The Smiler - General Discussion

Sun Jun 23, 2013 1:24 pm

The queue line really isn't that bad. There's only two small sections with a cage cover on. The rest of the queue is quite wide, so there is plenty of space.

You'll be welcome to use they single rider queue with your two friends, but as single riders. Unless you have a doctors disability note, then it's doubtful towers will issue you any sort of disability pass.

Danny · Sun Jun 23, 2013 7:13 pm

I myself suffer from claustrophobia. The queue line is fine and at no point did I feel like I was going to suffer from waiting.

Sun Jun 23, 2013 8:09 pm

Watch your head in the caged section of the queue if you're over 6 foot tall. Mind your head on the supports, and beware the roof section of the cage bounces up and down as a trains passes (it will come down to meet your head!).

Says he who's wife had to walk him to first aid with a bit of sore head. (then had to go home early).

*BTW the ride is worth the wait, just avoid the bonus elements waiting in the queue for taller folks.

Sun Jun 23, 2013 10:10 pm

Was there on opening day and just had a thought, in the correction block is where single rider joins and then boths queues open up to the baggage hold. So what's to stop people from single rider queue then walking up the normal queue stairs?

Sun Jun 23, 2013 10:24 pm

Today when the single rider queue was let through to the steps, a member of staff blocked the entrance to the 'All Other Riders' stairs up to the station therefore single riders were forced to use the correct queue. The opposite happened when the normal, fastrack and ambulant disabled queues were let through.

Sun Jun 23, 2013 10:52 pm

As said, today they were guiding SR through into the correct queue... That said once the last of the SR went through apparently heading up the stairs the staff were quick to walk away and not really keep an eye on the SR's that could have ran back down the stairs and into the normal queue... This would be classed as queue jumping so it's not advised!

Also I witnessed two riders on the smiler get pulled to one side after the ride for supposedly having taken a video while on the ride and for "copyright reasons" they had to delete the video they had taken.... Then the staff mentioned this over the speakers to riders waiting to ride that "any videos taken will be made to be deleted" Probably why there isn't too many POVs online

The Smiler had MANY malfunctions today, only minor ones but it was down for a lot of time overall. (loads of others around the park were also down)

Annnnddd again, nice little pic but don't direct link this to the forum, thanks.
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r626/mrmattfat/The%20Smiler/GOPR6302_zps26fbcf3b.jpg

EDIT
Here's another looking down at the train on the vertical lift
http://i1175.photobucket.com/albums/r626/mrmattfat/The%20Smiler/GOPR6299_zps6f1f1164.jpg

Mon Jun 24, 2013 12:04 am

AMAZING pic Matt!!!

Mon Jun 24, 2013 12:31 am

ATJordan wrote: I do, as I've explained I get very claustrophobic in large crowds and the normal queue may trigger this, so I thought that they may let me join another queue because of this. Also, I did state that it was unlikely, and was merely asking if it was possible

If you get very claustrophobic in large crowds then first of all why are you going to a theme park and second of all how do you manage on other rides?

Nah, what I think you mean is you don't like queueing in enclosed spaces (which is fair enough, nobody does) so you describe it as claustrophobia, and think you can cut the regular queue and jump on with your friends in the single rider queue.

No chance.

Mon Jun 24, 2013 7:30 am

Just found this full POV, got some good train background noise, handy to figure out where the more 'intense' parts of the ride are....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpP3IHFmsSo&feature=youtu.be

Mon Jun 24, 2013 10:59 am

djedwardsmith wrote:
ATJordan wrote: I do, as I've explained I get very claustrophobic in large crowds and the normal queue may trigger this, so I thought that they may let me join another queue because of this. Also, I did state that it was unlikely, and was merely asking if it was possible
If you get very claustrophobic in large crowds then first of all why are you going to a theme park and second of all how do you manage on other rides?

Nah, what I think you mean is you don't like queueing in enclosed spaces (which is fair enough, nobody does) so you describe it as claustrophobia, and think you can cut the regular queue and jump on with your friends in the single rider queue.

No chance.

100% Agreed. If it really was claustrophobia you wouldn't be in a theme park in the first place. So using this as an excuse to access the ride faster is just not going to work. Just queue like everyone else does, you and your friends do not deserve any special treatment and other guests have paid the park entrance fee just like you did.

