I'm a Jersey native so this being my home park, I have 100s if not approaching 1000 rides on this thing. I still have an ear to ear smile every single ride! The rawness of this thing is just amazing! Definitely top 3 coaster for me!
I'm also an NJ native. After having such a rough and bad experience on Boulder Dash at Lake Compounce and hearing online rumblings of El Toro being rough, I was worried during my first visit to Great Adventure in about 25 years on my birthday yesterday. I got on line for Kingda Ka to end my night but saw it was somewhat long and didn't want to keep my family waiting so I ran over to El Toro which was almost a walk on. Holy Moly! What a great ride, especially at night! I had to leave my glasses behind so I couldn't see which was the wheel seat. They are also kinda buried under there. So based on the description in this video, I think I did sit on a wheel seat and still, the roughness isn't comparable. If Boulder Dash was a 9 out of 10 on a roughness scale, El Toro was maybe a 3. Just like you, I plan to ride this over and over every time I return. It was that amazing, especially at night. Even waiting in the station, the coaster zoomed all around us on every side of the station. What an atmosphere! So sure, I missed out on riding the world's tallest coaster, but I think I still got the better end of the deal. 😁
I love that you pointed out some of the imperfections (rough spots & weaker hills), while also recognizing it as a 10/10 coaster. Some people will hype a ride up as absolute perfection, and then people will ride it and be a little disappointed. By mentioning the tiny flaws, it will help people to not be let down. El Toro is not quite in my top 10, but I've only had one visit where it was open. I need to get back on it! I'm more excited for re-rides on it than anything.
Don't expect this to be really "tame" by any standards though. When I rode this a couple days ago, it was the most intense ride I've ever had on el toro. Granted, I haven't ridden it in years, but I expected the air time to be a bit weaker because of the reviews on it now. That was not the case.
@@jessicagollmert4700 It´s totally normal, yes. On most coasters, there´s some cleareance between the rails and the upstop wheels (that´s the wheels under the rails that stop the train from flying off). So when you go through an airtime moment, the upstop wheels make contact with the rail and now the cleareance gap is between the rails and the road wheels.
SFGAV is my home park, so I have ridden This coaster many times, I have noticed that when this ride is going really fast, those 2 middle hills deliver good airtime especially the first one, if you are in the back of the train you don’t get just floater, you can get flo-jector airtime.
Pretty accurate, although I love the back row for the first drop and double camelbacks. Honestly, if the ride ended after those two camelbacks it'd still rank in my top 10, that's how amazing the ejector is on those first few moments on the ride. Definitely my favorite start to any coaster. I agree there's some moments that don't hit, but I don't see this leaving my top 10 either.
Out of the 8 times I rode Toro, my ass has lifted off the seat during the "floater" hill not once lol. Definitely the weakest point of the ride in my eyes. If they put in it's place two smaller flojector hills like something you would find on Phoenix at Knoebles, then I think that would be a huge improvement to what they were trying to do at that part. But that's the only part for me that really kills the vibes. Other than that, I don't have much to complain about.
Great Adventure local here! Love this review! It is really accurate. My favorite seats on Toro are the row 18 (the very back), 17 (second to back), 4, and 5. I found the airtime to be the most sustained (at least I feel this way) on the three major ejector moments after the drop. I also don't really care for roughness since it adds quite a bit to the intensity of it! Also, just wondering, will we see a Skyrush re-review? I am thoroughly enjoying these re-reviews: not saying the old ones are bad, it's just that your filming and editing skills have improved so much over time that I would love to see more of these redos.
As a person who is deathly afraid of roller coasters ( I have not been on nitro), El Toro was super pleasant. It’s bumpy nature made me feel like I was holding on for dear life on a wild bull and I loved every minute of it.
I go to SFGA every year but last summer I rode El Toro (before it closed for the season), late in the day, in the rain after a dry spell in the last car....Best.Ride.Ever! It was flying through the track.
I've ridden El Toro more than any other coaster. For a long time, it was my favorite but is currently my 4th after I rode Steel Vengeance, I305 and Fury 325. Best row is row 17 specifically on Train A (one that derailed last year). Front row is great but no way in Hell I'm waiting 15 extra minutes for it. Usually when I marathon the ride, I sit where there is an empty seat since the park is ok with you getting rerides as long as a seat is gonna go empty. Which makes it possible to get several rides in a row without having to go back in line even if it's not a walk on. Has the best first drop and Rolling Thunder hill is the best airtime hill I experience. Also have to agree that there is a lack of seat padding because it literally can "kick" your ass.
