A Disneyland fanatic officially reserved his spot in the Guinness World Record for attending the theme park for 2,995 days in a row.
It took Jeff Reitz, 50, eight years and more than three months to hit the record for the most consecutive visits to California the theme park, Guinness World Record officials announced Tuesday.
Reitz, an Air Force veteran, wandered in and out of the Happiest Place on Earth from 2012 to when the pandemic closed theme parks down in 2020 in a joyful challenge to himself.
‘It started as a joke between friends when Disneyland announced they were giving an “Extra Disney Day” when they announced the Leap Day 24-hour event in 2012,’ Reitz told the Guinness World Record.
The veteran posted his daily adventures on social media and started to take his daily Disney journey more seriously after receiving media attention on his 60th visit.
It took Jeff Reitz, 50, eight years and more than three months to hit the record for the most consecutive visits to California the theme park
Reitz, an Air Force veteran, wandered in and out of the Happiest Place on Earth from 2012 to when the pandemic closed theme parks down in 2020. He is pictured above with Tonya Mickesh in 2012
As Reitz’s visits continued, he became well-known among cast members and visitors who sought his autograph.
He recalled visiting the park with friends and even by himself, ensuring to take a picture of something new each time for his Instagram followers.
‘I would usually take a walk around the park,’ Reitz told the news outlet. ‘I enjoy photography so I was always watching for images to capture that I could post to share.’
While every day at the park looked different for Reitz, he always tried to wander around a different area.
‘Some days I would go on lots of attractions and other times I might focus my attention on a single section of the park.’
One of Reitz’s favorite rides at the park is Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.
The veteran posted his daily adventures on social media and started to take his daily Disney journey more seriously after receiving media attention on his 60th visit. He is pictured above in 2020
Reitz is pictured above with his girlfriend Karen Bell on his 2,995 visit to Disneyland. He hasn’t returned to the park since
As Reitz’s visits continued, he became well-known among cast members and visitors who sought his autograph
He recalled visiting the park with friends and even by himself, ensuring to take a picture of something new each time for his Instagram followers. He is pictured above with the character Moana and his girlfriend Karen Bell
While every day at the park looked different for Reitz, he always tried to wander around a different area
Disney officials honored Reitz’s constant dedication to the theme park and presented him with Honorary Citizenship and a gift basket on his 366th visit
The pandemic broke Reitz’s Disneyland streak when it closed down in April 2020 and the theme park’s new regulations for annual pass holders don’t appeal to the Disney superfan.
Before the pandemic, pass holders used to visit Disneyland on a whim. But now, Disney goers need a reservation before heading to the theme park, even for the most expensive pass which costs $1,599 and only allows pass holders to make up to six reservations at a time.
‘The idea of having to make a reservation, that right there was a big downer,’ Reitz told The New York Post.
‘I’d go over there after work and you know, maybe grab a bite to eat, you know, enjoy some rides, or shows… It was nice being able to just pop in at will.’
Reitz estimates he likely spent $100,000 at the theme park over his eight years of visits.
Disney officials honored Reitz’s constant dedication to the theme park and presented him with Honorary Citizenship and a gift basket on his 366 visit. After his second full year of visits, he was offered dinner.
‘Last, they presented a gift backpack when I reached Day 2000, in 2017,’ Reitz,’ told the Guinness World Record.
Now that Reitz isn’t hitting his daily Disney goal, he can now travel farther than a short distance away from the theme park, his girlfriend and Disney partner Karen Bell, 46, told The Post.
‘We have time to go take those overnight trips, weekend trips, go to concerts and whatever, wherever,’ Bell told the news outlet. ‘It doesn’t have to be within a day’s drive of Disney, so that ‘normal life,’ that’s something we can do.’
The veteran also spends his time working at the Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center in Long Beach.
