man visits disneyland every day

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Man sets world record visiting Disneyland nearly 3,000 days in a row

By Caitlin O'Kane

March 1, 2023 / 12:26 PM EST / CBS News

Jeff Reitz loves Disneyland – a lot. He went to the California theme park every single day for 8 years, 3 months and 13 days, making him the record holder for most consecutive visits to the park, according to  the Guinness Book of World Records.

Reitz, 50, started his journey in 2012. After going to the park in Anaheim 366 days in a row – every day for a year, plus leap day – Disneyland gave him a certificate for Honorary Citizenship. 

He kept going. After his second year visiting the park, Disney gave him dinner as a reward.

He kept going. In 2017, after going 2,000 days in a row, Disney rewarded him with a backpack.

He kept going. And in 2020, he had gone to Disneyland 2,995 days in a row. He was just shy of 3,000 days, but the global COVID-19 pandemic forced Disneyland and many other institutions to temporarily shut their doors to help prevent the spread of the virus.

He didn't have a nice round number like 3,000 – but he did have a record, which Guinness announced last month. 

Reitz said with a full-time job, he had to make sure he could fit daily Disneyland trips into his schedule. He visited the park with others, but sometimes alone, and while sometimes he visited attractions – Matterhorn Bobsleds being his favorite ride – other days he stuck to one section. He also liked taking photos. 

After all of those trips, Reitz became somewhat of a local celebrity in the park. He was often stopped for photos, and his own Instagram account, where he chronicled his trips, gained nearly 28,000 followers.

On March 14, the date of his 2,995th visit, Reitz posted a photo with Disneyland executive Rebecca Campbell, who he met up with in the park. 

Two days later, he posted outside the main gate of the park, as Disney was closing due to the pandemic . "Not sure when I'll be back," he said. "Tonight, or today, is the last day, even for Downtown Disney, it sounds." 

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jeff Reitz (@disney366_)

His next post wasn't until July 17, 2020. The park's reopening was postponed , but he was able to visit Downtown Disney, a dining and shopping area near the park. 

Reitz returned in January for a photoshoot to acknowledge his record and he is planning a visit as Disney celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, according to Guinness. 

"I have not set a return date yet, but now I think it would be really fun to return with my Guinness World Records title certificate to get pictures where I earned it — inside Disneyland," he said.

CBS News has reached out to Reitz and is awaiting response. 

• Guinness World Records

Caitlin O'Kane is a New York City journalist who works on the CBS News social media team as a senior manager of content and production. She writes about a variety of topics and produces "The Uplift," CBS News' streaming show that focuses on good news.

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Man breaks World Record by going to Disneyland every day for eight years in a row

Jeff reitz said he rarely received preferential treatment during his quest, article bookmarked.

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An American man has officially set the Guinness World Record for the most consecutive visits to Disneyland.

Jeff Reitz, a 50-year-old annual passholder from Huntington Beach, California , began his 2,995 day odyssey back in 2012, when he and some friends visited Disneyland on New Year's Eve.

“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 said.

“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.”

The Leap Day event became Mr Reitz’s 60th official consecutive visit and as the days clocked up, national and international media began to follow his journey.

The Disney fan committed to staying in the park each day for a minimum of one hour and began sharing his experience on social media .

“Sometimes I would just go and walk around and do photography,” he said.

“It wasn’t always about getting on the attractions depending on what was going on. Why not walk around and enjoy the sights and sounds at Disneyland and the fireworks overhead instead of just walking around a track or on a treadmill inside?”

When asked about his favourite ride, Mr Reitz said he liked the Matterhorn, a rollercoaster that ascends 80ft into an icy cave.

“I’ve loved [the Matterhorn] since I was a kid because I was in Boy Scouts and I was into rock climbing,” he said.

Despite his frequent visits, Mr Reitz said he rarely received preferential treatment and had to queue for attractions with other visitors.

“I’ve become friends with a number of cast members, but it is a large corporation with a high turnover, especially on the attraction side,” he told local media outlet SF Gate .

“I have had magic made on occasion, but for the most part, I was just a regular guest that happened to go a little more often.”

However, after 366 days of consecutive visits, Disneyland presented Mr Reitz with a gift basket and certificate of Honorary Citizenship.

“They also offered me dinner for completion of the second year,” he said.

And on reaching day 2,000, he was presented with a gift backpack.

While the Disney superfan hoped to reach the 3,000 day visit mark, the coronavirus pandemic brought a halt to his record-breaking streak on 14 March 2020.

While he hasn’t returned since, he intends to visit his favourite theme park again this year, especially with Disney’s 100th anniversary celebration taking place in 2023.

“I have not set a return date yet, but now I think it would be really fun to return with my Guinness World Records title certificate to get pictures where I earned it – inside Disneyland,” he said.

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A California man set a new world record after making 2,995 visits to Disneyland, going every single day for more than 8 years

• Jeff Reitz, 50, made 2,995 consecutive visits to Disneyland between 2012 and 2020.
• He began his daily trips while he was unemployed to distract himself from job-hunting, per LA Times.
• He even became a Disneyland celebrity: "I started having guests in the parks stop me for photos."

A man from California has been awarded the Guinness World Record for making the most consecutive visits to Disneyland after visiting the theme park every single day for 8 years, 3 months, and 13 days. 

Jeff Reitz, 50, from Huntington Beach, California made 2,995 consecutive visits to Disneyland in Anaheim between 2012 and 2020. It's about 20 miles from Huntington Beach to Anaheim.

His achievement was finally enshrined as a world record last week after Guinness World Records created a new category to honor Reitz's Disneyland devotion.

Reitz told the Los Angeles Times that he started his daily trips while he was unemployed, as a way to exercise and distract himself from job-hunting.

He told Guinness World Records : "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."

Related stories

His 60th visit coincided with a 24-hour event marking the leap year in 2012. There, Reitz spoke to a reporter — and started thinking that his daily trips might turn into something special. 

