New Year's Eve 2015

The last day of the year. I needed  21 laps (times) on Radiator Springs Racers to hit my goal of 5555. 

I started the day by coming in with the Extra Magic morning guests. One of the security guards, I've become friends with, asked the ticket takers if they could give us some magic. They let a group of us in at about 7:05 am. 

I arrived at Racers at 7:10am. The ride went down briefly and at 7:20am, the racing began. I got 4 laps before the ride went down from 8:24am until 8:38am. A single car faulted. I was in a car before race start. So we were able to get another lap without getting out of the car.

I took my first break from 10am until 10:12am. Eleven laps so far today. 

After lap 12, another car faulted. The ride was back up after 12 minutes. I asked a friend if I should stop when I hit 5555 or continue for the rest of the day. She told me to, "Keep going. See what you can hit before next year".

At 2:42pm I got the 21 laps and 5555. I lost the race in purple 3. I usually lose on the big laps. And I kept going. While I was in line, a group of cast members were leaving for the day. They wished me Happy New Year with hand shakes and hugs. After 28 laps and at 7:25pm, I took a break. I went by Tower of Terror. I saw cast member Jamie K. We got a 5555 and Happy New Year photo. She also let me on ride through Fastpass entrance. Other cast members recognized me from my Racers photos and gave me high fives for my racing. Jamie ended up dispatching me on the attraction. 

I got back to Racers and got a total of 33 laps before they closed the ride for fireworks at 11:15pm. I reached 5567 laps. I watched the fireworks with the Pit Crew in front of the attraction. More Happy New Year wishes and hugs. 

The ride went down about 20 minutes before closing. It looked like I would not get to ride with the cast members. But they were able to fix the problem quickly. At about 1:30am, I was able to ride with my Pit Crew Friends. Now at 5568. I need to thank the Leads Carlene and Ryan for allowing me to wrap up 2015 in a special way. 

Everyone at Racers has helped make 2015 an awesome year. They are truly my brothers and sisters. Their support and kindness have kept me going. I hope I've been an example on how these great people should be treated. I love them with all my heart and look forward to a great 2016. KA CHOW.

Carina and John

Teresa and Alicia

Kristen

Carlene

Jamie

Tower of Terror 

Sean, Greg and Heather

Marie and Brian

Stephanie, Marie, Greg and Catalina

Alyssa

Karla

Carlene

Jonathan, Joel, Brittany and Heather

52

Christmas Eve 2015 was a very special day. I walked over to the entrance of Disney California Adventure after parking my car at 6:30am. I was able to come in the park with the Extra Magic morning guests at 7:00am. I arrived at Radiator Springs Racers at 7:11am. And the racing began. After 9 laps, I met up with Larissa F. and her son Riley. They were visiting from Washinton. We became friends through the Drama Free Disney Facebook page. We were able to ride together for that lap. Lap 5416 for the year. They also went on once in the single rider line. It was great talking to them. Like we were old friends catching up. They left saying they would come back later that day, around 8pm.

The laps kept turning one after another. I took my first and only break between 2 and 2:28pm. I had 25 laps (rides) for the day so far. Eight and a half hours to go. This is when I started to think something magical could happen. I did not want to leave the ride, fearing I would jinx what was occurring. The longest wait in the single rider line was under 20 minutes. Most of the day it was under 10 minutes. Larissa and her son showed up at 8:00pm. Riley gave me a Piston Cup because he liked my story. I thanked him for the thoughtful gesture. We got to ride again in the same car. Lap 42 for the day. They also went one more time in the single rider line. It was great meeting them and spending some time talking about this adventure. We wished each other a Merry Christmas. 

Then the real fun began. Wait time was as fast as I could get off ride and cycle back around. At about 9:15pm, I tied my record, for one day, 47.  Then 48, 49, and 50 at 10:15pm. I asked the cast member Leads, Carlene and Robbie, if I could ride in the last car of the evening. So I was able to ride for the 51 time at 10:48pm. Then at 11:05pm, I turned lap 52, in a car by myself. I always wanted to have a 50 lap day. But I never thought it would occur on Christmas Eve.

It was a special day. Meeting new people, taking 5400 photos with my Pit Crew friends and reaching 52 rides in one day. My own little Christmas magic. 

Me, Riley and Larissa in front row

Riley and Larissa with Piston Cup

Larissa and Riley 

Carlene

Jamie

Bethanie

Alejandra

Meli

Alessa, Kristen and Teressa

Lap 52 for the day

Finishing Strong

Only 19 more days left in 2015. Let's see if I will be able to achieve the year end goals I set, after my 5000 lap on November 2nd. 

