Jack Roland
TS Member
As much as I love the ride (hell, I think it's not only the best in the park, but the best in the country), I have a sneaking suspicion that the Smiler re-opening will do nothing to help the park financially...
1) Even though WE know the crash was down to human error, and that design wise the coaster is fine, the General Public is either too lazy or too dumb to figure that out or do their research. Therefore, open re-opening, the coaster will cause people to give up on the park out of "outrage" that the park would reopen such a "dangerous ride". Mass misinformation will spread, and I wouldn't be surprised if a Change.org petition or something was launched to get them to close the ride. If this happens though, I doubt it will succeed.
2) Secondly, even before the crash, the Smiler was notorious for breaking down often. I remember riding it on the opening week, and waiting in line for two hours, plus another 45 minutes due to TWO separate breakdowns. Therefore, on the ride's first day of operation after re-opening, it will break down for say, 10 minutes or so, prompting all the media outlets to write a massively over-exaggerated piece on another supposed accident. I can see it now:
"Terror as Smiler goes wrong on first DAY after re-opening!"
Once again, the idiot general public will hear this, fail to find out the truth, and shy away from the park the same as before. It will do nothing to help public relations.
3) If the first two items come to pass, then I wouldn't be surprised if all theming (which I think is excellent btw...) for the Smiler is cut. This will cause X-Sector to look even shabbier, shattering the illusion that the Smiler is a relatively new ride, only adding to the tired and dated perspective of the park and its rides. All the park will have is a re-done Air, which has a chance of also failing if VR is added, which simply isn't enough to convince people to come back. Only the hardcore fans or those who have already ridden Smiler will ever ride it again. Newer guests will stay away and then be disappointed by the lack of variety elsewhere.
Whilst I hope this isn't true, seeing as how the media has already treated AT, I'm finding something like this happening more and more likely. What are your thoughts on how the ride re-opening will go? Do you think my predictions will come true?
1) Even though WE know the crash was down to human error, and that design wise the coaster is fine, the General Public is either too lazy or too dumb to figure that out or do their research. Therefore, open re-opening, the coaster will cause people to give up on the park out of "outrage" that the park would reopen such a "dangerous ride". Mass misinformation will spread, and I wouldn't be surprised if a Change.org petition or something was launched to get them to close the ride. If this happens though, I doubt it will succeed.
2) Secondly, even before the crash, the Smiler was notorious for breaking down often. I remember riding it on the opening week, and waiting in line for two hours, plus another 45 minutes due to TWO separate breakdowns. Therefore, on the ride's first day of operation after re-opening, it will break down for say, 10 minutes or so, prompting all the media outlets to write a massively over-exaggerated piece on another supposed accident. I can see it now:
"Terror as Smiler goes wrong on first DAY after re-opening!"
Once again, the idiot general public will hear this, fail to find out the truth, and shy away from the park the same as before. It will do nothing to help public relations.
3) If the first two items come to pass, then I wouldn't be surprised if all theming (which I think is excellent btw...) for the Smiler is cut. This will cause X-Sector to look even shabbier, shattering the illusion that the Smiler is a relatively new ride, only adding to the tired and dated perspective of the park and its rides. All the park will have is a re-done Air, which has a chance of also failing if VR is added, which simply isn't enough to convince people to come back. Only the hardcore fans or those who have already ridden Smiler will ever ride it again. Newer guests will stay away and then be disappointed by the lack of variety elsewhere.
Whilst I hope this isn't true, seeing as how the media has already treated AT, I'm finding something like this happening more and more likely. What are your thoughts on how the ride re-opening will go? Do you think my predictions will come true?