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Back in the USA

September - October 2022
A revenge spending trip to the land of the outlet mall. Read more
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  • TravelerBack in the USA
    Day 2

    We’re ba-aaaack!

    October 1, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Left Auckland in drizzly rain, but secure in the knowledge that the next stop was Southern California, where I’m reliably informed ‘it never rains.’ We flew through the night in Air New Zealand’s comfortable Premium Economy, which is a much better value deal than their very dated and weirdly configured Business Class.

    It was a fairly smooth and relaxing 12 hour jaunt. Although we left Auckland 45 minutes late, we actually landed at LAX 5 minutes earlier than scheduled. Some may put this down to the vagaries of the jet stream, but I know it was more likely a result of me having a quiet word to the driver to ‘feed it the herbs,’ as I was over two years late for my date with a mouse.

    We breezed through LAX customs, even though the self-service kiosks have now gone, thanks Covid. Next stop was LAX-It, the ride share central pickup point, to get our Lyft Lux. Even though our ride was a brand new Lexus SUV my wallet still winced at how much this cost. I think my inner Scottish self will take over the purse strings for the return ride to the airport on the 13th.

    One hour later, just on 3pm local time, we rolled up to the JW Marriott Anaheim Resort and checked in. Very modern, very new, very nice. Especially because of it’s location. You’ll see what I mean when you look at the photo. I’d chosen a Disney Park view room and as I type this I can see the Incredicoaster and Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout rides from my hotel room window. Money well spent!

    After checking in priorities took over and we walked the mile and a half down South Harbor Boulevard to Target. Twinkies, Cheetos and danishes were bought, purely for the high nutritional value, and supplies in hand we caught a Lyft back to the hotel before wandering next door for dinner.

    Our first meal back in the land of the free was glorious. Of course it had to be The Cheesecake Factory. Louisiana chicken pasta, strawberry lemonade, and concluding with the tastebud sledgehammer that is the Hersheys chocolate cheesecake. The chicken pasta is listed as 2200 calories, and it’s worth every sumptuous calorie, although I’ve never managed to eat much more than half of it.

    Happily in a food coma I wobbled back up to the room for a well earned sleep, as I’d been travelling for 20 of the previous 24 hours.    Read more

  • TravelerBack in the USA
    Day 2

    Ready, Set, Shop!

    October 1, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    I started the day with a proactive 5k walk, to help build a buffer for the mass consumption of calories which would come later in the day. Went for a wander to Angels baseball stadium and located the closest Electrify America station, which I’ll need late next week to charge the rental car.

    After a quick breakfast I summoned the first Lyft of the day, headed to the nearest Costco Wholesale Center. Now, I know Costco has just opened in Auckland, and I’m obviously a member, so I have global membership. This allows me to shop at any Costco worldwide. Well it does once they spent ten minutes trying to sort out my membership.

    Eventually we got that sorted and spent the next hour roaming the aircraft hangar sized store, gaping at the huge size of the products, and cheap prices. Didn’t really plan to buy anything, but on seeing the selection and pricing I thought it might cause an international incident if I left without buying anything, so I spent about $100, just to avoid harming NZ-US relations.

    Next stop was the Anaheim Plaza, mainly for a nostalgic stop at the closest WalMart Supercenter. It’s Halloween-orama throughout the store, with pumpkin flavoured everything. Walmart is not really my jam, I’m strictly a Target guy, so I left Jean to it, and explored the rest of the stores, especially Ross and Old Navy. Bought a few bargains, while Jean cleaned out WalMart’s entire stock of Mickey Mouse t-shirts.

    Our retail appetites appeased, for now, we caught our last Lyft of the day back to the hotel to chill, literally, in the air-con. Rejuvenated, and hungry again, we wandered through the hotel adjacent Anaheim Garden Walk outdoor mall and down South Harbour Boulevard towards Disneyland. This walk just happened to take us past Denny’s, so naturally we called in for dinner.

    Now, our Disney hotel and park days don’t begin until Monday, but we wanted to ease into the Disney vibe so took a stroll through Downtown Disney after dinner. Well, it should have been a stroll, but due to the biggest crowd since free chicken day at KFC we moved at a glacial pace, that’s a pre-climate change glacier! As we edged towards World of Disney we passed a churro stand, and having never met a churro I didn’t like, I naturally purchased a caramel filled one. The first clue as to this not being my normal churro experience was when I couldn’t pay with cash, the next and most shocking development after putting my card in to pay, was the screen which popped up asking how large a tip I would like to leave. Naturally I clicked ‘No tip’ as the only work the server had done was pick up and hand me a churro. You may have guessed, I’m not a big fan of tipping, even less so now, as the average tip has grown to about 20%. Why can’t businesses here just pay their workers a decent wage, instead of guilting their customers into topping them up?