Last night, I came to Radiator Springs Racers to get in a few laps. I thought I would ride only 2 times. But ended up with 7 laps, from 7:05pm until 10:45pm. After the 1st ride, some awesome things happened. I got some 5200 lap pictures with Pit Crew members I don't get to see that much. Jessica G., Delaney P., Martha C., Sandra P., Austin P., and Melissa L. I then got in line for ride 2, and a young kid and his sister, who were in the Fastpass line, came up to me. He asked if I was Jon. He shook my hand and his sister was going to take a selfie of us. But it was too dark. So we had a guest,  from the single rider line, take a picture with the three of us and my 5200 sign. They right after, 3 more guests recognized me from the newspaper and also wanted a photo. And also a couple other people in the single rider line with me. Almost like they were lining up. 

It really makes me humble, when people want my picture. I'm sure we all know how much I love taking pictures. Just ask the Pit Crew. I will never turn down anyone who wants a photo. It really helps encourage me to keep riding.

I talked to a few more people about my story, as I was waiting to turn 5 more laps. I also took more Pit Crew photos. Photos with Cristian A., Jamie K., Robbie C., Nick S., and Karla S.

So the 7 laps got me to 5255 all time and  2483 for the year. 

Goal number 1 was to reach 2600 times this year. Only 117 away from that goal. That one will be achieved for sure. The 2nd goal to hit 5500 by year's end will be challenging. I'm 245 laps away. 

I'm planning on coming to the ride 11 more days. So I need an average of 22.2 laps per day. I will be there December 14,  15, 17, 18, 21, 22, 24, 25, 28, 29, and New Years Eve, the 31st. 

There are a few X factors that could slow this goal. But will not mention them. It all comes down to this. If it is meant to be, it will happen. Last year, I would of been disappointed if I did not reach 2400 on the 31st. But everything worked out. 

This year, I will put in the days and hours to reach this goal. Let's see if the Racing Gods will allow 5500 to be achieved before 12am midnight on the 31st. KA CHOW !!!!!!!

There will be a video of all the 5000 photos in a few days. You will be able to see this video and my Racers story on my You Tube page. Here is the link: 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB_hQOLJ30HfvkhT4JhzIqw

Jessica G.

Delaney P.

Martha C.

Sandra P.

Austin P.

Melissa L.

Cristian A.

Jamie K.

Robbie C.

Nick S.

Karla S.

Video about my Racers story

A friend of mine interviewed me about my journey at Radiator Springs Racers. He then edited the piece with video from the ride and photos of the cast members. This is my story in my own words. I think you will enjoy this story.

http://youtu.be/4_5autwF0vo

You can check out other of my ride videos on my you tube page 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB_hQOLJ30HfvkhT4JhzIqw

16 Hour Day at Racers

I arrived at The Mickey and Friends parking structure at 6am. Parking lot opened at 6:30am. I then walked over to Disney California Adventure Park entrance to see if I could come in with the Extra Magic Morning guests. It worked. Came into the park at 7:08am. Got to Racers at 7:13am. 

In the first ride of the day, the cars stopped moving at 7:20am. I was in car next to Sheriff. The delay kept getting longer, waiting for the ride to start back up. Got me thinking how many times I've been evacuated from the ride. Twice at Frank's. Once at tipping tractors. Twice at belt check, once at starting line. Once before crossing finish line. I was walked out under the finish line. So I counted that lap. One time after the race, I was at low bank. And one today at Sheriff. They turned power off and I was taken out. Now the waiting game until they can get the ride operating again. I took a couple selfies with the crew and just hung out waiting. I was first in line when they started to walk us to the load area of the ride at 9:24am. I got in a car at 9:27am. And away we go part 2. Turned 2 laps and at 9:50, the ride powered down again. Maybe the ride is testing me today and wants to see if I can last until 11pm tonight. Challenge accepted.

The ride was running again at 11am. I waited for the single rider line to open up. They let in Fastpass guests first. At 11:05am they opened single rider line. At 11:10am I turned lap 3 for the day. At 11:49, lap 4 for the day was completed. Then the single rider line was all the way to the front entrance. I visited with cast member Catalina, who was at single rider entrance. Then at 12:12pm, I got back in line. By 1:50pm, I was at 6 laps for today. About ready to take my first break for the day. Took break from 2:35 to 3:10pm after lap 7. 

At 5:30pm, I turned lap 10 for the day. Five and a half hours to go. At 6:40pm, lap 11 was achieved.

Lap 12 at 7:30pm.

Lap 13 at 8:31pm.

Lap 14 at 9:22pm.

Lap 15 at 10:00pm.

Lap 16 at 10:23pm.

And using my readmission pass from this mornings evact, lap 17 at 10:45pm. I'm tired. I need days like these to see if I really want to reach my racers goals. 

I need to bake cookies for the Crew in a couple weeks.

