My understanding, as an american watching documentaries, is that the ride itself is supposed to represent a brain washing machine that forces artificial happiness. Think We Happy Few: the ride.
That’s John Wardley the designer of the secret weapon concept and designed every SW apart from he retired after SW6 and just came back to help with the smiler, and he didn’t do anything with whickerman (SW8)
I love this ride not just because of the layout but because of the theming. I love the unsettling theme of brainwashing/forced happiness. It gives of a very joker gas/ we happy few vibe. it’s all a very well done and well themed attraction
@@Chicken_Nuggii It's been almost 10 years of no accidents on the Smiler. I understand it's engraved in some people's mind, and rightfully so, but there hasn't been an accident on it in almost 10 years, and the parameters that made the crash possible were changed. There's no point in being scared that the same thing will happen twice. Would be no different than being scared to go in to a tall building because there 'might' come a plane and hit it.
Smile, because you don’t wanna look down, because you don’t want to go alone, you want to Go Go Go straight to the top and feed the flame that is your desire to journey beyond. And get through this tough time
Slate Kirota lol forgot nemisis but if you edit it in somehow then this would be the best comment on an Alton towers topic ever probs Edit: go go go is more like stealth (especially "to the top") so escape... Maybe?🤷♀️ go go go sounds better but isn't really Rita
@@dingo137 yeah he did every coaster of the secret weapon series up to 7 and improved the designs of wicker man, he also did designs for other parks, example, he designed Nemesis Inferno at Thorpe
That music makes me go mental in a giddy kind of way, when in the queue line. I sometimes just burst out with 'Ha ha ha, Ha ha ha, Ha ha ha ha, Ha ha ha'
@Star_l0lz because the CRASH is what the ride was about ever since it happened. Everyone thinks of how traumatizing that women was when the car went through her leg and had to be removed on the ride with medical assistance and numbing. Many claim they could still feel there leg when they lost it. That's because the soul of the body is still intact
@@CrazyManhognot the rides fault tho , was the person operating it . yeah it’s unfortunate what happend but dosnt change the fact that this ride is class
@@themyofmy they can be called loops are inversions. Americans like me tend to call them loops but since I'm a rollercoaster nerd I call them inversions
I've never been on the Smiler, I get chills from the music outside alone. I'm definitely not a roller coaster guy, I got traumatised on The Wickerman!! But from what I've heard from family and friends this ride is absolutely awesome, and I do want to gather the courage to go on it one day and finally conquer my long-lasting fear of roller coasters. I'll try and update this comment when/if I ever do go on the Smiler.
The best thing to do is slowly build up your confidence because although it looks tall forcefull and scary while riding it it's actually quite smooth not too forceful and really enjoyable. And yeah the themeing makes it seem alot worse than it actually is especially when the laughing starts
I never dared to go on roller coasters, but i finally went on the oldest steel coaster that loops and inverts in The Netherlands, Python in De Efteling. The first ride i did entirely with my eyes closed. It really helps, because it allows you to concentrate on the g-forces your body goes through so you realise that not a single moment during the ride are you in any danger of getting thrown out of your seat (which was my fear on coasters). I think i went about 4 more times after that first ride on the same day :-). Eyes open.
Honestly, try it. I've had a terrible crippling coaster phobia all my life but plucked up courage to do this a year or so back and it was absolutely amazing, couldn't stop laughing afterwards.
Ikr!!? 14 loops, two large inclines and the experince is over 2 minutes long! And you can still somewhat hear the booming music and laughter over the screaming from my experience! It’s amazing!
In a way, the whole "no rides above tree height" restriction kinda makes the rides more accessible for people who dont like heights but like inversions and speed. Also, the themeing can be much better if the ride stays fairly low to the ground (we'll forget about Galactica for the moment xD). Nemesis, The Smiler and Wickerman all have really good themes. Rita used to have good theming as well when it was part of the "Thunder Rock Rally" in Ug land. The whole Ug land theme was cool with the dinosaur bones, and the corkscrew track it's self kinda looked skeleton-like and it really stood out next to RITA when it had it's final re-paint. Rita theme looks rubbish now that they covered it in dark vines.
Yeah - the Gloomy Wood - with a roller coaster you can't see and a roller coaster that's most of the time not gliding along significantly above head height is CRYING out for a couple of whizzy flat rides to jazz up the energy levels. I've been to more upbeat graveyards.
Me: *watching pov of roller coasters* "oh that doesnt look that bad! I'm gonna go on it when I go!" *confident* Also me: *standing in front of coaster* "nope." Also also me: *rewatching video at home regretting not going on it* Repeat
If your implying they have people there filming on the rides, they don't. If you look at the half way point it says "half way corrected" and since 2016 it's only said "half way"
My favorite ride ever. I will be coming to ride on the Smiler again. Gold fast track pass, food, drink. Sorted. I still have my red plastic bottle thing and my magnet from the gift shop 😊 Had my eyes on the Smiler hoodies for some time, but last time i was there i spent the money i had on food, because.. food. Can the Smiler Hoodies be ordered for extra price, id deffo do that if this was an option.
I don't hate the ride but I fear how well it's been taken care of. Before the crash 8 bolts fell off causing a gap in the tracks, then there was the crash. That was enough to make me not want to go to the park.
@@tayo0404went on it today and, especially in the smiler, they are OBSCENELY careful and thorough now. the accident definitely made them realise they couldn't fuck around
There was a horrific crash on this where multiple people were injured and teenagers lost limbs and where left there for 4+ hours bleeding out whilst staff had to get scaffolding built to reach them and they were told to leave them to die basically but air ambulance still insisted on getting them. The fact they still have this ride if this laughing music is disgusting. Just forgotten about these kids completely.
Vertical loops are generally very large elements, and also quite tall. Alton Towers often has to build their coasters in small, compact spaces while also not exceeding a rather low height limit. I believe that's why part of the coaster is a bit below ground level. It's actually helped Alton create some pretty amazing coasters, though!
@@AdriElizabeth It also forces Alton to get creative with their ride theming to keep people interested instead of just settling with the gimmicks of the most/first of something
Adri Estremera they have to keep their rides below a certain height limit as this one old married couple sued them for the noises and sights the rides created.