    Anyway, the churro was tasty as always, and we eventually wound our way, slowly, through Downtown Disney, with a quick stop at Disney’s Grand Californian, to ask a question about our check-in on Monday.

    Calorie loaded and Disney vibe warmed up nicely we wandered back to the hotel to conclude our first full day in Anaheim. Who knows what wonders tomorrow will bring? Stay tuned. 😀    Read more

  • TravelerBack in the USA
    Day 4

    Hurry up and wait!

    October 3, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Yesterday was a prep day, getting ready for our first Disneyland day in five years. If you are going to have a successful parks visit you need to plan it with military precision. This meant checking times, best routes through the park and drop-off points. It also included a quick shopping trip to Target, well, just because. Finally, after a full day of getting ready to hit Disneyland today, I went to sleep just after 1am this morning.

    At 5:30 this morning the day began. Fuelling for victory with a cream cheese danish and OJ, and packing all bags and suitcases we checked out of the JW Marriott Anaheim Resort and met our Lyft XL, (XL stood for extra luggage today). About five minutes later we pulled up to the Grand Californian, and finished checking in and dropping off our bags just after 6:30am.

    Then began our queueing odyssey. First queue was to exit the hotel to Downtown Disney and the parks annex. This took about 20 minutes and somehow we were among the first people to arrive at the gates of Disneyland. In fact, miraculously we were at the front of this queue, which we’ve never even been close to before.

    Just after 7:30, when the extra magic time for Disney Hotel guests began, the gates to the priciest, sorry, Happiest Place on Earth, swung wide and we were finally into the park. This began the first foot race of the morning, as we fast walked to the Frontierland gates, which was the shortest route to Galaxy’s Edge. Arriving at the gates we were informed that they wouldn’t open until 8am. So began the third queue of the morning.

    Those last 30 minutes ticked by agonisingly slowly before the gates to nirvana opened and the crowd surged forward. Fortunately we were at the front again and I locked my hips into full rumba mode and sprint-walked the final 500 metres to enter the queue for the ride I’ve been dreaming of for 3 long years, Star Wars:Rise of the Resistance. As we were among the first into the park this ride was virtually a walk-on, but I would have happily waited hours to ride it, as it is unlike any ride I’ve ever experienced. It is a senses overwhelming, multimedia, performance, motion ride and I will ride it several more times in the days ahead.

    While we were still in Galaxy’s Edge we decided to try our luck, and sure enough the Force was still strong in me, as we managed a walk-on for the other headline ride, Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run. I finally got to fly the Falcon, after all these years. Unfortunately Han will need to pay for a few repairs, as my co-pilots and engineers were like drunken Jawa, but the ride itself was magnificent. Tomorrow I will explore Galaxy’s Edge at my leisure, as the love and attention to detail lavished on it by Disney’s Imagineers made this lifelong fan a little misty eyed when I finally laid eyes on the Millennium Falcon. Having loved this universe for over 40 years, that was a moment I will never forget!

    Our next rides were Big Thunder Mountain Railway, then my old favourite, Indiana Jones, before we headed to our first lunch booking of this trip at Cafe Orleans. I had Steak Frites, while Jean of course chose the Monte Cristo sandwich. Both were stunning. Exiting the cafe we spotted one of the Disney YouTubers we, and several hundred hundred thousand other people follow, Chris Provost, of Provost Park Pass. So Jean made us stalk him until we could corner him for a photo. Of course he was very obliging and chatted to us for a while afterwards.

    By this time, around 12:30pm, it had almost reached the hour where we could park hop to California Adventure, so we crammed in an air-conditioned few moments with Mr Lincoln, before crossing the annex to California Adventure.

    By now it was 29 degrees, and I was feeling every hot theme park degree, so we wandered the park, picking up a Jack Jack Cookie Num Num, before heading to the Grand Californian to finally check into our room.

