Sesame Place is a children's theme park, located on the outskirts of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based on the Sesame Street television program. It includes a variety of rides, shows, and water attractions suited to young children. It is one of 12 parks owned and operated by SeaWorld Entertainment with a license from Sesame Workshop (formerly known as Children's Television Workshop).
Video Sesame Place
Overview
Sesame Place first opened in 1980 near the Oxford Valley Mall and initiated the expansion of the commercial complex in the vicinity. It was designed by Eric McMillan, a Canadian designer, Sandra Hanna of Lambertville, New Jersey, and several other designers. The park is open from early May through Halloween for The Count's Halloween Spooktacular, and mid-November through December for A Very Furry Christmas. The original park was 3 acres (1.2 ha) and featured play areas and large computer labs where kids could color their favorite Sesame Street characters. Since then, it has expanded to 14 acres (5.7 ha) with rides and water attractions. The expansions included the construction of Cookie's Monster Land in 2014 - the park's largest renovation to date.
In 2007, it became the first theme park in Pennsylvania to become completely smoke-free.
Maps Sesame Place
Related parks
Sesame Place is one of 11 parks operated by SeaWorld Entertainment. Others include SeaWorld Orlando, SeaWorld San Diego, SeaWorld San Antonio, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Discovery Cove, Aquatica Florida, Adventure Island (water park), and Water Country USA.
For about 30 years, Busch Entertainment operated Sesame Place in Pennsylvania. In 2009 and 2010, under the new ownership, kiddie areas in Busch Gardens and Sea World parks were converted to Sesame themes. A second Sesame Place park also existed in Irving, Texas from 1982-1984 (a Walmart Supercenter now sits in its place), closing its doors due to poor attendance and a large number of water parks competing for its business. A third one in Tokyo, Japan was open from 1990 until December 31, 2006. In 2017, a new location in an undetermined location was announced; it will open "no later than" mid-2021.
In 1994, a Sesame Street themed amusement park called Parque Plaza Sesamo (Plaza Sésamo) was opened in Monterrey, Mexico. According to TEA's Global Attractions Attendance Report, Parque Plaza Sésamo is one of Latin America's highest ranking theme parks by attendance, with 1.2 million visitors per year. In Salou, Spain, the PortAventura park has a Sesame Street themed area called SésamoAventura.
Attractions
Each attraction is split into a category. Dry Rides are open during Elmo's Springtacular, Summer Season, The Count's Halloween Spooktacular, and A Very Furry Christmas. Water Rides are open only in the Summer Season (Memorial Day-Labor Day). Other Rides are only operated during either Elmo's Springtacular, The Count's Halloween Spooktacular, or A Very Furry Christmas.
Grover's Entrance Plaza
Dry Rides
- Vapor Trail - A custom Vekoma family roller coaster with several helixes.
- Oscar's Wacky Taxi- A children's wooden roller coaster. Opened on June 1st 2018. It is located near the front gate.
The Count's Halloween Spooktacular Rides - Rides apart of the Halloween Spectacular event and only appearing during it.
A Very Furry Christmas Rides
- Sesame Place Furry Express
Dragon Land
An area themed to Dragon Tales
Dry Rides
- Zak and Wheezie Spinsanity - A green and purple rollercoaster that spins you around.
- Ord's Bumper Dragon Rodeo - A dragon themed bumper cars ride.
- Cassie's Merry-Go Ponies - A colorful merry-go round with blue, pink, green, and purple ponies.
- Quetzal's Aye Chihuahuasel - A chihuahua-themed carousel with chihuahuas wearing blue, pink, green, and purple sombreros.
- Magnatsika Swings - A Zoboomafoo-themed swing ride.
Twiddlebug Land
An area themed to the Twiddlebug characters.
Water Rides
- Sky Splash - A large raft water slide that stands more than 6 stories high.
