Thank you for watching! I apologise about a slight audio issue between 15:00-16:00, it seems that this part of the video didn’t render as planned!

I actually think The Smiler station is a highlight, it's sleek, love the dispatch sounds and the staff uniform.

As much as I hate the queue line for this ride, it really adds to the immersion that you're being funnelled through to this sinister human experiment. I don't think this was intentional but with the cattle pen and repeative soundtrack you really do arrive at the station feeling a little bit broken and ready for the experience.

We love the smiler. We had a smiler themed wedding cake in early 2015 and the cake topper was the train and the track descended down each tier of the cake

i think the concrete floor and cattle pen style of the outdoor queue line sort of matches the theming like you're being funnelled through into this facility in a inhuman kind of way; if that makes sense

I love the smiler. I always thought the Cattle pen was intended because you're being treated like cattle going to get marmalised and thought it was quite a good idea. Although I do agree it's looking a bit tatty now. I do love the station too it feels like you're somewhere clinical and you're being prepped for s procedure haha. But yes I love the lights I love seeing into the operation booth and giving the ops a little wave and the uniforms 🥰

The smiler has always been my favourite ride, and it’s really nice to hear that it opened 7 years ago today!! 🥳

I don't mind the fact that the Smiler has gone a bit bland and empty on the theming, the simple colour and detail scheme emphasizes the idea of a clean, medical facility style operation, with the concrete cattle pen queue line making you feel like a simple test subject lining up to be corrected. I also like the themed screens in the queue line that show the "marmalisation" process, as well as the audio announcements in the building like "You will now begin your correctional procedure" that really help emphasize the psychological feel. That decent amount of theming combined with a brilliant ride experience makes the Smiler my firm favourite at Alton.

The Smiler is the roller coaster that cured my fear of coasters. So glad I queued up last October. What a ride

front row in the dark at scarefest is amazing i loved it

Shaun: "Its a good solid lifthill" 🤣

I love The Smilers soundtrack but when you're in a 3 hour queue and it's on repeat its excruciating!

One of the best rides I’ve ever been on. The theming, the queue line, logo, staff uniforms, dispatch room and the roller coaster it’s self. Perfect ride 😀👍🏼

The fact you can’t process what’s happening is why it’s so genius. I never know what the hell just happened to me after I’ve been on that ride. I can never remember the details after and I can only handle doing it once per visit. Its definitely the most immersive and effective theme for me. It’s too epic this ride.

I have to say unlike other Gerstlauer ride, the Smiler is one of my absolute favourites. It's certainly a bit rough, but the theming and soundtrack really make it for me. I can entirely understand why it's not for some though!

Love the ride. I first went on it when I was 16. That day was a memory as my school went for our leavers party

The Smiler will always be in my memories because of a presentation I did back in school in English class about roller coasters where I also talked about its inversion record =D Everyone laughed at me back then because we could choose the topic of the presentation ourselves and I immediately went for roller coasters xD Can't believe I still haven't been on it :/

Happy birthday to The Smiler! and me ;)

Oh yeah Shawn absolutely love the smiler, missing it loads

Doing it on its birthday I see! Very smart of you! Also love the amount of passion you put into every video you do! Especially the bookworm restoration!

I rode The Smiler for the first time last year and was shocked at how smooth it was due to everything I’d heard about it. It’s right up there with Nemesis for me, I love the sound of the trains going around the track and how relentless it is to ride - I hope it continues to be as enjoyable as it was when I rode it in 2019! 🎢

Thank you so much for doing this review! The Smiler is one of the big reasons why Alton Towers is so high on my bucket list of parks to visit. I thought it was interesting that you brought up the roughness towards the end. I immediately thought that it's likely going to be the trains that are the problem. While track does constantly get warped a bit over time, the structure that's holding it up looks incredibly well engineered. You can see the structure sway a little bit to absorb the impact of trains running with quite a bit of weight at high speed. Whereas the trains wear a lot more easily over time. It sounds like train work that was done has really done the trick. I hope it stays as comfortable until I'm finally able to ride in hopefully a year's time!