    10 hours after getting up, we were ensconced in the blissful air-con of our Disney room, ready to plan tomorrow’s assault in earnest on California Adventure. Bring it on!    Read more

  • TravelerBack in the USA
    Day 5

    Adventurous

    October 4, 2022 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 21 °C

    We were up at the slightly more civilised time of 6am this morning for our 2nd Extra Magic Morning, and our first entry into California Adventure using the special Hotel Guest Only park entry. This entrance goes straight from the hotel into the theme park. It’s the only one at any Disney park worldwide, and one reason why you have to sell a kidney, or slightly less favoured child to be able to afford to stay here.

    Of course we couldn’t walk straight in, this is Disney, so there was the mandatory queueing. We are about 20 metres from the park entrance, but as we arrived downstairs at 7:15am there were already several hundred other hotel guests in front of us. No matter, as we eventually shuffled forward and made it into the park about 7:35am. This meant we still had time to walk past Grizzly River Run, Soarin Around the World and various other rides, on our way towards today’s goal, Avenger’s Campus, and the all new Web Slingers ride. As we walked towards the ride, I was keeping my smug setting on ‘Internal’, as only hotel guests get this early entry. The peasants must wait until 8am. Muhahaha.

    We made it to Web Slingers about 7:50am and were soon frantically slinging webs, saving New York, helping Spider-Man, and all while being careful not to dislocate anything, as this is quite an active ride. It’s great fun, if a little short, and makes great use of Disney’s latest ride technology.

    Next stop was Incredicoaster, which I had booked through Genie+. Last time I rode this it was still called California Screamin, and despite the new Incredibles overlay and music, it’s the same action packed, high speed coaster. Excellent fun, with even a loop and fast banked turns.

    My next Genie+ booking was scheduled for 9:35, so we jumped on Pixar’s Pal Around, formerly Mickey’s Fun Wheel. It’s a giant Ferris wheel, which provides great views of the park, and offers cars that swing back and forth on independent rails. I can do the fastest, most gravity defying coaster, but give me something that swings or spins, and my stomach says ‘Cut that out!’ Fortunately breakfast remained intact and I soon wobbled off the ride and made a beeline for Guardians of the Galaxy Mission Breakout. This is an elevator drop ride, and it’s in the running for my favourite ride in California Adventure, especially when you have the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack blasting!

    By now I was peckish, and our lunch booking wasn’t until 2:15pm, so I had decided to try a hot dog from Angry Dogs. This meal lived up to its promise, as I was angry after unwrapping it, and seeing that I’d just paid $8 US for a frankfurter and a bun! Battling my disappointment we adjourned to our room, to chill out until our lunch booking.

    Just after 2pm we made the 5 minute walk from the hotel to Lamplight Lounge. One of the Disney restaurants I’d booked, 60 days ago, when the booking window opened. This is what you have to do if you want to dine at any of the park’s table service restaurants.

    I ordered the cheddar burger, which was made from Wagyu beef and is quite possibly the best burger I have ever eaten! Plus, it was only $23 US, which by Disney standards is good value. Jean had the potato skins, which were also excellent. So far it’s been two park restaurants, and two delicious meals.

    In the contented glow of a calorie high I wound my way back to the hotel via a quick ride on Radiator Springs Racers, which was a genuine walk on, as it had been down for most of the day, and just started up as we wandered past. The luck of the Irish strikes again!

    We eventually headed back to the air conditioned calm of our hotel room via a few shops on Buena Vista street, leaving me a few more hundred dollars lighter, but carrying a few more items of Star Wars and Marvel clothing.

    Today was another great park day, continuing a triumphant return to the Happiest Place on Earth.

    Tomorrow it’s back to Disneyland, possibly at a more relaxed hour as my park fitness regime does recommend a recovery day. Onwards!    Read more

  • TravelerBack in the USA
    Day 6

    It’s Grand

    October 5, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Yesterday was a slightly more relaxed park day, if such a thing exists. I was up at the relaxed hour of 6:30am, so had a quick shower and quickstepped downstairs to join the line exiting the hotel for Early Magic Hour. After Monday I had learned that there is a separate much faster security line for people without bags. This line is devoid of strollers and mobile flesh mountains on electric scooters, so it moves without delay. All this meant that I was through the scanner before you could say ‘Have a magical day!’

    I arrived at the Disneyland gates just before they opened and once again swanned past the great unwashed to join the Early Entry swarm off to enjoy their perks. I made it to the Frontierland gates with about twenty minutes to wait before they would swing open, granting access to Galaxy’s Edge. Once they had opened to admit the Star Wars horde I was able to activate nerd mode and fast-walked my way into Batuu and would have been first on Rise of the Resistance, but as I neared the first Galaxy’s Edge cast members I heard them say ‘The Resistance is not recruiting at this time.’ This is code for, the ride is broken. Denied!!!

