what do you know about richard petty driving experience?

[phee]

i'm debating on surprising DH with a driving experience for his birthday. has anyone ever experienced it? driving, not ride along. as i decide weather or not to go through with this (i worry he'll kill himself. he has a thing for speed.), i could use some ideas on how to surprise him. also, has one seen the small hotwheel type car of the king (suppose to be richard petty, right?) from the movie cars available at WDW? ok, too many questions!

 

[cdrn1]

We gave the Petty experience to our SIL for his birthday in May. He had a great time. They spend quite a bit of time on instructions, and are outfitted with the full gear. They ride along, have a photo session, and get to do their laps. SIL was a little disappointed that they have a pace car which limits how fast you can go but still LOVED the experience. DD accompanied him, thought she would be bored silly but ended up having a great time as well, as she was involved in quite a bit of it. They started 7'ish and met us at MK around noon, if I remember right.

 

[phee]

SIL was a little disappointed that they have a pace car which limits how fast you can go

WHAT?? they don't just let you GO? this is the rookie experience, right? i may have to pass this up then ( i can't remember, but i think DH has driven a race car before (over 20 years). he would be more frustrated that he can't "let it rip". is it just a pace car and one car at a time? or does the whole class drive at the same time? is it continuous laps or one lap at a time (ie get out between each lap)? hmmmmm, i'm think i'm going to call them back for more info. DARN! (keeping my fingers crossed).....

 

[ajcolorado]

King Experience - You'll reach speeds up to 130 mph

Experience of a Lifetime - Three 10-lap sessions with an emphasis on improving your driving line and building speed.

Just so you know - Discounts: Annual Passholders receive a $20 discount on the regular price of the Ride-Along experience or $35 off any driving experience. AAA members may receive a 20% discount. American Express Membership rewards points can be used for the Richard Petty Driving Experience.

Source: http://www.buildabettermousetrip.com/activity-rpde.html

 

[cdrn1]

SIL still achieved speeds of 120+ mph in his three laps; I don't think he would have gone much faster without the pace car but HE likes to think he would have.

 

[Simba's Mom]

DH did the 8 lap experience two years ago, I think that's the Rookie Experience. Umm, did he like it? Well, if you do it in the morning, don't plan anything important for the rest of the day. DH skipped around with a grin on his face all afternoon, alternating between calling everyone he knew (and a few people he didn't, I think!) to tell then about it and asking me again, "Did I tell you that I enjoyed that?" If we'd tried to do anything, he wouldn't have remembered it. And DH is normally a very calm person who doesn't show much emotion. Yes, there's a pace car, but as they tell you, most of the problem is with people not keeping up with the pace car, hardly ever does anyone try to go any faster (actually, I've never heard of that happening). It's not as easy as it looks, but it sure is fun! Just realize that your DH has to be able to drive a standard transmission, and that he'll have to climb thru the window to get in the car (it was OK for DH, but I'm not sure I could be that "limber").

 

[drgnfly30]

DH did the Rookie & LOVED it... we are going to WDW again in July & he said without a doubt he is doing it again.

My DH is a speed freak & beforehand was a little frustrated with the fact that he would be restricted on the track but once he drove, that fact was no biggy. This was 2 years ago & he still gets giddy when he talks about it.

Think about it, this is a very expensive car, they can't let people just 'go', experienced drivers or not - their insurance premiums must be outrageous!!!

ETA:

is it just a pace car and one car at a time? You drive with a pace car in front or does the whole class drive at the same time? the class goes one at a time on the track is it continuous laps or one lap at a time (ie get out between each lap)? Continuous

 

[aubriee]

I bought the rookie experience for my son two years ago this coming January. It rained (just a little) that morning. We called and was told we had to show up and then they'd decide if it was cancelled or not. When we showed up, sure enough it was cancelled. They do not refund your money. They will either try to reschedule (if you're going to be there a few more days, which we weren't) or they'll send you a rainticket that can be used at any of the Richard Petty Driving Experiences near you. RPDE comes to the Texas Motor Speedway twice a year, so my son had to wait until April to do his in Dallas. He did love it though.

