EL Toro-- Six Flags Great Adventure report

[Cindy B]

The newest coaster is up and running at Six flags. I love wooden coasters and this one didn't disappoint.

We got to the park prior to opening. As the rope dropped at 10 am, we joined the throngs of people towards the section of the park. We had consulted a map and found the quickest route to the entrance gate.

The employees were enforcing a no running policy, but many people were jogging/speedwalking to get there. The shortest route involved waking through the arcade. However, the employees were mopping up in there, so anyone that was running definetely had to walk.

We got to the entrance with a smallish group and the corral que wasnt' filled. By our approximation, it was about a 1/2 hour wait. The coasted only did one test run as we were waiting and everyone was amazed on how fast the lift hill was. The coaster looked smooth and sounded fantastic. The limited themeing in the loading area was some rustic looking spanish posters and some painted Spanish words (caliente)

We got in line and waited and waited. Finally at 10:10 the first run was allowed into the entrance lines. The security guard would not allow others to go up on the entrance steps so we waited until two loads were finished.

Finally, at 10:40 it was our turn. The operators had to allow a few empty runs before they allowed others on. My son and I got the 2nd to back last row, my daughter and husband got a near middle row.

There is a lap bar and seatbelt. The cars were styled in a train style (similiar to the Runaway train cars in color/style). After a check of all restraints we were off!

First is a small strip and then the lift hill. This was an amazing hill because of how fast it went up. There was no true anxiety and it was extremely smooth. The air time from the initial hill was amazing. Then we went into a wonderful series of track. There was an amazing section that went from another smallish hill to a banked curve. It was fantastic and very thrilling.

I love wooden coasters and this one didn't disappoint.

As we exited the ride we saw how long the line was. The rumor was that it was a 2-3 hour wait.

 

[LoraJ]

Thanks for the review! Not sure if we will be able to make it this year, but now I want to really try this coaster. Especially while it is still a smooth ride.

 

[damo]

Thanks for the report! We were watching the commercial for this coaster the other day and the coaster they were showing wasn't even El Toro!!! We will be visiting the park this summer and that coaster is definitely on our list. Glad to hear you enjoyed it.

 

[Cindy B]

Thanks for the report! We were watching the commercial for this coaster the other day and the coaster they were showing wasn't even El Toro!!! We will be visiting the park this summer and that coaster is definitely on our list. Glad to hear you enjoyed it.

I wonder what coaster they showed for the commerical.

El Toro just opened this week. Get there at rope drop to even consider riding both Kingda Ka and El Toro. After El Toro, we went to Kingda Ka. There was an hour wait for that. (An hour is really good, usually the wait is over that)

Since we have season passes, we don't bother waiting for more than an hour.

 

[Hillbeans]

Thanks for the report. Is this roller coaster in the spot where they had the old wooden roller coaster rolling thunder?

I've not been there in ages - but I used to love the Scream Machine. Is that still there also?

Maybe i'll have to plan a visit at some point later this year.

 

[damo]

I wonder what coaster they showed for the commerical.

El Toro just opened this week. Get there at rope drop to even consider riding both Kingda Ka and El Toro. After El Toro, we went to Kingda Ka. There was an hour wait for that. (An hour is really good, usually the wait is over that)

Since we have season passes, we don't bother waiting for more than an hour.

Thanks for the tips. If you've got any others I would love to hear them. We will arrive at the park on Monday August 14 before opening and I am sure that my teens will run to Kingda Ka. Personally, that is the one coaster I will ignore!

We will be staying at the park as long as possible to get the coasters done and then are staying at the Staybridge Suites in Eatontown that night and head to NYC the next day. I couldn't find any nice hotels that were any closer but if you have suggestions, I'd love to hear them!

 

[Cindy B]

Thanks for the report. Is this roller coaster in the spot where they had the old wooden roller coaster rolling thunder?

I've not been there in ages - but I used to love the Scream Machine. Is that still there also?

Maybe i'll have to plan a visit at some point later this year.

Rolling Thunder is still there. El toro is built right next to it. Rolling Thunder hasn't been running, but I'm not sure if it will be demolished yet.

 

[NewJersey]

Thanks for the great report!

I LOVE roller coasters so me and my dbf are planning a trip coming up. i still haven't been on kingda ka.