- Teeny Tiny Tidal Wave - A 10,000-square-foot (930 m2) wave pool formed from Ernie's wild garden hose.
- Slimey's Chutes - Two spiral tube water slides. Single and double tubes are used.
Dry Rides
- Silly Sand Slides - Three giant slides; A large watch, a spoon on a bag of marbles and a dumped bucket of sand.
- Mix n' Match Twiddle Tracks - A children's railroad
A Very Furry Christmas Rides These rides are only operating during Christmas time.
- Twiddle bug Gingerbread Factory
Sesame Island
Water Rides
- Big Bird's Rambling River - A slow-moving, 1,000-foot (300 m) waterway winding through Sesame Island.
- Ernie's Waterworks - A small water play area for the little ones.
Sesame Street
Dry Rides
- Sunny Day Carousel - A carousel with Sesame Street designed horses. Its location was formerly the home of the Big Bird Steps.
- Sesame Studios - Home to Elmo the Musical - Live at Sesame Place!
- Sesame neighborhood - A recreation of the classic Sesame Street set.
The Count's Castle Courtyard
Water Rides
- The Count's Splash Castle - The park's largest attraction opened in the Spring of 2009. This multi-level, water park attraction features over 90 play elements, including a 1000-gallon tipping bucket.
- Sesame Streak - A pair of tube water slides, one for single riders and the other for double riders.
- Slippery Slopes - Four short vertical water slides that drop into a three-foot pool.
The Count's Halloween Spooktacular, A Very Furry Christmas, and Springtime in the Park Rides
- The Castle Swing - A swing ride.
- The Count's Fly By - A smaller, similar version to Elmo's Cloud Chaser.
- The Count Around - A ferris wheel.
- The Count's Cruisers-
Elmo's World
Dry Rides
- Peek-A-Bug - Riders spin and slide from side to side on the back of a smiling bug.
- Blast Off - A tower drop ride in which riders travel to Planet Elmo.
- Elmo's Cloud Chaser - Riders fly around in swings.
- Flyin' Fish - An Ariel Carousel ride, similar to Dumbo the Flying Elephant.
Snuffy's Sliding Corner
Dry Rides
- Snuffy's Slides - Two long dry tube slides for kids 12 and under.
Water Rides
- Bert & Ernie's Slip & Slide - Two intertwining body flumes that empty into a splash pool.
Cookie's Monster Land
Dry Rides
- Captain Cookie's High C's Adventure - Pirate ships circle a rising and falling track.
- Oscar's Rusty Rotten Rockets - A whip-like ride, but with hanging garbage can shaped rockets as vehicles.
- Honker Dinger Derby - A twist-like ride.
- Monster Mix-up - A teacup ride.
- Flying Cookie Jars - A 40-foot (12 m) high tower ride that affords a view of the park.
- Monster Clubhouse - Net climbing.
- Mini Monster Clubhouse - Play area for smaller children.
Former Attractions
- The Count's Ballroom - A giant ball pit with over 80,000 balls. (1980-2006) (Replaced by Blast Off)
- Rainbow Pyramid - An attraction that taught kids about air pressure. (1980-2001) (Replaced by Sesame Playhouse)
- Rubber Duckie Pond (original) - Before the "splash pad", it was a giant water bed. Kids could Jump Around and play on it. (1980-unknown) (redeveloped to a splash pad)
- Rolling Bin Spin
- Orange Zoom Flume - A water slide that closed in 1986 due to low capacity and the additions of other water attractions (1983-1986) (Replaced by Little Bird's Birdbath)
- Crystal Climb - (1982-unknown) (relocated to other side of the part) (original replaced by Adult's Oasis, relocated attraction replaced by Sesame Slab Slides)
- Sesame Slab Slides - Slides that take you from the top of the Nets & Climbs to the bottom.
