The Cree Family Visit and Lap 10,101

9900

On Monday, I needed 22 rides on Radiator Springs Racers to reach the 9900 mark. Disney California Adventure looked like it could be crowded today. The lines to get into the park were long. Today will

also be a battle with the heat. It is supposed to reach 100 degrees today. At  9 am it was 76 degrees.

I arrived at Racers at 9:02am. Let’s see how the day went.

By 10:14am , I was on 5 times. The temperature was 93 degrees. I get the weather from the Weather Channel. They have a page for the Disneyland Resort. I got a selfie with Meli after the 5th ride.

I got in the car for the 6th ride, and the ride went down. Carlos (Racers Cast Member) blamed me. The bad car was in the caverns, after the race. It took 12 minutes to get the ride going again. 

At 11:43am, I took my first break. I had 10 rides for the day and a total of 9888. I went by to see my friend Amanda. She was working at The Studio Store. She was feeling a little under the weather but still took a selfie with me. I also saw Sarah at Guardians and got a photo with her. 

Back at Racers at 12:09pm. The ride was just coming back up after another single car fault. The temperature is now 101 degrees.

The ride went down again from 12:49 to 12:54pm. 

I got 7 more rides by 2:14pm. That put me at 9895. The temperature is now 102 degrees. I took a short break.

Then at 3:39pm, another milestone was hit. Ride number 9900. It was special because I was able to ride with some new friends that just happened to be in the regular line. They wanted to ride. I waited for them at Single Rider grouping. And we won the race in Purple 2 on Ramone’s side of the track. 

Still going for the rest of the day. Taking pictures with my Racers friends. I ended the day at 9910. With a total of 32 rides for the day. Only 90 to go. Still aiming for Monday November 13th for the 10,000th ride. 

Amanda

Sarah 

Meli

Mikey and Marie

Cameo

Carina

Nicole

Big Announcement: 10,000 Times on Radiator Springs Racers at Disneyland Resort

Toy Story Half Marathon

Woke up at 2am this morning to get ready for the race. I drank my protein shake and taped up my feet and knees. I left for Disneyland before 3 am. Got to the parking lot before 3:30 am. I checked in my bag then waited for the race corral to open up. I was in the last corral and wanted to be in the front. They let us in at 4 am. My friend Angela came to join me up front. She did the 10K yesterday. We had to wait until almost 6 am for our race to start. Corral A started just after 5 am. It was already hot. The temperature was over 85 and humid. I had a cooling towel and bottle water 

We started out pretty good. Angela could not believe the big stride I have walking. I never jog. I've always walked in these races. She let me go at my pace. I saw her when I came out of the Alice bathroom. I walked with her a little bit. She was getting hot. Angela also had a cooling towel. They had water and Powerade stations every 2 miles or so. I always filled up my bottle with Powerade and poured the water on my head. And also got the cooling towel wet. At about mile 6 a spectator had a chest of ice. I got a few. Man was that great. Just to have something cold. 

I was slowing down as the miles went by. They had guys on bike telling us how much we were ahead of the pace before they could kick us off the course. I was at 10 minutes, then 6 minutes. When I came out of Angel Stadium it was down to a minute. I noticed Angela got out of the stadium. Then they had to take her off the course for heat exhaustion. 

I got a text from my friend Carlene asking where I was at. This was when I was just coming out of the stadium. I asked if she could bring me a cup of ice when I turned the corner at mile 11 by her apartment. Right before we crossed the bridge over the freeway, a nice lady was passing out small water bottles. And they were cold. That was great. I got to Carlene. She gave me the ice and rooted me on by saying "only 2 more miles". I was too beat up to try and get a photo with her. I also got texts from my friends Tara and David. They were following me on the Run Disney tracker. They both said "you're almost there". I was walking along side of the balloon lady. She was walking at a 16 minute mile pace.

And as I crossed the finish line I made sure to show the container that had the ice from Carlene. It really helped those last 2 miles. 

According to Disney, I completed the half marathon in 3 hours and 41 minutes for a pace of 16:56. My Nike app got me going for 13:31 miles at 3 hours 37 minutes for a pace of 16:20. The Nike app paused when I went to the restroom and stopped for water. 