Me: I've heard about this coaster and its record number of inversions. Let's see how it is on ride. (Coaster does an inversion before it even reaches the first lift hill.) Me: Wow, they are wasting no time with this coaster! P.S. Love the music track!
Absolutely love the smiler. It’s just crazy thinking about 14 inversions in under 3 mins. You guys are mad! (Congrats on the success of wicker man btw)
I love this ride so much! We used to do school trips to Alton towers and I remember going on this the first year it was up! It’s easily one of the best there
as an american, i actually learned about this ride due to the accident. however, i know that the coaster industry has improved safety measures due to it. this is all to say, i hope to one day get to visit and ride this. but for now i guess this will have to do
This was actually a video from December 2013. This is not confirmed but I believe it was recorded by an employee at the time since the park is completely empty and the video was uploaded during the Winter when the park's closed. Also notice how all the special effects and screens are turned off. Plus it wouldn't be very difficult to get permission to use a video from one of your (ex)employees (Here's the link: th-cam.com/video/goxdLpEZx-g/w-d-xo.html )
@@bulletnotloaded3586 Close, but not close. This POV was filmed just before the opening of the ride.. maybe the evening of 30th May? I don't really know, but notice how everything is finished and ready to go. Also notice that there is no extended queueline yet, which was starting construction around the time you are talking about. vimeo.com/69021061 That video was given to news companies around the time that The Smiler was about to open. Notice it's date on Vimeo - 7 years ago. Since parts of the POV are in this video, we can safely assume it is dated BEFORE the opening of The Smiler. I would also like to point out that the full version of this POV without any watermarks was avaliable on Vimeo for years until it got taken down. It is likely that KoasterKing205 just used a website to download the video off of Vimeo, and after adding his own watermark, uploaded it to TH-cam (pretty scummy). All other POVs on KoasterKings channel aren't very good quality and he does not seem like he would have worked at Alton Towers at the time. One final thing, look at the catwalks for the ride. They are still full with construction dust: notice how this is still evident on an opening day POV here: th-cam.com/video/Mv4wTdSo0xc/w-d-xo.html However look at this POV from Scarefest: th-cam.com/video/DQpzIQxdSjc/w-d-xo.html The catwalk in this video has no dust on it at all, meaning that it couldn't have been taken after Scarefest like you said. From this, I think that this POV was taken just before the opening as the queue is still very clean, which would not have been the case after 8+ hours of guests. Sorry for this massive comment
@@Archman155 There's just one contradiction to the idea that this was filmed before the rides opening. And that's that we see a magnetic brake right after the friction brakes at 2:28. To give a bit of context this brake was added a few months after the rides opening which is why it's not seen in the opening-day POV you linked (You'll have to look closey if you pause at 2:09). On top of this, that Vimeo POV may have rounded the date of that upload up to 7 years but there's no real way to tell. Also, if you look at the shot as the train goes up the first lift hill you'll see that it looks like it's morning (which is when the ride would be testing with empty trains). This would be after any cleaners would've cleaned the queue line. Which'll explain why it looks so tidy
tranq aj same!! I just love how it’s themed and literally just everything about it! Too bad I live in the US so there’s a small chance I’ll ever get to ride it 😅
Next time I go, I am totally riding this baby. Haven't been since before the accident. At that time, it was almost 4 hours queue for Smiler but less than half an hour for everything else, so I practically rode everything but Smiler. Though now the accident has left Smiler such a bad rep that the queue is non existant and I can't wait to ride.
I rode this thing before and holy shit yall. It's so much more intense than it looks. I genuinely couldn't tell which way was up or down when I got off, and the EXIT JUST MADE IT WORSE Definitely the most disorienting thing I've ever rode, but a solid 10/10, I'd do it again any day ❤
This ride is my favourite but after the second lift hill you get thrown about. The theme tune is really good and I went on it in the dark the first time I went on it and the lights make it look so cool.
I've never been able to go to alton towers because it is around 3 hours from where I live. Hopefully someday I can go and ride all these rides that I see on the Internet.
Only three hours from where you live? Pfft. Here in Australia we think nothing of 1200 km trips to go to a theme park. Three hours is practically next door. Get in the car and just go!
@chooseyourpoison5105 as an Australian that is so true. Travelled from North Queensland to Brisbane then to the Gold Coast (on a 737 with Virgin Australia ofc) to visit someone and go to Dreamworld.
3 hours is not that far. if i were to go to Alton Towers i have to get a plane, travel from Australia to wherever it is located (i forgot), get a car to rent or something, and go to Alton Towers. i love planes though (and rollercoasters) so if i had enough money i would do this.
Christ I remember going on this and when I came off someone had literally puked all down the exit stairs and we were all expected to walk over it. As someone who has a severe phobia of vomit I completely freaked. Thank god my boyfriend picked me up and carried me over 😂
Thanks for these memories of last October 2019 from Surrey B.C.; a suburb of Vancouver B.C. Canada. After visiting Blackpool, Alton Towers and Thorpe Park The Smiler is my 2nd favourite coaster I've ridden in England after Icon.
I was scared of this but after the first inversion I was like this is fun then I looked to my right and saw the vertical chainlift… and you don’t realise how fast this is till your on it.
I cant believe this myself, I love Nemesis and all the other rides at Alton Towers and so want to go on this and when I get to this amazing rollercoaster, I chicken out. When I come to Alton Towers again, when attractions open from this wicked virus, I will do all I can to get myself walking through the queue line and ride the Smiler. This is a MUST DO!
