Great Adventure first timer..advice needed!

Yep. Skull Mountain in the back is the biggest surprise in the park. (Well, Toro is awesome but you probably already knew that).

Skull Mountain was a blast. No effects were working when I rode, but I think I rode it like 3 times that day, it was so much fun!

The first time I went to Great Adventure (2001 on a big trip from Iowa), my buddy and I liked Skull Mountain so much we skipped the Batman credit for a re-ride. Only got about 5 of the coasters that day as operations were horrible. I'd day they have definitely been MUCH better since then, BUT some of their rides are always poorly operated, namely Rolling Thunder and Superman.

They have good food? I wouldn't know, as it's too expensive for me to justify giving them any money.

It's cheaper than cedarfair food. And slghtley better.

Well I don't give them money either unless it's for Cheese On A Stick (even they can get that right) or occasionally Tacos at Dorney (a pretty good deal for food sans drink IMO).