Board

Alton Towers

The Smiler

The Smiler

Single riderFastrackOn-ride photo
Closed

X-SectorHours unavailable

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Specs

Manufacturer
Gerstlauer
Type
Infinity coaster
Rare
Most inversions worldwide
Restraint
Over-the-shoulder
Opened
2013
Height
30 m
Speed
52.8 mph
Wind limit
34 mph
Length
1170 m
Inversions
14
Duration
2m 45s

Weather close

Through the day

Low

Wind about 12 mph, gusts 17 mph. Limit 34 mph.

Unlikely Low Possible Likely

Train

4 cars · 4 across · 16 seats

Back

4321
8765
1211109
16151413

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 6 months

Today Typical
  1. 10:00 am

    —

    Typ. 29 min

  2. 11:00 am

    —

    Typ. 42 min

  3. 12:00 pm

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    Typ. 42 min

  4. 1:00 pm

    —

    Typ. 43 min

  5. 2:00 pm

    —

    Typ. 42 min

  6. 3:00 pm

    —

    Typ. 44 min

  7. 4:00 pm

    —

    Typ. 61 min

  8. 5:00 pm

    —

    Typ. 68 min

  9. 6:00 pm

    —

    Typ. 64 min

  10. 7:00 pm

    —

    Typ. 55 min

  11. 8:00 pm

    —

    Typ. 42 min

  12. 9:00 pm

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    Typ. 24 min

Today’s downtime

Today

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

Broke down 0 times today.

Reliability

100%

Solid

3 stops in six months · 1h 6m down

Past downtime

3 stops · 1h 6m

September 20263 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

Used to stand here

Black Hole

Black Hole

1984–2005 · Jet Star 2 · indoor

Schwarzkopf · 13.5 m

Sold — Rocket at Furuvik, Sweden (2011–2021). Not operating. Put up for sale after 2021.

The tent sat empty for years after the track left.