Damian Karras SJ its my favourite ride in the world my dude and i will go to any theme park if I happen to go on holiday nearby within like 30 miles, I certainly don't have a big coaster count, but I've been to my fair share of theme parks. if you love inversions then this is AMAZING. (nO rEaLlY ink sack the ride with the record for most inversions is good if u like inversions 🤦♂️) anyway as you go through you lose track of whats going on a little but if you watch this pov a good 6-10 times you'll have a good understanding of the layout even on ride. If waiting in line makes you nervous and you might back out then get fastrack if you can buy it and ride that way. I went to Alton towers for 2 day trip in 2018 (when I learnt dont go on wicker man first thing as the queue that builds outside the actual queue before the actual queue opens is like 120 mins SOOOOOO yeah). On the first day i bought Smiler fastrack to use the next day. Got to Smiler first thing in the morning and no queue so I just went down normal queue. 5 min queue and loved it. Came out and the queue was now an hour so I used my fastrack and got straight back on. Loved it. The whole ride you feel like you're forced to smile because of the g forces and also your mind actually gets enjoyment out of being able to relax and get completely disoriented and dizzy without any threat. So go have fun not looking down, then brave the forest alone, be engulfed in flames of fear, go go go and escape to a place where you can journey beyond, and also enjoy sitting back and relaxing since it is fright time after all... But once you've done all of those 6 rides I just referenced, then come join us. ride the Smiler when it opens next @Damian Karras SJ and remember... Smile always. Edit: forgot to say hope you see this
Thanks, Ink Sack, I've just read what you sent and I do feel ok. Now, I am always calm when I get to the gates, and I am like this when I collect my tickets at the main gates and I'm like this when I walk down Towers Street and then...… after some rides on you left, Duel and Nemesis, you turn to your right, and walk past CBBC land (whatever its called) and walk past Spinball Wizzer and then onwards to the main entrance to the X Sector and then you see it. The Smiler. Like a gigantic octopus and the speed of it and the screams and the "Ha Ha Ha" themed music. I look over to see two hills that gives you the air time … and I see kids laughing and cant wait to join the queue line and be under this amazing structure. Right …… so now the best thing is, and when I go with my friends to Alton Towers, I think its best to do The Smiler ….. first. Not to get it out of the way, but just the "go on.... go on and enjoy it, that's what its there for - to have fun and laughter on it" - feeling. Many thanks for your reply and when "life gets back to normal" and cant wait... when I go with my friends to Alton Towers, we are going to run (or at least walk quick) to The Smiler, first!It is strange as I love Nemesis ….. and for quite a while you can walk on and ride this for a few times as the queue line is "empty" for sometime.If you travel to this great theme park you have a great time as well and now...…… I'm SMILING Many thanks
My all time favourite since it opened in 2013. Can't wait to get back on Smiler this September! :D I doubt Alton Towers looks at these comments, but I think it would be really nice to bring back The Sanctuary scaremaze for it's 10th year anniversary year.
Everybody survived, just not with all the limbs, and probably scarred from bleeding out whilst listening to laughing for hours... Which I am pretty sure is a torture method.
@@lauravturner They would have barely been able to hear the music, all the speakers are on the outside of the ride pointed towards the street or inside the queue line which is no where near where it crashed. Hence why Vicky, Leah and Joe never spoke about it in their interviews
Just been on it today, for the first time since we went in 2013. It may sound ridiculous, but none of the 14 inversions are the most intense/horrible parts of the ride for me. Its the hill/dip (im not sure the technical name for it) at 1:19 & 2:08. Im not kidding, they are more intense than some of the harsh corkscrews. I HATE those!!
In the industry, they're called airtime hills. They give the rider a feeling of weightlessness, or that they're going to fly out of the train altogether. They're not my favourite, either, but some people love them.
There’s a well-known member of the furry community who based her “fursona” on this ride. Her name is Beauty Of The Bass and her character is a hyena with the yellow and black colours of the ride blended with silver and white. Her eyes are hypnotic spirals, her teeth are vicious and snaggly, and she has working speakers in the thighs of her costume. It’s just as insane as it sounds.
i wanna go on the smiler but i may be a lil too young. the only rollercoaster i have ever been on is that weird caterpillar themed kiddie coaster at my local carnival 😭
when I was younger I was too scared to go on it, so I got to go to the exit area where ppl collect photos, gift shop, ect. I remember that really annoying song playing over and over again, with the crazy laughing. It had weird lighting with smiley faces and hypnotising patterns everywhere. I had a headache by the time we left (only there for around 5 mins), and many of the workers looked like they were gonna pass out! They still smiled tho so props to them for surviving so long there 😭❤️
I can’t believe I went on this ride a few days ago after being scared of rollercoasters my whole life and deciding to go on this after going on rollercoasters for only two days. By far the best rollercoasters ever and best theme park
This ride for me (not fazed by inversions at ALL) was actually less scary than I thought it would be and so incredibly fun at that!! However, don’t think this is coming from someone with no fear!! I’m terrible with a lot of airtime and speed. Trust me. This ride isn’t too fast at all and the air time hills are amazing. So everyone reading this. Just do it. You’ll love it 🤩
Disenyland: Mine Train, Mickey Mouse, History of Park. Thorpe Park: Disaster zone, 1950s themed wasteland, record setters. Alton Towers: H A H A H A H A H A
![Th13teen [4K] Multi-Angle On Ride POV - Alton Towers Resort](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/hAwCIpkZSmc/mqdefault.jpg)
Disney: coasters themed to runaway mine train, space travel, a limo ride
Alton towers: themes coasters to human experiments
Is it?
@@annagolebiowska865 I believe its themed to getting subjects to smile
My understanding, as an american watching documentaries, is that the ride itself is supposed to represent a brain washing machine that forces artificial happiness. Think We Happy Few: the ride.
Anna Golebiowska yep. Marmalisation. Trying to mutate the human mind and body into constant joy. I think that’s what it is..
For Christ sake, who cares? Why do you edit your goddamn comments? Nobody is going to read them again.
I love the guy waving on the first lift hill. Best part of the video
Me too I smiled when I saw him
I feel like he fits perfectly into the theme of the ride. Smiling and waving.
That’s John Wardley the designer of the secret weapon concept and designed every SW apart from he retired after SW6 and just came back to help with the smiler, and he didn’t do anything with whickerman (SW8)
@@deejasart7766 Thats not John Wardley.
