FLIPDUDE

Riverview Candy Store WARNING: This section of the TR is not Dan-Friendly This TR is dedicated to the lost half of the TR (which took me an hour or so to write) that disappeared when I clicked a link on another window and it changed this one. Alright, so after I'm done exploring the unvisited part of Riverview Park I head on back over to the candy store where I saw this sign earlier: I remind you, in Israel we have only two flavors of soft ice cream (which, over here, is called American Ice Cream), Vanilla and chocolate, I was unaware other flavors even existed until we went to Holiday World. So upon seeing this sign I went "WTF" and figured, since I have what is possibly the world's most active sweet tooth, I have to investigate. I stared hard at the sign, reading all the flavors. Trying to find the most weirdass, unthinkable, unrecognizable flavor for ice cream I could locate. "Cherry? Nah, it should be good but it's too normal." "Banana? Seriously?" "Licorice?!?! EW!" And then I found it. "Maplenut." I don't even know what a Maplenut is. So I had to go for it. I walk on over to the store. Just so we're clear, the store from the outside is this tiny pink cute little mom & pop type store called "Goody goody gum drop candy kitchen" It is tucked away at the far-away-from-the-good-rides end of the midway. Well I walk in. O. M. F. G. My jaw drops in shock and my eyes shoot open in amazement. Before me sprawls out the largest candy-only store I have ever seen(I might have seen bigger candy sections at gigantic toy stores in new York city but those were usually limited to one company.) This is the view I saw when first walking into the store (note that you can't see most of the store in this picture, this is just the view you get the second you walk in) My eyes slowly glide around trying to grasp all of this new candy I have never seen before sitting all around me. http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/4752/candystore1wx0.jpg To my right - a tower of swrily long lollipops, a plethora of different gummies, and a dozens of containers with endless colorful candies. The shocked gaze ends as I look to my left and see a very large are in which CHOCOLATE IS MADE. The lady who makes the chocolate looks at me with a greeting smile. I stumble around the store gawking at everything in sight, and then, before me I see it. Giant refrigerators holding more types of bon bons, cookies, chocolates, and whatnot spread through the store. And on top of them. About 15 DIFFERENT TYPES OF FUDGE! I never even realized there were different kinds of fudge before the trip, let alone 15! I stare at the giant refrigerators of which there are at the very least 3 or 4, completely stuffed to the brim with all kinds of sugary delights. I then quickly scurry into an ally made of giant cases full of candy. In front of me are all the colors of the rainbow's worth of JELLY BEANS! Behind me are all kinds of knickknacks, zipedidoodahs and other mouth watering treats. "WHAT?!" I think to myself as I read the label on a box of jelly beans. "Harry Potter Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Jelly Beans?!?!" Image brutally stolen from http://www.ilich.ca/ I heard of these. They're based on that candy from Harry potter that comes in every possible flavor, be it chocolate or vomit. I am very excited to even see it! I take a brief look at the some of the flavors on the list on the back. "Cherry, good." I thought to myself. "Blueberry, okay..." "BLACK PEPPER?! Seriously?!" "Grass?! Are you kidding me?!" "Bubble gum, sweet!" "SNOT?!" "Licorice?! Ewwww!" I quickly decide to buy one pack, but then realize that it's me we're talking about here. That candy wouldn't even make it to the bus. So I got me some more. But then I realized I have friends back at home who are nuts about Harry Potter and this would be the perfect gift for them. So I got some more boxes. Long story short I ended up buying about 5 packs that day and approx. 2 or 3 more during the rest of the trip. Well, armed with some of the sickest candy ever invented I continued down the candy aisle, ending up at the Wonka corner. We don't have Wonka candy in Israel but ever since I and Ryan's Christmas candy exchange I love NERDS. So I got me about five packs of Nerds, in all sorts of strange flavors, and one pack for Nadia, who sits behind me on the bus, which told me she likes Nerds alot. I also got everlasting gobstoppers and maybe some other things as well (maybe a nerds rope or two, I can't remember, but chances are, if Id didn't have one at the time I bought 'em) I kept walking around the store between giant walls full of delicious candy, bags full of oddly colored cotton candy, pixie sticks that are at least half my size, and a giant gumball/M&M machine or whatever that thing was. I was only then, that I truly, deeply, and profoundly understood, what it's REALLY like to feel like a kid in a candy store. In fact, it was even better, because a small kid only has a couple bucks to spend on a treat or two. I was in charge of my won budget! It was absolutely thrilling. Eventually I remembered what it was I came into the store for in the firstplace and headed over to the ice cream parlor part of the store(Yes, they actually had an ice cream parlor as PART of the store) I knew they were supposed to have alot of soft ice cream flavors