Just make sure you do it during the first part of your trip or that there is a RPDE near you. There was a guy there that had paid $1200.00 for the Experience of a Lifetime and did not have a RPDE anywhere near him back home. He was MAD (try furious), but still lost all his money, as far as I know.

 

[Shells9]

DH did this, not at WDW but at Homestead. It was a great experience. He did the 8 lap one. The staff was very nice. There was plenty of training and everything, and they even treated the families who were there really well. They took the kids out in a van for a couple laps around the track and let us all kind of move in a "pack" real close to the track so we could still interact with the guys while they were waiting their turns.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I bought the rookie experience for my son two years ago this coming January. It rained (just a little) that morning. We called and was told we had to show up and then they'd decide if it was cancelled or not. When we showed up, sure enough it was cancelled. They do not refund your money. They will either try to reschedule (if you're going to be there a few more days, which we weren't) or they'll send you a rainticket that can be used at any of the Richard Petty Driving Experiences near you. RPDE comes to the Texas Motor Speedway twice a year, so my son had to wait until April to do his in Dallas. He did love it though.

Just make sure you do it during the first part of your trip or that there is a RPDE near you. There was a guy there that had paid $1200.00 for the Experience of a Lifetime and did not have a RPDE anywhere near him back home. He was MAD (try furious), but still lost all his money, as far as I know.

That's a good reason why you should plan to do the RPDE early in your trip, in case it has to be rescheduled. DH also could have planned to do it at Texas Motor Speedway, but it was fun to do it at WDW.

 

[phee]

thanks everyone! i think i'm going to play it by ear. i was looking at sending him towards the end of our trip. i'm thinking of deciding based on whether and call them the day before or so. if there's no space, then it wasn't meant to be. worked it into our conversation last night that my coworker (i'll fess up after the trip!) was going to send her BF to a race track so i found out that yes he's driven before, that's why he isn't insisting on driving at WDW. so i know he's definately interested but wouldn't be disappointed if he didn't.

btw, i called RPDE and they said up to 145mph. DH quoted that too for other tracks, so i know it's ok with him

somehow that AAA 20% discount seemed to over shadow my fears of DH killin himself. j/k! it also helped to know that he's never on the track by himself. there's always and instructor with him (hmmmm.....is that IN the car with him or in the pace car?)

 

[kt-scarlett]

King Experience - You'll reach speeds up to 130 mph

Experience of a Lifetime - Three 10-lap sessions with an emphasis on improving your driving line and building speed.

Just so you know - Discounts: Annual Passholders receive a $20 discount on the regular price of the Ride-Along experience or $35 off any driving experience. AAA members may receive a 20% discount. American Express Membership rewards points can be used for the Richard Petty Driving Experience.

Source: http://www.buildabettermousetrip.com/activity-rpde.html

The Richard Petty website has a limited time offer of $59 for a Ride Along. Must be purchased by December 31st, other restrictions apply. http://www.1800bepetty.com/
I just bought a Ride Along as a Christmas Gift for my DH. The certificate will go in his stocking. Btw, he has done the Rookie Experience and absolutely, positively, it was THE most fun he has ever had at WDW. The Richard Petty experience comes highly recommended!

Mary

 

[horseshowmom]

I think I read on another thread that you can buy t-shirts off their website (www.1800BEPETTY). That might be nice to go with the Hotwheels car.

 

[aubriee]

somehow that AAA 20% discount seemed to over shadow my fears of DH killin himself. j/k! it also helped to know that he's never on the track by himself. there's always and instructor with him (hmmmm.....is that IN the car with him or in the pace car?)

Pace car. He's on his own in his car.

 

[spokanemom]

I bought my DH the Rookie Experience for Christmas this year. I don't have AAA, but did find a link to Undercover Tourist through Mousesavers and the price was a flat 350.00, tax incl.

I am pretty sure that he won't remember much of the vacation after that day!