@@Creative_Devise I know now don’t worry I wrote that 2 months ago lol
I love this ride not just because of the layout but because of the theming. I love the unsettling theme of brainwashing/forced happiness. It gives of a very joker gas/ we happy few vibe. it’s all a very well done and well themed attraction
It scares me tho
It scares me tho
makes sense looking back at june 2 2015@@Geometryjackiscool
@@Roblox_Player1911 exactly I can’t find a comment mentioning it. Such a tragic accident
@@Chicken_Nuggii It's been almost 10 years of no accidents on the Smiler. I understand it's engraved in some people's mind, and rightfully so, but there hasn't been an accident on it in almost 10 years, and the parameters that made the crash possible were changed. There's no point in being scared that the same thing will happen twice. Would be no different than being scared to go in to a tall building because there 'might' come a plane and hit it.
I feel so bad for the workers who have to listen to the laughing all day
Damemelord Mc I wanna work there :|
I dont think its as bad as hearing the same song over and over again
pretty sure they wear earplugs but im not 100% sure
Damemelord Mc they use ear plugs I used to work there
I ask the someone on the counter if the song gets annoying and they said they got used to it
Smile, because you don’t wanna look down, because you don’t want to go alone, you want to Go Go Go straight to the top and feed the flame that is your desire to journey beyond. And get through this tough time
👏
👏
Slate Kirota lol forgot nemisis but if you edit it in somehow then this would be the best comment on an Alton towers topic ever probs
Edit: go go go is more like stealth (especially "to the top") so escape... Maybe?🤷♀️ go go go sounds better but isn't really Rita
Ink Sack nemmie doesn’t really have a catchphrase that I could integrate into this
Slate Kirota its fright time? Sit back its fright time? Sit back, relax, its fright time? 😂
0:40 that man off to the side waving was so wholesome to me and idk why
That looks like John Wardley, the man behind Nemesis, Oblivion, Air and other rides.
@@dingo137 yeah he did every coaster of the secret weapon series up to 7 and improved the designs of wicker man, he also did designs for other parks, example, he designed Nemesis Inferno at Thorpe
stop he looks so sweet awe
@@marin.g444 I know 😭
It is awesome
That music makes me go mental in a giddy kind of way, when in the queue line. I sometimes just burst out with 'Ha ha ha, Ha ha ha, Ha ha ha ha, Ha ha ha'
The music means pain and blood and a crash you won't forget
Why is everyone bringing up the crash 😭
@Star_l0lz because the CRASH is what the ride was about ever since it happened. Everyone thinks of how traumatizing that women was when the car went through her leg and had to be removed on the ride with medical assistance and numbing. Many claim they could still feel there leg when they lost it. That's because the soul of the body is still intact
I know but people on tiktok wont saying EVERONE DIED it's a actually becoming annoying
@@CrazyManhognot the rides fault tho , was the person operating it . yeah it’s unfortunate what happend but dosnt change the fact that this ride is class
I'm missing the ride so much, hoping to go on as soon as alton is open again
Fav ride
@@sebslife3117 Yep
Yeah dont worry when Corona stops the joy is back hhahahahahaahhahahaahhahahahahaa
I relate to this comment on a spiritual level, I really cant wait to get back on this beast!!!!
Might not open at all in 2020. the 2m rule is said to be in place till early 2021.
Anyone else get that feeling in their tummy when it goes around the loops?
mhm
SpaceMilk yep
Inversions you mean?
@@themyofmy they can be called loops are inversions. Americans like me tend to call them loops but since I'm a rollercoaster nerd I call them inversions
@@hypno_tics5560 I'm English and most people here just call them loops lmao
I've never been on the Smiler, I get chills from the music outside alone.
I'm definitely not a roller coaster guy, I got traumatised on The Wickerman!!
But from what I've heard from family and friends this ride is absolutely awesome, and I do want to gather the courage to go on it one day and finally conquer my long-lasting fear of roller coasters.
I'll try and update this comment when/if I ever do go on the Smiler.
The best thing to do is slowly build up your confidence because although it looks tall forcefull and scary while riding it it's actually quite smooth not too forceful and really enjoyable. And yeah the themeing makes it seem alot worse than it actually is especially when the laughing starts
@@FIoony wait till you go to Thorpe Park then….
I never dared to go on roller coasters, but i finally went on the oldest steel coaster that loops and inverts in The Netherlands, Python in De Efteling. The first ride i did entirely with my eyes closed. It really helps, because it allows you to concentrate on the g-forces your body goes through so you realise that not a single moment during the ride are you in any danger of getting thrown out of your seat (which was my fear on coasters).
I think i went about 4 more times after that first ride on the same day :-). Eyes open.
OMDDD THIS IS SO ME
Honestly, try it. I've had a terrible crippling coaster phobia all my life but plucked up courage to do this a year or so back and it was absolutely amazing, couldn't stop laughing afterwards.
The amount of inversions on this coaster is insane! This is definitely going on my coaster bucket list.
I've been on it, what an experience, this video doesn't nearly do it justice
Ikr!!? 14 loops, two large inclines and the experince is over 2 minutes long! And you can still somewhat hear the booming music and laughter over the screaming from my experience! It’s amazing!
@@Cookie.Dough_Goat-23503 minutes
Same, I'd love to go on here!
Smile always, even during these dark times 💛🖤💛🖤💛 Missing the park so much, can’t wait for it to re-open #AltonTowersTogether
Yeah, imagine how different things would have been if someone hadn’t been eating bat soup in China...
Josh Bacon FUCK YOU CHINA/ WUHAN (not u btw)
0:02 I feel so bad for the workers listening to the smilers laugh all day 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Its just a sound there playing on the vid
@@AndresBarrera-sf4vp oop my bad still I had to stand in the que line listening to HAHAHA
@@AndresBarrera-sf4vpit is actually the soundtrack of the ride like
HeHahHahahahahahaHahahahAhha the whole time
@@AndresBarrera-sf4vp the sound is real
Look how clean the queue is 🤤
Yeah! TLC must have given the whole place a fresh lick of paint! Lets hope this travels throughout the rest of the park.
@@messiahshepherd9266 This was taken in 2013 when the ride was just about to open....
That's a wierd fettish you've got there
Remember the people who broke all of their leg bones on this ride? Me too!
Qwerty I didn’t mention anything like that, it is still a great ride despite certain events that happened
let's hope SW9 is just as good, if not better!