The first coaster i had ever ridden. I was led to believe wooden coasters weren’t as scary as metal looped ones. Fear turned to thrill once i felt the airtime for the second hill. It’s so perfectly named. Because it literally feels like you’re on a bucking bull. Made me fall in love with thrill rides
I... I just rode this coaster for the first time today. Ride Em all. My home park is Cedar Point, and IM SO IMPRESSED 💯💯😁😁🎉🎉🎉. Rode The Joker first and I knew right away I was in for an experience. Went from there to superman, my first flyer, and also was completely giddy after that pretzel knot. All the photos of me I look insane after all that. Went from there to green lantern (I've ridden mantis a few times, and I have watched my dad ride GA scorcher before when I was very young) I also lived outside Atlanta when I was younger, so I've ridden a few from there, but not many because I was very afraid when I was younger😢. I have also ridden kingda ka now, but have also ridden old dragster. I rode nitro, and the dive elements on that and it's overall length in general are super refreshing (especially after everything at Hershey Park being 20 seconds long). Another fun addition I was happy to catch, Medusa! It was nestled there in the back behind El Toro, all unassuming, and it ended up being my last ride of the night. If I had to make a list it would have to be 1 ElToroRyan 2 Nitro 3 Superman 4 Joker (Genuinely shocked me into realizing what I was dealing with) 6 Jersey Devil 7 Medusa 8 Kingda ka 9 batman 10 green lantern
On point. I LOVE, LOVE, I MEAN LOVE THIS COASTERS. I lucked out and was able to ride this roller coaster on opening day. Growning up in Providence Rhode Island I had the chance to go to Six Flags Great Adventure about four times a year. Fun fact though I only started going to Six Flags Great Adventure in 2005 the year King Da Ka opened up. To see and be able to ride one of, if not the best coaster I've ever been on a year later definitely made this park one of the best I've ever been at. It will always have a place in my heart.
I am a huge 2nd-to-last-row on El Toro guy but I think I need to try the front row again, it's been a while since I've been on the front so I guess I gotta give it a shot. I agree with all of your points though, especially the noise of the airtime, Steel Vengeance is another "Hear the Airtime" coaster, the sound of the Catch Dog slamming up and down on the the hills, I love it. This is my 2nd favourite coaster of all time (Second to Steel Vengeance), and favourite Wooden Coaster of all time (With Lightning Racer being my favourite traditional wooden roller coaster)
The drop was extremely intense and I was yeeted out of seat on drop and hills in back. I was like , "WHAT THE HECK!" It was awesome tho. Just not preferred seat. Gen r1 to r4 for me.
Intamin boss calls in engineer that worked on El Toro and asks ‘you know that bat 💩crazy woodie you did?…how’d you like to give a go with Steel?’. Enter SkyRush
Nah ah, I take offence that you consider Skyrush to be a steel version of El Toro, Skyrush hurts a lot (Thigh Crush and that first turn is hard to fight) and just isn't as enjoyable as El Toro
Love this coaster. When I finally got my youngest daughter on this ride, I was trying to explain what a head chopper effect was. When we came up to it on the back part after the first turn around, I turn to her and she is flopped forward in her seat ducking.
I finally got to ride El Toro and agreed so much with your review. Incredible to just look at and that first drop knocks you out. I have to say the seats are truly uncomfortable and because of the wind and not enough people in line to fill the trains, they wouldn’t allow me to sit in the next to last row, I sat in the 5th row and had a very rough ride in the morning…and a very slow second half. Despite this, it’s still a work of art with that amazing layout. I’ve never experienced a wooden rollercoaster with that kind of largesse to it.
I went to SFGA this past Saturday. Bad news it was rainy and they closed the park after being open 1 hour. Good news, I was able to finally ride El Toro 5 times!
my first time i rode in last car second to last row and it was insane for my time, second time was front row and it was crazy as well. my 2nd favorite coaster over all ** skyrush is #1
A Six Flags Great Adventure is my home park! I am a NYC resident and it really is the best ride of the park! I went on April 20th 2022 and my last ride was El Toro and it was soo good! My cousins who never went on it before literally cried and said it was the best
I rode El Toro not too long ago during Frightfest and I will say the ride does run a lot rougher on a wheeled seat. While I think it’s my personal favorite ride in the park, sitting on a non-wheeled seat is the way to go. Highly recommend the second row front and back car. It does need a massive refurbishment like what Heide Park did to Colossos a few years ago.
When I first went on this ride, it was soo insane. The first drop is terrifying, I closed my eyes but you can still feel every bit of that drop. Everything after the drop is so forceful and intense, I’ve never ridden a rollercoaster this crazy. This was also violently rough but that adds to the craziness. On the final airtime hill, the ride got so intense that I actually thought the ride derailed. Overall, this ride is pure intensely.
I love El Toro and Nitro. My two favorites at the park. Just great drops on both of those. The restraints keep you locked in which I appreciate, and I love that it's a lap bar and seatbelt. I've ridden the front and the back and both are equally good. The whole thing is amplified in the back cars.
Currently it is my #5 overall. I got 7 rides last year during a very wet cold windy day so I didn't experience it in prime condition but I still came away really impressed. I only have Steel Vengeance, Lightning Rod, Iron Gwazi, and Velocicoaster ahead of it. I think El Toro might have the best start to any coaster with that that drop followed up by the 2 camelbacks.