He began to post his daily visits on Instagram , where he's amassed more than 27,000 followers.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jeff Reitz (@disney366_)

Reitz even became a Disneyland celebrity, telling Guinness World Records : "I started having guests in the parks stop me for photos and autographs."

After finding a job, Reitz had to "keep close tabs on the park calendar along with my own to be sure I could make it into Disneyland before it closed when they had special events," he told Guinness World Records .

Reitz's streak finally ended after a mammoth 2,995 days on March 14, 2020, when Disneyland closed due to COVID-19. 

That left him just five days shy of his initial goal of 3,000 consecutive visits, per the LA Times .

He's no longer an annual pass holder, but remains a Disneyland fan: "I think it would be really fun to return with my Guinness World Records title certificate to get pictures where I earned it — inside Disneyland."

• Main content

clock This article was published more than  1 year ago

He visited Disneyland every day for 8 years. Now he holds a world record.

As Jeff Reitz approached Disneyland’s exit for the 2,995th consecutive day, he slowed his walk to allow others to pass.

“Well guys, this is it,” he told his Instagram followers on a video feed.

Reitz savored his final moments viewing the Mickey Mouse floral display at the entrance. When Reitz was the last guest to leave the park, a group of cheering spectators greeted him. He then turned to watch security guards lock the gates.

Between Jan. 1, 2012 and March 13, 2020, Reitz said he visited Disneyland every day to decompress. When Disneyland closed the next day because of the coronavirus pandemic, Reitz was forced to end his streak. He figured his final farewell at the Anaheim, Calif., theme park would cap his saga.

Instead, Reitz’s trips will be cemented in history. Last week, Guinness World Records certified that Reitz, 50, had made the most consecutive Disneyland visits.

“It wasn’t just a matter of going for a record,” Reitz told The Washington Post. “I was doing it because I was having fun, and I enjoyed being there. I had no original plans to even do something like this.”

Growing up in Huntington Beach, Calif., Reitz said he visited Disneyland a few times each year and celebrated there after his high school graduation in June 1991. He loved riding the Matterhorn Bobsleds roller coaster and taking pictures with Goofy, who Reitz said shares his adventurous and friendly personality.

For his birthday in December 2011, Reitz said his family gifted him an annual Disneyland pass. He and his friends traveled to the theme park about a week later to celebrate the start of 2012. It was a leap year, so Reitz said they joked about taking advantage of the extra day their annual passes granted them.

Reitz, who was unemployed at the time, liked the idea of visiting Disneyland all 366 days that year. Every day, Reitz said he parked at the Mickey and Friends or Pixar Pals lot and posted on social media to see if his friends were at Disneyland.

“Once I was inside the park,” Reitz said, “anything was up in the air.”

Some days, Reitz said he met a friend, attended a special event, spent an afternoon riding roller coasters or strolled to Disney California Adventure Park. He memorized the music from each section of the park, including his favorite tunes on Main Street from “The Music Man” soundtrack.

Reitz said he often devoured pizza and pasta at Alien Pizza Planet or snacked on a churro or Mickey-shaped pretzel. Some days, he packed a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to eat at Tom Sawyer Island.

After going to the park every day for about seven months, people began asking him about setting a record. Reitz said he couldn’t find one for amusement park visits. Regardless, he loved his routine.

When he began working at a Long Beach, Calif., Veterans Affairs Medical Center in September 2012, Reitz said he drove about 19 miles to the park every day after work. He said he usually stayed between three to five hours and left around the time of the nightly fireworks show. On busy days, he still walked across the park for at least an hour. Reitz said he saved his parking tickets and maintained a spreadsheet of his visits.

Between 2013 and 2020, Reitz kept buying an annual pass, which he said ranged from $500 to $1,400.

“It was kind of like going to the gym or going to happy hour after work,” Reitz said. “I could have fun with friends and reset, recharge myself before going home.”

Reitz said he built friendships with fellow visitors and dozens of employees. In 2013, Reitz met his girlfriend at Disneyland, where they also went on their first date.

He became known to regulars for wearing a bucket hat with a Mickey Mouse button attached. In recent years, he said some people asked for his autograph and posed for photos with him.

The only things he avoided in the parks were the water rides, so his work clothes wouldn’t get soaked.

Reitz said he collected more than 2,500 Disney pins and traded them with people at the parks and resorts. He continued to post on Instagram every day when he entered the park under the handle “ disney366_ ,” a nod to the number of days he visited Disneyland in 2012.

Reitz said he aimed to visit for at least 3,000 straight days, but when Disney announced in March 2020 that it would close because of the pandemic, he felt somber. He stayed at the park until the final moments of March 13, the last day it was open.

“Thank you to everyone who stopped and said hello, took photos and shared memories with me,” Reitz said on Instagram . “And thank you to all the cast members and characters who only helped to add to the magic. It’s a bittersweet end.”

Without Disneyland, Reitz needed time to adjust. On March 14, he went to the park and stood outside the gates. As the pandemic dragged on, he said he watched movies and “The Mandalorian” on Disney Plus. Disneyland remained closed for 13 months .

Reitz said he missed the community he’d found, but he soon developed new hobbies — hiking, scuba diving and traveling outside of Southern California. He said he’s still in contact with employees and guests he met at Disneyland.

About two weeks ago, Reitz said he was shocked when Guinness World Records messaged him on Instagram to ask about his favorite Disneyland memories. On Feb. 21, Guinness World Records solidified Reitz’s efforts in its record book and mailed Reitz a certificate. A Guinness World Records spokeswoman said a consultant verified the record last year.

Reitz said he hasn’t returned to Disneyland since 2020, but he wants to pose for photos with his certificate at different spots across the park. Plus, there’s one attraction he still hasn’t experienced: 21 Royal , an expensive private dinner party in a New Orleans-style home.

“That would be neat to have the opportunity to do,” Reitz said.

Disney loving man smashes record by visiting Disneyland 2,995 days in a row

For a grand total of eight years, three months, and 13 days, Jeff Reitz has been Walt zing through Disneyland. 