but I didn't realize that they were also not in short of regular ice cream! They had three freezers full of weird ice cream in flavors I have never heard of and colors I have never seen before, on ice cream or otherwise! They even had a shiny purple ice cream with yellow, blue and green spots! What the heck kind of flavor is that?! I then turned to the seller (who was no smiling ray of sunshine, but I guess a summer part-time job is a summer part-time job even at a candy store. Though I would love to work there) and ordered a Maplenut ice cream. I looked around and couldn't figure where they kept all the flavors of soft ice cream seeing as I'm used to soft ice cream being kept in machines the size of slushie machines. Well, she grabs a cone and turns to this machine who was facing away from me, so I could hardly see it, but she turned on one of many tiny tiny faucets spread all over that machine and poured a thick brown syrup to be mixed with some plain ice cream to create the flavored kind. "...Isn't that cheating?" I thought to myself. But I didn't care, because soon enough I was served with an ice creamy appetizer, whose flavor I didn't even know existed two hours ago, for a giant bag of candy which I had just bought! I tasted it. It was weird, and it was okay. It wasn't delicious, but I think it was as good as Maplenut flavored anything could be. Despite the fact I still am not sure what in the world Maplenut is. I'm guessing what they make maple syrup out of, though it didn't taste the same as maple, I think. Soon enough after me, more TPRers started discovering the store. Only a select few though. I wanted everyone to discover the store but only a couple of people did. In retrospect I guess that just made the entire experience more special and unique to those of us who did discover it. In the ice cream parlor there was this gumball marble run type machine. I LOVE marble runs, and I probably would've paid just as much to operate it if it weren't a gumball machine without thinking twice, but the funny thing is that the fact it's a gumball machine made me stop and think twice because I had to consider the fact I don't even like gumballs all that much. (It seemed to make sense at the time) Well I put in the required amount and operated the machine. Soon enough colorful gumballs spun, twirled, twisted and loop de looped their way through the machine for a while until it finally spit out a gumball for me. Well, soon enough we realized that our hour and a half at Riverview (most of which was spent at the store by the way. totally worth it) was coming to an end and we had to head on over to the buses so Robb would let us know if they fixed Avalanche at Timber Falls yet, so we would head over there, or if we will skip Timber Falls and spend the next hour at Riverview as well. Well I exit the store holding a bag full of candy and head on over to the buses, amazed by the whole experience of the store. On my way to the bus I ask everyone I know if they've seen the store. Everyone says they haven't. I then asked Robb and Elissa if they've seen it. And while they, too, haven't seen it, Robb did say that Avalanche will apparently be operating! Meaning we're going to Timber Falls! Hurray! We all get on the buses and I sit in my regular spot, in front of Nadia and some cool European dude whose name I forgot. I give Nadia her box of Nerds, and start sharing with the two of them the rest of my treasures (Candy is best when shared. Especially if it's booger flavored.) So I explain to them about the Bertie Bott's candy, they both seem very intrigued. I eat some and also give them some of the Jelly Beans without telling them which flavors I've given them. They eat the jelly beans and then I tell them what they just ate. It is hilarious to see their expression when they ate something like Vomit or Rotten Egg(which we've deducted is the worst of all flavors), the surprised relief when they realize they got a tasty flavor like cherry, but it was definitely the funniest when Nadia got a booger flavored one and said "It's actually kinda nice!"(Though in her defense she's not the only one who said that. Sickos.) What shocked me the most though is how much everything tasted like what it was supposed to taste like. Grass beans really tasted like grass, Black Pepper tasted like black pepper, etc. Which made me wonder what they put in them in the firstplace? (SOYLENT BEANS ARE PEOPLE!!!) At some point the European dude gave me a white-grayish bean, and didn't let me see the flavor of it. I gazed at it and said: "I know this is soap flavored." having remembered it from before. "But I'll try it anyway." I added and bravely chewed on the white capsule-like goo. My face immediatly contorted as if someone just kicked me in the nuts. "It doesn't taste like soap" I said, getting the good news out of the way first. "But it really, really, really, REALLY tastes like fish." I gagged. The European dude looked at the package, said something, and gave it to me. I then stared at it. Not far on the list from the soap flavored jelly bean was another grey jelly bean titled "Sardine." Robb then publicly announced that Avalanche might be working by the time we get to Timber Falls and there was a large cheer. We were then on our way down the street to the park. NEXT ON THE TR: Timber Falls/ "Riding the broken coaster!"

