The Smiler - General Discussion

[Danscott22]

I don't know why I don't get any roughness or bashing about at all on this ride - I literally don't know what everyone else is referring to - which is fine as it effects everyone differently, part of me wants to experience the roughness that everyone seems to think The Smiler has just to compare. I don't even think the cobra roll exit has been anywhere near as bad this year as it has been previously.

 

[George W]

I don't know why I don't get any roughness or bashing about at all on this ride - I literally don't know what everyone else is referring to - which is fine as it effects everyone differently, part of me wants to experience the roughness that everyone seems to think The Smiler has just to compare. I don't even think the cobra roll exit has been anywhere near as bad this year as it has been previously.

I never had a particularly rough ride until the one I had in June where I found it really rough and had bruised shoulders, I found pretty much every part of the ride hurt where as usually I'm fine.
The ride op when he was checking the restraints pushed mine down really hard and where I'm 6'6 it was not forgiving on my shoulders so my only advice is to be careful with the restraints because I felt every little jolt with them too tight.
Before that I had never had a bad ride on it though.

 

[Jason]

I spoke to they guy today who was stood outside who was a very nice chap. Nothing wrong with the ride and not waiting parts. Their is a shortage of engineer's(outsourced) and the annual Inspection was due. They had to take the decision to do it in open season or risk missing out. May be open Friday but could be a few days later

 

[s_g_k]

I spoke to they guy today who was stood outside who was a very nice chap. Nothing wrong with the ride and not waiting parts. Their is a shortage of engineer's(outsourced) and the annual Inspection was due. They had to take the decision to do it in open season or risk missing out. May be open Friday but could be a few days later

We’ve had 3 or 4 different stories from staff standing outside the front of the ride though, what makes his story the correct one? It could well be but so could the other reasons that staff have given us.

 

[Danscott22]

Yeah I heard from staff members it was awaiting a part and we've had someone else say its awaiting a brake sensor. I think the fact that the fast track has been removed speaks volumes. If it opens on Friday, I'll happily eat my hat.

 

[Skyscraper]

It literally could be anything, and we'll likely never know the real reason.

 

[Chessy Shop]

Smiler was testing yesterday with crash dummies

 

[s_g_k]

We also need to remember that Alton Towers has a massive workforce and we all know that employees love gossip and rumours, so chances are there’s about 50 reasons why it’s closed circulating amongst the front line staff. It’ll open when it opens - we just seem to be going round in circles now.

 

[pluk]

Smiler was testing yesterday with crash dummies

Cycling does is not necessarily mean testing. Keeping it running without guests is no indication it is preparing to open.

 

[Skyscraper]

Cycling does is not necessarily mean testing. Keeping it running without guests is no indication it is preparing to open.

Yeah, when multiple trains are continuously cycled together we'll know it's preparing to reopen.
At the moment they are sending a single train around every one in a while, probably to keep everything warmed up.

 

[pluk]

At the moment they are sending a single train around every one in a while, probably to keep everything warmed up for it's inspection.

I for one don't buy this annual maintenance/inspection business.

Without any knowledge of the facts, it makes no sense. Rides are inspected and signed off for a defined period, the end of that period when it'd be unable to operate without further inspection would be known a year in advance. If somehow an inspection was required during open season there is no way in the world they'd leave it until the operating lisence had expired then close it for the busiest period of the year, they'd have had it done in that quieter period between summer and scarefest.

What would you say to the public if a ride with The Smilers history was closed? Something has broken? Or something is closed for a routine matter?

Yep. That's the game they feel they have to play. Even if it has come to light during an inspection, something is broken.

 

[Skyscraper]

I for one don't buy this annual maintenance/inspection business.

Without any knowledge of the facts, it makes no sense. Rides are inspected and signed off for a defined period, the end of that period when it'd be unable to operate without further inspection would be known a year in advance. If somehow an inspection was required during open season there is no way in the world they'd leave it until the operating lisence had expired then close it for the busiest period of the year, they'd have had it done I that quieter period between summer and

What would you say to the public if a ride with The Smilers history was closed? Something has broken? Or something is closed for a routine matter?

Yep. That's the game they feel they have to play. Even if it has come to light during an inspection, something is broken.

I did edit my post before you replied to it, but never mind.

 

[pluk]

I did edit my post before you replied to it, but never mind.

