Alastair
TS Team
- Favourite Ride
- Rise of the Resistance
Ride Rater reporting that it now won't open until June, so next Saturday at best. :/
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[The Smiler] Construction Updates / Ride Speculation Part 2 *SPOILER FREE*
- Thread starter Dave
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Rob
TS Team
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
In regards to the queue meshing, as far as I am aware from what I can see, most of it is currently over parts of the queue that form the single rider/fastrack/ambulant disabled queues and not the main queue. There may be some over the main queue but most of it is not. I may be wrong but that's how I see it.
As for the queue layout, they are very very limited for space. There really wasn't much they could do in terms of creativity in the pit.
As for the queue layout, they are very very limited for space. There really wasn't much they could do in terms of creativity in the pit.
Rob
TS Team
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
Let's be honest here, we know pretty much all of the stuff in that TT article already. The early H&S issues were found and pointed out on here months ago. And we know that it stalled, TT have just decided to call it a major incident and got some photos of what they believe to be "severe scraping" on the track. I get the impression that it not opening for the foreseeable future is more their opinion than anything else.
Scott
Former TS Team Member
- Favourite Ride
- Nemesis
Well nobody truly knows anything right now - Towers website has now removed any reference to dates and simply states that "The Smiler is closed."
This at least stops them changing the date every day, but also shows that the ride may not open for another few days. With any luck though, the opening will be sooner rather than later.
This at least stops them changing the date every day, but also shows that the ride may not open for another few days. With any luck though, the opening will be sooner rather than later.
Tap the world and listen
TS Member
Dayumm, I started writing this earlier but left it to do a gardening job. I come home to find all the exciting queue talk to be pretty well covered… but im posting it anyway.
The queue just seems like an afterthought. It’s a tricky site, however they have done a vast amount of landscaping to accommodate the coaster, which I understand would clearly be the priority, but when you consider the program of the experience they are creating, the longest time is spent queuing. In architecture there can be a richness in the approach and the journey through buildings, manipulating transitions, and engaging with the surroundings, I believe there is such an opportunity there in the building of anticipation. In the cattle pens you’re going to interact with the Smiler, but id imagine it will still feel more like a part of the experience you must endure before you reach the station, rather than a more unwinding journey that has a richer interaction with the Smiler, and maintains the building of anticipation.
I guess you can see that they have spent their time and money on the main attraction, perhaps rightly so because when weighing up the design decisions, it doesn’t matter which way you design the queue is still going to drag a bit, and im doubting there’s many queue enthusiasts about … but I guess I’d want a more holistic package from a Theme Park, or I guess I just think there’s an opportunity to reinforce escapism.
I'm going to sound very negative, I guess it becomes a habit, especially when you’re craft involved in design to only leave critic, therefore I want to make it clear, that I do understand there is contextual issues with the design and importantly this should be an amazing addition to Alton Towers and I will enjoy it when I can next visit!
The queue just seems like an afterthought. It’s a tricky site, however they have done a vast amount of landscaping to accommodate the coaster, which I understand would clearly be the priority, but when you consider the program of the experience they are creating, the longest time is spent queuing. In architecture there can be a richness in the approach and the journey through buildings, manipulating transitions, and engaging with the surroundings, I believe there is such an opportunity there in the building of anticipation. In the cattle pens you’re going to interact with the Smiler, but id imagine it will still feel more like a part of the experience you must endure before you reach the station, rather than a more unwinding journey that has a richer interaction with the Smiler, and maintains the building of anticipation.
I guess you can see that they have spent their time and money on the main attraction, perhaps rightly so because when weighing up the design decisions, it doesn’t matter which way you design the queue is still going to drag a bit, and im doubting there’s many queue enthusiasts about … but I guess I’d want a more holistic package from a Theme Park, or I guess I just think there’s an opportunity to reinforce escapism.
I'm going to sound very negative, I guess it becomes a habit, especially when you’re craft involved in design to only leave critic, therefore I want to make it clear, that I do understand there is contextual issues with the design and importantly this should be an amazing addition to Alton Towers and I will enjoy it when I can next visit!
Rob
TS Team
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
Towers have replied to the TT article on Twitter after being asked by someone:
Obviously the official sources have been severely limited, ie all we know that it's not open because of 'unforeseen teething problems' and/or 'technical difficulties'. But I do see this as somewhat dismissing some of the concerns in the article.
Alton Towers on Twitter said:we suggest you only read official sources Laura, we're here to keep you fully updated! We hope to have the ride open soon
Obviously the official sources have been severely limited, ie all we know that it's not open because of 'unforeseen teething problems' and/or 'technical difficulties'. But I do see this as somewhat dismissing some of the concerns in the article.
AirFAN
TS Member
Dismissing yes, but I don't think it necessarily proves there's no validity to TT's article.
Lets be honest, PR is all about spinning, twisting and moulding the truth to limit potential damage to the brand. If you read Alton Towers' twitter they're very careful in how they respond to guests - guests that even further challenge them after refusing to accept their initial response. "The Twitter team doesn't know" to me is a complete farce, as the face of the company and one of the main tools of interaction between the resort and its guests, the team should know everything in regard to everything in order to implement 'damage control' and best inform guests about their issues and concerns. Of course they know what's going on.
Lets be honest, PR is all about spinning, twisting and moulding the truth to limit potential damage to the brand. If you read Alton Towers' twitter they're very careful in how they respond to guests - guests that even further challenge them after refusing to accept their initial response. "The Twitter team doesn't know" to me is a complete farce, as the face of the company and one of the main tools of interaction between the resort and its guests, the team should know everything in regard to everything in order to implement 'damage control' and best inform guests about their issues and concerns. Of course they know what's going on.
Rob
TS Team
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
I personally think it will open before Saturday, or on Saturday at the very latest. This is unless they have any further problems. I could be wrong, and it is just my opinion, but I would be a little surprised if it wasn't the case after seeing things yesterday.
JAMMY_Jaunts
TS Member
I also believe it will open before the weekend coming. They can't really afford anymore long delays and today they were painting the recently installed queue line fencing which appears to be complete now. Surely there's nothing else to install, although this ride is full of surprises.
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