Great TR Jahan! I am so glad to see more Midwest updates! I love remembering it. Seeing that photo of the little corner in CVG suddenly brought up a whole bunch of memories and feelings at once, which was pretty awsome. I... Wonder who that cartoonist you were reffering to? <___< *COUGH* Cora, maybe? >___> ... Tomi "Washing my clothes in a public restroom sink is something I hope never to have to do again" Zandshtein.

Why stupid? It's a fun record to break, should be a really fun event. If it's fun and nobody gets hurt, there's nothing stupid about it.

If I'm not mistaken, IB's owners ARE the management. So once yout ake tha tout of the equasion...

A couple hours ago. Some stupid/funny video about a superhero called underwear man. When was the last time you got nauseaus from an amusmenet park ride and which ride was it?

This... Sucks... INCREDIBLY sucks. And to a resorts corporation nevertheless, they'll probably try to commercialize it and make it more widely known by making some out of character changes tot he park. It'll lose it's current diamond in the rough(or in a corn field, for that matter) appeal if that happens.

Just compare it with the before: I like the new one a whole lot better

That is a gorgeous picture! Gotham looks very sad wihtout freefall. I never realized how much it was immersed in the skyline. And is i just me or is the area where Goliath Jr. is supposed to be completely reduced to rubble? I thought they're keeping Goliaht Jr. In place?

At some point during the ride, after going down a drop, the boat hten rides on an uphill slope before splashing.

^By those criterias pretty much half of the kdidie coasters in the world arent considered coasters

Never. Sushi looks gross to me. When was the last time you were put on hold on a phone?

Yes I had my camera fixed after I came back. Dont know about the warranty.

Never. When was the last time you were so excited about something you couldn't stop thinking about it for days and what was it?

I used to think it was three tracks too but if youll look carefully youll see its actually one ocntinuos helix that goes up ont eh otuside and dnown ont he inside

