My El Toro Review

I heard last night El Toro opened, so I managed to sneak out of work today at 1:30pm to head to the park. I arrived at 2:10pm an went to guest relations about a parking pass problem. While there I asked about El Toro an she said it opened at 2pm to the public. I ran over there to see only a short line outside the Q. I waited about 15-20 minutes before they let people in. I was extremely pissed at the lack of security an the amount of line cutting going on. I said stuff to 5 or 6 people but just gave up!! GRRRR

After a 2 hour wait I boarded the very last row. After being stapled into your seat, off you go. Side note they tell you not to touch your lapbar or they reset the train and start lock down again. The trains are nice an look like they have stadium seating but I'm not 100% sure.

The lift was really fast maybe 5 seconds at most. The first drop is stellar an smooth as can be. The twist at the end are incredible and has to be the best part of the whole ride in my opinion. The ride is amazing smooth and quite. I mean it makes noise but not like your typical Woodie. He headchoppers look like they are gonna just do that chop your head. It was fun to watch people put there hands down when the beams came across.

The boosted the whole time I was inline about the air time. I was dissappointed and didn't feel much air time at all. Maybe 1 or 2 points. Its not an airtime machine like they said it was. :>(

I heard some compare it to SROS, I have to disagree. This is a great coaster, rates in my top 10 but no where near #1. There was a few guys who had Voyage shirts on, I should have asked them when they got off how it compared. Over all its a must ride coaster an is visually stunning to look at it. *** Edited 6/12/2006 10:40:55 PM UTC by Crashmando***

In so many photos I get the impression that the first drop being breath taking. Is that true? It seems like your going to smash into the earth when looking at the pictures. The train is very long and holds many riders. I'm very curious to know with all the extra train and weight if this would make the back seat pull like a rag doll over the first drop? *** Edited 6/12/2006 10:43:12 PM UTC by CoasterDiscern***

Sorry about spelling issues when I have so little time to be on here right now. *** Edited 6/12/2006 10:44:42 PM UTC by CoasterDiscern***

It was a solid drop, didn't take my breath away but was a fun drop.MAybe cause I was in the back it didn't look to steep for me since the rest of the train was in the way. A tunnel would have made it really sweet. The drop is good, don't get me wrong. Just wasn't breath taking to me.

On the way out I didn't feel much air time. I was hoping that on the first hill I'd fly out but nothing. On the return I got a few spots of it. The best was the pull in the turns at the end. The latteral G were amazing. My arms actually hurt from fighting them.

the train does appear as if long enough to make it really pull, but the ride is very balanced troughout the tain, with the ends being the best (front & back) & the middle being less exciting. I perfer the back, it pulls jus as much as any coaster does in the back. This is an awsome coaster, best at Great Adventure IMO.

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Crashmando said:
I was extremely pissed at the lack of security an the amount of line cutting going on.

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I also experienced this at Great Adventure during my 2005 trip. No respect at all.

Funny, most reports I've read have said that the drop into RT's infield is one of the most extreme moments if not the most extreme moment of airtime ever on a coaster the fellows have ridden. Any thoughts? *** Edited 6/12/2006 11:14:55 PM UTC by matt.***

Matt,

I believe that is where the ride actually becomes the awesome. Right as you dive into RT infield. Those turns an twist back there are truely awesome. I'm sure a bunch of people will write better reports than mine.

I don't understand how you didn't get any airtime at all on the first half. In the backseat the first drop had so much airtime it was crazy. And those first 2 hills were just constant, rip-yer-face-off ejector air for me.

I agree with the people who say that RT crossover is the most intense airtime they've ever felt. I've never experienced anything quite like that before.

http://www.prnewswire.com/broadcast/24634/consumer.shtml

Sound bites video has a full POV at the end. Good stuff.

AWESOME, my only qualms is it is waaaaay too short for a coaster of that size, but I'm sure they didn't have enough room to make it a lengthy ride anyway...

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Jason Hammond said:

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Crashmando said:
I was extremely pissed at the lack of security an the amount of line cutting going on.

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I also experienced this at Great Adventure during my 2005 trip. No respect at all.

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I mean what do you expect! Isn't it the Garden State? That's all the Guidos know how to do is cut in line; that is when they are not in their (waste management) careers!

I HATE the line cutter!!

^^^

http://www.scattando.it/1public/fotoutenti/12495.jpg

I just got back from Great Adventure and my first ride on El Toro. Hands down the best rollercoaster I have ever been on. I scoffed at the "greatest wooden rollercoaster claim" they advertised. However, after riding it, I take my words back because I DO agree it is the best wooden rollercoaster. I couldn't utter words after it, the ride just COMPLETELY blew my expectations out of the water. I knew it was going to be good but I had no idea it was going to be that good.

