El Toro brings Six Flags Great Adventure something it has sorely needed, a phenomenal wooden coaster. I don't really rank my coasters, but if I did, this one would be up there pretty high.
The fun starts right on the lift hill, which is considerably faster then any other lift out there. You fly up it and around the turn around, and then down the first drop, and what a drop it is.
I don't really know how to best describe the first drop, it leaves you speechless. You are flung from your seat and don't land back into it until you reach the bottom. As you bottom out you plunge into the woodwork, with head choppers that are sure to make you put your hands down.
The next two hills are simply amazing, some of the best airtime hills on any coaster, anywhere. At the turn around you get thrown into a steep banked turn and dive down and around to the other side of the outbound track.
Next is one of the weak spots on the coaster, a few speed humps that give up some airtime, but not much, before a long left turn that leads to the twister section, with a great head chopper right in the middle of the turn.
Next comes the surprise element, the one that will WOW everyone that rides because it is hidden and unexpected. After crossing over Rolling Thunder, you dive into the twister section on this steep, abrupt hill that tosses you from your seat and then quickly flies through a right, left, right turn sequence that is lightning fast and stunningly close to the ground.
However, this is followed up by the weakest part of the ride, two little bunny hills that the train almost meanders over, giving little airtime. To the coasters credit, as the day wears on this section does speed up, but never really lives up to what the rest of the ride is.
And the rest of the ride is fantastic. Some people will not like how glass smooth it is, it feels like a steel coaster, but the general public reaction has been fantastic, and those are the opinions that really matter.
Externally, I love the rides location, you get great views of it, yet at the same time part of it is hidden and a surprise to riders. I love how the ride seems to wrap around the new Plaza Del Carnival section.
The trains are relatively comfortable, I think mostly because of the smooth ride, since there is little padding, and what there is of it is the harder foam. They do staple you in, and larger people will not be able to ride as the sensors on the train are very finicky. Operations were a little slow, but I think they will pick up are they get procedures down.
Overall, El Toro is a must ride, it is simply awesome and unlike any coaster out there.
UPDATE -
Ive now ridden the coaster at night, and boy does it pick up speed. There is air on every hill, and the train just flies through the course. It is still not enough for me to bump it to a ten because it is not consistent, but it is close.
EDIT - Corrected some spelling mistakes.
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