What will The Smiler be like in 20 years?

[SwEDEN]

I can assume in 20 years every bolt would've sheared off, and on whatever day you plan on visiting it will be experiencing down time...... But hopefully there will still be over 50 other rides and attractions for you to enjoy!

[gaz1313]

Much rougher than Corkie was when she left!  ](*,)

[Burniel]

The Smiler In 20 Years...

I genuinely think this is a great prediction. The smiler's lifespan cannot be longer than 20 years.

I think the smiler will be knocked down before nemesis.

[Shutterbug]

The Smiler In 20 Years...

I genuinely think this is a great prediction. The smiler's lifespan cannot be longer than 20 years.

I think the smiler will be knocked down before nemesis.

Definitely agree there. Also with the problems that have been highlighted by the media such as why it's closed now, I've heard people outside the entrance of it saying " I'm not going on that, it's not safe". So with each thing that gets reported on, how many more people will start to think it's unsafe...

[Lee]

People easily forget.

Unless the ride is condemned, or becomes an absolute PR and maintenance nightmare (spending the majority of the year out of service), then the Smiler will stay for at least 2 decades. There's been too much investment both financially and in resources to just knock it down.

[jayson2125]

People easily forget.

Unless the ride is condemned, or becomes an absolute PR and maintenance nightmare (spending the majority of the year out of service), then the Smiler will stay for at least 2 decades. There's been too much investment both financially and in resources to just knock it down.

So looking at the above:

Unless the ride is condemned (not far off being with bits falling off repeatedly) or becomes an absolute PR and maintenance nightmare which it already is (spending the majority of the year out of service) So this year it has already done a lot of that. Then the Smiler will stay for at least 2 decades. There's been too much investment both financially and in resources to just knock it down.

TEAM EDIT: Please try and make posts readable. SPG corrections.

[Lee]

Whilst I agree wholeheartedly that pieces falling away is not acceptable; it's hardly falling apart. A PR nightmare is constant downtime or something you cannot reverse in the public eye (ie: death). Think back to the RMT incident, that's well and truly forgotten in the papers. Anyone really remember the Skyride fire? The public are a very fickle type of people and their perception can easily be warped and manipulated.

So no, unless there is a catastrophic failure, the park will not close down and demolish The Smiler. It will be in their financial projections for xx years and as such Towers cannot simply affords to remove it.

[sw7nutter]

A possible reason to remove it would be the noise it makes and the moaning from certain neighbors but that wont happen for a few years. In 20 years it will look a mess. All the projectors wont work, the marmaliser will have no working parts and the ride will be incredibly uncomfortable.

[bluesonichd]

In 20 years it will look a mess. All the projectors wont work, the marmaliser will have no working parts and the ride will be incredibly uncomfortable.

Isn't that the state of it now? 

[Ripsaw Raver]

The travelers will be hauling it back on a truck to weigh it in!

[lf2001]

The ride will be rough, it will be probably breaking down a lot more. It will be removed a few years after its 20th birthday.

[Jamie]

The ride will be rough, it will be probably breaking down a lot more. It will be removed a few years after its 20th birthday.

Let's hope not!

[joshua.ayling]

Falling apart

[MinecraftFan96]

Hopefully smoothed out on the jolty 12th inversion! (Cobra roll) Just maybe...

[bensaund]

If Saw: The Ride is anything to go by, we may need to wear protective headgear when riding The Smiler in 20 years

[LCFCjames]

While The Smiler has had a considerable amount of problems throughout 2013, it was no different to a lot of new roller coasters. With new technology and a complex track layout, the chances of something going wrong are reasonably high. Hopefully AT have ironed out these problems for 2014 and it will have a better year. After a couple of years of operation we should have a better idea of how long the ride will last. Most coasters improve with reliability over the years, so hopefully The Smiler will too.

I actually found the ride quite smooth, but i know a lot of people found it rough. If they can sort those issues out then its lifespan will be considerably improved!

8)

[bensaund]

For me most rides were smooth, but on two occasions I did get the big jolt on inversion 12, but Saw can be hit and miss as to if you get hit by the jolt or not

[nemefan08]

Not as good. Yes it will be rougher and not as well looked after but remember this. Oblivion is 16 and it still has working tv's and nemesis gets repainted every now and again. Merlin does make sure AT rides last. If the corkscrew made it to 28 the smiler can last until 20 at least

[Alex]

Not as good. Yes it will be rougher and not as well looked after but remember this. Oblivion is 16 and it still has working tv's and nemesis gets repainted every now and again. Merlin does make sure AT rides last. If the corkscrew made it to 28 the smiler can last until 20 at least

Oblivion is also a B&M which gives it a significant advantage

[nemefan08]

Just because it's a b and m does not mean alton keep the effects working.