RIVERVIEW So we get on the buses after our morning it Mt. Olympus, forgetitng all about the storm that tore through the park yesterday, and the plan was that our bus will go to Timber Falls, and the Arrow bus will go to Riverview, and after an hour or so switch(Mt. O, Riverview, and Timebr falls are all within short walking distance of each other). But then Robb makes a surprise announcement saying that Avalanche, Timber falls' main(and one of it's only 4) attraction was struck by lightning during the storm and had it's sensors fried! The technicians are uoing hteir best to get it up and running for us but they dont know if it'll open. There was a collective "Awwww..." and it was decided that both buses will go to Riverview, and eveyrone will go back to the buses at the time we were supposed to make the switch. Then Robb will check to see if the technicians are done fixing it. And so all the buses went to Riverview, which was just 1 building and a parking lot away from Mt. O. The shorter the bus trip the funnier it was. At least to me, seeing as America has a "Drive everywhere" policy which is different from where I come from. Robb also announced that as a result of the mysterious poster from last night who said "Why are the only same 10 people always in the TRs?" being Bryan, today would be ALL ABOUT BRYAN! Yaaay! And whoever had the most pictures of Bryan on their TR would win a TPR bag o' crap. I decided to spare poor Bryan so I didn't bug him like everyone else did. This is on the way to Riverview, which is between Mt. O and Timber Falls, but the three parks are so close you can actually see Timber Falls' Avalanche in this picture. This was the building between Mt. O and Riverview. I have no clue what was in it because the name of this palce was titled: "TOP SECRET"! Even the Dells tirp brochure doesn't say what's in it. When we get to Riverview, after a grueling 120 second journey from our hotel, we are welcomed by a large and impressive array of waterslides placed on a slope facing the park entrance, which made htem look very nice(this picture does it no justice). Sadly the waterpark segment wasn't part of the trip and we didn't have time for it anyway. Well, everyone headed straight for the park's biggest coaster, the Galaxi. So I figured it would have the longest line so me and some other people decided to credit whore first and come back to Galaxi when is not so crowded. First up was hte Orient Express. A little dragon wagon. While riding it I noticed we were getting alot of looks from people waiting in line for the Galaxi so I just cheered and screamed in their direction. "YAY! CREDIT WHORES!" trying to be amusing. I later found out some people thought that was obnoxious =P I couldn't help but notice that the park had a funhouse. I had never seen a funhouse before and therefore wanted to try it. But first I hunted around for the Wacky Worm. Credits first. Eventually I found the wack worm tucked away at the far edge of the park. I think this is the only picture of Chuck ever taken in which he isn't smiling. The kid in the 3rd row is the only one on the train NOT credit whoring. I don't remember what the name of the coaster was, because I just started calling it "The Cinderblock Coaster". Seriously, the entire coaster was built on Cinderblocks. Why? So they can claim it's 1ft tlaler than it actually is? I am resisting making a connection between this and the fact the coaster train was mexican themed. Well then it was time to head over to the Galaxi. I got in line and waited for a very long time. It's not exactly a high capacity ride. But no worries, Elissa(With a camera!), Robb(With his usual sillyness!), Matteo(With his italian accent and hatred for Olive Garden Lasagnas!) and Brayn(It's all about you!) came to the rescue to entertain us during the wait. And yes, the park really is as "slap some carnie rides on concrete and call it a park" as it seems. The ride op was old, as opposed to all the teenager ride ops weve seen tot hat point. And he was operating the ride using a large array of metal switches and levers instea dof a ride op booth. The entire park seemed very... Portable. It wouldn't be too suprising to have come back the next morning and find out it was gone. I was used to holding my digital camera, which broke at KK, so I ended up accidenlty covering the lens in alot of my pictures taken from disposable cameras. This coaster really brought home the theory the fact that no two Pinafaris are alike. This one wasnt too exciting. It wasn't too bad and it wasn't too good either. It was nice. Well next up it came the time to check out the funhouse. My very first funhosue ever! I entered it and was dispapointed to find that the first floor was a mirror maze. Much like the one at my home park. I quickly found my way through it, I guess the fact I remember the way at my home park maze by heart kinda helped. Then I reached the stairs and climbe dto the 2nd sotry, which was your good old fashion funhouse with a bunch of wacky mirrors. I then pointed out to everyone around me that there was a cool ride we could see from where we were. Looked like it gave alot of airitme(I have no idea why nobody noticed it untill that point, it's right in the middle of the park). People were excited and went to ride it. I eventually didn't get to, which disappointed me a little, but on TRs I read it says the ride sucked anyway so now I'm glad my time was better spent. Well, then it was time to head on over to the other side of hte park, which, for some reason, nobody else seemed to go to. It was this narrow midway full of booths and shops(And the infamous Spinning Dragons ride! The likes of which I haven't ridden during hte trip afraid I'll get nauseaus). I went through the midway and passed this sign on my way: For those of you who don't remember from my HHoliday World TR, In Israel we only have chocolate and vanilla flavoured soft ice cream(Which, by the way, is called American Ice Cream over here), so this seemed very interesting to me. They had everything from cherry to licorice. I decided to come back and check it out later. So I proceeded and reached the edge of the park. There was no fence or anything, the park just ends on the street. Like a parking lot. There were a couple rides there including a large go kart track or two, a ferris wheel and a Moby Dick, which you wouldn't evne notice if you weren't right in front of it, because it was facing out into the street, not into the park. I rode the ferris wheel to get some nice pictures of the area. That's how close Mt. O is to Riverview The entrance area from the ferris wheel. See? No fence. Everyone was still over by the galaxy, unaware that this side of the park even exists. After getting off the ferris wheel I went to the street corner to take some pictures The upside down white house thingy. At the corner of the building there is a little white car that looks like the building landed on it when the cloverfield monster flipped it upside down. You cant see from this picture but the front of it is all crushed under the building, the back of the car is lifted in the air and it's tail lights are blinking. It was really well made. This is why I love the dells. Not a sane looking building in sight. Everything is either upside down, inside out, crooked, cartoony, has a waterpark, has an amusement park, or has the word DUCKS on it. Then it was time to head on over to the candy store, which ende dup beign the coolest frikken thing in the park. but I have to go so I'll continue this later.