Since 2012, the 50-year-old annual passholder from Huntington Beach, California, USA, has made 2,995 consecutive visits to the magical Anaheim theme park , earning him the record title for the most consecutive visits to Disneyland .

“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,” said Jeff. 

“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.”

But what started as a joke eventually made Jeff a Disneyland celebrity in his own right.

The Leap Day 24-hour event took place on Jeff’s 60th consecutive visit, where he met a reporter that started following his daily posts. 

“Then on 2012 July 1, halfway through the year, the Orange County Register reporter printed a story about making it to Day 183 and then 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,” recalled Jeff. 

    View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Jeff Reitz (@disney366_)

“Then I started having guests in the parks stop me for photos and autographs.”

Throughout the years, Jeff even became acquainted with many of Disneyland’s cast members. 

“Over the years I visited Disneyland with others and did solo trips,” said Jeff. 

“It got to be where my schedule was pretty constant so it depended more on others wanting to come join the fun.”

Jeff’s trips would begin with a check-in on social media. 

Once inside the theme park, his next course of action would depend on whether he was meeting anyone else along with any of the special events taking place. 

“I would 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,” said Jeff. 

“Some days I would go on lots of attractions and other times I might focus my attention on a single section of the park.”

But regardless of what his theme park escapades looked like for the day, there was one thing that remained constant. 

“There is only one ‘ride’ in Disneyland, being Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride,” said Jeff. 

“But the Matterhorn Bobsleds have always been my favourite attraction.”

After 366 days of visiting the theme park, Disneyland presented Jeff with a gift basket along with proclamation certificates of Honorary Citizenship. 

“They also offered me dinner for completion of the second year,” said Jeff. 

“Last, they presented a gift backpack when I reached Day 2000, in 2017.”

Although Jeff hoped to reach the 3,000 consecutive visit mark, the coronavirus pandemic stopped his Disneyland streak on 14 March 2020. 

However, he doesn’t intend to let this setback stop him from visiting his favourite theme park again, especially with Disney’s 100th anniversary celebration approaching this year. 

“I have not set a return date yet, but now I think it would be really fun to return with my Guinness World Records title certificate to get pictures where I earned it — inside Disneyland,” said Jeff.

Jeff also says throughout his time of making his consecutive daily visits to Disneyland, he overheard others speaking about hoping to achieve a record like his. 

“I have always told them ‘good luck’ and wished them well,” said Jeff. 

“You learn a lot during the time it takes to achieve such a record, like time management and finances in order to be able to have a life and do more than just one thing.

“Even to hold a full-time job required me to keep close tabs on the park calendar along with my own to be sure I could make it into Disneyland before it closed when they had special events.”

Jeff is incredibly proud of his record title and hopes his friends and family will be too. 

“So far, I have only told a few people, since it was a surprise to me even, but I believe everyone is going to be very happy and proud that I have earned the recognition that most everyone thought I should have gotten.”

Want more? Follow us across our social media channels to stay up-to-date with all things Guinness World Records! You can find us on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , TikTok , LinkedIn , and Snapchat Discover – including our in-depth Curious Casebook series. Don’t forget, we’re also on YouTube ! Still not had enough? Follow the link here to buy our latest book, filled to the brim with stories about our amazing record breakers.

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Think you like Disneyland? This fan visited the park 2,995 days in a row — a new world record

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The daily trips to Disneyland started out for Jeff Reitz as a way for him to get out of the house, get some exercise and get a break from the toil of looking for work when he was unemployed in 2012.

A Disneyland annual pass had been a gift, and the visits to the Anaheim park lifted his spirits on hard days. Then, on his 60th consecutive visit, Reitz wondered whether his daily visits to the Anaheim park could be something special.

Last week, the Guinness World Records recognized the 50-year-old as the world record holder for the most consecutive visits to Disneyland, an astonishing 2,995 days. It’s a record that is unlikely to be replicated, given that daily visits are not guaranteed now that the park requires a reservation to visit.

He visited for eight years, three months and 13 consecutive days, just shy of his initial goal of 3,000 consecutive visits.

“I was actually shocked,” said Reitz of Huntington Beach. “I wasn’t actively going for a Guinness World Record all eight years. It was just something I was keeping track of.”

Reitz knew it was a record, but as he kept track of his daily visits to the park, he’d also noted years ago that Guinness World Records didn’t have one for consecutive visits to the Southern California theme park. When he realized that setting a new record could require paying a fee to Guinness and other requirements, he’d simply forgotten about it.

But when Guinness World Records contacted him last week about a possible story about his visits, he found out he was officially recognized as the world record holder.

“It was just wild how all this happened,” he said.

Since 2012, Reitz has been interviewed by news outlets around the world about his thousands of visits and his love for Disneyland.

The endeavor required not just a financial investment, but serious time management, he said.

Once he found a job, Reitz said, he had to plan when he could fit a visit around his work hours. Sometimes, it required an early or late-night visit, or even taking a day off from work.

It also required him planning out simple things, such as whether he’d eat at the park or make a sandwich for the trip. It may seem like small details, he said, but nearly 3,000 days of meals and snacks can also put a dent in the wallet.

Reitz also took special care to keep a record of his trips. He kept a blog , posted images on Facebook and Instagram , and has held on to every parking receipt of his visits since 2012.

For annual pass holders, Disneyland keeps records of when the pass is used, creating a log of Reitz visits. But when power or computer outages affected the park’s computers, Reitz also stopped by Disneyland’s City Hall so his visits were recorded and logged.

In March 2020, he was approaching the 3,000-visit mark. Then, on March 14, Disneyland announced it was shutting down because of the COVID-19 pandemic. When the park reopened in April 2021 , Disneyland required visitors to make reservations to help manage the park’s notorious crowding problems. Not everyone who seeks a reservation gets one, and new annual passes also block out several dates in December for pass holders, making a new visitation record unlikely.

“I was happy and sad at the same time,” Reitz said.

