Heading down to the World starting Thursday night for my 10th WDW visit...which will also present me with my yearly challenge of beating out my old Space Mountain record.
Long story short....I have a freakishly weird obsession with SM, and I dedicate part of each day of the trip marathoning the ride. When I was in 5th grade on our first trip, I rode it 10 times and thought it was the coolest thing ever. Now, as a sophomore in college, we are up to the year where I attempt to ride it 40 times for a record I will probably never surpass. Granted, our trip is longer than ever before, but unless I get a week and a half, I doubt I will ever top 40. Plus, I don't like it to take more than 2 1/2 hours to do it each day so I can still enjoy the rest of the World each day.
In 1997 I rode 10 times on a 4 day trip. In '98, I upped it to 12 on another 4 day trip. It was down for rehab in '99, so when we went in '00 I upped it all the way to 18 rides on 4 short park days. 2001 made it 20 rides on the last 4 park day trip. In 2002 we added a fifth park day and I got 28 rides in. 2003 saw another 5 park day trip and 30 rides. 2004 was yet another 5 park day trip with 32 rides...and 2005 was, you guessed it, a 5 park day trip with 34 rides.
The general theme has been 2 extra rides with the exception of 2000 and 2002. However, since we are spending 6 days in the park this year, I really want to step it up and ride 40 times.
I know it's not much, but it's a personal thing and I really do look forward to it each year. As of now, I have ridden a total of 184 times, so I will get to have my 200th career ride this year as well.
Hopefully, ride # 40 of the year and 234 total will occur Wednesday January 11 around 11am.
Anyway, wish me luck!!! Headed down tomorrow night and spending Thursday at Universal and Islands of Adventure as a "warm up" before starting the yearly quest at The World on Friday. I'll post here Wednesday night the 11th upon my return as to whether or not I made it.
And yes, I do realize that this is not the most normal habit to have at WDW, but it's tradition and it's a bizarre love affair with SM.
Long story short....I have a freakishly weird obsession with SM, and I dedicate part of each day of the trip marathoning the ride. When I was in 5th grade on our first trip, I rode it 10 times and thought it was the coolest thing ever. Now, as a sophomore in college, we are up to the year where I attempt to ride it 40 times for a record I will probably never surpass. Granted, our trip is longer than ever before, but unless I get a week and a half, I doubt I will ever top 40. Plus, I don't like it to take more than 2 1/2 hours to do it each day so I can still enjoy the rest of the World each day.
In 1997 I rode 10 times on a 4 day trip. In '98, I upped it to 12 on another 4 day trip. It was down for rehab in '99, so when we went in '00 I upped it all the way to 18 rides on 4 short park days. 2001 made it 20 rides on the last 4 park day trip. In 2002 we added a fifth park day and I got 28 rides in. 2003 saw another 5 park day trip and 30 rides. 2004 was yet another 5 park day trip with 32 rides...and 2005 was, you guessed it, a 5 park day trip with 34 rides.
The general theme has been 2 extra rides with the exception of 2000 and 2002. However, since we are spending 6 days in the park this year, I really want to step it up and ride 40 times.
I know it's not much, but it's a personal thing and I really do look forward to it each year. As of now, I have ridden a total of 184 times, so I will get to have my 200th career ride this year as well.
Hopefully, ride # 40 of the year and 234 total will occur Wednesday January 11 around 11am.
Anyway, wish me luck!!! Headed down tomorrow night and spending Thursday at Universal and Islands of Adventure as a "warm up" before starting the yearly quest at The World on Friday. I'll post here Wednesday night the 11th upon my return as to whether or not I made it.
And yes, I do realize that this is not the most normal habit to have at WDW, but it's tradition and it's a bizarre love affair with SM.
I hope you make it! Good luck and have fun!