- Tweedlebug Hop - A rope swing (1980-1986) (replaced by garden area)
- Circle Theatre - A theatre presenting an Animal Show (1983-unknown)
- Herry's Hand Over Water - Playground equipment (like monkey bars, rings, etc.) over a pool of water. (1980-1984) (replaced by Sesame Construction Company)
- Sesame Construction Company - Giant building blocks that can be used to create structures (1985-2001) (replaced by Big Bird's Balloon Race)
- Slippery Slopes (original) - Foam covered slides (1980-1985) (Replaced by Sesame Streak)
- Ernie's Bed Bounce - a huge, springy yellow air mattress. (1980-2013) (Replaced by Honger Dinger Derby)
- Ernie's Bed Bounce (2nd) - due to the popularity of the first, a second was added. (1981-1983) (Replaced by Circle Theater)
- The Count's Font - a water play area that was replaced by a bigger and better one. (unknown-2008) (Replaced by The Count's Splash Castle)
- Little Bird's Court - a playground and sand box for children to play in. A bigger, better version is built on "Sesame Island". (1980-2001) (Replaced by Grover's World Twirl)
- Oscar's Obstacle Course - a twisty maze in a sand box (unknown-2005) (replaced by Peek a Bug)
- Sesame Beach - A sandbox for kids to play in, similar to Little Bird's Court (unknown-2005) (replaced by Peek a Bug)
- The Computer Gallery - While computers are very common today, in the 1980s, barely anyone had a computer. (replaced by Cookie's Cafe)
- Shadow Room
- Rainbow Room
- Pedal Power and Cycles
- Create a Muppet Show
- Sesame Production Company
- Little Bird's Birdbath - A sprinkler park for little kids (unknown-2008) (replaced by The Count's Splash Castle)
- Runaway Rapids - A tube water slide (1984-2008) (replaced by The Count's Splash Castle)
- The Amazing Muford's Water Maze - A maze of tubes with water sprays. (1980-2004) (replaced by a pathway)
- Rubber Duckie Pond (new) - A water play area (unknown-2010) (replaced by Elmo's Cloud Chaser)
- Big Bird's Steps - The park icon of Sesame Place (1980-2007) (replaced by Sunny Day Carousel)
- Nets & Climbs - hundreds of yards of cargo netting connected by 200 feet (61 m) of suspended net tunnels. (1980-2013) (replaced by Captain Cookie's High C's Adventure, Monster Clubhouse, Mini-Monster Clubhouse)
- Grover's World Twirl - a character-themed teacup ride (2002-2013) (replaced by Monster Mix-Up)
- Big Bird's Balloon Race - a 40-foot (12 m) high balloon tower ride that affords a view of the park (2002-2013) (re-branded as Flying Cookie Jars)
- Cookie Mountain - a tall blue mountain that kids seven and under can attempt to scale on their own (1980-2013) (replaced by Captain Cookie's High C's Adventure)
- Big Bird's Court - a small playground and Big Bird's Nest, a large padded area with blocks kids 5 and under can build with and run around on (1980-2013) (replaced by Monster Clubhouse, Mini-Monster Clubhouse)
- Monster Maze - a small, sand bottom pit with large "monster" bags kids can run around in (1980-2013) (replaced by Captain Cookie's High C's Adventure)
- Elmo World Live -
Shows and parades
- Neighborhood Street Party Parade - A parade with all costume characters and has dance stops throughout the parade route. (2011-2014, 2016-present)
- Elmo the Musical! - Magic, Mayhem, and music add up in Elmo the Musical - Live at Sesame Place! Join Elmo as it's time to raise the curtain and light the lights, when this brand-new show takes over the Sesame Studio at Sesame Place. (2014-present)
- The Magic of Art - Abby Cadabby is getting ready for the Art Show on Sesame Street. Abby isn't sure what to create. Abby asks for help from Elmo, Cookie Monster, Grover and Telly. She then learns art comes in all shapes and sized, with paintings and sculptures. They inspire Abby to use imagination and create your own masterpiece.