Stubwood they’re building a new one?
@@itzemmag.x7156 Oh yeah, it will be around 2 or 3 years but they will get one
Better be an RMC 😂
Intamin Blitz would work better imo
lancehutch hmmm maybe a zamperla Volare 😂😂😂
In a way, the whole "no rides above tree height" restriction kinda makes the rides more accessible for people who dont like heights but like inversions and speed.
Also, the themeing can be much better if the ride stays fairly low to the ground (we'll forget about Galactica for the moment xD). Nemesis, The Smiler and Wickerman all have really good themes.
Rita used to have good theming as well when it was part of the "Thunder Rock Rally" in Ug land. The whole Ug land theme was cool with the dinosaur bones, and the corkscrew track it's self kinda looked skeleton-like and it really stood out next to RITA when it had it's final re-paint. Rita theme looks rubbish now that they covered it in dark vines.
Also it actually makes the rides better because if they want to be successful they have to be original, hence the secret weapon series
yeah im scared of heights but i adore rollercoasters and alton towers is my absolute perfect park
Yeah - the Gloomy Wood - with a roller coaster you can't see and a roller coaster that's most of the time not gliding along significantly above head height is CRYING out for a couple of whizzy flat rides to jazz up the energy levels. I've been to more upbeat graveyards.
I dont believe any coaster can top the theme the smiler gives off. Its just so well done
Me: *watching pov of roller coasters* "oh that doesnt look that bad! I'm gonna go on it when I go!" *confident*
Also me: *standing in front of coaster* "nope."
Also also me: *rewatching video at home regretting not going on it*
Repeat
I relate so hard
The best thing to do is just to jump in. Pretend it's another ride if you have to lo
I didn't know you were me.
I finally dragged myself on Oblivion I loved it but when I went on the Smiler .
Let's just say I had too many lemonade
You won’t regret riding it. I was terrified when I first went on but my friend made me and I ended up loving it
I've been on the ride 9 years ago, and oh boy the theme song of Smiler made me have the voices in my head.
I have a bad phobia of rollercoasters but I love watching them lol
yeah same
Hands down one of the best rides I’ve ever been on
Government: work from home
Alton towers:
⚠︎︎𝚈𝚄𝙾 𝙱𝙴𝙻𝙾𝙽𝙶 𝚃𝙾 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚂𝙼𝙸𝙻𝙴𝚁⚠︎︎
This is home
If your implying they have people there filming on the rides, they don't. If you look at the half way point it says "half way corrected" and since 2016 it's only said "half way"
Joseph William Peirson well there are still workers in the park doing some tlc and looking after the fish in sharkbait reef
Smiler The Mechanical Creature ur music is amazing freaking LOVE it
Am i the only one that absolutely loves the sound track😮i listend to it on repeat 🤗
Nope I love it
@@iMizzy777hey brother
@@Sebastian_Solace_from_Pressure yo
0:14 the indoor bit is something else
Im so angry why is the music THIS GOOD of a bop
Don't be angry! Smile! Always!
If you dont smile i will make you
It’s so good no need to be angry mate smile
@@iMizzy777 fine but just because you said that
@@Sebastian_Solace_from_Pressure hahahah
My favorite ride ever. I will be coming to ride on the Smiler again.
Gold fast track pass, food, drink. Sorted. I still have my red plastic bottle thing and my magnet from the gift shop 😊 Had my eyes on the Smiler hoodies for some time, but last time i was there i spent the money i had on food, because.. food.
Can the Smiler Hoodies be ordered for extra price, id deffo do that if this was an option.
shop.altontowers.com/collections/clothing
The smiler crash was totally human accidents, this coaster does not deserve the hate it has.
Well said.
I don't hate the ride but I fear how well it's been taken care of. Before the crash 8 bolts fell off causing a gap in the tracks, then there was the crash. That was enough to make me not want to go to the park.
@@tayo0404 i went on it today and didnt die so its all good
@@tayo0404went on it today and, especially in the smiler, they are OBSCENELY careful and thorough now. the accident definitely made them realise they couldn't fuck around
So that means the park is poorly run, and dangerous because there are always humans running the rides. I would never go to this dangerous park.
To think that the people who crashed on this thing had to listen to that laughing track the whole time is terrifying
“the whole time” you are aware they would turn that shit off right
@@Mees_MBpas they didnt tho
@@ShadyGT-6040wait what happened?
JOIN US
There was a horrific crash on this where multiple people were injured and teenagers lost limbs and where left there for 4+ hours bleeding out whilst staff had to get scaffolding built to reach them and they were told to leave them to die basically but air ambulance still insisted on getting them. The fact they still have this ride if this laughing music is disgusting. Just forgotten about these kids completely.
This is an old video as it says half-way corrected
that might be why they made a jumpcut
well yeah nobody’s going to alton towers at the moment are they
It's their 2013 pov that they always use to make it look like they look after the smiler when they really dont
Well no halfway corrected only halfway
@@j0seph_keep what?
Good job Alton Towers, bringing the fun to our sofa!
Any Americans who cant afford to fly over there even when it isnt quarantine?
You live in America?Thats where Obese people are.Thats why America is so big
@@k.b.sandioopandioop5179 not all American are fat
Why can't the internet go 1 second without an asshole messing everything up
Same, but I'm from Europ :')
I'm from Britain
It’s sorta weird how I love the smiler laughing even though it lives in my mind rent free
It's incredible how you managed to put 14 inversions in there, yet not a single looping.
Vertical loops are generally very large elements, and also quite tall. Alton Towers often has to build their coasters in small, compact spaces while also not exceeding a rather low height limit. I believe that's why part of the coaster is a bit below ground level. It's actually helped Alton create some pretty amazing coasters, though!
@@AdriElizabeth It also forces Alton to get creative with their ride theming to keep people interested instead of just settling with the gimmicks of the most/first of something
Adri Estremera they have to keep their rides below a certain height limit as this one old married couple sued them for the noises and sights the rides created.
Alex there is an element called a dive loop which is used sooooooooooooooo
@@ketchup4618 Yeah but that's not really a 'Loop-de-loop' like they're talking about
Me: I've heard about this coaster and its record number of inversions. Let's see how it is on ride.
