Board

Alton Towers

The Smiler

The Smiler

Single riderFastrackOn-ride photo
Closed

X-SectorOpen · 10:00 am–4:00 pm

Specs

Manufacturer
Gerstlauer
Type
Infinity coaster
Opened
2013
Height
30 m
Speed
52.8 mph
Length
1170 m
Inversions
14
Duration
2m 45s

Captain’s Review

Highlights

  • record-breaking inversions
  • immersive theming
  • strong airtime hills
  • long ride duration
  • unique layout

Concerns

  • rough final inversions
  • headbanging restraints

The Smiler is celebrated for its record‑breaking 14 inversions, compact yet lengthy layout, and immersive, quirky theming with a memorable soundtrack. Riders love the intense, disorienting experience and the two surprising airtime hills that break up the inversion barrage. A common complaint is the roughness and head‑banging feel of the last few inversions, especially with the over‑the‑shoulder restraints. Ride comfort can vary depending on train and seat position, leading to occasional inconsistency. Overall, the positives far outweigh the negatives, making it a top‑rated coaster for most enthusiasts.

From Captain Coaster

Average wait

Each hour · last 2 months

Today Typical
  1. 10:00 am

    Typ. 45 min

  2. 11:00 am

    Typ. 50 min

  3. 12:00 pm

    Typ. 52 min

  4. 1:00 pm

    Typ. 56 min

  5. 2:00 pm

    Typ. 61 min

  6. 3:00 pm

    Typ. 63 min

Today’s downtime

Today

No stops recorded for this ride today. History is kept for two months.

Broke down 0 times today.

Reliability

78

Good

3 stops in two months · 1h 6m down

Earlier

3 stops · 1h 6m

Wed 2 Sept

  1. 5:05 pm – 5:59 pm · 54 min

Tue 1 Sept

  1. 3:56 pm – 4:04 pm · 7 min

  2. 3:56 pm – 4:02 pm · 5 min