He was disappointed that, just five days shy of a goal he’d set eight years prior, it was coming to an end, he said. But as the 3,000-day mark approached, he was also wondering what the following day would look like.

Would he return to the park? Would he miss the regulars and cast members who had become friends?

“If I’d seen buddies posting pictures at the park, I would have been bummed out,” he said. “I’m not sure I wanted to stop.”

With the park shutting down, he had no choice.

Today, Reitz is still a common face at the park, but he no longer holds a season pass, he said.

His experience taught him to look for the small details, park features that often go unseen by even the most frequent visitors.

There are the hidden statues and features that Disneyland bloggers often write about. But Reitz said visitors often miss other details, such as the background noise and jokes that are piped in from speakers along park corridors and walkways.

“You’re in such a rush that you won’t get a chance to stop and listen to the sounds and the jokes of the background audio,” he said. “Most people don’t get to hear and realize how much thought and magic the engineers put into it.”

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Southern California man's 3,000 visits to Disneyland earn him Guinness World Record

ANAHEIM, Calif. (KABC) -- You could call him a regular. Jeff Reitz of Huntington Beach has been certified a world record-holder after visiting Disneyland nearly 3,000 times in a row.

His 2,995 consecutive visits to the theme park recently earned him recognition from the Guinness Book of World Records.

Reitz says he started visiting the park in 2012. He was out of work at the time and he and his friends had annual passes and thought it would be fun to keep returning, especially when the park announced a 24-hour event for Leap Day.

After that, he just kept going back - even after he started a new job.

"A lot of people go to happy hour. Well, Disneyland was my happy hour," Reitz said. "I'd get over there about 5 o'clock after work and I could walk around, I could stretch my legs, get some fresh air."

"I never did a toe-tap in the gate and turn around a leave. I was there at least an hour each time. On average, I was doing about 3-5 hours a day after work."

He ended up visiting the park every day for more than eight years, with his streak finally broken when Disneyland shut down during the pandemic in 2020.

Disneyland has presented Reitz with gifts over the years as he hit various milestones, including a certificate of Honorary Citizenship.

Now that he has the golden Mickey ears, he said he's going to put a pause on his daily visits and plans to spend more traveling and going to concerts with friends.

The Walt Disney Co. is the parent company of this ABC station.

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Main Character of the Day

He visited disneyland 2,995 days in a row. it's now a guinness world record.

Alejandra Marquez Janse

Jeff Reitz in his happy place. Jeff Reitz hide caption

Jeff Reitz in his happy place.

Today's main character has, well, seen a lot of main characters in the past decade.

A California man recently set a Guinness World Record for most consecutive visits to the Disneyland theme park — with 2,995 straight days of visits. That breaks down to eight years, three months, and 13 days. And yes, it took some dedication. He coordinated the visits around dinner plans, work duties and travel.

Who is he? Jeff Reitz lives about 30 minutes from Disneyland, in Huntington Beach, Calif. He was at the theme park on New Year's Day 2012 when he and his friends noticed an advertisement for an "extra Disney Day." It was an event celebrating Feb. 29, the additional day coming up that leap year.

• "We were joking around, 'How could it be an extra day if you didn't use the others?'" Reitz told NPR. So they set out to use all the other days too. They were unemployed at the time, so this was an opportunity to do something positive with their time instead of dwelling on their situation, he said.
• "We could still do job hunting in the morning or night, and [we] got exercise," he said. "And you were always networking because you never knew who you were talking to."
• Once they reached their goal of visiting the park all 366 days, he just kept going.

That's one cool character. Jeff Reitz hide caption

How did he keep it up? That first year, Reitz was able to go to the park daily with an annual pass that his family gifted him in December 2011. He later got a job at a medical center and began purchasing his own passes.

• To him, the daily visits were a constant source of joy.
• "It was my gym. It was my happy hour. It was entertainment all in one package," he said. "You know, instead of paying for a separate membership for doing lots of different things, it was all in one package with my annual pass."
• Reitz said that, at the beginning, the annual pass would cost around $500. In the later years, it was $1,400. "So for me, going every day, even at the end, was only about $3.50 a day," Reitz said. "So about the same as someone going to buy a cup of coffee."
• He also started using the hashtag #Disney366 on social media to document his journey . He said it was a casual thing at first, but it then developed into his "persona."

There's magic in the air. Jeff Reitz hide caption

What happened to his streak? Reitz said his last day at the park was March 13, 2020 — the last day before the theme park closed due to the pandemic. He was five days away from reaching the 3,000 mark. And yes, it was Friday the 13th.

• To Reitz, though, being forced to stop along with the rest of the country was better than the alternative. He says that ending his visits at an arbitrary round number, on a day when other people were still visiting the park, would have probably brought some FOMO.
• He hasn't gone back since that day, and while he wants to return at some point, he doesn't have concrete plans yet. 
• He said he didn't have any bad feelings toward Disney, although he said he wasn't a fan of the new Magic Key annual pass system that began during the pandemic and requires reservations before visits. "For me, personally, I didn't like the idea that — I could go every day before whenever I wanted, whereas now you have to make reservations," he said.
• In the meantime, he has replaced his Disneyland visits with catching up on shows, going to concerts or hikes, and spending time with his girlfriend. 

Reitz with his friends, Walt and Mickey. Jeff Reitz hide caption

His advice for Disneyland first-timers:

• Bring the largest dose of your patience. "No matter what, you're gonna be around a lot of people. It's not gonna be just you and your friends and family that are close to you. There's a lot of different people, a lot of different attitudes, cultures, and everything, so you want to be ready for it."
• Bring a battery to charge your phone. "Now you also want to have the app on your phone in order to see the wait times for the various shows and attractions, or to even order your food before you go to get it."

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• For some adults who love Disney, it's like a religion
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Calif. Man Breaks Guinness World Record After Visiting Disneyland Almost 3,000 Times

Jeff Reitz started visiting the theme park every day in 2012, making 2,995 trips over the course of eight years, three months and 13 days.