Great Review as always Shawn. I really enjoy The Smiler but like you, I did find it was becoming unbearable a couple of years ago. I still went on it because my fiancee loved it so much but last year I started to enjoy it again! My favorite position is at the front on the inside, the sea serpent element into the airtime hill feel amazing at the front. I actually really love the theming, it's so original and I think the cult-like following it has really shows that. The concept art did look cool and normally I'd be in favour of the more rundown, gritty theming, but I really like the polished look the station has now. Obviously, Wicker Man takes it to a whole new level but I like to think Smiler pathed the way for Big Bob!

This was the ride that stopped my fear of rollercoasters

I remember swearing never to ride it after the accident but now I’m obsessed with it 😂 The only flaw in my opinion is the corkscrew at the end is so rough but still love it either way

Wanted to mention the audio quality of your videos! I commented not too long ago in your old studio area that there was quite a bit of echo and raspy sounds and some panels and things may improve it. Looks like you nailed it in this new recording spot! Love the quality and content of the channel lately!

i actually love the station It rlly fits with the theme in my opinion but they should definitely redo the downstairs room It’s in pretty bad shape

The smiler is the best at towers

I like the smiler station and queue because it feels like you're in cages waiting to be put under.

you may not hear this about a ride much but the smell of the ride makes it for me! so memroable implented in my mind from the first time i rode it (and then the 4 straight after)! , theming, colour, sounds, everything was just impecible

Hey Shawn, I went to Thorpe park a few weeks ago and didn’t go on anything as I was so scared! I regretted it when I got home, and started watching all of your videos, your excitement and enthusiasm is so catchy!! So we booked Alton towers for the weekend just gone and I went on every single coaster including the smiler. I have a new found love for coasters, I loved nemesis too and the feeling on Rita was something I’d never experienced before! thanks to you & Charlotte I now get to enjoy themeparks! Loved this smiler review agree with everything you said! THANK YOU ☺️

Yessssss, who doesn’t love a good review from shawn 🙈🙈 thanks shawn for making this 🥳

Alton Towers : 14 looping coaster The smiler : I don't even have one loop Enthusiasts : 🤦‍♀️

Is it just me or is there some audio issues? Around 15:00

really do love the smiler, yes the last couple inversions are rough but i don’t think it takes too much away from how good the rest of the ride is

There's audio issues @15:03 The video and audio are out of sync! oops Great review though. 2nd favourite coaster at AT

Really nice video Shawn! Love the ride reviews as we get a real in depth look to what you think. Keep it up 👍👏

I have a soft spot for The Smiler, out of the hundreds of times i've been on it there was only one time I ever thought it was rough. Right on the back row at the far left. I had a bit of a headbashing but it was nothing too crazy. Such a great coaster but I agree, it certainly needs a theming upgrade, it's a little basic in places throughout the queue-line and especially inside the main building.

Awesome review as always! I'd love to see a video comparing concept art to final coasters 😀

Another fabulous video shawn! You have really helped me through the pandemic!

Love the Smiler. Can't wait to get back on it. Loved the review!

I hope the world record will stay it just makes the ride more crazy and awesome

I rode the Smiler the day after it opened with my mum. We waited something like 2 hours in the queue line and I remember saying "G-Force" the entire way round. I'm not much of a screamer and if anything, I'll talk throughout the ride or just be quiet. Nowadays, I still love the ride, although I think that the projection mapping in the indoor queue line has gotten worse. Sometimes it doesn't work. I remember when there used to be optical illusions on the back of the seats which used to give me a headache but of course they removed them. There is this one staff member who I think is one of the main ride operators for the Smiler who helped my sister overcome her fears of the ride and I always like to wave to her whenever I go on the ride (if she is there of course). After many times going on the Smiler, I have calculated that the photo is taken after the 10th loop and it's nearest to the wall next to the main path. The vertical lift hill is also a nice element and it's even better when your train drops down the same time as the other one on the other lift hill. When it's sunny, I even like to pretend that I'm sunbathing.

