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[The Smiler] Construction Updates / Ride Speculation Part 2 *SPOILER FREE*

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Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2

James said:
Trixico said:
Isn't it kind of strange to open on a Thursday though?
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No it's not that weird. They are most likely opening it on a Thursday to allow two days to iron out any immediate issues ready for a surge of guests on the weekend. Gives them two days of making sure everything is 100% on the weekend. :)

If I'm correct isn't half term starting that weekend too?
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According to Staffordshire County Council's website, it is!
 
Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2

Its the perfect opportunity for staff to get to grips with the ride a few days before it is swamped on the Saturday and also gives the manufacturer an opportunity to shut it down if needs be without annoying to many guests. Very exciting to finally have a date! :twirly:
 
Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2

So glad it's opening on a Thursday. Should be a lot quieter :)

Looking forward to attending :)

Well done Towers!
 
Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2

Opening mid-week is a bit of a gamble in terms of attendance :-/ I appreciate the need to leave a bit of lee-way for ironing out issues, but they run the risk of having low guest figures for the 'grand opening'.

I certainly won't be there :(
 
Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2

Thursday opening is FANTASTIC! I have this day off, so will be in attendance!
 
[The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2

Midweek openings aren't unusual.

The Swarm opened on a Thursday.

I think it's sensible option to allow them to be operationally more effective and iron the kinks out of operating a ride with real people.
 
Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2

It's also a bank holiday weekend, so doubly important that the ride is working well by then.
 
Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2

Thursday opening is a wise move, and I suspect that is simply the earliest they can operate the ride from. They just want to get it rolling as soon as possible now. Alton don't need huge guest numbers for a grand opening, I suspect they're going to have the busiest summer since 1994 or 1995.
 
Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2

They should have done it the Disney way had a soft opening and keeping it quiet that it might be open for 23rd/24th and then a big grand opening on the 25th, whoever decided this needs shooting it should have been handled so much better.
 
Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2

I wonder if Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th are going to be the "soft" opening days for The Smiler with lots of tweaking throughout and then have GRAND OMFG LOOK AT US opening on the Saturday 25th?

The image does say "from", so that could suggest that it's not going to be in constant operation, with downtime to tweak things ready for half-term.
 
Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2

But they shouldn't have announced it and said it was opening the 25th. It's not because I can't go on the 23rd as I can't make it on the 25th either as I work. So it's not that, Towers just doesn't make sense anymore.
 
Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2

Why do they need this grand opening on the 25th? Towers have never gone for huge openings, they just do a press night, and then get it open. This ride has been delayed three months, they just want it open and making them money! The 23rd makes perfect sense. People might book a day off before the weekend and disperse the crowds, so then they have a boost for a couple of otherwise off peak days to boot.
 
Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2

Did I mention I don't care? JUST OPEN IT!
 
Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2

As long as Jonathon Ross gets bonus ERT on it this year...
 
Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2

Benzin said:
As long as Jonathon Ross gets bonus ERT on it this year...
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I will personally haul his sorry ass off the ride if he decides to hog it.

EDIT:
Unless of course he saves me a seat on the front row.
 
Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2

I think we've got to be realistic here. Alton Towers NEVER has 'grand openings' as such. The only difference with this is that a Thursday will be considerably quieter than a Saturday. Although I think it's pretty obvious Alton Towers expect and want this, two quieter days to iron out any issues that occur. With half term beginning from the Saturday after they will have a huge turnout of guests and possibly one of the busiest days of the year ahead of them. They will not want to open it that day and find out something goes wrong. By opening on a Friday they can ensure by the Saturday everything is at 100%, the staff are used to working on it and all goes smoothly from there onwards.

I can see why they've opened on a Thursday and it makes total sense. I really don't see the problem.

I can't quite believe after months of moaning it's not opening... the minute an opening date is announced, people moan, again! Typical! :p
 
Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2

UK parks never do big 'grand openings' for rides, which is an unfortunate fact. Anyone expecting something for Smiler was thinking wishfully.

Opening on a Thursday gives them a chance to test the water with it, get staff and the ride prepared for half term and such and it just works. Whilst I doubt it will be classed as a soft opening, it will no doubt have a couple of tweaks made as well. It's all natural really. Swarm opened on a Thursday to the general public too, after having already having Family and Friends day as well, and it gave chance for every to settle in.

Will be interesting to see if the park do anything Smiler-related over half term though. Swarm had its 'Premiere Screaming' for the first 4 days, with live bands and actors. As far as I know, there's nothing major planned over the period, so why not add a bit of 'Smilerification' to the park? :p
 
Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2

James said:
I think we've got to be realistic here. Alton Towers NEVER has 'grand openings' as such. The only difference with this is that a Thursday will be considerably quieter than a Saturday. Although I think it's pretty obvious Alton Towers expect and want this, two quieter days to iron out any issues that occur. With half term beginning from the Saturday after they will have a huge turnout of guests and possibly one of the busiest days of the year ahead of them. They will not want to open it that day and find out something goes wrong. By opening on a Friday they can ensure by the Saturday everything is at 100%, the staff are used to working on it and all goes smoothly from there onwards.

I can see why they've opened on a Thursday and it makes total sense. I really don't see the problem.

I can't quite believe after months of moaning it's not opening... the minute an opening date is announced, people moan, again! Typical! :p
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You should know that people on this forum moan for the sake of moaning, unless it is about EP. :p ;)
 
Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2

I think the opening date makes perfect sense. It gives them space to allow for any teething problems with a smaller amount of guests - who are probably more patient and loyal than most guests.

I don't think the park are concerned about attendance figures for a single day - anyone who doesn't visit on the 23rd due to work are just going to come along at the weekend instead.
 
Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2

It's the ultimate opening day. Every opening day you've dreamed of rolled into one.
 
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