Coaster Zone: The Rollercoaster Social Network

The Smiler is a steel roller coaster, manufactured by Gerstlauer and located at Alton Towers in Staffordshire, United Kingdom. The Smiler was scheduled to open in March but after delays they announced it would be opening on the 23rd May. With even more delays and problems The Smiler was delayed until today, where they had a soft opening. The Smiler has taken the inversion record from Colossus located at Thorpe Park with 14 inversions.

I can't wait till I get down to Alton Towers and experience this world beating rollercoaster.

It also looks amazing when it duels, lets hope they can get the timing sorted so that it constantly duels.

This ride does look amazing and do want to ride it. Even though I live local enough to go tomorrow or whenever but I think I will hold off for a bit to let the queues die down. I don't really want to wait in a 2 hour plus queue.

New signs are showing the ministry of joy have been behind x-sector all along.

The well known enthusiast Shawn Sanbrooke, was lucky to be on the first public train of The Smiler and also on the front row.

And that sign is brilliant, I had a massive feeling that a descriptive sign like that was going to be made by Towers.

I rode The Smiler yesterday and it is absolutely amazing and is now my third favourite rollercoaster, however I do fear that the coaster won't age well. It has at least successfully brought new life into the X-Sector area of the park, and there was a real buzz around the area.
I also found out from some senior members of staff at Towers that The Smiler was never planned to duel.

I managed to get on The Smiler twice, I entered the queue line instantly after I heard the rumors of it opening at the park's entrance and I was on the 10th public train of operation, and as the extended the opening of the park by half an hour, I joined The Smiler queue right before they closed it's line for my second go on it.
Sadly I wasn't able to take any pictures or record the coaster, as I didn't expect it to be open, however Shawn Sanbrooke did.

However off and onride videos of this coaster, don't really do The Smiler any justice.

Shawn Sanbrooke does do very good videos, he got some nice dueling action.
CoasterForce's Furie was at Alton Towers today, and also recorded an off ride video.

I can't wait to ride this, but haven't yet set a date for it yet, but I will hold of for a little so that it can work in any bugs it may have.

Does anyone know how many people have been sick on the smiler already?

I don't think we will ever know a real number, however I reckon a few have already probably been sick on it, especially if they have eaten before they ride, but considering it has had over 2 hours queues since opening, all food would have probably settled.

CF's Mushroom was also on that first train! (second row, far right) Would have loved to be on that train but I didn't have any idea when it was opening. Plus, by the time I got there, There would have been too many people there.