(UPI) A California man visited Disneyland for the 2,000th straight day on Thursday, five years after he received an annual pass.

Jeff Reitz, an Air Force veteran, launched an online blog cataloging his daily visits to Disneyland, titled Disney 366, after attending the park's "One More Day at Disneyland" Leap Year promotion.

He was given the annual pass to the park in Anaheim as a gift while he was unemployed in 2012 and decided to visit the park every day for five and a half years even after he returned to work.

"It's been a positive, it's been a motivator, it's been my workout gym," Reitz said. This past year I've lost about 40 pounds.

Reitz utilizes the $1,049 Disney Signature Plus Passport, which allows him to visit one or both of the Disneyland parks for about $3 a day.

"That's less than most people spend on a cup of coffee," he said. When you use it every day, that pass is a no brainer.

While Reitz has been a familiar face at Disneyland for years now, his 2,000th straight visit made him an instant celebrity at the park.

"People see me, but until today, cast members would think I looked familiar, but now they know who I am," he said. I come, I talk to people, but no one put it together until today.

His daily visits to Disneyland helped Reitz stay positive while he was searching for a job, but ultimately became something greater.

"Coming to Disneyland every day started as me trying to stay positive. When you're job searching, it's not about beating the sidewalk to find a job anymore. You're online, in front of the computer. It can be depressing," he said. It's part of my life now, and has grown into more than I expected.

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