RIDEMAKERZ

Yesterday we took Aaron back to RIDEMAKERZ at Downtown Disney since he loved the store so much when we went for the Car Masters Weekend on Friday. RIDEMAKERZ is a fun and immersive car building and customizing experience for the whole family with over 649 million ways to customize your favorite radio-control car or “RIDE.” This modern day car concept takes America’s love of cars and the massive car customizing movement to the next level. Its distinctive combination of real and online activities provides choice, unleashes creativity, encourages collaboration, fosters confidence and instills a sense of community. To help celebrate the release of Cars 2 they have an entire line of cars from the film for you to customize.

Here's how the experience (and trust me, it's an experience) works:

Customizers who visit RIDEMAKERZ, either online or at a physical SHOP, enter a dream car-customization world where they can find all the parts they need to personalize their car. There are so many body styles, engines, parts and decals that each Customizer will emerge with a RIDE that is unique. The journey toward making a dream car begins with:

CHOOZE
Customizers pick from nearly 70 body and paint styles. Models come in a variety of eye-popping colors and designs, along with stock treadz and wheelz and most have soundz and working headlights and taillights. Then it’s time to pick a chassis – either Street or Monster.

MOTORIZE
Now it’s time to choose Free-Wheel or Radio-Control.

MOBILIZE
Here Customizers select wheelz and treadz, and then build their RIDEZ in the RZ Pit Challenge, a timed and age-handicapped race against the clock.

CUSTOMIZE
Customizers can add specialty lights, spoilers, side pipes, hood scoops, blown engines, roll bars, decals and much more.

CRUIZE
Customizers load their RIDEZ into the RZ CRUIZECASE and head out for a spin.

RIDEZ are priced from $18 to $38, depending on body and paint scheme selected. Radio remote-control can be added for an additional $25 and custom accessories range in price from $2 for grille guards, spoilers and hood scoops to $15 for a deluxe “muscle kit” that includes a blow engine, spoiler, side pipes, muffler tips and roof vent. RIDEZ measure 10 to 12 inches long, about the size of a football, and range from approximately 1:14 to 1:20 scale.

Aaron was beyond excited when we told him he could pick out whichever car he wanted. He picked out the new Lightning McQueen, which happens to be the only one that has lights. Next we went to pick out which sound we wanted, and then we went to pick out the wheels. Aaron dug right into the wheels and found some awesome red ones. Then he picked out the rims from the huge wall. Next we got the street chassis and remote control motor. Finally, we headed to the pits to create the car.


I have to say creating the car was the coolest part. The crew member allowed Aaron to do all of the work, or at least all of the work that he wanted to do. There is nothing better than watching your child's eyes light up as they are doing this. I think his blurred face says it all, no?



This was definitely one of the coolest experiences we've ever had. Aaron is still smiling ear to ear ! A huge thank you to the people at RIDEMAKERZ for making this such an amazing experience and for allowing us the opportunity to make a car!