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Sesame Place Philadelphia

Coordinates: 40°11′09″N 74°52′19″W / 40.185808°N 74.871976°W / 40.185808; -74.871976
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Sesame Place
LocationLanghorne, Pennsylvania, United States
Coordinates40°11′09″N 74°52′19″W / 40.185808°N 74.871976°W / 40.185808; -74.871976
OpenedJuly 30, 1980; 44 years ago (1980-07-30)
OwnerSeaWorld Entertainment (under a license from Sesame Workshop)
ThemeSesame Street
SloganGo Before They Grow
Operating seasonMay through December
Area14 acres (5.7 ha)
Attractions
Total16 dry rides & 9 major water rides
WebsiteSesame Place Home Page

Sesame Place is a children's theme park, located on the outskirts of Langhorne, 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 11 parks owned and operated by SeaWorld Entertainment with a license from Sesame Workshop (formerly known as Children's Television Workshop).

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 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.[1]

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 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.[2] In Salou, Spain, the PortAventura park has a Sesame Street themed area called SésamoAventura.[3]

Attractions

The Count's Splash Castle

Each Attraction is split into a category. Dry Rides are open during Springtime in the Park, 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 the Springtime in the Park, The Count's Halloween Spooktacular, or A Very Furry Christmas.

Grover's Entrance Plaza

Dry Rides

  • Grover's Vapor Trail - a roller coaster geared toward small children as young as three years of age. A custom Vekoma family roller coaster with several helixes.

The Count's Halloween Spooktacular Rides These rides are only operating during Halloween time.

  • * Not-So-Spooky Hayride - Join your favorite Muppets on a not so spooky ride![4]

Twiddlebug Land

An area themed to the Twiddlebug characters. Everything seems oversized here.

Water Rides

  • Sky Splash - a large raft water slide that stands more than 6 stories high, from which one can see the Philadelphia skyline on clear days.
  • 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 kid-powered railroad for the little ones.

The Count's Halloween Spooktacular Rides" These rides are only operating during Halloween time.

  • Rubber Duckie Dance Party - A dance party in the Teeny Tiny Tidal Wave pool.[5]
  • Abby Cadabby's Magical Halloween Maze - A Halloween maze with a lot of interactive features. The objective is to find Abby's lost fairy wand.[6]

A Very Furry Christmas Rides These rides are only operating during Christmas time.

  • Sesame Place Furry Express- Hop aboard a train to sing to Christmas carols with our Sesame Street friends.

Twiddle bug Gingerbread Factory- Twiddle bug Land is closed and decorated in lights and gingerbread. It will include Reindeer Games so please enter and see this once a year attraction!

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 famous 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 - Swing forward and backwards on this swing ride, and try to reach the sky! (similar to a playground swing)[7]
  • The Count's Fly By - Hop on in the Count's planes and soar throughout the sky! (a smaller, similar version to Elmo's Cloud Chaser)[8]
  • The Count Around - Take a seat in one of 6 colorful hot air balloons and relax! (a ferris wheel)[9]
  • The Count's Cruisers- 1...2...3... Start your engines and cruise around with Count Von Count on this all-new ride! Laugh out loud as 6 Countmobiles spin, bump, and bounce you around.

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 frog hopper, tower drop ride in which riders travel to Planet Elmo with the furry red monster himself.
  • Elmo's Cloud Chaser - riders fly around in swings.
  • Flyin' Fish - two people can ride together on the fins of an Elmo fish.

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

[10]

  • The Count's Ballroom - A giant ball pit with over 80,000 balls. (1980-2006) (Replaced by Blast Off)
  • Rainbow Pyramid[11] - 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) [12]
  • 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) (replaced by 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)

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.[13] (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".[14] (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).[15] (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.[16] (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.[17] (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:

Discontinued characters:

References

  1. ^ "where Sesame Street comes to life". Sesame Place. Archived from the original on June 9, 2008. Retrieved 2009-09-03. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "TEA Global Attractions Attendance Report" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association (TEA).
  3. ^ "Far West - PortAventura World". www.portaventura.es. Retrieved 2016-06-04.
  4. ^ Entertainment, SeaWorld Parks &. "Abby Cadabby's Magical Halloween Maze". sesameplace.com. Retrieved 2016-06-04.
  5. ^ Entertainment, SeaWorld Parks &. "Rubber Duckie Dance Party". sesameplace.com. Retrieved 2016-06-04.
  6. ^ Entertainment, SeaWorld Parks &. "Abby Cadabby's Magical Halloween Maze". sesameplace.com. Retrieved 2016-06-04.
  7. ^ Entertainment, SeaWorld Parks &. "The Castle Swing". sesameplace.com. Retrieved 2016-06-04.
  8. ^ Entertainment, SeaWorld Parks &. "The Count's Fly By". sesameplace.com. Retrieved 2016-06-04.
  9. ^ Entertainment, SeaWorld Parks &. "The Count Around". sesameplace.com. Retrieved 2016-06-04.
  10. ^ Images of Modern America Sesame Place
  11. ^ http://bigbirdbridge.blogspot.com/2012/06/snuffle-ball.html
  12. ^ http://bigbirdbridge.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-boat-slide-at-rubber-duckie-pond.html
  13. ^ Entertainment, SeaWorld Parks &. "Elmo the Musical - Live at Sesame Place". sesameplace.com. Retrieved 2016-06-04.
  14. ^ Entertainment, SeaWorld Parks &. "Let's Play Together!". sesameplace.com. Retrieved 2016-06-04.
  15. ^ Entertainment, SeaWorld Parks &. "The Magic of Art™". Retrieved 2016-06-04.
  16. ^ Entertainment, SeaWorld Parks &. "Elmo the Musical - Live at Sesame Place". sesameplace.com. Retrieved 2016-06-04.
  17. ^ Entertainment, SeaWorld Parks &. "Elmo the Musical - Live at Sesame Place". sesameplace.com. Retrieved 2016-06-04.

Further reading

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