It was a tough race. Very humid. The cooling towel did help. I even got water from sprinklers that were on along the course. I was glad when I was done. They gave us cold water, Powerade, a cooling towel, a box of goodies, bananas and bags of ice. 

Is there a race in the future? Tara posted about her and Carlene doing the Dumbo Double Dare 3 years ago. Then she said, she would love to do a race together in the future. I guess I might have to. But now I'm out to reach 10,000 rides on Racers. 

The finish line with Carlene's container

Coming out of the castle 

In DCA

My Nike stats 

Medal 

Angela before the race 

My Mark Twain Riverboat Experience - Disneyland Park

9100

Today, I need to ride Radiator Springs Racers 23 times to reach the 9100 mark. The park hours are 9am until 9pm. That would mean, I would need almost 2 rides per hour. 

I arrived at The Mickey and Friends parking structure at 7am. Once the parking lot opened at 7:30am, I walked to the park entrance, playing Pokémon along the way. The Main gates opened at 8:30am. They allowed guests to get on the rides at 9am. I went by Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout. Had to get pictures with the walls down in front of the Fortress. 

Arrived at Racers at 9:09am. Let the racing begin.

I had a total of 7 rides when I took my first break at 10:53 am. The break was only 11 minutes. I went to say hi to my friend Desiree at Racers Fastpass. Back racing at 11:04 am.

By 12 pm, I had 10 rides. I need 13 more to reach 9100.

I had another 3 rides before 1 pm. Now at 9090. Eight hours to get 9 more rides to reach 9100.

Took a break from 2:58 pm until 3:03 pm. I was at 9095 or 18 rides for the day. 

The single rider line grew to over s 30 minute wait. By 5:42 pm, I got on 4 more times to reach 9099.

 Took a break. Visited briefly with my friends Victoria and Carlene. I also went on Soarin'. Went for a walk around the park. Playing Pokémon along the way. Also saw Cameo at World of Color. Blond hair this time.  

Went back to Racers right before 9pm. Was the last person in line. And then the Magic happened. Ride 9100 with my friends, Victoria, Teddi, Davina and Sean. 

Now 900 more to reach 10,000. 

KA CHOW

Davina, Victoria, Sean and Teddi

 

Sean, Teddi, Davina and Victoria 

 

Guardians with the walls down

 

Desiree 

 

Victoria 

 

Carlene 

 

Cameo

 

Carlene being silly

 

Carlene 

 

My Life on Instagram - Part A

My On Ride POV

The Rebel Challenge

I've done a few Disney Run events. I think 3- 5K events. One 10K and one half marathon. When I saw the yearly Star Wars run was coming up, I wanted to test myself. I had never done a 10K on Saturday, followed by a Half Marathon on Sunday. The Star Wars Rebel Challenge is that event. I do most of my walking  at Racers. So I had to train if I wanted to complete these back to back races. With my double knee replacement, I'm not suppose to run. So I walk the events. I did one workout per week, leading up to the Challenge. I worked up to 12 miles, 2 weeks out and a 5 mile and 6 mile walk, the week before.

I arrived for the Star Wars 10K at 4am. I went into the Racer corral at 4:30am. My friends Catalina and Deane S., joined up with me a few minutes later. We were in the front of Corral G, the last corral. Corral A started at 5:30am. We started at 6:10am. We did the first 5K in 47 minutes and a average of 15:21 per mile. We then slowed it way down. Doing the 10K in 1:40:38. Average of 16:12 per mile. The big race was the 1/2 marathon. So tried to save some energy for the next day. Always running in the 10K were my friends Heather and Jon. Also my cousin Natalie from Utah. They all had fun in their runs.

On Sunday, I got to the corral at 4:10am. Catalina and Deane met me there at 4:25am. We were in corral J, the last corral. But we were in the front again. Our corral did not start the race until 6:30am. We took off strong. We did the first 5K in 44 minutes, an average of 14:12 per mile. We took about a 4 minute bathroom break right after mile 4. The clock did not stop. We got to the 10K mark at 1:33:45, for an average of 15:59 per mile. At the 15K mark we had a 15:46 mile pace. 

We were tired, but found a way to spend it up a little bit towards the finish. We crossed the finish line in 3:23:25, an average of 15:31 per mile.

