Riding Experience At Richard Petty?

[barbaraann]

So who has done the Richard Petty Riding Experience? I need feedback for the 3 laps around the track, where you are the passenger; not the one where they teach you how to drive. Let me see if my research, to date, is correct. The Experience is near the Transportation and Ticket Center and they have transportation from there? The cost is about $100, and is "first come, first served". No reservations taken. Now come the Questions. Do they do this every day? Will they know the day before if they are going to be doing this or should I ask a few days ahead. Is the phone # 1 800 Be Petty or is there another # I should call? Will the # possibly be in my resort guide? Is there a Photo Op? Seems like Disney has one for most everything else. This is not for myself, but for a 30 something Mom, who loves to go fast. I am a 50 something Granny who would love to see her reaction. We will be in Walt Disney World in June and planning this for an early morning on Wednesday. So who has first-hand knowledge? Who has been brave enough to get in a race car that goes three times faster than Test Track? Looking forward to some feedback. Thanks Again

 

[tjmw2727]

My DH did the ride along in December and loved it. Most of the information he got was from the richard petty site rather than the WDW site, try a search for richard petty driving experience. IIRC he did call the 800 petty number and they had the days and hours available at the WDW track. He did take a shuttle but I am sorry I can't remember from where, I will ask later today if no one else chimes in!

They were running a special at that time it was only advertised on the richard petty site and if you didn't have the code they were charging full price so do some searching at the official site and maybe you will get lucky.

He did get a professional picture as well as lots of shots with a disposable he brought along.

TJ

 

[perdidobay]

I'm a 47 yearold female and did this last month. It was fun, I was there because my DH did the rookie pkg. I'm not sure about transportation, but they do ride alongs every day the track is open. I would call the local RPDE number to find out. Lots of photo ops, plus a gift shop too. You might plan on doing this early in your trip, in case it rains and you have to come back later.
The WDW location phone nuber is (407) 939-0130.

I got 20% discount on the rookie pkg with AAA. I'm not sure if you can get one on the ride-aong, but it's worth asking if you have a AAA membership.

 

[extreme8]

They run every day except Tuesday and Thursday.
They are closed these dates in 2005 - March 27, May 24,26,31, October 20,21,22,23, November 24, December 25
Transportation is via minivan from the Kennel at the TTC. There is a parking space with a RPDE sign where they pick you up.
You can call them at the 1 800 be petty number but there is a lot of info on the website www.1800bepetty.com
Plenty of chances for Photos. I know the driving experiences had a professional photographer but I'm not sure about the ride alongs. The photo packages range from a simple 4x6 in a plastic bag to wooden wall plaques with Petty logos.

Hope I could help.

 

[barbaraann]

Thanks for the help on the Richard Petty Riding Experience. We will be trying this out early in the day on a Wednesday, so that should fit in to their schedule. We will definitely call a day or two before to make sure it's still going Thanks Again

 

[rangebob]

If you are driving you can drive right over to the track. If you go through the MK parking lot and start to exit you will see a little guard shack on the left. Pull up to there and they will let you drive under the track and you are in the infield. You can then watch or participate. They do allow people to just go a watch the racing.

 

[PrinceJohn]

I did the King Experience last November - I just drove up and parked (close to TTC and Poly). It was AWESOME - right up until I slammed the car into the wall at around 115 mph.

 

[MickiMouth]

On our next trip DH is going to do the rookie experience and I'll probably do the ride along.
Will I be close enough to DH to take pictures of him climbing in the car and will I be able to videotape him driving around the track?

 

[Melisa1]

I was close enough to videotape and take digital pictures of my husband, we had a great time and DH can't wait to do it again.

 

[bengalbelle]

I did the King Experience last November - I just drove up and parked (close to TTC and Poly). It was AWESOME - right up until I slammed the car into the wall at around 115 mph.

OK, DH is doing the Rookie Experience in September. What happened???

 

[TSR6]

OK, DH is doing the Rookie Experience in September. What happened???

The wall must have jumped out in front of him. The walls do that 'ya know.

 

[MickiMouth]

I was close enough to videotape and take digital pictures of my husband, we had a great time and DH can't wait to do it again.

That's good to know. Thanks

 

[dizprincess717]

It's incredible, I had the best time doing it! In fact 2 years ago my dad and I went up to the Pocono Raceway and took 3 laps around that track, too. Now that's what I call a thrill.

 

[foxfire]

I did this at Daytona...it was awesome!

The driver would gauge how well you were coping (okay, how scared you were! ) & then make the decision as to how fast to go. The drivers are professionals but there is a speed limit they are not allowed to go beyond. I've forgotten what it was though. My driver got us to 170 & I was grinning from ear to ear...I didn't want to get out of the car when my 3 laps were over...I absolutely loved it! My DH & DS did this also & my driver went faster than theirs did...I won, I won!! LOL!

Not sure about the RPE at Disney but, in Daytona, they had someone taking photos of you in the car with the helmet on, etc. You had the option to purchase or not...I think it was an 8 x 10 but I don't recall the price.

 

[PrinceJohn]

OK, DH is doing the Rookie Experience in September. What happened???

what happened is that I suddenly became a moron. Everything was fine until lap 3 (I think), I went a little high towards the wall and attempted to bring it down a little - apparently, my idea of a little and the car's idea of a little were a little different. Next thing I heard was a lot of tire squealing, then a teeth-jarring hit on the wall. The car was facing the wrong direction and the right side was, how can I say, damaged.
The great thing is that they brought me back in, and after about an hour of deciding what to do, gave me another car and I finished my laps. They determined that I didn't do anything really wrong...unfortunately, my wife and kids think otherwise - the consensus is that I'm a total idiot - I'll never live it down.

 

[bengalbelle]

what happened is that I suddenly became a moron. Everything was fine until lap 3 (I think), I went a little high towards the wall and attempted to bring it down a little - apparently, my idea of a little and the car's idea of a little were a little different. Next thing I heard was a lot of tire squealing, then a teeth-jarring hit on the wall. The car was facing the wrong direction and the right side was, how can I say, damaged.
The great thing is that they brought me back in, and after about an hour of deciding what to do, gave me another car and I finished my laps. They determined that I didn't do anything really wrong...unfortunately, my wife and kids think otherwise - the consensus is that I'm a total idiot - I'll never live it down.

What would have happened if they determined you were at fault?

 

[Papillon]

So, how fast can you go if you are driving it yourself? Is there a pilot car you have to follow? I can't decide what to get for DH. He's had a sport bike before, so he knows about speed, and I'm afraid the ride-along won't be exciting enough. What to do?

 

[PrinceJohn]

What would have happened if they determined you were at fault?

I think, though I'm not sure, that if you were just an idiot (wreck on purpose), your day is done with no refund. For me, I got to finish. Perhaps they believed me when i told them that I felt a slight updraft that pushed the car high up the track. If I had been more experienced, I would not have overcorrected - it's just not as easy as you think. Overcorrecting in racecar is like moving the steering wheel 1/2 an inch. I think I was going around 115 - my top speed was over 130.