A California man has broken the Guinness World Record for most consecutive visits to Disneyland on Tuesday after traveling to the happiest place on Earth almost 3,000 times.

Jeff Reitz, 50, started visiting the theme park every day in 2012, totaling 2,995 trips over the course of eight years, three months and 13 days.

"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," the Huntington Beach man told the Guinness World Records.

"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," he said. "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."

"Over the years I visited Disneyland with others and did solo trips," he said. "It got to be where my schedule was pretty constant so it depended more on others wanting to come join the fun."

"Even to hold a full-time job required me to keep close tabs on the park calendar along with my own to be sure I could make it into Disneyland before it closed when they had special events," Reitz added.

After beginning each visit by tuning into social media, Reitz told Guinness, "I would 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."

"Some days I would go on lots of attractions and other times I might focus my attention on a single section of the park," he added. "There is only one 'ride' in Disneyland, being Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. But the Matterhorn Bobsleds have always been my favorite attraction."

According to Guinness, Reitz was approached by a reporter who had been following his posts about visiting Disneyland every day at the Leap Day 24-hour event in 2012, marking Seitz's 60th consecutive trip to the park.

"Then on 2012 July 1, halfway through the year, the Orange County Register reporter printed a story about making it to Day 183 and then 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," Reitz recalled of his excursion gaining a following. "Then I started having guests in the parks stop me for photos and autographs."

Reitz received a gift basket and proclamation certificates of Honorary Citizenship after he visited the park for 366 days straight, according to the Guinness World Records.

"They also offered me dinner for completion of the second year," he said. "Last, they presented a gift backpack when I reached Day 2000, in 2017."

Reitz's Disneyland adventures have ever inspired others to try and do the same.

"I have always told them 'good luck' and wished them well," Reitz said. "You learn a lot during the time it takes to achieve such a record, like time management and finances in order to be able to have a life and do more than just one thing.

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Had it not been for the COVID-19 pandemic ending his streak on March 14, 2020, Reitz would've visited the park 3000 times. However, he is looking forward to returning for Disney's 100th-anniversary celebration this year.

"I have not set a return date yet, but now I think it would be really fun to return with my Guinness World Records title certificate to get pictures where I earned it — inside Disneyland," Reitz said.

But in all, Reitz is just happy to hold the title for the most consecutive visits to the happiest place on Earth.

"So far, I have only told a few people, since it was a surprise to me even, but I believe everyone is going to be very happy and proud that I have earned the recognition that most everyone thought I should have gotten."

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California man visits Disneyland 2,995 times, breaks Guinness World Record

Jeff reitz went to disneyland in anaheim, california for 2,995 consecutive days.

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For a staggering total of eight years, three months, and 13 days, Jeff Reitz has gone to Disneyland in Anaheim, California daily and has set a new Guinness World Record for it. 

Since 2012, the 50-year-old annual passholder from Huntington Beach, California has made 2,995 consecutive visits to the magical theme park , earning him the title for the most consecutive visits to Disneyland.

"It came as a total surprise," Reitz told Fox News Digital. "It was made more special as it was gifted to me through a consultancy record and not one that I had filed for myself."

Jeff Reitz, 50, started visiting the theme park every day in 2012, totaling 2,995 trips over the course of eight years, three months and 13 days. (Jeff Reitz / Fox News)

Reitz shared that his consecutive visits to the theme park began as a joke, but stemmed into a source of positivity and continued entertainment. 

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"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 Records. "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 ."

Jeff Reitz in front of the Disneyland Sleeping Beauty castle.  (Jeff Reitz / Fox News)

At the beginning of each and every visit, Reitz would tune in on his Instagram page, @Disney366_. On his page, which has amazed over 27,000 followers, Reitz would share his Disney adventure of the day.

"I would 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 ," Jeff shared.

"Some days I would go on lots of attractions and other times I might focus my attention on a single section of the park," he added. "There is only one 'ride' in Disneyland, being Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. But the Matterhorn Bobsleds have always been my favorite attraction."

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On his 60th. consecutive day, Reitz met a local reporter who had followed him on Instagram. 

"Then on 2012 July 1, halfway through the year, the Orange County Register reporter printed a story about making it to Day 183 and then 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," Jeff recalled. 

Throughout the years, Reitz has been interviewed by media outlets from around the world about his enduring love for Disneyland . 

Since 2012, Reitz shared that he has been interviewed by news outlets around the world about his thousands of visits and his enduring love for Disneyland. (Jeff Reitz / Fox News)

Throughout the years, Disney employees, known as cast members, got to know Reitz. 

"Over the years I visited Disneyland with others and did solo trips," he told the Guinness World Records. "It got to be where my schedule was pretty constant, so it depended more on others wanting to come join the fun."

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"Even to hold a full-time job required me to keep close tabs on the park calendar along with my own to be sure I could make it into Disneyland before it closed when they had special events," Reitz added.

Jeff Reitz shared that his consecutive days first started as a joke between friends but became something more. (Jeff Reitz / Fox News)

Through the years, Disneyland has presented the famous park-goer with gifts to mark his significant milestones.

On his 366th. consecutive day, Disneyland gave Reitz a gift basket along with proclamation certificates of Honorary Citizenship. 

On his consecutive two-year anniversary, Reitz received a free dinner, and a gift backpack when he reached day 2,000 in 2017.

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"It was so rewarding to be acknowledged." Reitz shared with Fox News Digital. 

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California man sets record by visiting disneyland for 2,995 days in a row.

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Disney fanatic Jeff Reitz has been the happiest person on earth for over a decade.

On Tuesday, Reitz was finally recognized as the Guinness World Record holder for his streak of consecutive visits to Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif.

Reitz visited the “Happiest Place on Earth” for 2,995 consecutive days, a streak that began on January 1, 2012 and ended on March 13, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 50-year-old from Huntington Beach, California, who first made headlines in 2017 after reaching 2,000 consecutive visits, said he started the journey on New Year’s day in 2012 with an ex-girlfriend when they were both unemployed and thought it would be fun to visit the theme park every day during the leap year.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jeff Reitz (@disney366_)

“It started as a joke between friends,” Reitz told Guinness World Record for his record announcement.

