Richard Petty Experience?

[heatherandnick]

Has anyone done it?

Is it worth the money? It's sooo expensive.

If I am going to surprise DH with it, is the cheapest package worth it? Or is it one of those things where if you're gonna do it, then go all the way?

TIA

 

[cbate717]

I have never done it, but I got a discount ticket for my boyfriend. Its just a ride along. I got it at www.wdwinfo.com for like $80. He is psyched about it.

 

[alayne]

Have not done it at Disney but my Mom has done it twice and loved it!!! My DH has done it once and wants to go back.

My Mom did the full package for her Birthday and we all went as s family to support her. My Dad saw how much my DH was enjoying it that he went over and paid for the ride along. My DH really enjoyed it but when we got home he said it just made him disappointed that he didn't get to drive. So when my Dad gave my Mom the second package I included my DH. He really enjoyed it and would love to do it again.

I don't know how others will fill but my DH felt like the ride along just made him want to drive even more. I don't think he would have ever been really happy if we hadn't have gone back to give him the full experience.

 

[rmattman]

I did the Richard Petty Experience at WDW as a driver a few years ago. I believe the program I did was called the "Rookie Experience" or something like that. It consisted of eight laps driving including one warm-up and one cool down lap, so your # of laps on the throttle was six. I enjoyed the program which included a small amount of classroom time including watching an instructional video. Driving the car was pretty awesome. The car was so stable in the corners it might as well have been on rails.

I have also done the Mario Andretti Experience at Las Vegas Speedway where you drive an Indy style car. If I were to do the Richard Petty Experience again, I would look for a NASCAR track that runs the program. The track at WDW was intended for Indy Style cars and the corners have minimal banking (less than 10 degrees I think). Driving a stock car on that track results in slower speeds especially with the inexperienced driver (as many people in the program were, myself included). My top speed on my eight laps at WDW was around 120 mph. I have known other drivers who did the Richard Petty Rookie program at Atlanta Motor Speedway and topped out around 150 mph.

I had a great time at the WDW track but if pure speed in a stock car is your goal, there are better tracks around the country to do the program.

 

[LunchBox]

I did the ride a long back in 2010. I had a great time, but after I was done I felt as if it wasn't fun enough. I did not get a very big rush at all, then again I have a lot of motorsport experience.
However I do think that I would do it again.

 

[heatherandnick]

Wow! Such great feedback. Thanks so much.

So how much is the package where he gets to drive? Are there any coupons for that anywhere?

Thanks again. You guys are great.

 

[Mouse's Shadow]

I booked this for my best friend's DH for their trip this past Feb. He loved it. And he can be hard to impress. I think it was the Rookie package that he did. It is where you get to drive 8 laps. He said it was the best adrenalin rush of his lifetime. His son said his dad got out of the car jumping and shouting. He had never seen his dad that excited before. Their 15 year old did the ride along and loved it.

 

[mkburme]

I bought the Rookie Experience for my DH. It was a surprise for his 40th. After breakfast we told him about it and went to the track. He had the best time and still talks about it.
Worth every penny!

 

[bobbyshawatl]

Never done the Disney ride-along, but have done RPDE at Atlanta, Talladega and Darlington. If you're a Nascar fan, it is a LOT of fun. I've just done the ridealongs, never the driving experience. The RPDE website usually has discount deals around Christmas time for the ridealongs, which should be usable at the Disney track as well. Once you've done it, you get on the mailing lists, and they send you discounts and deals all the time.

 

[JandT'smom]

Glad to see how many really liked it. Going to do Rookie package for my sons 18th birthday.

 

[matt and beth]

I did the experience at MIS. Christmas gift from my wife and it was the best. Loved it so much I was ready to fork over my bank account to keep it going.

 

[milmore104]

My DH did the ride along. LOVED it. If you can do it I recommed trying it at least once.

Did they get rid of the Indy car experience @ WDW? I thought I read somewhere that you could do that there now?

 

[heatherandnick]

So I just looked into it even more. Oh no! $450?!? There is no way we can afford that right now. Perhaps down the road a bit. Oh well. Thanks to you all for your responses.

 

[funhouse8]

my DH did the Rookie Experience too. We did it around 8 years ago and he still brags about it. I used my Disney Visa Card for a discount and at the time I think you could get one from the Orlando Magic Card and AAA. It was well worth the money!

 

[Dan Murphy]

So I just looked into it even more. Oh no! $450?!? There is no way we can afford that right now. Perhaps down the road a bit. Oh well. Thanks to you all for your responses.

Maybe some help here???

http://www.mousesavers.com/entertainment.html#petty

And here?

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2404255

 

[DisneyGuess]

Quick question: Thinking of doing the Rookie Experience for DH on our trip this December. If you buy your ticket from Undercover Tourist, how do you set up your reservation?