all the TLC that has taken place over the last few closed seasons, I think cosmetically the park is currently in a respectable state, OK not perfect, but I think that there are more things higher up on the list that needs sorting, like ride operations and put through.
I've never over the years notice or had any issues with the state of the track
Sm1lingAdvocate
TS Member
The smiler needs cleaning up completely this year, then Galactica needs a repaint. Galactica I can live with, but the state of The Smiler is dreadful. First two years it was OK, afterwards, queues slowed,the track completely rusted, tvs broke, projectors broke and it's green.
It's still the flagship ride, everyone knows it is. It's bad when the GP are claiming it looks dangerous, purely because of the mess. The TLC should carry on, but every season focus on one coaster, and do some of the smaller jobs rather than drag it out other three years like they did with Nemesis.
If they stop the programme, the problems will grow and build up.
It's still the flagship ride, everyone knows it is. It's bad when the GP are claiming it looks dangerous, purely because of the mess. The TLC should carry on, but every season focus on one coaster, and do some of the smaller jobs rather than drag it out other three years like they did with Nemesis.
If they stop the programme, the problems will grow and build up.
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