    This was disappointing news, but I was still in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, which still made this one of the top 10 days of my life, ride or no ride. I took my time and enjoyed looking through Batuu and admiring the incredible detail and craftsmanship that the Imagineers have lavished on this land. After about half an hour of this my inner thrill seeker demanded action, so I lined up for Big Thunder Mountain Railway.

    Jean joined me at the park after 9, where we fitted in a few rides and new experiences, that we hadn’t done yet, and this is our 12th visit! One of these was the Enchanted Tiki Room, which is a catchy tropical themed singalong, featuring bird animatronics. It is also incredibly culturally insensitive, especially if you are Polynesian. Not sure how Disney, who are usually quite onto it with these issues has missed this one.

    I was able to fit in a few more rides in Disneyland before taking refuge from the heat at the hotel, then having a swim in one of the Grand Californian’s amazing pools. I treated the assembled pool goers to the glory of my chiseled physique for as long as I could, then headed back to the room.

    About quarter to five we wandered over to Disneyland for our dinner reservation at the Blue Bayou. This restaurant is actually on a verandah overlooking the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, and is fine dining, so I’m not sure how I was allowed in.

    Jean had her favourite Monte Cristo sandwich, while I chose the Jambalaya, which was excellent. About one hour and two hundred dollars later, we waddled out, full and happy.

    We took our time enjoying the park at dark and fitting in some themed rides, including Storybook Canal, Haunted Mansion and Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters before leaving Disneyland about 10:30pm.    Read more

  • TravelerBack in the USA
    Day 7

    I’m Soarin’

    October 6, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    After 3 back to back park assaults it was time today to really throttle back and enjoy California Adventure at our leisure, not working to a ride schedule. This meant entering the park through our exclusive Grand Californian Hotel entrance just after 9am, then seeing which rides had short(ish) queues as we sauntered past.

    We didn’t have to walk far before the luck ‘o’ the Irish smiled upon me. This first took the shape of a 20 minute queue for Soarin’ Over California. We then decided to try the single ride line for Radiator Springs Racers in Cars Land. This was virtually a walk on, and even better today, the cloud cover hung around longer than usual, meaning the temperatures were really comfortable, hovering in the early 20’s.

    Even though this was a take it easy day, of course I was still monitoring ride times on the Disneyland app, which meant I noticed when Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout dropped from a 60 to just a 20 minute standby time. With the fate of the Galaxy at stake I had to scuttle over to the ride and line up.

    This is such a good ride, possibly my favourite in California Adventure! I was giggling like a demented lunatic the whole ride, and everyone in our ride vehicle clapped at the end.

    Exiting Mission Breakout we decided to try out something new at California Adventure and rode the Red Car trolley from Guardians to Buena Vista street and return.

    Naturally all of this excitement worked up an appetite, so for the first time in 20 years I decided to try Arby’s again, because apparently, ‘they have the meats’. Google Maps revealed that the closest Arby’s location was two kilometres away. This equation worked for me, as about five k’s of walking would burn off about five curly fries, so off I toddled.

    One delicious Philly cheesesteak sandwich and curly fries latter I stumbled out of Arby’s in a meat coma and sweated my way back to the air conditioned sanctuary of the hotel, as the sun had suddenly remembered it was shining on California, and must therefore try to incinerate us.

    Tonight is our last night in the wallet eating opulence of the Grand Californian, before we checkout tomorrow and head for our third hotel of the trip, after picking up my EV rental tomorrow. But tonight we dine, at The Cheescake Factory. Huzzah!!!    Read more

  • TravelerBack in the USA
    Day 8

    You paid how much?!!!

    October 7, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Today (Friday) was a busy day, checking out of one hotel, collecting the rental car, and checking into the final hotel of this trip.

    Yet again it was an early start for me, as Star Wars has no room for malingerers. I was in line for Early entry at 6:30am and lined up at the Frontierland barrier gate just after 7:30am. When the portal opened I charged through like I was a Labrador chasing a bacon sandwich, and ended up being in the first Rise of the Resistance boarding group of the day.

    I cannot overstate how incredible this ride is, but maybe the fact that from the time I rode it in the first boarding group, to exiting the ride, the standby line had swelled to 90 minutes, and continued growing to over two hours, illustrates its magnificence.