Seems a very fair review of the the Smiler Shawn and I have to agree with you on the points raised. I went on it on the O2 priority buyout day in March of this year and had a few rides in different positions. It was quite smooth for one of the rides that I had but another was a similar level of roughness to what I remember from back in 2018, hopefully it just needed running in and we should all be able to have some better rides on it later this year :)

The coaster that brought me to Alton back in 2013, been going every year ever since!

I really wanna go on the smiler

Happy birthday Smiler! 🎉 My No.3 and a ride that has intimidated me for a while. Can't wait to get back on this mesmerising beast soon!

Your vids are amazing,I watch your Alton vlogs cuz I miss the park

i live waving to the people on the path at the top of the lift hills

I want to Drayton Manor and saw some queue jumpers the park staff told them to get some Drayton Manners

Remember my first Ride on the smiler last year. It was amazing. It did the job too, as me and my brother couldn't stop laughing. Absolutely brilliant. That trip was the first time in six years that we went, we tried to ride the smiler back when it 2013. But was closed the day we went. The opening of the smiler was a nightmare

Got to go on it, front row in June (before the accident happened), loved it on the summer's day, and sadly haven't been back to Alton Towers since.

Loved the video! :) Hate to say it but this is probably one of the most uncomfortable/painful coasters I've been on, like you said, its gotten so rough and some of those inversions just throw you about. Think Saw The Ride at Thorpe could also really do with a bit of TLC, another one that hurts a lot to ride and bruises you!

I must ride it one day. Shame a part of your video didn’t render well. Good video! :)

I love that ride, i first went on it when I as 13, and I went on it 3 times in a row!

Hi Shaun brilliant review as always. I have hit and miss relationship with the smiler, being over 6 foot I can stick my head out of the restraints for the rough parts so not so bad but feel bad for shorter riders, last summer 2019 my sister was heavily bruised around her ears after getting a back right ride twice (single rider), would prefer lap bars everytime!! Can we have a review of the original haunted house? Surely it is time to get it back running to its original spec, so much better then duel!! Can we start a campaign to bring it back? Keep up the good work mate.

Congratulations on the anniversary for you and the near misses!

I feel like they nailed the theme, music and all. I think it’s be a lot poorer if they had made it something else. All for adding to it though, can never have too much theming!

Great review. Definitely a unique coaster and a great use of space. Depends on where you sit in terms of roughness but it’s something we should be proud to have in the UK!

I never got on it or seen it and I will probably never get on it but still I feel something for that ride

Looking back on all the fond memories of this attraction has made Shawn a smiler. *canned laughter*

It’s slowly becoming one of my favourites at Alton towers. Still need to brave the front row along with the front row on Rita

I was petrified to go on the ride few years ago but now I absolutely love it I don't like that bright flashing light in the queue tho, happy birthday smiler🥳

was my 3rd ever ride, went on when i was 11 in opening season, still absolutely love it

Love these reviews. Great summary of the smiler but what happens at 15 mins? haha! bit of a mix up on the audio voice over i think my dude!

I absolutely love your reviews the smiler has always been one of my favourite coasters I do remember when it was a bit rough at times I was in alton tower at Octoberfest and no complaints it felt a lot smoother going round the track absolutely love it 😀

Formerly, Merrie England at 18:38. That will keep us smiling at 24:04 like 5 years ago as thank goodness we weren’t on the accident and talking of being safe, make sure you and Shawn keep staying safe and well. 😊

One of my favourite roller coasters for sure

I agree I would love too see a bit more done with the smiler. It's so popular and it's got such a cult following they could do a lot with in the station and the queue line. They did so much with the Backstory aswell.

The smiler is my favourite ride at the park

The smiler is amazing, it’s a nice long ride and consistently thrilling! Nice video Shawn! 👍

This was the first tpww video i had ever watched, and ever since i have been hooked

The 2nd half is amazing, except for the Cobra Roll of course The double corkscrews at the end are my favourite inversions on the ride Also one of my favourite memories as an enthusiast was riding this with you back in 2018!