(Coaster does an inversion before it even reaches the first lift hill.)
Me: Wow, they are wasting no time with this coaster!
P.S. Love the music track!
Absolutely love the smiler. It’s just crazy thinking about 14 inversions in under 3 mins. You guys are mad! (Congrats on the success of wicker man btw)
Yeah smiler and wickerman are really good
This is one of my favourite in the park love how crazy it is
I love this ride so much! We used to do school trips to Alton towers and I remember going on this the first year it was up! It’s easily one of the best there
Alton towers: Lets make a ride based on happiness! Nothing can go bad with that!
The ride:
Based on a human experiment to FORCE humans to be happy if you wanna be specific
I don’t like the last two inversions because they are the last ones
I dont like the last 1 peice of track because it is the last
I went on this ride for the first time nearly a week ago and I still have the song stuck in my head 😂😂😂
Same😂
as an american, i actually learned about this ride due to the accident. however, i know that the coaster industry has improved safety measures due to it.
this is all to say, i hope to one day get to visit and ride this. but for now i guess this will have to do
The Smiler is amazing!
Shame you jump cutted the lift hill, it’s a key part of the ride imo
It’s because this may be an old video where the lift hill says half way corrected which was removed after the crash
Marcus Wilcock why would’ve it been removed? It baffles me... I loved hearing that...
tranquiliity aj To respect the people affected by the crash they removed all references to marmalization and correction on every part of the ride
Marcus Wilcock wished they kept it.
tranquiliity aj I know I wish they kept it as well
Absolutely AMAZING ride.
One of the best iv ever been on tbh
I remember going on this ride in July in 2023 it was my very first rollercoaster at Alton towers
When u have the themepark all to yourself due to coronavirus
This was actually a video from December 2013. This is not confirmed but I believe it was recorded by an employee at the time since the park is completely empty and the video was uploaded during the Winter when the park's closed. Also notice how all the special effects and screens are turned off. Plus it wouldn't be very difficult to get permission to use a video from one of your (ex)employees (Here's the link: th-cam.com/video/goxdLpEZx-g/w-d-xo.html )
@@bulletnotloaded3586 Close, but not close. This POV was filmed just before the opening of the ride.. maybe the evening of 30th May? I don't really know, but notice how everything is finished and ready to go. Also notice that there is no extended queueline yet, which was starting construction around the time you are talking about.
vimeo.com/69021061
That video was given to news companies around the time that The Smiler was about to open. Notice it's date on Vimeo - 7 years ago. Since parts of the POV are in this video, we can safely assume it is dated BEFORE the opening of The Smiler.
I would also like to point out that the full version of this POV without any watermarks was avaliable on Vimeo for years until it got taken down. It is likely that KoasterKing205 just used a website to download the video off of Vimeo, and after adding his own watermark, uploaded it to TH-cam (pretty scummy).
All other POVs on KoasterKings channel aren't very good quality and he does not seem like he would have worked at Alton Towers at the time.
One final thing, look at the catwalks for the ride. They are still full with construction dust: notice how this is still evident on an opening day POV here: th-cam.com/video/Mv4wTdSo0xc/w-d-xo.html
However look at this POV from Scarefest: th-cam.com/video/DQpzIQxdSjc/w-d-xo.html
The catwalk in this video has no dust on it at all, meaning that it couldn't have been taken after Scarefest like you said.
From this, I think that this POV was taken just before the opening as the queue is still very clean, which would not have been the case after 8+ hours of guests.
Sorry for this massive comment
@@Archman155 God damn, don't apologize for all that fact checking
@@Archman155 There's just one contradiction to the idea that this was filmed before the rides opening. And that's that we see a magnetic brake right after the friction brakes at 2:28. To give a bit of context this brake was added a few months after the rides opening which is why it's not seen in the opening-day POV you linked (You'll have to look closey if you pause at 2:09). On top of this, that Vimeo POV may have rounded the date of that upload up to 7 years but there's no real way to tell.
Also, if you look at the shot as the train goes up the first lift hill you'll see that it looks like it's morning (which is when the ride would be testing with empty trains). This would be after any cleaners would've cleaned the queue line. Which'll explain why it looks so tidy
1:45 That shot is superb
.
tranq aj :)
tranq aj same!! I just love how it’s themed and literally just everything about it! Too bad I live in the US so there’s a small chance I’ll ever get to ride it 😅
@@tinfoil5371 oh, haha. im lucky cuz im British :)
astrxo aj honestly same man
Next time I go, I am totally riding this baby.
Haven't been since before the accident. At that time, it was almost 4 hours queue for Smiler but less than half an hour for everything else, so I practically rode everything but Smiler.
Though now the accident has left Smiler such a bad rep that the queue is non existant and I can't wait to ride.
Hearing the smiler laughing all day is my dream lol
the smiling i had to listen to for 2 and a half hours, im pretty sure it’s etched into my brain now tbh
When me and my sister went, we didnt go on the smiler but we stood and danced to the theme bc we thought it was a right bop😭😭
I rode this thing before and holy shit yall.
It's so much more intense than it looks. I genuinely couldn't tell which way was up or down when I got off, and the EXIT JUST MADE IT WORSE
Definitely the most disorienting thing I've ever rode, but a solid 10/10, I'd do it again any day ❤
My mum and dad kinda broke up but what I learnt from the smiler is smile always😁
BRO WHAT
This ride is my favourite but after the second lift hill you get thrown about.
The theme tune is really good and I went on it in the dark the first time I went on it and the lights make it look so cool.
I'm so happy that you guys are doing this! It's making me alot happier! 😁
You’ll be beyond happy if you get a job at the new candy’s burger and fries
Just a teaser for a fnaf fan game that I will make 5 years from now
@@Tooneric5252 ???
Great video! Be safe everyone and #SmileAlways
I've never been able to go to alton towers because it is around 3 hours from where I live. Hopefully someday I can go and ride all these rides that I see on the Internet.
Only three hours from where you live? Pfft. Here in Australia we think nothing of 1200 km trips to go to a theme park. Three hours is practically next door. Get in the car and just go!