    My Star Wars appetite was not yet sated, so I headed straight down the Single Riders line for Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run. This time I was the engineer, so I was able to fully enjoy the ride without worrying about my breakfast making a reappearance due to motion sickness.

    By this time it was just after 9am, and time to meet Jean, who prefers to operate on a more relaxed schedule than I do. After some more merchandise shopping we boarded our submarine for Finding Nemo’s Submarine voyage.

    Stepping back onto dry land it was time to catch the monorail out of the park and back to the Grand Californian to check out.

    Since checkout was 11am and my Turo rental wouldn’t be dropped off until just after 1pm we had some time to kill, so we spent it soaking in as much grandness as we could. I also availed myself of the fitness centre facilities, grabbing some bottled water and free protein bars. I didn’t actually workout, I just went directly to carbo loading.

    When our traffic delayed Turo finally arrived I had a lightning course in operating the Mustang Mach E, before I got behind the wheel and back on US roads to drive to my favourite Anaheim hotel, The Ayres.

    We had a few hours to relax and unwind before the really big event of the day, our dinner reservation at Club 33. For those who haven’t heard of Club 33, (probably most of you) it’s an insanely exclusive private club inside the Disneyland Park. It was personally designed by Walt, and has a very limited membership. You have to be invited and approved to become a member, and then there’s the small matter of the $30,000 US joining fee, and annual fees of $15,000. So how did we get in? Jean has a client who is a member, who very, very kindly arranged a dinner reservation for us.

    Arriving at the club’s secret entrance just after 8pm we buzzed the intercom and were swiftly ushered into the inner sanctum. Over the next two hours we had the most refined, and delicious dining experience of our lives. It was also the most expensive dinner I have had, and probably ever will have. How expensive? Well this meal, including tip, came to just over $350 U.S., which at today’s exchange rate is just shy of $700 NZ. It was four courses, from starter, to appetiser, entree and dessert, each course expertly prepared and exquisitely presented. It is insanely expensive, but this food was beyond delicious, and this experience literally cannot be bought, it is the definition of priceless.

    On a high from this singular evening, we left the club just in time for the late performance of the Fantasmic show on the Rivers of America. Then there was just time for one last longing visit to Galaxy’s Edge before leaving the park and catching a Lyft back to the hotel.

    What a night, and what an extraordinary Disneyland experience we’ve had!    Read more

  • TravelerBack in the USA
    Day 10

    Malibu

    October 9, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    After an intense week of Disney parks and rides the last two days have been time to take it easy, tiki tour around and do a bit more shopping.

    We are now a few miles away from Disneyland, and things are much less frantic. Having a car also means we can set our own schedule. It also means local Lyft driver tips will plunge.

    Yesterday the Anaheim Plaza, Costco Garden Grove and the Outlets at Orange all received official visits. Money was generously distributed to as many retailers as possible.

    Today we decided to drive on over to Malibu and see if I could run down any Kardashians. Unfortunately someone must have given them a heads-up, as not one sniff of Botox or lip-filler anywhere.

    Malibu oozes money. I've never seen so many exotic cars in such a short space of time. I lost count of Porsches, Bentleys, Ferraris and even McClarens. The residents can't be all bad though, as we passed at least three shops dedicated to dog nutrition and clothing.

    After about an hour of strolling around, trying not to look too out of place, and passing several women who had everything you could have pumped up and overinflated, we got back in the Mustang and hit the freeway bound for Anaheim.

    Apparently every resident of the Greater Los Angeles area was travelling in the same direction, as the 55 mile drive took almost an hour and a half.

    Eventually we pulled back into the Ayres, plugged the Mach E in and hit Taco Bell for more Mexican deliciousness.

    Tomorrow I'm hitting the freeway early heading for Universal Studios Hollywood.    Read more

  • TravelerBack in the USA
    Day 11

    Hooray for Hollywood (Studios)

    October 10, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Yet another early morning start for me today. I swear I'll need a holiday from my holiday at this rate! I was up at 5:30am, so that I could be on the road early to avoid the worst of the LA morning commuter traffic.

    Fortunately, my cunning plan worked, and I hit the Freeway just after 6:30am and enjoyed a fairly smooth run the 60 miles from Anaheim to Hollywood and Universal Studios. There were expectedly a few sections that were jam-packed, and where a determined pensioner could have overtaken me on foot, but mostly the traffic flowed.

    Pulling into Universal's Jurassic Parking structure just before 8am I handed my car over to the valet and watched as he handbrake turned round the corner, leaving in a trail of tire smoke. That didn't really happen, but it would have been cool, and proved that movies are documents of truth.