The first drop is absolutely amazing. The best drop I have ever experienced on a coaster hands down. I tried to put my hands up but couldnt and just ended up screaming. Yes, ET got screams out of me. The first coaster to do so in many many moons.

The 2 hills following are insanely fast and full of airtime. I have no idea where these people above were sitting but I sat in the very back and the airtime was killer.

The turnaround was quick, highly banked, and full of laterals. over a hill we go and into a long drawn out bunny hop with more air

The true glory of the ride is when you cross over rolling thunder. The airtime there is incredible.

The twister section at the end is full of lateral's and makes you appreciate those wing pads they have at shoulder height. I really liked this part. All those quick direction changes were great.

The entire ride is simply amazing. I really have a hard time putting it into words. Easily my number #1 coaster. The pacing is great, the airtime is there, the laterals, the g's, it has everything (and no midcourse.) Every train that came back into the station was full of people clapping and smiling and shouting "ole!"

The only bad thing was the PAINFULLY slow 1-train operation. They were seriously dispatching a train about every 15 minutes (possibly longer.) You are prohibited from pulling down your own restraint for some reason unbeknownst by me. But the attendants have to come down each row and pull everyones lap bar down, which absolutely STAPLES you in the seat. The wait today was around 3hrs. Thank god I had an exit pass!

Overall, the best coaster at six flags. Intamin built them a real hum dinger here and im sure your going to hear lots more about this guy. Make room in your top 10.

I will be riding it Saturday at CC I can't wait for ERT on it. I just realized how anti-SF this website is it should be called coasterbuzz for every park but SFs with out one mention of it on the front page news. I noticed you gave Voyage all kinds of coverage and lets face it besides the 3 coasters they don't have sh*t for good rides at HW.

Has anyone by chance been on this and The Voyage?

Any opinions?

I've now ridden Balder, Colossos, and El Toro, and can honestly say that, Balder, and Colossos are better than El Toro.

As a matter of fact, there is no room in my Top Ten list for El Toro.

BTW, I've ridden Voyage as well, and the intensity of Voyage is in it's nonstop barage of speed, speed, speed, all the way to the brake run.

El Toro's intensity is in it's extremely, uncomfortable, ejector airtime, which is doubled by the stapling factor. With that said though, El Toro, is definitely the more reridable coaster, of the 2. *** Edited 6/13/2006 5:32:16 AM UTC by Coasterphan***

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Ajrides said:
I just realized how anti-SF this website is it should be called coasterbuzz for every park but SFs with out one mention of it on the front page news. I noticed you gave Voyage all kinds of coverage...

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If you have a news story on the opening of the El Toro or any SF park in general then contribute it. :)

All news items are contributed by members. You might also notice that the Voyage articles/news items all seem to be contributed by Raven Maven - that's Paula from HW - or Paul Drabek who runs a great site that happens to do a lot of HW coverage, much of it with the complete cooperation of the folks at HW.

If anything, it's not a bias on the site but rather the ability of each park's PR person to do their job and bring attention to their parks and rides.

(and for the record, there have been no less that 14 news items covering Six Flags in the past 60 days)

EDIT - today's news item makes 15. :)

*** Edited 6/13/2006 2:40:16 PM UTC by Lord Gonchar***

Short, quick, and to the point here..

Station: Very Nice job. Will be nice to see more than 1 train on it in the near future, as well.

Lift: VERY, VERY FAST!

Drops 1, 2 3: Incredible EJECTOR airtime, great ''yank'' over the hills (in the back).

Turnaround: Nice, I suppose.

Small Hills/''Ramps'': Okay.

RT Crossover: AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME!

Curvy Part One: Whee!

Curvy Part Two: Kinda Slow.

Brakes, Ride, Trains: Smooth, Unobtrusive, Reminded me slighty of Giovanola & Intamin trains having a kid! Check out them lapbars!

Good ride.. not a top __ for me though. I need something slightly more
out of control (ie. Hades, Tremors, The Legend, etc)

Ps: I rode in the front of the second-to-last car.

Cool news cast matt. The video for myself is leading up to dorney dante's comments. Coming from me does not mean very much because I have not ridden. The video looks so intense and fast though. *** Edited 6/13/2006 6:27:47 AM UTC by CoasterDiscern***

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Crashmando said:

The boosted the whole time I was inline about the air time. I was dissappointed and didn't feel much air time at all. Maybe 1 or 2 points. Its not an airtime machine like they said it was. :>(

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I read this last night and didnt have time to comment but are you kidding me?! This comment has to be a joke right?! I also sat in the very last seat on my ride yesterday. How is it possible for me to get such a different ride than you in terms of airtime? I was thrown out of my seat like a rag doll over and over and over. It might have something to do with physical statures. I'm 5'6" 140lbs. Not a big guy by any means. I really cant think of any other thing that would contribute to such a contrasting ride deliverance....But you are definately thee first person I have heard say this.