3 hours isn’t that far mate, actual coaster fans will travel to differnet countries to ride coasters
Just book the ticket and wage up nice and early
@chooseyourpoison5105 as an Australian that is so true. Travelled from North Queensland to Brisbane then to the Gold Coast (on a 737 with Virgin Australia ofc) to visit someone and go to Dreamworld.
3 hours is not that far. if i were to go to Alton Towers i have to get a plane, travel from Australia to wherever it is located (i forgot), get a car to rent or something, and go to Alton Towers.
i love planes though (and rollercoasters) so if i had enough money i would do this.
Christ I remember going on this and when I came off someone had literally puked all down the exit stairs and we were all expected to walk over it. As someone who has a severe phobia of vomit I completely freaked. Thank god my boyfriend picked me up and carried me over 😂
𝕆𝕠𝕗
That’s disgusting, I have the same phobia I would have just stood there until someone cleaned it up lol
Reagan Reynolds literally I was in such a panic and tried to get off the other side but they wouldn’t let me 🙄
Omg that's gross
Same I have a phobia because whenever someone pukes I feel like I’m gonna be sick and then I don’t eat anything
Thanks for these memories of last October 2019 from Surrey B.C.; a suburb of Vancouver B.C. Canada. After visiting Blackpool, Alton Towers and Thorpe Park The Smiler is my 2nd favourite coaster I've ridden in England after Icon.
I went on this and to be honest it is my favourite ride I have ever been on well done it’s sensational 👏🏾❤️🥇just absolutely extraordinary
Who else just came for the soundtrack?
Features Gaming Me, It’s so Good
Features Gaming *slowly raises hand*
Lolli Layla Haha
I was scared of this but after the first inversion I was like this is fun then I looked to my right and saw the vertical chainlift… and you don’t realise how fast this is till your on it.
I cant believe this myself, I love Nemesis and all the other rides at Alton Towers and so want to go on this and when I get to this amazing rollercoaster, I chicken out. When I come to Alton Towers again, when attractions open from this wicked virus, I will do all I can to get myself walking through the queue line and ride the Smiler. This is a MUST DO!
Damian Karras SJ you’ll be glad you did my friend.
It does look amazing and I can hear the Smiler theme tune in my head now.
Damian Karras SJ its my favourite ride in the world my dude and i will go to any theme park if I happen to go on holiday nearby within like 30 miles, I certainly don't have a big coaster count, but I've been to my fair share of theme parks. if you love inversions then this is AMAZING. (nO rEaLlY ink sack the ride with the record for most inversions is good if u like inversions 🤦♂️) anyway as you go through you lose track of whats going on a little but if you watch this pov a good 6-10 times you'll have a good understanding of the layout even on ride. If waiting in line makes you nervous and you might back out then get fastrack if you can buy it and ride that way. I went to Alton towers for 2 day trip in 2018 (when I learnt dont go on wicker man first thing as the queue that builds outside the actual queue before the actual queue opens is like 120 mins SOOOOOO yeah). On the first day i bought Smiler fastrack to use the next day. Got to Smiler first thing in the morning and no queue so I just went down normal queue. 5 min queue and loved it. Came out and the queue was now an hour so I used my fastrack and got straight back on. Loved it. The whole ride you feel like you're forced to smile because of the g forces and also your mind actually gets enjoyment out of being able to relax and get completely disoriented and dizzy without any threat.
So go have fun not looking down, then brave the forest alone, be engulfed in flames of fear, go go go and escape to a place where you can journey beyond, and also enjoy sitting back and relaxing since it is fright time after all...
But once you've done all of those 6 rides I just referenced, then come join us.
ride the Smiler when it opens next @Damian Karras SJ
and remember...
Smile always.
Edit: forgot to say hope you see this
Thanks, Ink Sack, I've just read what you sent and I do feel ok. Now, I am always calm when I get to the gates, and I am like this when I collect my tickets at the main gates and I'm like this when I walk down Towers Street and then...… after some rides on you left, Duel and Nemesis, you turn to your right, and walk past CBBC land (whatever its called) and walk past Spinball Wizzer and then onwards to the main entrance to the X Sector and then you see it. The Smiler. Like a gigantic octopus and the speed of it and the screams and the "Ha Ha Ha" themed music. I look over to see two hills that gives you the air time … and I see kids laughing and cant wait to join the queue line and be under this amazing structure. Right …… so now the best thing is, and when I go with my friends to Alton Towers, I think its best to do The Smiler ….. first. Not to get it out of the way, but just the "go on.... go on and enjoy it, that's what its there for - to have fun and laughter on it" - feeling. Many thanks for your reply and when "life gets back to normal" and cant wait... when I go with my friends to Alton Towers, we are going to run (or at least walk quick) to The Smiler, first!It is strange as I love Nemesis ….. and for quite a while you can walk on and ride this for a few times as the queue line is "empty" for sometime.If you travel to this great theme park you have a great time as well and now...…… I'm SMILING Many thanks
Love this ride, we were so nervous going on the first time and ended up front row of out own train but it was excellent so we went on 3 more times!
Best roller-coaster in the UK and one of the world's best roller coasters in my opinion
Imagine listening to that music trapped for two hours when the ride broke down I would actually cry
I actually kinda love the music
I hope they shut the music off for the 4+ hours it took to extricate the victims after the crash
@@irph.ttk. yeah but after a while it just is like hahaha you crashed lol
@@carolinegerlach1644 ikr, it literally played the hahaha part right after the crash happened. the timing was so bad i stg
Best ride ever I was in the front seats lol
As if the creepy laughing music wasn’t scary enough.
Man the music ain't scary tbh
Nah bro the smiler laughing isn’t scary
The smiler laughing sounds like alastor from Hazbin hotel
This song lives in my brain rent free
Was just on this last Wednesday. It’s honestly the best roller coaster I’ve ever ridden. I absolutely belong to The Smiler.
My all time favourite since it opened in 2013. Can't wait to get back on Smiler this September! :D
I doubt Alton Towers looks at these comments, but I think it would be really nice to bring back The Sanctuary scaremaze for it's 10th year anniversary year.
