Travelsty: Los Angeles

The flight to LA was fairly short and so I didn't get my usual chance to update the blog using the onboard wifi.

Ken's sister and sister in law live in LA. They kindly rented a car to drive us around.

So many crazy freeways.

The hotel was a definite step up from SF.

The girls took us to Disneyland.
The first ride we went on after arriving was "Ken left his credit card in the ATM at the bank in Pasadena"

"Did anyone hand in a credit card? It was yellow and belonged to an idiot"

While Rachel and Ken tried to find his card and/or get a hold put on it, Kat and I scoped out what rides we wanted to go on.

I was keen to check out what people in 1955 thought the far distant future of 1986 would look like. Sadly this has almost completely been dismantled and the only things left in Tomorrowland are the rides.

We went on the star wars ride which involves showing you a 3d movie while the entire shuttle/cinema you are sitting in is moved around on hydraulic arms or something. Aside from aggravating my back, it's pretty effective.

As part of the story for the ride, one person on the ride is selected as a rebel spy that is on the shuttle (that is why you're being chased/shot at). They integrate a "mugshot" that has been secretly taken while you're lining up, into the video footage used for the ride. I think they probably pick the shiftiest looking audience member to be the spy.

One of these people is a rebel spy.

We then saw a live performance that involved people singing various Disney songs.

There was the obligatory "It's a small world" ride

We went on the Haunted Mansion ride; some of the effects are nearly as cool as I remember them from my visit in the late 80s. The others went on a few rides that involved more jarring than I felt like inflicting on my back. (Ken has photos of the photos Disney offer to sell you after you get off showing your terrified face, bug him for those, some are quite funny)

No one felt brave enough so we skipped the teacups.

Disney has expanded into a second park called "California Adventure" that serves booze, so while Ken and Rachel spent an hour lining up to ride splash mountain for 90 seconds, Kat and I went and hung out at a bar overlooking the lake at D:CA.

The musical fountain display. It's no Bellagio.
What you can't see is the poor bastard in the tuxedo goofy suit
just out of shot on the far bank, conducting the music in the full sun.

Ken and Rachel then went on some sort of death-coaster visible from the bar

Ken being upside down

before we went wandering again

parade!

We went white water rafting at Grizzly River Run

slightly damp.

Before discovering an area themed around the Mad Hatters tea party.

Mad Hatter band

glowing drinks

After several glowing drinks, for making us wait an hour while they rode the splashy thing, KAt and I sent Ken and Rachel to be thrown out of an elevator.