California resident Jeff Reitz has achieved a world record by visiting Disneyland daily for a consecutive 2,995 days (a total of eight years, three months, and 13 days).
If you visited Disneyland between 2012 and 2020, you may have encountered Reitz, who began visiting daily with friends when they were all unemployed in 2012.
“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,” he told Guinness. “We decided to use Disneyland as a positive as we were out of work and had annual passes that had been gifted, so it was a source of free entertainment. It helped to get us out and put a positive mindset, log exercise with all the steps taken, and always networking since you never knew who you would meet.”
The Leap Day event in 2012 was Jeff’s 60th consecutive day. He met a reporter who began following his daily social media posts.
“Then on 2012 July 1, halfway through the year, the Orange County Register reporter printed a story about making it to Day 183,” Reitz said. “The Associated Press picked up the story and it became real as I was getting contacted by newspapers and radio stations from around the globe asking for interviews.”
Over the years, Reitz said he’s been stopped by fellow guests for photos and autographs. He’s visited with friends often, but hasn’t shied away from visiting on his own when necessary.
“It got to be where my schedule was pretty constant so it depended more on others wanting to come join the fun,” Reitz explained.
When it came to his daily routine, he would always post on social media (@Disney366 on Twitter), and then usually take a walk around the park. “I enjoy photography, so I was always watching for images to capture that I could post to share,” the record-holder shared.
Regarding his favorite ride, Reitz said, “There is only one ‘ride’ in Disneyland, being Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, but the Matterhorn Bobsleds have always been my favorite attraction.”
After visiting the park for a year straight, Disneyland presented Reitz with a gift basket and a certificate of Honorary Citizenship. They offered him dinner after the second year and a gift backpack on day 2,000 in 2017.
Reitz was just a few days from his 3,000th consecutive visit when Disneyland Resort closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 14, 2020. He told the Los Angeles Times he does not have a Magic Key pass, plus the required Park Pass reservations make daily visits difficult, but he does still visit the theme parks.
“I think it would be really fun to return with my Guinness World Records title certificate,” Reitz said, “to get pictures where I earned it — inside Disneyland.”
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