The Tinkerbell Half Marathon took me 3 hours and 33 minutes. So I beat my old time by 10 minutes. Tinkerbell had some hills and a bunch of bottlenecks inside the parks.

Along the way I got a text message from my friend Angela S., from Seattle. Right when we finished, I got texts from my friends Tara C. and Carlene B. They all asked how things went. I always love the support from friends. Also got words of encouragement from cast members inside the park and at the finish line. It was great to see Jamie, Lisa, Aubree and Mark. Of course I had to get pictures with them.

It was a great 2 day event. It was fun walking with Catalina and Deane. It makes the distance go by quicker when you are with your friends.

We'll see what the future holds in these events. They are getting a little expensive and you have to sign up over 6 months in advance. I may do a couple 10Ks before ever trying a challenge again. 

I'm at 8479 at Racers. Back racing on Monday.

Deane and Catalina after the half marathon 

At the 10K finish

 

Natalie, Heather, Jon, Catalina and Deane after 10K

Half Marathon finish

 

Catalina and Deane after 1/2 Marathon

 

Jamie

 

Aubree

 

Lisa

 

Mark, Jamie and Catalina photobombing

 

In the Star Wars trash compactor

 

Farewell Tribute - The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (2017)

Tower 260 and Christmas Eve 2016

On Friday night, December 23, I came to Tower of Terror after work. I wanted to go on Tower for the 260th time, with the Bellhops. That was my goal for Tower. Why 260? The Bellhops said I should have a 13 in the number. 260 is 13 times 20. So at the end of the night, I got to ride with my friends. Sarah G. helped set up the ride. This was a great Christmas present from the Bellhops. Tower means a lot to me and I'll miss it when it closes after January 2nd. My Bellhop friends have been awesome and I love them all. I'll come on the last day and see if I can somehow be the last "guest" to ride. 

Left to right: Alex, Juston, Jose, Travi, Sarah, Walter, Brisa, Jeff, and Felix

Now for Christmas Eve. 

I got to Disney California Adventure at 7am. I was able to come it with the Extra Magic Morning guests. Radiator Springs Racers did not open until 7:30am. I was able to get in the first car out of the station. The goal was to get 40 rides to reach 8300 all time.

I got 3 rides before they had a minor issue. I got on Racers 10 times by 10am. Then 10 more by 12:45pm. I took a brief break at 2pm and had another 10 laps at 4:15pm. Only 10 more to reach 8300. Three more rides before a break from 5pm until 5:12pm. Three more rides by 6:10pm. I got another 2 rides before a 30 minute downtime because of a single car issue. After 2 more rides, I hit the 8300 mark at 8:21pm. I was in Silver 2, on Luigi's side for race, and lost the race. I got 40 laps for the day. That was enough for this day. 

Throughout the day, I also went by to see some of my cast member friends. I visited with Jess and Minerva at Mater's, Tracie at Luigi's,  Amanda working the shop by Grizzly River Run. I also saw Desiree at Disney Junior. At night, I went by to see Cameo at Flik's and Lisa at the Viva Navidad parade. I got Merry Christmas pictures with them and pictures with my friends at Racers. 

When I left Racers at 8:21pm, I walked over to Tower of Terror. I took 4 trips to the 13th floor. I'm now at 264 times on Tower. I also got photos with Jessica, Tyler and Aubree. 

It was a pretty good Christmas Eve. I got 2 presents at the park. Getting to ride with the Bellhops at 260 and reaching 8300 laps at Racers. 

One week to go for this year. I'll be at the park Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, New Year's Eve. I'd like to reach 8400 at Racers but also need to say goodbye to Tower. The friendship I've made at Tower has really been my Disney Magic.  The ride may go away but the relationships will last a lifetime. 

 

Minerva

 Jess

Tracie

Amanda

 

Desiree

Lisa

 

Jessica and Tyler

 

Aubree

 

Elizabeth, Amanda, Kristin, Lauryn and Wendy

 

Showing off the cookies I brought them: Amanda, Kristin, Wendy, Lauryn, Alex and Elizabeth

 

Cristian and Cidney

 

Rosy and Jackie

 

Jordan

 

Cameo

 

Bethanie

 

Megan

 

Jacob and Yafiet

 

Heather

 

Miguel