The Richard Petty Driving Experience at Walt Disney World Speedway offers race fans and adventure-seekers the ultimate thrill of riding in or driving a racecar around the one-mile tri-oval speedway where guests can experience the “real thing.”

The Richard Petty Driving Experience (RPDE) takes motorsports fans out of the grandstands and behind the wheel of a stock car; offering several ride and drive programs for race enthusiasts, thrill seekers and corporate groups. Three driving experiences and a ride-along program are offered at the Walt Disney World Speedway location:

  • Rookie Experience: A 3-hour program that includes eight laps of driving thrills.
  • King’s Experience: Features 16 laps of driving divided into two 8-lap sessions.
  • Experience of a Lifetime: Participants work on establishing a comfortable driving line and building speed in a series of three 10-lap sessions.
  • Ride-Along Program: A 3-lap thrill ride as a passenger at a top speed of 145 mph.

Located in several cities throughout the United States, RPDE is utilized not only as a gift, but also as a promotional tool for retailers and incentive reward for corporate groups. Many celebrities, such as Dan Marino, Michael J. Fox, and Travis Tritt have also enjoyed the Richard Petty Driving Experience.

The sessions at Walt Disney World Speedway run daily. Driving experiences are available for those at least 18 years of age with a valid driver’s license and the ability to drive a vehicle equipped with a standard transmission. Fans at least 14 years of age can participate in the Ride-Along Program with proof of identification.

For reservations, call 800/BE-PETTY.

Gear-spinning good times get rolling at Walt Disney World Resort, where car-lovers can experience auto-themed attractions and shows, climb behind the wheel for a high-octane thrill ride and even settle back for a meal in a setting reminiscent of a time when families watched motion pictures from a cozy car seat.

Take a spin around “Walt Disney Wheels”:

  • “Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show” — This fast-paced show takes Disney’s Hollywood Studios guests behind the scenes of big-budget movies to spotlight the high-octane best of the movie industry’s stunt masters — including precision driving, edge-of-your-seat jumps, pyrotechnics, high-speed spins and plenty of surprises.
  • Feel the Need for Speed (at 7.5 miles per hour) — It may not be the fastest ride at Walt Disney World Resort, but Tomorrowland’s Indy Speedway lets young hopefuls and seasoned veterans take turns around the Magic Kingdom’s half-mile track at a whopping 7.5 miles per hour. Drivers and riders (adults and children) are welcomed to the speedway by replicas of landmarks made famous by Indianapolis Motor Speedway, including the famed Yard of Bricks and Gasoline Alley. Through the years, the attraction has been home to many first-time drivers, with many guests climbing behind the wheel of the colorful, scaled motorcars long before taking the wheel of a full-sized automobile.
  • Test Track — this high-speed thrill attraction in Epcot invites guests to buckle up and brace themselves for a series of automobile tests. It’s the fastest ride at Walt Disney World Resort and is modeled after real-world, GM automobile proving grounds. The rigorous testing schedule includes an engine-roaring, three-story ascent, a wildly out-of-control skid and a high-intensity speed loop pushing 65 miles per hour around the massive testing facility.
  • Just Eat in the Car, Under the Stars — Cars and film combine at Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant, a drive-in movie-inspired eatery inside the Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park. Diners sit in vintage-style cars as fiber-optic stars twinkle overhead. The theater’s movie screen shows outrageous sci-fi movie clips as servers journey from car to car dishing out classic American cuisine. The 1950s-themed restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, and guests can arrange reservation times by calling 407/WDW-DINE.
  • Speed Thrills on Car-Themed Coaster — A wild, stretch limousine ride through the Hollywood Hills provides guests high-speed thrills aboard Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, an indoor roller coaster in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The legendary rock group Aerosmith teamed with Walt Disney Imagineering to create a one-of-a-kind coaster that features a high-speed launch (0 to approximately 60 mph in 2.8 seconds), three inversions, rock-concert lighting and a customized Aerosmith soundtrack thundering from 120 onboard speakers in each train.
  • Next Stop, the Future — It isn’t designed for stunt driving, but for a closer look at what some are calling “the transportation of the future,” guests can take a ride at Epcot aboard the Segway Human Transporter (HT). The Segway HT is the world’s first self-balancing human transporter and sends riders gliding down the road at 12.5 miles per hour. Pre-park-opening rides through Epcot World Showcase are offered aboard these two-wheeled marvels. The two-hour experience, called Around the World at Epcot, is available to 10 guests per day. An “off-road” experience on a Segway X2 is now available, taking guests along the backwoods trails at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. Guests can call 407/WDW-TOUR for more information.

For more information about Walt Disney World Resort or to book a vacation, guests may visit disneyworld.com