    I wasn't due at the VIP lounge until about 9am, so I wandered Universal City walk, trying not to look like a fitness-obsessed homeless person. Eventually I got tired of waiting and rocked up to the VIP check-in about 8:45am. The gods of free food smiled and granted me entrance, and I climbed the stairs and proceeded to pack in as many free croissants, Danishes and assorted breakfast offerings as I could take before it was time for my group's VIP experience to begin at 9:45am.

    Just before tour time our guide, Christine, introduced herself and ran through our planned itinerary.

    We began on one of the park's marquee rides, Jurassic World. Normally the queue for this stretches back to the Jurassic era itself, but magic VIP passes in hand we waltzed past the plebs and straight onto the ride, only stopping to don our provided ponchos, because on this ride you DO get wet.

    After that we had a whirlwind of lower lot rides including The Mummy and Transformers. Ancient curses vanquished and the Earth saved, again, we rode the four levels back to the upper lot and headed for Hogsmeade and Hogwarts, where we rode The Forbidden Journey and Flight of the Hippogriff. On only one of those rides did I experience it mainly as an audio event. See if you can guess which one.

    Harry Potter in our rear-view mirror we just had time for some Minion Mayhem before we were escorted into the French Bistro for a very fancy, very delicious and dangerously filling buffet lunch.

    Waddling out of the, all you can eat calorie frenzy it was fortunate that our next ride was the famous backlot tram tour. However, in the VIP version you ride in an actual tram car, with leather seats, individual tour guide and endless chilled bottled water. In this tram tour you also get to get off and wander some of the film sets, including a set from one of my favourite movies, Back to the Future.

    The backlot tour lasted about 90 minutes, then we had time for one last ride together as a group, The Secret Life of Pets. Exiting this ride, we said our goodbyes to each other and our wonderful VIP tour guide Christine, then set off on our own way around the park.

    I had to make for the valet parking, in a valiant effort to get on the freeway before rush hour.

    For the first 5 miles it looked like I was living the miracle, then twenty miles of nose to tail traffic hit me in the fender and I crawled most of the way back towards Anaheim.

    Arriving about two hours later I just had time for dinner at the drive in fast food outlet which is Sonic (love their tater tots and Sonic blast milkshakes!) then collapsed into bed.

    One more theme park done. One more to go. Tomorrow an old favourite, Knott's Berry Farm.    Read more

  • TravelerBack in the USA
    Day 12

    Boysenberry time

    October 11, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Disneyland is number one for theme parks, and nowhere else evokes quite the same feelings and memories. But, a visit to Disneyland needs to be organised like a military campaign, and it is not what you'd classify as relaxing. That's why it's a popular change of pace to visit nearby Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park.

    There was no need to rush to be in the queue for early entry (they don't offer it), Knott's opens at a gentlemanly 10am, and it was a delightful difference.

    There is one exception to all this calm, lack of frenzy, and that is Ghostrider, the biggest and best wooden coaster in this part of the world. When the gates at Knott's swing wide, it seems as though every person swarms towards Ghostrider.

    It is a must-ride for me, and I arrowed towards the wooden giant once inside the park, only to be met by an immediate 60-minute queue. As much as I love this coaster, 60 minutes? Nah!

    Change of plan. Everybody wanting to ride Ghostrider meant every other ride in the park was virtually a walk-on. Jackpot!

    I managed to ride Supreme Scream (the towering drop ride) twice in five minutes, then moved on to the Jaguar rollercoaster, and Calico Mine Train.

    By this time I thought I might just check the Ghostrider queue again. What do you know, it's a walk-on. Those fools running here at park opening (including me)!

    Rides in the bank, all that walking had built a mighty hunger. Time for some of Knott's famous fried chicken and boysenberry pie.

    The chicken was passable, but luckily the boysenberry pie was scrum-diddily-umptious. Did you know that Knott's actually helped create and popularise the boysenberry? True story.

    Refueled by consumption of mass quantities, it was time for Round 2. This included Coast Rider, Camp Snoopy, Beary-Tales and the insane Silver Bullet rollercoaster.

    After this buffet of great rides, the only polite thing left to do was to exit via the gift shop.

    A quick break to drop off Knott's merchandise was a pause before the last food splurge of this visit. Naturally this meant The Cheesecake Factory. Could it be anywhere else?!

    And that completes this broadcast day. Another amazing, fun and food filled frenzy.    Read more

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