2016 so far

The first 4 months of 2016 have been magical. I was able to hit the 6000 mark at Radiator Springs Racers on March 7th. Welcomed Jamie K. And Jessica M. to the big lap car. Joining me was, Carlene B., Catalina S., and Ruth C., who have been in my previous 1000 lap cars rides.  Reached 6383 at the end of April. Should hit 7000 laps by mid July. Wanted to reach 7000 on an earlier date, but Spring Break crowds have slightly slowed that process down within the past week. The Pit Crews' encouragement and support keep me racing. Some get me in the front row of the car. Others seem to keep track of the color of cars I get in. Some have a way of knowing how many laps I have turned during the day. And others can see me from far away and wave when we make eye contact. 

In February, I got a picture with movie star Kate Beckinsale. She was at the Racers ride in the Photopass area when I got off the ride. I got the courage to go up and ask for a picture. She was very nice and let me take a selfie.

Something very special also happened in the first part of this year. I started befriending the Bellhops at Tower of Terror. Because of my Racers friends, I was recognizable to the Tower of Terror cast members. Some of them also work at Racers while some worked other attractions. It helps them break things up a bit. So you can say, Tower is my 2nd attraction.

I just happened to walk by there one night and a couple Bellhops called out to me. I never met them before but they knew me. Those 2 cast members were Alexis  B.  and Sarah G.. So I had to get a picture with them. There were 4 Bellhops that friended me from the start. Destiny S., Lisa B., Alexis A., and Sarah G.. After that, the rest of the Bellhops joined in. Towards the end of the night, I got to ride with them after the ride closed. I feel very lucky to get to ride with these great cast members. They have all welcomed me into their attraction. When I found out one of my favorite member was leaving for a job outside of Disney, I had to come say goodbye. I even made a sign for Destiny S. She was the Bellhop I got to ride with for 4 times which was more than any of the other cast members I have ridden with. She is going to be a customer service/concierge for a private jet airline. Sad to see cast members leave but very happy for them and their future adventures.

I always like ending my day at Racers by stopping by the Tower on my way out of the park.

So besides getting to 7000 at Racers, I should hit the 100 mark at Tower. I told them I'll make a sign when that happens.

One of my biggest challenges will be next Sunday, where I try a half marathon for the first time: The Tinkerbell Half marathon. I've been training for the  event. Catalina S. has made us matching Racers outfits and will be running beside me, so we can help each other out in the race. 

The next 4 months should be as excited as the first 4 of the year.

Now the stats for this year:

I been on Racers 816 times this year. Last year, I was at 727 after the first 4 months. 

My record this year is 444 wins and 372 losses. 72 more wins than losses.

By lane of race:

Ramone side for race: 423 times and record of 252-171

Luigi side for race: 393 times and record of 192-201

By color of car:

Silver 136 and record of 72-64

Red: 123 and record of 67-56

Blue: 108 and record of 61-57

Purple: 105 and record of 59-46

Teal: 102 and record of 56-46

Green: 92 and record of 52-40

Yellow: 81 and record of 49-32

And Cranberry 69 and record of 29-40

Winning in every color but Cranberry.

Lastly, I've come to Racers 46 days this year for an average of 17.7 laps per day.

6000 lap with Catalina, Jamie, Ruth, Jessica and Carlene

Ruth, Catalina, Jamie, Jessica, Carlene

Kate Beckinsale 

Alexis and Sarah

Lisa

Destiny and Sarah

Sarah

 

 In the photo are Destiny, Sara M., Blanca, Lisa, Brisa, Gabriel, Allison, Takola

Destiny, Kyle, Christina, Takola 

Alex, Jamie, Jarred 

Darren, Tyler, Sarah R., Destiny, Brisa, Elizabeth, Lloyd

Kyle, Destiny, Kristen

Sonjia, Makinna, Dyllan, Jamie, Luis, Joey, Delaney, Elizabeth, Kyle 

Destiny and Christina

Sad face with Destiny

Destiny

Goofy faces 

Kristen

Annaleen

Cidney and Elizabeth 

Melissa

Sarah H. And Allison

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

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