Love this ride It’s one of my fav rides at Alton

Loved the video. I don’t think they would get away with taking out some of the cattle pen cos the smiler gets HUGE Queues

Smiler is my favourite rollercoaster in UK however every time I've been on it, I've been on row 1 or 2 so I've been very lucky! Is this your favourite infinity coaster Shawn or have you got a different favourite?

Ayy! Smile Always :) Is it supposed to repeat the same segment twice when you are talking about the batwing?

I’ve been to a fair few theme parks over the years, Europe, USA, UK… and I have to say, having taken my 11 year old daughter to Alton Towers for her first time today… and my first visit since the early 1990’s… The Smiler is, to us, entirely different level. We loved the Wicker Man, beautiful.. ferocious, screamathon fun on the back seats but… The Smiler, entirely intimidating, awe inspiring, star struck, funny, oh we laughed with amazement… can’t not mention the history, sad… very very sad… but so mightily impressed with it today. We are back tomorrow and that will be our main focus for the day with a few other rides for good measure but it’s all about The Smiler. And great channel btw wave watched a lot this last few months.

It doesn't feel like its been 6 years since I first went on it

I went on it for the first time last year and I thought it was great. can’t wait to get on it again. 😁

This ride is brilliant, and the music is epic (the non laughing/voice parts)

Love how much a ride can change where you sit. I like the front... feels less intense than the back

Loving the reviews!

Rode it on opening week, blew me away. However over the years I have now almost am identical view of it as you Shawn - some rides on it have been great, some rough. Station and queue need some TLC, some love. Still an amazing ride that the public love and still an experience you can't find anywhere else in the world.

I absolutely love the smiler. It’s my favourite roller coaster in the uk. When I first went on it with my mum and dad a few years ago my mum hated it and dad was a bit 50-50 but I loved it. I have lots of smiler merch lol

Thanks for your videos they are great. Stayed at the hotel in March for a weekend and did smiler about 15 times (wasn’t busy). Funny enough I thought the same as you, front of the cars where smooth, the back was rough! Still enjoyed it though.

I actually quite like the bare, clinical station building. Fits the theme well. But I agree about the queue line - and they need to do something about the flooding!

I've only been to Alton Towers and Blackpool Pleasure Beach so far in my life, but The Smiler is my favourite ride I've been on so far.

Another great video Shawn 👍🏻

great video as always Shawn! It's important that we all have different opinions on different coasters. In my opinion, I think The Smilers theming is perfect, I like how it's bland, I love how the queue is cattle pen too, it makes you feel like cattle, which is perfect for the rides theming. The soundtrack is perfect, it's so annoying and catchy, which makes you feel like the smiler is taking over your mind, gotta love imascore! I also have never found the smiler top be that painful, I most of the time sit at the back and I've never had an issue. Yes you can feel it a bit, but I think that's a good thing, I know that sounds crazy, but I think it adds to the out of control feeling it has. Loved the video!

I do enjoy The Smiler, but agree it has become rough. I have to endure it rather than enjoy it these days, but I can’t visit AT and not ride it. Lack of theming in the station doesn’t bother me, as you’re not actually in there for that long. Really enjoy these reviews. Thanks, as always. 😄

Love your vids!!! Exited to watch this video!!!😃

Can't wait to get back on my favourite ride tomorrow!!

Amazing video! Love this ride

This ride means a lot to me. It’s not my number 1 coaster and I don’t think it’s even the best in the park but I remember riding this for the first time and this was the ride which made me an enthusiast. I was so scared to go on but somehow my cousin convinced me to go on but when I came off I loved it. I came off thinking ‘I don’t know what just happened but I need more of it’. I love this ride. 😁

When I first ride the smiler it was my no 1 coaster of all time

Shawn where does this rank amongst other Alton Towers coasters for you?

The Smiler Shop TV man Is Having A Party Smile... Always

Ever since it opened the Smiler has been my favourite ride just a bit of a shame they toned everything down after the accident although I do understand why they did

I would like to see something new after the removal of correction. Great video as always keep it up and smile always.