No worries, I know I quoted you but the point about reasons are mostly aimed at others who have invented/repeated silly things.

 

[andeyhart]

I wouldn't say most enthusiasts even, it depends on the age of the guest and how often they go to the park. Right now most people would probably say Wickerman, but many in their 30s and 40s who grew up with the park of the 90s may say Nemesis or Oblivion. Prior to Wickerman I think many would have said Smiler, but the incident tainted that a lot and then Wickerman took the spot as newest ride.

As Matt said, AT is very different to BPB where the Big One is such an icon for the park, whereas AT has a few different memorable rides.

Where the general public are concerned, I would say Smiler is comfortably the most popular ride. Wickerman a close-ish second, but The Smiler seems to be the ride a lot of non-enthusiasts are most interested in just from the general buzz you get on park. In previous years (even after the crash) during fireworks, it was the ride everyone returned to first once rides reopened after the show. A lot of people don't seem to have been that affected/put off by 2015.

With enthusiasts, it seems to always be one of either Smiler, Nemesis or Wickerman. As you say, it differs hugely depending on age/when you first went to the park.

 

[Ethan]

With enthusiasts, it seems to always be one of either Smiler, Nemesis or Wickerman. As you say, it differs hugely depending on age/when you first went to the park.

Both the smiler and Nemesis are top class so saying either is your favourite is the most common opinion. Anyone who says Galactica for example is their favourite then they clearly don't like thrill rides and prefer gentle rides

 

[AT86]

Both the smiler and Nemesis are top class so saying either is your favourite is the most common opinion. Anyone who says Galactica for example is their favourite then they clearly don't like thrill rides and prefer gentle rides

You could be a world class long jumper with the leaps you make sometimes.

 

[Quetzal]

My wife loves thrill rides and her favourite coaster at the park is Galactica, she thinks Smiler is boring. Lots of different opinions for lots of different people, all are valid and that's why the park aims to add in different experiences.

I would say that Smiler's draw has waned somewhat over the last few years, it feels to me like it's settled into the lineup rather than being that one standout coaster that everyone is coming to ride. Still, having it closed at this time of the year is a huge blow. I'm sure the park are working their hardest to fix the issue, whatever it may be.

 

[Danscott22]

I wouldn't say it's a reach for somebody's favourite ride at Towers to be Galactica whilst liking the other 6 main coasters as well. I know quite a few people who have Galactica as their favourite but still like Oblivion, The Smiler; etc. That was a very bold assumption.

 

[Jim]

Smiler was testing yesterday with crash dummies

Just for my curiosity and my 'private' personal conspiracy theory was the brake run into the station empty of addition trains and how full was the train with test dummies?

I spoke to they guy today who was stood outside who was a very nice chap. Nothing wrong with the ride and not waiting parts. Their is a shortage of engineer's(outsourced) and the annual Inspection was due. They had to take the decision to do it in open season or risk missing out. May be open Friday but could be a few days later

It feels like the staff room (if there is one) are running a sweep stake on who can wind the public best. Otherwise the person on the entrance is so sick of been asked they pick as tangible story & go with it, while hoping they don't get caught doing it.

The only official statement I have seen (yesterday) is still the routine maintenance one. Until that changes, everything verbal is a wind up/pinch of salt. Its a good laugh listening to it all .

If its due to annual inspection then someone high up is absolutely useless at there job since this should be happening off season when the park is closed and get as many attractions done in a day as the inspector(s) can. Add to that, the ride didn't open in October/November to my knowledge so well out of sync. I can't see it be a five minute job, more like half a day or more (speculating, please correct if u know), which means its will be now shut every October for an annual inspection during Scarefest. On the plus side, wouldn't be adverse to watching the lift hill & track inspections if I could go.

 

[Danny]

I've asked a non-enthusiast friend on park to grill the entrance host of McDonalds fries The Smiler and see what today's stance is on the reason behind the closure.

They have been reliably informed that the manufacturer, "Gerstaller" (their words, not mine) are on-site performing some sort of séance in the pit by the first inversion; around the clock in an attempt to bring the ride back to life. However, their chief séancer is currently stuck in transit in the back of a Yodel van, and a delivery time cannot be confirmed.

If anyone is able to get tomorrow's official stance, be it from in person, or a virtual stranger on Discord/some other messaging platform and pop it on here, it would be a great help. I am in the process of collating a spreadsheet of official reasons relating to the closure.