Wouldn't life be great if you could just spend every day in the happiest place on earth, Disneyland? One Southern California couple thinks so. They're halfway through their goal of going to Disneyland every day this year.
Jeff Reitz, 39, of Huntington Beach, and Tonya Mickesh, 45, of Lake Forest have spent every day with Mickey Mouse at Disneyland so far this year and they're not done yet
"We joke around that we're here more than the cast members are," Jeff Reitz told The Associated Press.
The couple takes their annual pass to a new meaning. With the passes, they can go to the Anaheim theme park and nearby California Adventure as much as their hearts desire. For them, that means every single day of this 366 day leap year, starting on New Year's Day. Disneyland's annual pass costs $649 each.
The couple was unemployed when they decided they didn't want to be depressed over being out of a job. So they decided the best remedy would be a daily trip to the happiest place on earth. Reitz said they wanted to "put a smile on our faces instead of sitting at home and being bummed out about being out of work."
Since beginning the Magic Kingdom marathon, Mickesh has found a full-time job, but she keep up with the goal and joins Reitz at the park in the evenings. On Sunday, Mickesh celebrated her birthday at the park on day 183 of their goal, which marks the halfway point.
Reitz told The Associated Press that the couple has walked along Main Street, watched the park fireworks, and has tried out many of the rides several times. They know the park so well that they have made friends there and often give directions to lost tourists.
Reitz explained that he goes to the park during afternoons and evenings. "Last night I was just going to go for three or four hours and I ended up shutting the park down," he said.
Reitz's ride of choice is the Matterhorn Bobsleds, a ride composed of two intertwining steel roller coasters which has been at the park since 1959. However, he has to squeeze his six-foot-two body into the small cars of the ride at the family theme park. "I joke around that I basically have to fold my knees over my ears," he said.
Despite going to the park on a daily basis, Reitz says that the couple discovers something new every day and they still haven't even tried all of the restaurants in Disneyland and California Adventure. Being unemployed, Reitz can't afford all of the pricey theme park food such as a $22 cheeseburger at one of the restaurants.
Reitz is on the search for a job as he'll need to be able to afford the new, more expensive annual pass when his expires on December 11, but he hopes to be able to work as an employee of the theme parks.
"We are fortunate to have such ardent fans and happy to be such an important part of Tonya and Jeff's lives," Disneyland Resort spokeswoman Suzi Brown said in an email to The Associated Press.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
