A ride on El Toro cannot fully be translated into words...rather it is a fiery torrent of violent, raw emotion and unbridled insanity that simply cannot be found on any other ride. I have yet to discover the level of intensity that is maintained during the entire duration of El Toro on any other ride, and after three of the very finest roller coaster experiences I have ever had the privilege to enjoy on this monstrosity, I doubt I will anytime soon. Monolithic and inspiring, El Toro has easily taken the crown from Apollo’s Chariot as my #1 roller coaster. Now without further adieu, I will venture to explain the intangible yet life-changing experiences I had on El Toro:
When I first arrived at Six Flags Great Adventure, my eyes instantly locked with El Toro’s beautifully elegant structure among the park’s tangled skyline of steel. And at that very moment, a feeling awoke in the back of my head: could this ride possibly dethrone Apollo’s Chariot? Few rides can boast of the visual and spiritual presence that El Toro demands, even standing in the shadow of the world’s tallest, fastest coaster! However, I knew something was wrong from the start. Every other coaster was testing, while El Toro had yet to have a test train run along that oh-so-attractive course. I did not give up hope, however. I am a strong believer in fate, and I somehow sensed that this would be a day to remember indeed. So we entered the park and hit Kingda Krap, watching the Bull’s desolate lift hill through the trees, watching…waiting…still nothing. After KK, we headed to GASM…still no sign of life on El Toro. We then entered the hellhole that was Superman: Ultimate Flight’s queue. For two long painful hours, we suffered under the blistering heat, always keeping our heads turned towards the mountain of wood waiting for a test run…still silence. Then, just before hopping in Superman’s seat, I caught a glimpse of El Toro racing up the lift hill. They had it testing…hope was restored! After Superman, we obviously headed straight for El Toro looming in the distance.
When we arrived at the ride’s plaza, a line had already begun to form. After a few test runs filled with employees, it was evident that the ride would open momentarily, and after about 15 minutes, we were being stapled into our seats. While the stapling is extremely vigorous as others have stated before, it did not at all detract from the ride experience. The cold truth is…it is ridiculously necessary on this ride. Without stapling the restraints, you would surely be catapulted at some point on this ride. The airtime is just that demonic in nature. Enough said.
A few moments later, we were rolling out of the station and speeding up the cable-lift. Now I have read reviews praising the speed of this lift, but no review prepared me for this thing. I even noted that the lift hill on El Toro was more of a “launch” than Turd Coaster’s sorry piece of crap launch LOL The ride then levels off and rounds a left bend. In the back car, you are flung down the first drop before you are even finished rounding this turn, adding to the thrill of the maniacal airtime you experience all the way down the initial record-breaking plunge. Pulling out of the first drop and ducking under some fantastic head-choppers, you are then thrust upwards towards the sky, the sound of the upstops being devilishly slammed against the bottom of the track ringing in your ears as you are once again weightless for precious seconds of utter perfection. The second drop is followed immediately by a nearly identical hill, with the same sinister yet awe-inspiring airtime in seemingly unending abundance. El Toro than tears through the turn-around, which offers some horrifically terrifying yet fantastic head-chopping moments with the handrails. The sheer brutality of this initial series of drops is simply unmatched in my mind. It is by far the most intense first portion of a ride I
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