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Incident on The Smiler 02/06/2015

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No more actors in rides please, I'm actually pleased NST has removed them. It dilutes the Scarefest offering, with the live performance based attractions not feeling quite as special when you're used to it all year round.
 
That was probably just the staff messing around. They've never officially had "actors" in there.
I only saw staff creeping up on people, especially when it first opened and the queues were long. They used to come out of the door to the left of the single rider entrance and creep up behind people..
 
Awww wow , I would love it if they sold the Smiler to a bunch of gypsies for scrap metal and built Black Hole 2. That would just be immense! Please please please please!!!
 
I don't think there were ever actors in although I swear there were staff in there that used to jump out at people and chase guests up the stairs when it first opened. Wasn't an official thing though, just staff messing around.
 
Was just very enthusiastic staff doing their part to add to the experience.

Opening day was fantastic, really added to the sinister feel. I think some staff even wore those Smiler mouth pieces.
 
Was just very enthusiastic staff doing their part to add to the experience.

Opening day was fantastic, really added to the sinister feel. I think some staff even wore those Smiler mouth pieces.
A lot do now too, especially in the baggage hold because they don't have to talk to guests. :)
 
I was on park yesterday and was surprised by the level of crowds! Seemed to be multiple school trips but park was fairly busy, most rides averaging a 30mins wait, Rita and Oblivion seemed (according to Ride Times) to be on 40mins all day? Doesn't seem like many have been put off going?
 
I was on park yesterday and was surprised by the level of crowds! Seemed to be multiple school trips but park was fairly busy, most rides averaging a 30mins wait, Rita and Oblivion seemed (according to Ride Times) to be on 40mins all day? Doesn't seem like many have been put off going?

Not to be a killjoy but it's the weekends that are the key really. And 40min queues in School Trip season is low!

As said things will improve but at the moment it's quiet on park.
 
The local secondary school usually has 3 coaches on the yearly Alton Towers trip. They have cancelled two coaches from a mutual coach transport supplier.
 
My school is going Saturday...

...without my class. Would just show up with my pass but don't know how I'd get there. Hope they get massive queues and don't get to go on anything :mad:. Also hate the fact that the people who are going are top set and I am second set. They keep saying that "it's not safe. I'm not going on any of the thrill rides. Someone lost their leg on that ride. That will change their whole life. They can't get a job now... etc..." try sitting through that every time you open your moth to say "I think they are safe"
 
Oh god, that's awful. Wasn't this young lady a dancer too? These people really deserve every penny of compensation that is coming to them, and thankfully, it looks like Towers will be making this as easy as possible for them.
 
Sad to hear that. The fact that she aspired to become a dancer makes it more devastating. Thoughts go out to her.
 
At least she managed to keep her knee joint so her prosthetic should be easier to make. I was hoping she'd keep her leg, sad to see the damage was irreparable :(
 
Thats awful news. Saw it on the BBC News just now - the news tonight seems to be nothing but sad stuff.

Can The Smiler ever recover from this , get people to ride it and attract the crowds again.... you know.... im not so sure...
 
Very sad news indeed; after all, the first amputation was one more than I had hoped would be necessary.

As it sounds like the worst injury has come from the bar along the front of the first car, I can't help but wonder whether the ride will reopen with less enclosed trains. Karacho has very open cars that essentially amount to seats bolted to the car floor. I don't know for certain but I think Junker and Karnan are the same, making Smiler the odd one out. I can't see why this wouldn't be possible with OTSRs, and I really can't imagine that the ride's clearance envelope is too tight to run it without the bars, even when you consider those additional temporary guards that were added in 2013/and replaced by permanent ones for 2014.
 
It might be to stop people falling between the cars while boarding. On a normal Infinity Coaster, the lap restraints form a rail at the front when open, but with OTSRs, there would just be a gap.
 
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