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El Toro reviews

Theme Park Insider readers offer their ratings and reviews for El Toro, a roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure.

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Posted: August 8, 2011

Built in 2006, this Intamin Wooden Coaster offers specs that look like a steel mega coaster: a 188-foot lift hill, 176-foot initial drop and a top speed of 70 mph. The initial drop's angle of 76 degrees was the steepest of any wooden coaster in the world when it was built, now eclipsed by the new Texas Giant's 79 degrees. There are two trains that are usually running at full capacity. This ride is much smoother then other wooden coasters due to the pre-fab design, insane moments of airtime, and has a very fast cable lift-hill (good for all of you who fear the clanking of the slow chain).

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Readers' rating:

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66 votes, so far

I've ridden probably 70 plus roller coasters from around the east coast. El Toro is by far the most complete roller coaster. From the time you start the lift hill, until the end there is non stop action. Most roller coasters, even the very good ones have great aspects, then lulls. Nitro, which I also consider excellent doesn't have the non stop thrills of El Toro. A true measure of a great coaster is the desire to sit in all different seats to experience what the coaster has to offer. El Toro is great from every seat, but the front and back are a thrill seekers dream. You probably won't find one person who doesn't think El Toro is at least a very good coaster. - craig shapiro

This coaster is absolutely amazing. The drop feels like it is going straight down. I disagree with the restraint comment. The single lap bar gives you the uneasiness that thrill seekers seek often in their coaster experience. Me, my children, my bothers and my friends all agreed this was a coaster for the thrill seekers!10/10 - Tia Carly

I wish I could give this one a 10/10, but I can't. It's smoother than steel (way better than the park's terrible Mine Train Coaster) and it's packed with airtime! The reason I can't is because of the ride's terrible restraint system. If El Toro had a restrain system similar to Nitro, this ride would be a 10/10, but the restrains hinder the airtime that you get on this ride. Being stapled into your seat, you can still feel this bucking bull trying to buck you, but you also know you're not going anywhere, which takes away from the thrill. Other than the terrible restraints, this ride is one of those top notch rides you've gotta do if you're at the park. Just don't be surprised if you end up preferring Nitro to it. 9/10 - Mike Brilhart

A great roller coaster. The best, but not my favorite. Overall, a perfect coaster with unbelievable airtime and probably my favorite 1st drop (76 degrees on a wooden). I love the smoothness. I think it is truly the perfect layout. The hills have the best airtime. The twists might have been even better! Both an out and back AND a twister! 10/10 - Edward Morgan

I love this ride! - Mike Flynn

This ride's airtime and drop are just crazy. The ride honestly feels like your ridding a bull. Its so awsome, deffinatly perfection. Wish I could ride it more as I only rode it twice. Dont forget that secret drop before the zig zags! That produces awsome airtime! - Joey Till

This is the best coaster I have ridden - not going into great detail because I've already reviewed it at length on another website - because of its exceptional design. The first drop is spectacular, the cable lift is a refreshing change, and the entire ride is insanely good. Everything works and it's amazingly fluid. It's more fluid than Nitro and that's surprising because Nitro is a steel coaster. El Toro is the one coaster which I would not change in any way. I would change others; I'd add more drops to Millennium Force, add seat belts and a floor to Nitro, subtract curves from The Voyage and add more drops, expand the size of the first drop on Phoenix at Knoebels and make alterations to other coasters, but El Toro is perfect as is. - Bobbie Butterfield

My only wish is that this ride was longer...... - travis traymoore

This is one of the WOW! coasters currently standing. Between the speed of the lift, the momentary anticipation as you turn 180 degrees back to the drop you saw on your way up, the speed, the airtime, the first half approximating an out-and-back and the second half, which is hidden inside the layout of Rolling Thunder, being a whole different layout - there just is nothing like it. Afraid of wood coasters? Give it a try. Everything you may hate about those coasters (the clank of the lift, the shimmy, the roughness) has been eliminated. - Todd Houts

Great Ride, but I lost my phone that was deep in my back pocket! I know it's my fault, but I'm letting other people know that when they say no loose articles on this ride, don't bring them! - Sarah Durden

I can't possibly do this coaster justice by describing it in words. It's simply amazing from start to finish. The first drop (76 degrees on a woodie!) is awesome, leads into a huge hill with major airtime (and this is with the restraint on tightly), and then it just runs you through the gauntlet of close calls and crazy turns. This coaster gives you every single major element you could ask for (and ones you never thought you could) in a woodie. - Jon Gibbons

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