As Reitz’s Disney journey gained more traction, his celebrity status around the theme park rivaled Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck.

“Then I started having guests in the parks stop me for photos and autographs,” Reitz told the outlet.

Throughout his historic trips, Reitz made a variety of postings on Instagram, dedicated to giving his followers news updates about rides and attractions, sharing videos of him throughout the park, and even photos of Disney cast members.

After securing a job as a hospital worker, Reitz still visited the park — with friends and by himself — and made sure to mark certain occasions.

“Even to hold a full-time job required me to keep close tabs on the park calendar along with my own to be sure I could make it into Disneyland before it closed when they had special events,” Reitz said.

Reitz told the outlet he likes to walk around, maybe go on some rides or just relax in a certain area.

“I would 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,” he added.

Reitz didn’t always go on all the rides but he did have a favorite one, “There is only one ‘ride’ in Disneyland, being Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.”

When it was announced in mid-March 2020 that Disneyland would temporarily close due to the pandemic, Reitz documented every moment of the final day of his streak, making eight posts showcasing the final walks of characters and the last sweep-through of the park.

Disney awarded the fanatic with a gift basket and an Honorary Citizenship certificate after his 366th visit. He was offered dinner for completing his second year and was gifted a backpack on Day 2,000.

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Man Gives ‘Disney Adult’ New Meaning by Visiting Disneyland Every Day for Eight Years

There are Disney adults , and then there's Jeff Reitz.

Reitz, 50, broke the Guinness World Record for the most consecutive trips to Disneyland after visiting the iconic California theme park every day for eight years straight.

Reitz's bizarre crusade to visit “a world where fantastical dreams come true” every day began in 2012 after he celebrated New Year's Eve alongside some friends.

“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 Guinness World Records .

“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,” he explained.

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Reitz, who made his 60th consecutive visit just as Disneyland’s Leap Day event began, was committed to visiting the park for at least one hour a day.

“Sometimes I would just go and walk around and do photography ... It wasn’t always about getting on the attractions depending on what was going on. Why not walk around and enjoy the sights and sounds at Disneyland and the fireworks overhead instead of just walking around a track or on a treadmill inside?” Reitz shared.

Despite his frequent visits to the park, Reitz, a Disney superfan who has documented his journey on social media, rarely received preferential treatment during his quest.

He has, however, become pals with some of our favorite Disney characters.

“I’ve become friends with a number of cast members, but it is a large corporation with a high turnover, especially on the attraction side,” Reitz told SFGate , calling himself a "regular guest that happened to go a little more often."

When Reitz hit his 366th consecutive visit, Disneyland presented him with a gift basket and an Honorary Citizenship certificate.

“They also offered me dinner for completion of the second year,” he said, adding that when he reached his 2,000th day, he was presented with a backpack.

Unfortunately, on March 14, 2020, just as Reitz was about to reach his 3,000th day at the park, the COVID-19 pandemic halted his record-breaking streak.

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Disney-loving man lands Guinness World Record for most consecutive visits to Disneyland

(Gray News) – Jeff Reitz, 50, has been waltzing through Disneyland consecutively for 2,995 days, earning him the record title for the most consecutive visits to Disneyland, Guinness World Records announced.

Reitz, an annual pass holder from Huntington Beach, California, has been to the theme park every day since 2012 for a grand total of eight years, three months and 13 days.

Reitz had hoped to reach 3,000 consecutive days visiting the park, but the COVID-19 pandemic stopped his Disneyland streak on March 14, 2020.

“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 Guinness .

Reitz and his friends used the theme park as a positive outlet after a day of work. He said they had been gifted the annual passes, so it was a source of free entertainment.

According to Guinness, the Leap Day 24-hour event happened on Jeff’s 60th consecutive visit. He met a reporter that day who started following his daily posts.

Several media outlets picked up his story and he eventually became a Disneyland celebrity in his own right.

“Then I started having guests in the parks stop me for photos and autographs,” Reitz told Guinness.

Reitz explained he enjoys photography so he would walk around the park looking for images to capture and share on social media .

His daily escapades around the park varied but told Guinness that Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride was a constant in his visits.

Disneyland presented Reitz with a few gifts as he reached various milestone visits over the eight years.

“I have not set a return date yet, but now I think it would be really fun to return with my Guinness World Records title certificate to get pictures where I earned it — inside Disneyland,” Reitz told Guinness.

Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Man visits Disneyland every day for 2,000 days

Credit: Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort

It’s a dream for some and it could be a jail sentence for others, but one man in California has marked his 2,000th consecutive visit to the Disneyland Resort.

Jeff Reitz, of Huntington Beach, California, started visiting the Happiest Place on Earth on Jan. 1, 2012.

He hit the 2,000 mark on June 22.

Reitz was unemployed and was looking to put a smile on his face so he started making the daily trek, Disneyland said in a release .

The theme park hadn’t even opened its Cars Land at the time.

The Air Force veteran told KNBC , "It was something to do to keep things fun."

Reitz, who is 44, was going to end the daily trips after a year, but kept going, and returns to the park every evening after working at the VA Long Beach Healthcare System.

A Disney spokesperson said that he doesn’t think there has been anyone else who can match Reitz streak.

How can he afford to go every day considering the ticket prices can top more than $100 a day? Reitz has annual passes.

While he enjoys many of the iconic rides, music and cast members, his favorite is ride is the one he rode when he was 2 years old with his mother, the Matterhorn Bobsleds, KNBC reported .

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How can I get the most out of my Disneyland trip? Pro tips from insiders who know it best

If there were ever a golden (or in honor of Disney100 , platinum) opportunity to visit Disneyland, this is it.

Not only is the Southern California resort celebrating 100 years of the Walt Disney Co. with two new nighttime spectacular shows and other special offerings, but Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway just opened, the beloved " Magic Happens " parade just returned,  Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival  runsthrough April 15, and Mickey's Toontown is reopening March 19 after a major overhaul.