 

[Cindy B]

Thanks for the tips. If you've got any others I would love to hear them. We will arrive at the park on Monday August 14 before opening and I am sure that my teens will run to Kingda Ka. Personally, that is the one coaster I will ignore!

We will be staying at the park as long as possible to get the coasters done and then are staying at the Staybridge Suites in Eatontown that night and head to NYC the next day. I couldn't find any nice hotels that were any closer but if you have suggestions, I'd love to hear them!

Thats a tough choice to decide which coaster to go first, El Toro or Kingda Ka. We did El toro first was on the third car and was done by 1040, then went to Kingda. If we had felt like waiting for an hour for Kingda, that was possible. Im not sure if you want to invest in that pay fastpass service they have. Nitro was running at a low wait but I didn't feel like waiting for it. The Chiller wasn't running at all, but the other Batman coaster was. Rolling Thunder is closed due to construction. The original coaster Mine train was open. Scream Machine and Skull Mountain were running as well.

As for hotels, we live about an hour away in S. Jersey. We actually take the rural route to Six Flags (Rt. 537) which is free and has minimal traffic. (except for farm equipment).


If you had an annual pass booklet there is a free ticket for an express entry on the inside back cover. We cut ours out and used it for a Kingda Ka ride when the wait was over 2 hours. We walked right on using the back entrance.

Nicer hotels in S. Jersey would be Mt. Laurel, or Cherry Hill. Mt. Laurel has a Turnpike entrance right there, and Cherry Hill could take you to the rural route if you want to be adventourous! --its only one road. Near Jackson there really isn't much. The base isn't that far from there, but all the motels/hotels aren't in the "nicer" category. You are probably best where you are. I don't know that area that well, so if you are happy with your choice, its best to keep it.

 

[damo]

Thats a tough choice to decide which coaster to go first, El Toro or Kingda Ka. We did El toro first was on the third car and was done by 1040, then went to Kingda. If we had felt like waiting for an hour for Kingda, that was possible. Im not sure if you want to invest in that pay fastpass service they have. Nitro was running at a low wait but I didn't feel like waiting for it. The Chiller wasn't running at all, but the other Batman coaster was. Rolling Thunder is closed due to construction. The original coaster Mine train was open. Scream Machine and Skull Mountain were running as well.

As for hotels, we live about an hour away in S. Jersey. We actually take the rural route to Six Flags (Rt. 537) which is free and has minimal traffic. (except for farm equipment).


If you had an annual pass booklet there is a free ticket for an express entry on the inside back cover. We cut ours out and used it for a Kingda Ka ride when the wait was over 2 hours. We walked right on using the back entrance.

Nicer hotels in S. Jersey would be Mt. Laurel, or Cherry Hill. Mt. Laurel has a Turnpike entrance right there, and Cherry Hill could take you to the rural route if you want to be adventourous! --its only one road. Near Jackson there really isn't much. The base isn't that far from there, but all the motels/hotels aren't in the "nicer" category. You are probably best where you are. I don't know that area that well, so if you are happy with your choice, its best to keep it.

We will be picking up annual passes at Six Flags Darien Lake so we will all have them. We also intend on purchasing Fastlane or Qbot or Flashpass or whatever system they are using. We used it at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California and really thought it was helpful. However, their most popular rides weren't included in the Fastlane, so El Toro is most likely not included. But if we only have to work around a few rides with long lines, it is worth it. Good to hear that Nitro is running with a low wait. I love Hyper coasters.

We are really looking forward to visiting SFGA since my kids are coaster fanatics and we are running out of new parks to visit in North America!

 

[Cindy B]

We will be picking up annual passes at Six Flags Darien Lake so we will all have them. We also intend on purchasing Fastlane or Qbot or Flashpass or whatever system they are using. !

Its Flashpass at Great Adventure. And yes, you can use them at the most popular rides as well. I know Kingda has a flashpass center, but I forgot to look for El Toro. I want to say I think every coaster has a flashpass thing here.

Check to see if Darien Lake has a coupon booklet that they give out. (We had to go to a main store and asked). If they do, check the back cover for the free entry into any ride coupon on the back cover.

I know the height requirement is pretty low for El Toro, I think its 48. My 54 inch daughter had no problems.

 

[patsvette]

Thanks were going in a few weeks to try it out.