Mon Jun 24, 2013 11:28 am

ATJordan wrote:
djedwardsmith wrote:
ATJordan wrote: Do you think they would let me and my two mates on via single riders queue if I explained I have claustrophobia and panic when in large groups?? Unlikely, I know, but is it possible?
I don't think you quite understand what a single rider queue is for.
I do, as I've explained I get very claustrophobic in large crowds and the normal queue may trigger this, so I thought that they may let me join another queue because of this. Also, I did state that it was unlikely, and was merely asking if it was possible

With all due respect mate, you should not and can not use this as leverage to get special treatment and enter another, quicker queue. If you have bad claustrophobia, especially from large crowds, then you should not be anywhere near a
Theme Park.

The Smilers queue is no worse than any other ride in the park. I personally found it quite entertaining.

Mon Jun 24, 2013 12:34 pm

Mattfat1 wrote:Also I witnessed two riders on the smiler get pulled to one side after the ride for supposedly having taken a video while on the ride and for "copyright reasons" they had to delete the video they had taken.... Then the staff mentioned this over the speakers to riders waiting to ride that "any videos taken will be made to be deleted" Probably why there isn't too many POVs online

I find it amusing that they let them delete the footage seeing that not even the police have the rights to delete your stored media without a court order.

Kirsty25 · Mon Jun 24, 2013 12:39 pm

Vladimir Bobinski wrote:
Mattfat1 wrote:Also I witnessed two riders on the smiler get pulled to one side after the ride for supposedly having taken a video while on the ride and for "copyright reasons" they had to delete the video they had taken.... Then the staff mentioned this over the speakers to riders waiting to ride that "any videos taken will be made to be deleted" Probably why there isn't too many POVs online
I find it amusing that they let them delete the footage seeing that not even the police have the rights to delete your stored media without a court order.

I thought that was a difference between public and private property. Alton Towers is private property and as far as I am aware that means you technically can't film/photograph without permission. Photographing generally they're not bothered about (unless on ride) but videos aren't permitted.
I've seen people refused on rides with gopro chest mounted cameras in the past, not on the smiler.

I wouldn't fancy having a non properly secured camera on the smiler anyway with all those inversions!

Mon Jun 24, 2013 12:45 pm

Vladimir Bobinski wrote:
Mattfat1 wrote:Also I witnessed two riders on the smiler get pulled to one side after the ride for supposedly having taken a video while on the ride and for "copyright reasons" they had to delete the video they had taken.... Then the staff mentioned this over the speakers to riders waiting to ride that "any videos taken will be made to be deleted" Probably why there isn't too many POVs online
I find it amusing that they let them delete the footage seeing that not even the police have the rights to delete your stored media without a court order.

It's an offence to illegally record on the Smiler without permission. Anyone who does so should be kicked out of the park.

Mon Jun 24, 2013 12:49 pm

What she said. I guess that they can impose whatever rules they like, private land can do what you like. It's wrote all around the park that cameras can't go on rides and if you do you may be asked to leave the park.

I thought it was really odd to do what they did, usually they stop the ride and take the camera off the person for the obvious reasons of a loose article on the ride. It was after 6pm and the queue was still around 2hrs after a breakdown so they made an exeption in my eyes because they all wanted to go home for tea.

Mon Jun 24, 2013 1:25 pm

Mattfat1 wrote:I guess that they can impose whatever rules they like, private land can do what you like.

What? No they can't. If you don't play by their rules, they're entitled to throw you out. That's the limit of it. They can't force you to do anything other than leave the premises. If they like they can call the police and the police can seize the camera as evidence, but that won't go very far.

They are of course allowed to ask you to delete it otherwise you'll be escorted off the premises. They could ban you from entry if they wanted to. They can't "force" you to delete anything off your camera though.

Mon Jun 24, 2013 1:48 pm

It was 6pm like I said, throwing someone out would be pretty pointless at this time hence them asking to delete it. Maybe it would be different earlier in the day and they opt for the kick you out option. I don't see why anyone who was confronted would start an argument, it's a video of a ride that already exists...

Mon Jun 24, 2013 2:07 pm

Well, I got here this morning and all the fast tracks had gone

Mon Jun 24, 2013 2:12 pm

At the end of the day it says "dont use photography" so people caught doing it are breaking the rules. Simple as that!

Anyway back on topic of general discussion. We are heading to the towers next week and hoping for good weather. Anyone know if the Smiler still operates when its raining.. just incase..!??

Kirsty25 · Mon Jun 24, 2013 2:25 pm

Lucieloo wrote: At the end of the day it says "dont use photography" so people caught doing it are breaking the rules. Simple as that!

Anyway back on topic of general discussion. We are heading to the towers next week and hoping for good weather. Anyone know if the Smiler still operates when its raining.. just incase..!??

It was almost torrential rain the other week when I was queuing and though they announced a possibility it could close, it stayed open, despite the queueline becoming like a typical glastonbury festival (flooded out)