To make the most of a trip to the "Happiest Place on Earth," we turned to three people who know Disneyland inside and out: cast members who grew up as annual passholders.

From what to avoid to what not to miss, here are their pro tips.

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What to do at Disneyland

Like many Disney cast members, Michael Parisi fell in love with the parks as a kid.

"Specifically it was the Haunted Mansion  stretching rooms that would always really get me excited. It set up the story for the attraction, and it involves the cast member," he smiled. "I loved watching them perform that role and so ever since I was little, I always specifically wanted to work the Haunted Mansion."

He got his wish, then did some working in attractions before shifting into a maintenance response specialist role at the resort.

Ride the attractions

He still loves Haunted Mansion and  Rise of the Resistance , which he rides regularly and highly recommends to guests. "There's just so many details and so many things to look at that you can go on it dozens of times and you may notice something you didn't notice the time before," he said. "It just never gets old."

He also recommends Indiana Jones Adventure , which isn't available at Walt Disney World. "That is another just incredibly immersive attraction that just tells the story so clearly and really makes you feel like you're actually part of the world," Parisi said.

Nostalgic fans may also appreciate another of his favorites,  Mr. Toad's Wild Ride , one of the original opening-day rides at Disneyland. It closed in Florida decades ago.

"It has the charm of classic Disney," Parisi said. "You can feel a lot of Walt's hand in the storytelling and just progression of the attraction and how much love and attention to detail it has. ... And luckily it never has too long of a wait."

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Use the Disneyland app

Parisi's go-to tip for first-time guests is to use Disneyland's free app to check wait times at attractions. "That's generally how I strategize my day," he said. "Also the very first thing in the morning or the very last thing at night, generally those are shorter wait times, so you can kind of prioritize the attractions that are a little bit more popular."

Be strategic with steps

He tackles the parks section by section, hitting up everything he wants to do in one before moving on to the next, instead of traversing back and forth all day. 

"The more amount of time that you're walking from area to area, that's just not wasted time, but that's essentially time you can utilize for other things," he said, adding one caveat. "If an attraction has a shorter wait time than it normally does, that's usually when I just book it over there as fast as I can."

Interact with cast members

Another tip he shares is to engage with cast members throughout the day. "A lot of the cast members that work in the resort are extremely passionate about the company, the job, their role in everything, and so they're always really excited to talk about it," he said. "They always have some of the best tips possible, especially over at Galaxy's Edge . ... All the cast members on Batuu have their own stories that they've incorporated with their show, and so you're able to have these really unique, fun interactions."

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What to see at Disneyland

When Esteban Valerio isn't working, he likes to sit in the parks and soak everything in.

"Just immerse yourself. Focus on the small things," the guest relations manager said. "There's something so incredible to me when it comes to just relaxing on a park bench on Main Street or on the Hub, looking at Sleeping Beauty Castle." 

His love for Disney "goes back really all the way to the '90s, growing up with Disney on VHS tapes" and visiting the parks. "I've always considered Disneyland to be my home."

He knows many guests come with a long checklist of things to do.

Slow down and savor

"My tip for people who have the checklist: Study the checklist at home, but when you're at Disneyland, stop and smell the roses. Stop and smell the churros," he laughed. "And just appreciate that you're here because for some of those families, they may have saved for five years to visit our parks and that moment when they're finally here, appreciate that moment."

One of Valerio's favorite ways to slow down is to savor the entertainment offerings across the resort.

"Obviously I didn't design any of the shows, but there's a huge joy that I get when I hear people react," he said. "I don't think anyone, including myself, ever gets tired of watching Fantasmic! " 

During the holidays, he enjoys the live performances of Disney California Adventure's  Disney ¡Viva Navidad!  Right now, he's into the new nighttime spectacular Wondrous Journeys . "I want to be able to watch it from all the little different vantage points and just be able to see all the hidden Easter eggs and all the tributes to all of our films that are in the show."  

All showtimes can be found under the Entertainment tab of the map on Disneyland's app. "It'll show you where all these shows are going to be, whether it's a big nighttime spectacular like World of Color – One  or the Dapper Dans  (barbershop quartet) on Main Street, U.S.A.," he said.

Don't watch spoilers

There are two things he advises against: watching spoiler videos before your visit and getting disappointed if you don't get to everything while you're there.

"One of my philosophies when it comes to traveling, in general, is if I don't see it, I'm able to enjoy this (now), and it gives me a reason to hopefully come back one day," he said. 

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What to eat at Disneyland

Aprille Hwang tries to eat everything she can when she visits the parks as a guest.

"I always try to plan what I'm going to eat before I go," she said, reading up on  foodie guides and blogs. "Gotta optimize my trip, get as much food in my belly as possible."

The marketing strategy manager always knew she wanted to work at Disneyland and says she still has to pinch herself sometimes working behind "it's a small world."

Before beginning her career at the resort, she always got three staples during visits: clam chowder in a bread bowl,  Plaza Inn's  famous fried chicken, and "obviously churros," which she's convinced are "magically dusted" and come in a rainbow of flavors like sweet and sour and lemon raspberry pie.

Try new foods

"I love that Disneyland continues to cycle out new flavors and offerings and takes new takes on classic items," she said. "For example, there's this really good toasted birria sandwich at Jolly Holiday . ... I actually didn't have birria prior to birria being brought into Disneyland. I don't know if that negates me from being a foodie by saying that."

She encourages guests to be open to unfamiliar cuisines. Guests can try eight dishes with a shareable  Sip and Savor Pass  during Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival. Hwang likes to share with friends to be able to try more flavors.

Mobile order to save time

She also mobile orders, when possible. "I'm a big fan of not waiting in line so that I can maximize my foodie adventure."   

Reserve dining early or walk up last minute

For table-service meals, particularly at high-demand restaurants like Blue Bayou , Hwang recommends booking reservations as soon as possible, up to 60 days in advance, and considering dining packages that guarantee reserved viewing of parades and nighttime spectaculars . If you can't get advance reservations, she advises joining walk-up lists for restaurants once inside the park.

