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The Smiler - General Discussion
- Thread starter Scott
- Start date
BigAl
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Forbidden Journey
This latest closure has already made Uttoxeter News anyway, so more people are starting to know.
djtruefitt
TS Team
I was on park yesterday (you may have noticed I was busy on the TS Facebook page 
), they clearly knew at the start of the day that the ride would be down all day, there were signs at the entrance to the park and also one outside the Smiler. Also all the temp queue line extensions have been removed (currently near the towers). Yet why hasn't anyone from towers mentioned this on FB/Twitter/AT.com, It's very bad service. Especially when you have giant images on your sites for the Smiler. If I was a member of the public and I had traveled a long way, I would be very annoyed at towers, and even more annoyed if I had found out the ride had been closed for 2 days before hand!
As for whats wrong with it, I have no idea. There was no visible signs of any activity at all yesterday, the ride cars didn't move. The marmaliser effects and audio were off (yet towers do love to waste electricity as all the screens were on all day). The shop was however open!
As for that text on the website telling us that the ride is closed, they might as well not even bothered! You can't read it on 2 of the backgrounds and its so tiny I doubt any visitor to the site will even see it! You are much more likely to see the giant "The worlds first 14 looping rollercoaster. It's Here - Find out more" You then click for more information and there is a giant banner saying "THE SMILER NOW OPEN."
), they clearly knew at the start of the day that the ride would be down all day, there were signs at the entrance to the park and also one outside the Smiler. Also all the temp queue line extensions have been removed (currently near the towers). Yet why hasn't anyone from towers mentioned this on FB/Twitter/AT.com, It's very bad service. Especially when you have giant images on your sites for the Smiler. If I was a member of the public and I had traveled a long way, I would be very annoyed at towers, and even more annoyed if I had found out the ride had been closed for 2 days before hand!As for whats wrong with it, I have no idea. There was no visible signs of any activity at all yesterday, the ride cars didn't move. The marmaliser effects and audio were off (yet towers do love to waste electricity as all the screens were on all day). The shop was however open!
As for that text on the website telling us that the ride is closed, they might as well not even bothered! You can't read it on 2 of the backgrounds and its so tiny I doubt any visitor to the site will even see it! You are much more likely to see the giant "The worlds first 14 looping rollercoaster. It's Here - Find out more" You then click for more information and there is a giant banner saying "THE SMILER NOW OPEN."
Dar
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Taron
I get the sense that the powers-that-be are panicking. They have already had a slow start to the season because of delays to the smiler, and now they just can't risk people not turning up. They probably see the negative press as more desirable than less visitors. Who knows?
Croftybaby
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Nemesis
That Text on the website has got to be a pi$$ take? It's smaller than the terms and conditions for a wonga loan. They have clearly only made it that small to mock the fans or hide it away from the bosses or so that they can tell anyone who complains at the park that they should have checked the website.
I'm going to make my own 'Sign' and upload it to the facebook.
I'm going to make my own 'Sign' and upload it to the facebook.
James
TS Founding Member
According to a few unofficial Facebook pages staff outside the Smiler are informing guests that it will be closed "until further notice" so it doesn't seem like they have any idea when it will reopen!
Not a very good year for Alton. The marketing team will have to try and market this alongside the new family area next season at this rate.
Not a very good year for Alton. The marketing team will have to try and market this alongside the new family area next season at this rate.
I wonder if the bolt coming out has in fact highlighted some structural issues with the ride. Could this be an 18million pound white elephant for Alton. Oh dear. They need to pull all the advertising though both on tv and their website until further notice as well....
Nothing on the official AT website today about it being closed. Absolutely shocking.
Nothing on the official AT website today about it being closed. Absolutely shocking.
Vik said:
I can confirm this- the ride staff weren't saying it would open tomorrow but I got the impression it would from the non-verbals. Too late for me unfortunately.
Rita had a couple of short delays today- second one seemed to be due a cigarette lighter that got into the rails at launch point. Very grumpy schoolma'am in the control box was making sure that the punters got blamed for that one.