Very cool! Wehred you get the costum flats though? The amazing earl's site?

Well, I always bring my own food to parks. Saves me a whole lotta money. I also never play hte games at the booths. And to all of you Non-US people: Buying your own inner tube can help you avoid the lines for rides that require inner tubes.

Bonus picture posted!

A drawing I made of my favourite park, Indiana Beach(click for full size picture, it's too big for the forum): It is part of my practicing sketching for my application to art school

Heh, I'm glad so many people enjoy them so much, but seriously, next person to come here, let me know XD I'm dying for an excuse to go to the amusement park.

The master plan link isn't working for me... I hope though that the nolimits thing on the previous page is far from accurate

Holy cow! Is this really SFMM were talking about here? Sounds like wonderful service and a focused goal! Reading this TR really made me miss the midwest trip though Can't wait for the full scale TRs of it

^That's not an inverted coaster, it looks like Fujin Rajin: http://www.rcdb.com/ig1213.htm?picture=2 (I have no idea why all the photos in RCDB of it are of hte lift hill, the coaster itself is pretty big, like the model) Just because its a red and blue racing coaster doesnt automatically make it a ripoff of another coaster. As for the "carousels", I dont know why there are two wave swingers(maybe one is a lie down version or just operates differently?) but the other 2 could be a rotor and a merry go round or a thunder bobs ride or basically any round canopy ride. There is no doubt that the model is not scaled correctly and is unrealistic(for example: the log flume with the twisting drop, lift, and basically everything about it, or hte rollercoaster with no supports) but I think the model is supposed to function more like a park map, which, as can be seen in many parks, are hardly ever accurate depictions of the rides(for example, the boomerang at my home park is not several miles tall, despite the fact the park map shows it going through a cloud). But at their core they're not that different than what will actually be there. So where you see the weird shaped deja vu it'll probably just be a regular deja vu, etc.

Hey, pictures arent working for me iether, I suggest simply posting them in good old fashioned PTR form. (by the way, the water park you saw not far from the amusement park is called Maymadyon, it's Israel's 2nd biggest waterpark I think.) Too bad you didnt hit up any of the parks here. Next time you come here hit me and Krouvi up we'll take you credit whoring Israel style. The tallest fastest coasters here are Vekomas. Yeah. Eat your heart out america. I would also love to hear some of the stories, seeing as I never really got to talk to someone who visited Israel throughly about their trip. And I agree that we are lucky to live here and that it'sa beatufiul country.(Assuming you're far from the borders, the borders are where all the mess yous ee on TV happens). The news can make it seem so ugly sometimes. I live in the middle of Tel Aviv, which I understand you visited. Right next to all the hotels and the beach. Do you have MSN/AIM? I made a PTR last Yom Kippur of the city as it was abanadoned, might bring back some memories for you: http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=262336#262336