- Let's Play Together - Come for a playdate with Abby, Elmo, Grover, Cookie Monster, Rosita, Bert, and Ernie. They are playing, singing, and dancing for the crowd.
Holiday Shows and Parades
The Count's Halloween Spooktacular Shows/Parades
- The Not Too Spooky Howl-Ween Radio Show! - A show starring the "Sesame Street" characters that they performed at the WSME theater and our Halloween broadcast. Located in "Abby's Paradise Theater". (2010-present)
- Who Said Boo?! - A show at Sesame Place that Sesame Street characters went to The Count's Halloween Party but they heard an eerie BOO! Find out the character who said boo!. Shows in the "Sesame Street Neighborhood Theater" (formerly "Monster Rock Theater). (2014-present)
- Elmo the Musical- A Halloween Adventure! - Magic, Mayhem, and music add up in Elmo the Musical - Live at Sesame Place! Join Elmo as it's time to raise the curtain and light the lights, when this brand-new show takes over the Sesame Studio at Sesame Place. (2014-present)
- Neighborhood Halloween Street Party
A Very Furry Christmas Shows/Parades
- Christmas Storytime - Enjoy a Christmas story in Mr. Hooper's Emporium.
- Elmo the Musical- A Christmas Adventure! - Magic, Mayhem,and music add up in Elmo the Musical - Live at Sesame Place! Join Elmo as it's time to raise the curtain and light the lights, when this brand-new show takes over the Sesame Studio at Sesame Place. (2014-present)
- A Sesame Street Christmas - Join your Sesame Street friends to help Abby Caddaby learn about the December Holidays.
- Neighborhood Christmas Street Party
- Elmo's Christmas Wish
- 1-2-3 Christmas Tree
Costume characters
Families can have breakfast with the characters an hour before the rest of the park opens. This isn't included in regular admission price. The entire Sesame Place crew struts down Sesame Street twice a day in the "Neighborhood Street Party" Christmas parade. This features all of the Sesame Place characters, large floats, dancers, and music. The character include:
Sesame Street
- Abby Cadabby
- Baby Bear
- Barkley
- Bert
- Big Bird
- Cookie Monster
- Count von Count
- Elmo
- Ernie
- Grover / Super Grover
- Honker and Dinger
- Julia
- Murray Monster
- Oscar the Grouch
- Prairie Dawn
- Rosita
- Telly Monster
- Zoe
Dragon Tales
- Zak & Wheezie
- Ord
- Cassie
Former Characters
- Hoots the Owl (removed in 2009)
- Jackman Wolf (removed in 2010)
References
Further reading
- Chris English (2007-05-03). "What's new at Sesame Place?". phillyBurbs. Calkins Media, Inc. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30.
- Manasee Wagh (2008-11-05). "Variety Kids Celebrate Halloween at Sesame Place?". phillyBurbs. Calkins Media, Inc. Archived from the original on 2011-10-08.
- Crissa Shoemaker Debree (2008-08-18). "Psst...Oxford Valley isn't closing". phillyBurbs. Calkins Media, Inc. Archived from the original on December 5, 2008.
- Jo Ciavaglia (2008-08-28). "Abby Cadabby...a baby girl born at Sesame Place". phillyBurbs. Calkins Media, Inc. Archived from the original on 2011-10-08.
- Jacqueline Burt Wang (2008-08-08). "We're Outta Here! Four Fantastic Day Trips For Families". New York Post. NYP Holdings, Inc.
- Kristie Rearick (2008-06-27). "'Hip Hop Harry' takes stage at Sesame Place". South Jersey News Onlin.
- Kara Mcguire (2008-05-02). "Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Place?". Star Tribune.
- "Durham-Wahlberg family at Sesame Place". People Magazine. 2007-08-20.
External links
- Sesame Place Official Site
- Sesame Place at the Roller Coaster DataBase
Source of article : Wikipedia
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