KarlaKoaster

This looks like such a great coaster.

Agreed with Winjas. I also like how Gerstlauer sneak in a cheeky inversion at the beginning/end of a lot of their coasters. I also think the surprisingly big last drop on Apollo's Chariot would be a great surprise had it not been in plain view from the queueline.

Yep, the drop is 87-degrees. I think most (if not all?) of the smaller diver coasters have shallower drops.

Really lovely looking ride! I think the sign is a nod to John's Weather Forecasting Stone: https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3544/3442057248_dbaf4823a0_b.jpg

In a way I'm sad I read that because the surprise is gone But in a way I'm happy because I probably would have crapped myself when it happens

Help me to help you Have you been to both parks? Recently? Where are you staying because if it's a coin toss between the two then maybe do the one closest to you. Also do you prefer coasters or dark rides? Rides or theming? They're both pretty different parks and both great in their own individual ways.

The preview image makes it look like a smiley version of Jaws

Oh amazing! You've made me happy but also feel quite silly in just four words Thanks for reposting those, sorry I missed them on previous pages I genuinely had no idea Efteling had done this, but did wonder just by where the lever was positioned in the train.

Oh my! This is gorgeous! I would love it if those levers at the front of the station actually served a purpose (such as opening the gates or being the secondary dispatch button). Efteling have been so obsessive over the details on this ride that I wouldn't put it past them

Yes you're absolutely right. She's had something like seven operations, presumably most of which were to try and save her leg. Fortunately it is a below-knee amputation which is a lot easier to live with, while the other girl had it amputated above the knee. I hope that Alton Towers will be true to their word in being as generous as possible with compensation so that they can both have the best prosthetics, best rehabilitation and best support so that they can live as normal a life as possible. I don't doubt that this will be the case.

Unfortunately a second girl has had to have her leg amputated following the Smiler collision: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-33296533

Just seen the post in this thread about the park installing Go Pro mounts on their coasters... GENIUS! Love this idea and how the park are encouraging people to film on rides by giving them a safe way to do so.

I don't see why it would stop them doing Pride parties in the future, but this is really bad news and it's incredible that they got away with quite so much money.

Foodloop Have fun!

Ah wow, really! I did wonder if it might be language related (for example German language capitalises words mid-sentence) but thought I would comment anyway It was only light-hearted though, and the theming looks great still

I thought the theming on Baron was amazing until I saw a rogue apostrophe in the word Pizzas

I love how well themed this coaster is, but I am not normally a fan of pre shows because they always feel too isolated from the actual ride, ie you will see a pre show then get on a coaster... the two don't normally really mesh together. It will be interesting to see how it feels on Baron.

That is such a great video! It looks like a really nice coaster. Is the music the ride theme?

No, but that sounds really strange! Have you tried different browsers, disabling extensions in your browser or maybe clearing your cookies?

Another update from one of the victims, this time Vicky Balch who was sat next to Leah Washington in the middle of the row. She is currently battling against also having an amputation. One sad thing is that her dad realised it was her from the TV coverage and that this was point he realised his daughter was involved. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33155853

Any ride is capable of such a malfunction if not operated correctly, that is why Spinball, Dragon's Fury, Rattlesnake etc were closed. Even if that wasn't the case, why should it be removed because of a single accident? Should we also get rid of planes, cars and trains because they have crashed too?

Obviously it's speculation, but I think renaming the ride would be a good move as I think as a brand 'Smiler' is damaged. Merlin are all about "the brand", and I think with this accident and the ride's previous history the name Smiler will always sit awkwardly with the GP. I'm actually a brand consultant so this side of thing is really interesting to me, so I wonder if Alton Towers will rename/brand the ride, and will make a huge announcement to this affect. I can totally see when they plan to reopen the ride how they will go to great lengths to say 'we have changed this', 'we have improved that' and 'we have added this' so that this can never happen again. And there is no better way to underline this fact by announcing a new name almost as if they are wiping the slate clean.

Smiler is weird, I can't work out if I like it or not... I think it's probably a high 6/10. It can be quite rough but I do actually like the layout and although it is loop after loop, there is a lot of variety with the inversions so it doesn't feel that repetitive. My biggest problem with it is that it feels like 2 coasters one after the other because of the mid course lift hill which seems to take ages because you wait at the bottom of it. I also agree with Ed Farmer. I always love Gerstlauer's layouts but none of their coasters have really shaken up my top 10 or even top 25 yet.

My thought is that it is nice that so many parks recently seem to be willing to make a go of duelling coasters after Universal gave up on duelling Dragon's Challenge. I think Wingriders would be really well suited to duelling, but I guess it's just one of many ideas they're exploring at the moment?

I am not a fan of the Daily Mail but that is a very interesting interview, and it is interesting to hear his thoughts and very sad to hear how it will affect his life and that of his girlfriend's. I understand how he's angry that the park didn't realise there was a stalled train. Even now it seems strange how an accident like this can happen on such a modern ride in a park that takes safety so seriously.