Monday, March 7, 2016

6000 Day

I woke up at 5am. No rain until I left for DCA at 6:45am. And it was rain, thunder, and lightning. In fact the lightning knocked out the power of some of the street signal lights in Anaheim. On my drive, I got texts from Jamie K., Sandra W., and Mike G., telling me when they would arrive at Racers. 
Got to the parking lot at 7:20am. The lot was supposed to open up at 7:30am since Extra Magic Morning starts at 8am for DCA. Some delay with the weather. It opened at 7:48am.

I walked over to the park. Can not break tradition now. Luckily it was not raining. There was no one coming in for Extra Magic Morning. So they let me come into the park. I rented a locker for later. I got to Racers at 8:20am and talked to Cast Members: Guillermo, Ruth, and Catalina. Guillermo is one of the ride Leads today and will see if we can turn lap 6000 around 11:30am.

So I'm just hanging out and waiting for my friends and 2 cast members friends to arrive.
I went over to Luigi's Rollicking Roadsters. Today is the official opening. The wet weather will not allow them to operate. The floor the cars dance on needs to be completely dry for them to perform. I saw Allison, Jonathan and Greg out front and visited with them for a little bit.

I went over to talk to Catalina out front of Racers stand by line. She told me Yesenia, the B lead for the ride, said because of short staffing today, the 6000 lap will be at 2pm. Now I know when the magic will happen. That is a big relief. Now to try and find how to keep busy until then. Sitting when I could be racing is hard for me. But I need to on the big lap days.

My friend Mike G. showed up at about 10:50am. I took my umbrella to my locker and we walked around by Tower and Bugs land. Did not go on any rides. We also talked with Catalina, who was by the Single rider entrance. Mike got something to eat. I'm too anxious to eat anything right now. Waiting for 2pm to come around.

Dorise showed up just after 1pm. Then Sandra and then Jamie. Jamie is going to ride in the 6000 car. She came in on her day off to ride. We all walked to GWD at 2pm. And waited for the 4 other girls to get released to ride in the 6000 car.

At 2:25pm, My cast member friends, Carlene, Catalina, Ruth and Jessica, joined Jamie and I at GWD. We all got into Teal 2. We were on the Luigi's side for race. And we lost on lap 6000. I usually lose on the big laps. All that matters, is that I got to ride with my friends. Jamie even got a video of the race with my GoPro camera. After we got out of the car, we got a group photo. One normal and one goofy. I'm always the lucky one who gets to ride with his cast member friends on the big laps. They are the best. I want to thank the Photopass cast members who gave us the ride photos. I also took photos with my friends, Sandra, Dorise and Mike, who came to celebrate the ride with me. We also met Heather and got a selfie. I took a break to get a bite to eat. We then all went on Racers. Single rider line. My 6001 lap. I then went with Heather and Dorise on Tower of Terror. Back to Racrrs for 5 more laps. Ended the day at 6006. Good number to stop on. Back at Racers on Wednesday to start and race to a new goal. I want to hit 7000 rides on my Birthday. Four months from now.

Thanks to everyone who made this such a special day. Continued support will help me reach the next goal. Let's see what will happen. KA CHOW!!!!!!!!

6,000 video with comments from Carlene Beckius, Catalina Simpson, Ruth Cabral, Jamie Kisely, and Jessica Miracella:

 
The raw 6,000 ride:


Back row: Catalina, Me, and Jessica
Front row: Jamie, Ruth, and Carlene
Left to right
Jamie
Jamie and Carlene
Left to right: Ruth, Catalina, Me, Jessica and Carlene
Goofy shot
Mike, Dorise and Sandra
Heather, Sandra, and Dorise
After the finish line
Frances
Jonathan, Allison and Greg
Makinna  and Jason
Katelynn
Tower with Heather and Dorise
Heyse
Diego
Sergio 
Katie

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

One more to go

Today I came to Disney California Adventure. I wanted to get 5 laps (rides) on Radiator Springs Racers, to reach 5999. 
I got to the entrance of DCA at about 8:45am. As I was waiting in line, I got a visit from the Kramer family from Washington. I knew they were coming to the park today. They found me waiting in line. I first met the Kramers last year. Shortly after I reached 2400 laps. We got a picture then and also a picture today, with my 5900 sign. They went to Disneyland, to start the day.  I also met another family from Washington. The Luce family. The saw me get a picture with the Kramers and also wanted a photo. No problem. Everyone knows how much I love taking pictures. 
I got to Racers at about 10:05am. I went on laps 5995 and 5996. I was in line, at merge, when I heard the power go down. A person was at out bounds at the unload area. The cast members had no choice but to hit the E stop button. So they had to get the guests out of every car on the track, before they could power the ride back up. The ride was down from 11:07am until 12:25pm. 
I got on lap 5997 at about 12:28pm. I was even in the first car out of the station, when the ride came back up.
Shortly after, the Kramer family came to the ride. We were able to ride together for lap 5998. It was great to ride with them. I also showed them the location of a couple "Hidden Mickeys" on the attraction.  I got a photo after with them and their extended family. Very cool. It was great seeing them. That is one of the special "Disney Magic" moments. Meeting people I have seen at the ride before. The Kramers will hopefully be back in December, when I'm close to 8000 laps.  
I then took a break. Only need one more lap today to reach 5999. I went by Luigi's Rollicking Roadsters. They were having cast member previews of the ride. I saw my cast member friend Alessa A., working the ride. We had a talk about the attraction. It's going to be a great little ride.
I then went on Monsters, Inc. Some of the cast members recognized me from my Racers pictures. I then went by Tower of Terror. I saw Sarah Reyes and Alexis A., who let me come into the attraction. Which was number 57 for that ride. I then walked back to Racers. A went by Flicks Fun Fair and saw Martha. Had to say hi. Had a brief talk with Jared E. and Carlene B., at single rider entrance. Then got in line at 3:35pm for lap 5999. At 4:00pm, in blue 3 and on Luigi's side for race, I lost on lap 5999. Now the stage is set for the 6000 lap on Monday. Hopefully, I will get to ride with 5 of my cast member friends to mark the special milestone. I will wait all day to be able to ride with these friends. I'm very excited to reach 6000 laps. 

Bill, Lisa, Cole and Kennady Kramer
The Luce Family
Catalina
Allison
Andrew
Marissa
Jordan
Front row: left to right, me, Kennady and Cole. Back row: right to left, Lisa, Bill and single rider
Left to right Alex, Bill, Lisa, Cole, me, Kennady, Karen, Nick and Jake or Jake then Nick

Tower of Terror
Lap 5999
Carlene
Carlene
Mary
Yesenia