Ivan, Andrew and Doug

Mary, April and Teddi

5000 Newspaper Article and Year End Goals

On Monday November 16th, I got a Facebook message from Keith Sharon, a reporter from the Orange County Register. I was at Radiator Springs Racers at the time. He wanted to meet up and talk to me about my 5000 laps. We got together at Flo's Cafe in California Adventure. We talked for about a hour. We went over my back story and how I came to turning 5000 laps at Racers. We also got on the ride together. I was in the front row and Keith in the back row. He also got to see how I interact with the cast members. He came to understand the fact that I continue to turn laps at Racers because of the great support and encouragement from my Pit Crew friends. 

The next day, the newspaper photographer met me at the ride. We walked in the single rider line and got in a car twice. He sat in the front row and I was in the back both times. He took several shots of me on the ride. He also got a shot of me as cars raced behind me. And shots of my little notebook. You'll see the photos in the article. Here is the link to the story.http://www.ocregister.com/articles/hale-692628-cast-disney.html

Now, what is going to happen the rest of this year? Some cast members are asking me what my next goal will be.

I have two goals to finish off this year. One will be fairly easy. The second goal may not happen.

Goal number 1: reach 2600 laps for this year. I'm currently at 2355. Only 245 laps to reach this goal. 

Goal number 2: reach 5500 laps all time by the end of year. This one will be tough. I'm currently at 5127. 373 laps to hit this goal.

So let's see how the year will end. Everyone's support will be needed as always. The encouragement from cast members and Facebook friends will keep me focused. 

Photo courtesy of OC Register 

Photo courtesy of OC Register 

5000

As usual, got to parking lot 10 minutes before it opened at 8:30am. Looked a bit crowded. Probably because the parks do not open until 10am. I walked over to DCA entrance without getting on the tram. I got to the attraction at 9:45am. I talked to one of the leads, Mark R. He told me because of some cast members "calling out", they were short handed and probably could not do lap 5000 until 2pm. 

A brief window opened for a try at 11:00am, but I still needed one lap before 5000. I got in single rider line and did not get on ride until 11:08am. So the cast members had to go back in rotation. I had friends show up at 11am. Sandra, Heather and Dorise, Michelle, Claudia, Erin, and Mark and Brittany. Most of them could not stay. I was grateful they came in and we got some 5000 photos ahead of time. Former ride cast member Katie H. came in on her day off. And current Pit Crew member Carlene B. came in before she had to report to work.  Katie was able to stick around and Carlene had to go change into her Racers uniform and report to work. My friends Heather and Dorise H. were able to stick around. So Katie, Heather, Dorise  and I went and ate lunch at Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta. 

We got back to Racers at 1:40pm. Ruth, Catalina and Carlene were released from current rotation and along with Katie, we got into car Red 5 at about 2:26pm. I had the 5000 sign Angela S. made for me. Cast members were able to autograph the sign before the big day.  Katie had my Go Pro on her wrist, and we got video of the race. We won. But we also did not race against anyone. A win is a win. We got post race photos. Some normal and some goofy shots. Heather had my phone and took the photos. She also shot video of us getting in the car and leaving the station. And a great clip of the car coming across the finish line. Also took photos with Heather, Dorise, and Brittany.  The photo pass crew gave me the ride photo and another photo that Carlene, Catalina, Katie and Ruth signed for me. Carlene also handed me a card, the Pit Crew members signed. After saying goodbye to everyone, I went back to racing. Getting congratulations and photos with my cast members friends, along the way. Ended up with 12 total rides for the day and 5010 all time on Racers.

I am very grateful to everyone for making the 5000 lap possible. The leads for letting the cast members ride in the car and my cast member "sisters" getting in the car with me. My friends for showing up even if they had to leave before the big lap. The fact they showed up was great. And we did get 5000 pictures even if they were before the ride. Also Heather using my phone to take some great video and pictures of the event. It was a great day. 

What's next? The real "goal" is to eventually reach 10,000 laps. It will take anywhere from 2 to 3 years. For the current year, I'll like to end up with 2600 rides in this calendar year. I got 2400 laps  last year. So with 2600 this year, I will have 5000 laps in 2 years. In 2012, I got on the ride 56 times. In 2013, 316 times. So I would need to reach 5372 for this to happen. 

It has been a great adventure so far. And we all the love and support from the crew and friends, I see no reason to stop racing. Plus I still need a lot of 5000 photos to take.

All photo tags are left to right,

Catalina, Ruth, Katie and Carlene

Catalina, Katie, me, Carlene and Ruth

Goofy shot

Erin, Sandra, Dorise, me, Heather, Claudia, Mark, Michelle and Deshawn 

Goofy shot

Jordan

Vanessa

Heyse

Andrew

Carlene

Catalina

Ruth

Alicia

Melissa

Grace

Amos