Yes the sanctuary
I was there for the 10th anniversary and they didn't.
What’s that little building at 1:08
X-Sector Toilets. They didn’t want to demolish them when building The Smiler so they just built the ride over it
@@declanweston7 helpful
...
Those people who was on the ride when it crashed had to listen to this music...
Hope those who survived are ok now
Everyone survived tho, right?
GP to Enthusiast had a great video analysing the accident
Everybody survived, just not with all the limbs, and probably scarred from bleeding out whilst listening to laughing for hours... Which I am pretty sure is a torture method.
@@lauravturner p sure they turned off the music but ok
@@lauravturner They would have barely been able to hear the music, all the speakers are on the outside of the ride pointed towards the street or inside the queue line which is no where near where it crashed. Hence why Vicky, Leah and Joe never spoke about it in their interviews
this ride is sooo fun i went in it the first time today, easily one of the best rides ive ever been on
ive never been to Alton Towers (or any themepark other than Dreamworld in Australia) but The Smiler has somehow always stood out to me .
Aussie thoosie here. I am planning to visit the UK soon specifically for this coaster!
@queenielouweekly3160 cool. I would love to go anywhere on a long haul flight because my main interest is planes but I find roller coasters also cool
Just been on it today, for the first time since we went in 2013. It may sound ridiculous, but none of the 14 inversions are the most intense/horrible parts of the ride for me. Its the hill/dip (im not sure the technical name for it) at 1:19 & 2:08. Im not kidding, they are more intense than some of the harsh corkscrews. I HATE those!!
In the industry, they're called airtime hills. They give the rider a feeling of weightlessness, or that they're going to fly out of the train altogether.
They're not my favourite, either, but some people love them.
There’s a well-known member of the furry community who based her “fursona” on this ride. Her name is Beauty Of The Bass and her character is a hyena with the yellow and black colours of the ride blended with silver and white. Her eyes are hypnotic spirals, her teeth are vicious and snaggly, and she has working speakers in the thighs of her costume. It’s just as insane as it sounds.
Why the hell did we need to know this?
@@bennickss No actual need; just a fun fact I happen to know.
@@FromtheHerts81 bruh
that’s actually really cool tbh
I've seen that a few times! Really cool I must say!
well at least alton is making a pov finally for smiler and other rides
i wanna go on the smiler but i may be a lil too young. the only rollercoaster i have ever been on is that weird caterpillar themed kiddie coaster at my local carnival 😭
when I was younger I was too scared to go on it, so I got to go to the exit area where ppl collect photos, gift shop, ect. I remember that really annoying song playing over and over again, with the crazy laughing. It had weird lighting with smiley faces and hypnotising patterns everywhere. I had a headache by the time we left (only there for around 5 mins), and many of the workers looked like they were gonna pass out! They still smiled tho so props to them for surviving so long there 😭❤️
No flashing in the first section... strange, so is the lack of screaming on-ride
Lucixn.55 the povs have been filmed on park during it being closed due too covid-19
This POV is from early 2013 before he ride opened
DomDoesCoasters really? Looks quite recent
yep, its from 2013, you can see the halfway corrected signage and smiler logo underneath the batwing that was removed following the events of 2015
DomDoesCoasters I believe that’s still on the ride
I’m sad that the song at 1:00 only lasts for a few seconds because it’s my favourite part of it
All of us need a bit of CoRrEcTiOn in our life right now don’t we
Josh Dilworth agreed
I can’t believe I went on this ride a few days ago after being scared of rollercoasters my whole life and deciding to go on this after going on rollercoasters for only two days.
By far the best rollercoasters ever and best theme park
Absolutely love this tune 🥳the ride is one of my favs
Smile Always, YOU ALWAYS BELONG TO THE SMILER, AND LAUGH LIKE CRAZY!, AND JOIN US!
If you dont we make you smile brother you hold them still and i give them the syringe of the ministry of joy
0:25 love the music too cool
The music is the insanity of loops Level 1 0:14
I’ve been on many coasters and this is still in my top 10
I could go round so many times it's my favourite ride
Alton Towers release this song on spotify PLEASEEEE
You don’t happen to play Rec Room,Do you?
Bro Alton Towers got a copyright claim over their own song 💀💀💀
it's hard to keep track of all 14 loops
Inversions.
This ride for me (not fazed by inversions at ALL) was actually less scary than I thought it would be and so incredibly fun at that!! However, don’t think this is coming from someone with no fear!! I’m terrible with a lot of airtime and speed. Trust me. This ride isn’t too fast at all and the air time hills are amazing. So everyone reading this. Just do it. You’ll love it 🤩
Just been today and it was my fav coaster of the day. Really good and worth the wait!
This ride sucks balls compared to hyperia haha. Man Alton towers sucks!
@lean2281 alr well it's called an opinion and just because something is the tallest and fastest, it doesn't mean it's the best buddy.
@@NOTwilliam. Have you been on hyperia lil fella ?
@lean2281 yes...
@@NOTwilliam. Lmao no you haven't
Maybe one day you will if you keep saving up your pocket money
Disenyland: Mine Train, Mickey Mouse, History of Park.
Thorpe Park: Disaster zone, 1950s themed wasteland, record setters.
Alton Towers: H A H A H A H A H A
History of park and record setters both also apply to Alton
I went there last week it’s terrifying
Join the ministry of joy and you wont be terriefied anymore i make you smile dont worry
Man this park is the most likely to theme a kids ride to something twisted, dark and horrifying.’
Good thing they have cebebes land
They did. Look up the POV for Thirteen
Hex, Th13teen
getting to the queue at 9:20, barely anyone there, listening to the music, getting super excited. THE MUSIC MAKES IT 100X BETTER
9:20????? Well I’m just going to give up getting there for 9:45 because it seems that people are arriving earlier and earlier now…
@@bomb3rhhh176 u gotta beat the crowd i got 16 rides last time
@@kirstylf you’re an Alton Towers pro…
@@bomb3rhhh176 ikr im so cool🤩
@@kirstylf ye
@ Alton Towers resort I love this video I love The Smiler have never been on it but it looks really amazing when does Alton Towers reopen again?