"There's so much opportunity to explore through taste," she said. "I think that's what makes us such a unique place."

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Disneyland Resort

Our Future Starts Now with DisneylandForward

by Ken Potrock , President, Disneyland Resort

Exciting news out of Anaheim tonight – I’m thrilled to share that the city council has given final approval for DisneylandForward , and the next era of Disneyland Resort is about to begin!

We’ve worked closely with city staff, neighbors, and our local community over the past three years to make sure DisneylandForward is a win for everyone – I’m grateful the city council agrees and voted to work with us on this legacy project that will set up Disneyland Resort and the City of Anaheim for an incredibly bright future.  

With updated land use approvals through DisneylandForward, we can build new entertainment experiences for our fans, create thousands of new jobs, and bring new revenue streams to Anaheim.

DisneylandForward Approval Kicks off Endless Possibilities

Almost 70 years ago, Walt Disney opened his original theme park and created a new standard of immersive experiences.

With the addition of Disney California Adventure Park, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and Downtown Disney District in 2001, Disneyland Resort became the premier, multi-day vacation destination in Southern California.

Since then, we’ve continued to invest, bringing awe-inspiring expansions like Cars Land,  Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge , Avengers Campus, The Villas at Disneyland Hotel, and our newly reimagined Pixar Place Hotel .

Now, it’s time for the next chapter in the legacy of Disneyland Resort . We’re ready to build on decades of innovation, creativity, and storytelling to bring new, exciting experiences for our guests. The possibilities are boundless , and I can’t wait to see what our Disney Imagineers dream up next!

The Vote for DisneylandForward is an Investment in Anaheim

We’ll be investing at least $1.9 billion in the resort in the first 10 years. Cal State Fullerton’s economic impact study projects increased revenues of about $15 million annually for Anaheim from each $1 billion we invest. This will help fund necessary community services, including additional fire and police, parks, and libraries.

We’ve also committed to a unique benefits package for Anaheim and its residents, including $30 million for affordable housing, $8 million for parks, $85 million in traffic improvements and pedestrian safety , and continued investment in workforce development programs.

We’re honored to partner with Anaheim on this historic project and excited to move into this next chapter together.

DisneylandForward will bring over 4,500 operational jobs to Disneyland Resort — which is very exciting since more than 2,200 people apply for hourly roles every week — along with nearly 9,000 construction jobs within the first 10 years.

We are committed to making meaningful differences in the lives of current and future cast members with benefits like affordable healthcare and childcare for those eligible, opportunities for mentorships and training, and assistance toward educational goals – like the fully paid tuition we provide for hourly cast through our Aspire program .

Yes, our future is indeed bright.

For nearly seven decades, Disneyland Resort has made a unique, irreplaceable impact on hundreds of millions of guests from around the world. How exciting to know our best days are still ahead – I can’t wait to show you what’s to come.

“Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.” – Walt Disney

Destinations: Disneyland Resort

man, with the D23 event coming up in August, it just may be possible for anything this year, such as new areas for the Disneyland and California Adventure parks. (and maybe, just maybe, there might be something in for the 30th anniversary of The Lion King. who knows if it’ll be a new 2d animated tv series like a prequel.)

It is uplifting to see that certain governments realize the benefits of such an expansion and cooperation. Other areas should wake up n lean the synergy potential.

Kudos to the team that made it happen. Looking forward!

Please, Disney. Fix the Peoplemover, before embarking on this new venture.

Otherwise, it’s a bit of a backwards priority.

If we don’t get a Tangled ride like Tokyo, it will be a huge missed opportunity! Don’t make that mistake, please bring us this ride!

This is so exiting! Can’t wait to see what new lands are going to be opening.

This is so exciting! I can’t believe this is happening! So happy!

Congratulations from a recently retired Cast Member of twenty years. I can’t wait to experience all that this new plan has to offer!!

Can’t wait for all the details at D23! Congratulations!

Congratulations! 😀 🙂

Hoping for exciting announcements at the D23 Ultimate Fan Event for Disneyland! 😀 🙂

From projects that open within the next few years to (if possible) several years/decades from now!

I hope that details are revealed at the D23 event in August!

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Disneyland | Discount Disneyland tickets for as little as…

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Disneyland | discount disneyland tickets for as little as $50 a day available all summer.

The 2024 Disneyland summer ticket offer is good for three-day, one-park tickets for visits between June 10 through Sept. 26.

ALSO SEE: 5 best things I ate at Disneyland’s Pixar Fest

Tickets go on sale May 29 and sales may be paused or stopped at any time.

The three-day, one-park per day tickets start at $149 for children and $249 for adults for admission Monday through Thursdays. That works out to just under $50 per day for kids and $83 a day for adults.

You can also get weekend three-day, one-park tickets good on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for $199 for kids and $299 for adults. That’s $67 a day for children and $100 for adults.

All the tickets can be upgraded with the parkhopper option or Disney Genie+ line-skipping service.

ALSO SEE: Tortilla Jo’s owner working on ‘many opportunities’ at Downtown Disney

By comparison, a one-day/one-park ticket costs $104 to $194 while a parkhopper ticket that gets you into both parks on a single day will set you back $169 to $259. The Genie+ line-cutting service typically costs $30 per day.

The three-day tickets don’t have to be used on consecutive dates. Advance reservations are required for each visit. Disneyland warns that reservations are not guaranteed and could be difficult to get as the ticket expiration date approaches.

The ticket deal stretches throughout the summer and includes Pixar Fest (which runs through Aug. 4), the “ Fantasmic ” nighttime spectacular (returning May 24) and Halloween Time (starting Aug. 23).

Disneyland is also offering 20% discounts on single night weekday stays at the Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel (but not the recently refurbished Pixar Place Hotel ) and 25% discounts on stays of four nights or longer.

The hotel discounts are available June 10 through Sept. 26 and can be reserved starting May 29. The deals are not available on some suites and villas.

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