The Smiler: time to turn the music off

[Poisson]

I see two issues:

1) Either they have turned the music volume up, or the speakers have been slowly destroyed over the years - the current experience is ear splitting though. The music clips horrendously on some of the speakers, particularly the one in the far right corner and the one on the outer corner edge of the station. It's quite simply a poor sound system that worsens an already very heavily compressed score.

2) IIRC IMAScore delivered 90 minutes of music for The Smiler, yet the park continually use only a fraction of this for the area loop. There needs to be more of this used with a lot more dynamic range variety. As it is, you hear the same sections over and over and over - even when only queueing for a short while.

Echoing the thoughts of others though, I too will avoid The Smiler nowadays but in the case of a very small queue or the occasional single rider. It's simply a misery to stand in the pit and endure not only the obnoxiously loud music crackling through speakers on their last legs, but the noise of the actual ride itself.

90 minutes will include area loop (45), downstairs (10), station (10), Exit Corridor (10) and probably all the other bits like announcement idents and the Phil Sayer Halfway Corrected I would guess

 

[Slugjc]

I think The Smiler was such an opportunity missed. Nothing about it fits. From the theming, to the queue line. Which is a shame, as I like the ride itself.

I think they missed a trick with the theming. They didn't make it creepy enough. It's too clean and modern. Nice lines. Too 2012. It needed to have an abandoned, Arkham asylum type feel. The ministry of joy worked in the house. Old run down institute. This..........no.

You have the bones there. Oblivion is themed on creepy government institute. Brainwashing people into being used a test subjects. Join the rides. Create a story based on that. Create a new land called THE MINISTRY OF JOY. The theme tune should have been more classical, creepy and calming all at the same time.

To bring it back to topic, god yes turn it down. Isolated on a video on YouTube. Fantastic. In the car and Spotify randomly plays it. Boom. Stretched over a 90min wait time, in a cattle pen. No. I remember in 2013 when I joined the queue for the first time, I was disappointed with the whole production and I thought there was no need for it be that loud. It adds nothing and actually doesn't fit.

 

[The_bup]

From: https://youtu.be/A7L-n3fkWoY?si=RX-QK2zzBgUdtoQW

This could be educational

What are we thinking?

 

[Slugjc]

If this was at a low level on site. I could get behind it. Amazing how little bits now come to front now the laughter has gone. The poor signal affects really comes out which adds to it.

They didn't utilise the ride being abandoned and rediscovered enough. Imagine this with a 70s/80s/90s style posters and bits of medical tech in and around the ride.

 

[Trooper Looper]

Is it just me or do all the Thoosies cosplay/dress up as the parks horror/dark themes? Never anything else? I've never seen the obsession with a theme to that degree that you want to dress up as it. A Jumper with Ride branding, I see no problem with that, but dressing up as a character? I don't get it, but hey, that's just me. But it tells you a lot that Alton Thoosies are more interested in Horror themes than more light hearted ones. No wonder nearly all the investments at Towers are if Thoosies eat it up like there's no tomorrow.

On Smiler... yes, PLEASE turn the music down at the least. Im a bit guilty to admit, but I used to be one of those Smiler Fans who were for a short time obsessed with it... then I grew up. Now looking at Smiler without that obsession, it's a very ugly theme... the soundtrack being the most obvious thing about it. Just keep the music near the station building or turn it drastically down. Even just without the laughing, it would be a huge improvement personally.

To make that up, give X Sector its own custom ambient soundtrack. Something that would both compliment Oblivion and Smiler. Stuff like machinery, steam, and all around industrial but Sci fi. If they can try and not use IMAgit for it, it might actually be good.

But yeah, X Sector is a pretty good area. It's just new Forbidden Valley but actually has a personality and style. The audio would really enhance things if they do it right.

 

[Log Flume's Dennis]

if you want them to turn down the music you have to hit the operator cabin with the handle of a broom

 

[rob666]

Is it just me or do all the Thoosies cosplay/dress up as the parks horror/dark themes? Never anything else?

You are hanging round the wrong parks.
Seen quite a few cute Angelina Ballerina mini players at the Beach, and more than a few Mario cosplayers as well.

Nothing beats the guy in a gimp suit though, saw him in the Velvet later, bloody hilarious watching him being fed food and drink via a small zip and straw.

 

[The_bup]

Im a bit guilty to admit, but I used to be one of those Smiler Fans who were for a short time obsessed with it... then I grew up. Now looking at Smiler without that obsession, it's a very ugly theme... the soundtrack being the most obvious thing about it.

I can relate to that. I think the idea of the theme is much, much cooler than the actual execution. Of course this doesn’t matter when I had just been watching it through YouTube; they are no queues, no rattle and the volume is adjustable

And then I actually went to Alton Towers for the first time and I was like… yeah. It’s alright I guess. I preferred Oblivion.

I remember having a conversation with someone I admitted only really knew through a discord server - they lived in the states and seemed really interested in the smiler because they “like the theme” and such. I mean, I’d hate to be the bearer of bad news but…

 

[Benzin]

In fairness, Smiler is more themed than 90% of most American coasters.

 

[Matt N]

To give credit where it’s due, I actually think Smiler has a very cool and intriguing theme. Maybe not wholly in terms of execution, but definitely in terms of concept.

One thing you’ve got to give Merlin is that they don’t typically rehash cliched themes, and they have come up with some incredibly original theme ideas!

 

[Bert2theSpark]

In fairness, Smiler is more themed than 90% of most American coasters.

To be fair, since we’ve seen the American industry move more and more towards family rides and light theming, the gap between Alton Towers and your average Six Flags park seems to be closing at the moment.

 

[Benzin]

To be fair, since we’ve seen the American industry move more and more towards family rides and light theming, the gap between Alton Towers and your average Six Flags park seems to be closing at the moment.

Judging from what I've seen from the unthemed cattlepen for the Flash coaster and the half hearted attempt at theming Rapterra (the bits that have been done look great, but then the rest of the station is a massive tent), there's still a bit of a gap.

Much of a muchness.

 

[Trooper Looper]

Judging from what I've seen from the unthemed cattlepen for the Flash coaster and the half hearted attempt at theming Rapterra (the bits that have been done look great, but then the rest of the station is a massive tent), there's still a bit of a gap.

Much of a muchness.

At least some of their dark rides actually have good set pieces and moving figures and actual good UV paint haha (Monster mansion, Pirates of Speelunker Cave, and the numerous Boo Hill Blaster clones).

But on a serious note, I don't necessarily think Alton is close to Six Flags in terms of lack of theming... but it's no Dollywood or Silver Dollar either.