Oh yea I used to walk past it after looking at it with fear but now that I rode it 4x , I love it. It is my second wooden besides Cyclone in NY. I love the insane drops and ejector airtime. My stomach always tickles on first drop and hills. It is awesome!!!! 👌 my BFF are with me everytime screaming down the steep drop. Next I'll throw arms up on hills likely. 12/10.
I was in the park on the 29th of April. In the mornin they had it closed and were running it empty. But when I got to ride it at around 2pm, for whatever reason no one was really going to the back so I was fortunate enough to be able to ride it back to back in the back row without getting off. I could’ve even gone a third time but it was too much for me. Great ride tho. Was surprised I was able to stay on though since the line was decently long, I guess no one was deciding to go past the garbage can in the station.
This roller coaster remind me of the Zephyr Roller Coaster at the New Orleans La. Pontchartain Beach. It's no longer their anymore...but it was fun. That was also wooden. To me it's all about the drops with wooden Roller Coasters.👍🏾
for me, the only coaster that i’ve ridden that comes near el toro is velocicoaster. i have no idea which one i like more, but they’re my favorites by far. the dead spots on the ride still offer force, but just not as much as the rest of the ride. plus, the headchoppers make up for it. the dead spot is done in a few seconds anyways. also, when it’s running fast, it’s running *fast*. it can be a bit rough, which some of my GP friends dislike. my one friend who’s kinda in the middle of trying to become a coaster enthusiast says they should rmc it, which honestly made me speechless. el toro should never be rmcd.
My Home park.. love this ride my fave in the whole park … morning bit slow but as the day goes it flies .. got my son on it for the first time totally scared at first next we were doing re-rides and he’s smiling ear to ear … and going up the lift hill it towers over Medusa to the right
Amazing ride but a little one-dimensional with its elements… I prefer Troy and Wodan style woodies with lots of little high speed dips and sudden pops of different forces. Also not sure I can give it a 10/10 to a ride everyone says you should only ride in certain rows… but still great fun and the best ride in the park!
I've never ridden El Toro because it opened years after the last time I was at Great Adventure. (Superman was new the last time I was there lol). Hoping to get there this summer to give it a ride!
Nice Meeting & Talking to you guys last night.. Keep in touch! El Toro DEFINITELY in our Top 10 FAVES... 1 Coaster @ night right Now..El Toro or Iron Gwazi??? Ken & Donna
it’s my #1 currently, i haven’t been on it since before the pandemic so i hope to get out to my home park when i get time to see if el toro or velocicoaster wins my #1 spot
I rode this ride this summer before its closure and accident, and it was both rough and mean. my neice and I got off this thing feeling not great but i blame the 98+ degree temps as we visited during a heatwave.
It was obvious that he was going to give it a 10/10 since it's one of his favorite coasters but I'm going to have to agree that some of his content lately has been sponsored. The review was honest and he was stating his opinions but some videos specifically ride reactions and the GAdv vlog are clearly sponsored videos. Good promotions for the parks and allows the channel to be more professional and the video quality is way better than when I started watching the channel back in 2015. I feel that you need to find a connection with the viewers with such a channel while keeping them professional which he does well with. Gotta draw the line between personal and professional.
I wish we could switch, I'd rather have the underrated GCI Apocalypse over this anyday. For just about everything-smoothness, rerideabilty, nice trains, etc.
This coaster looks amazing. I will try it for sure next time I go to the States. But I have ridder Balder at Liseberg and Colossos at Heide Park. And I must say that Balder is the greatest of the two. It’s smaller but it’s super aggressive compared to Colossos. Colossos is tal. But it’s kind of boring. Three good hills but it’s not aggressive at all. From Taylor’s point of view, it sounds like El-Toro is the best of the two others combined. And who would not love that?
went on el toro for the first time ever today on the third seat at the back IT WAS AWESOMMEEE i wanted to go on it again but my friend got knocked around so bad she didn’t wanan reride it 💔💔
I wanna ride this so bad but I just rode Boulder Dash yesterday at Lake Compounce and it absolutely destroyed my back. It makes me wonder if I'd enjoy this or any wooden coasters at all because it got to the point where I was just waiting for the ride to end. It was so damn rough.
Hey Taylor I heard that we suppose to have a clone of El Toro at magic mountain right where apocalypse at it's sucks I wish we could have it but hey at least we have twisted colosus
This ride smashed my gut into the guard over and over. I wish I had enough time to ride this a 2nd time. I was in the middle during freight feast. Im wondering if being a fatter guy 5'10 220 is the issue. Outside of getting stuck on coasters this was the worst ive ever had. I feel cheated hopefully next year I get a good run.
Rutschebanen at Tivoli Gardens is a wooden rollercoaster with a cable lifthill way older than El Toro. So cable lifthills are not a fancy new thing on woodies… 😜
