Quick Guide: Sesame Place Day Trip from Philadelphia/NJ/NY

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Here is a quick guide to a Sesame Place Day Trip! It is a great park for young families and offers fun events and activities all year round! Sesame Place, the only theme park based entirely on the popular Sesame Street children’s show. 

Sesame Place has made several enhancements recently including building a new Sesame Street Neighborhood area. It has recently been designated as a Certified Autism Center (CAC) by the International Board of
Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). It is the only theme park in the world to receive this special autism friendly theme park recognition. To find out more about Sesame Place’s autism resources for families, read below.

Sesame Place Overview

Sesame Place is the only theme park designed exclusively on the popular,  lovable and cuddly Sesame Street characters. It is a great destination for young children to learn and play! It also offers a few thrill rides and boardwalk-style games so older kids won’t get bored. Sesame Place sits in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, just 30 minutes from Philadelphia and an easy day trip from many parts of Maryland, New Jersey, and New York. There are also a few nice hotels nearby if you prefer to make it an overnight excursion.

There are over 20 rides and attractions at Sesame Place, including water rides and activities for children of all ages. Kids love to see their favorite Sesame Street characters including Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster (my favorite), Grover, Oscar the Grouch, Abby Cadabby, Rosita, Ernie and Burt, Zoe, and even the Honkers on a rare occasion!I am OBSESSED with everything Muppets and Sesame — and I’ve been taking my kids here since they were babies. It is a very stroller accessible park with lots of stuff for little ones to explore! If you have older kids too, fear not! Even my 9-year-old niece still loves going to the park! There is a big climbing structure, a mini roller coaster, and big kid water rides too!

Here is a list of Sesame Place Discounted Tickets

• • Any day tickets – Discounts on single day passes!
  • Save on a weekday ticket – Special discounts for visits during the week!
  • Military Discounts– Active Military can receive a free ticket to the park!

About Sesame Place

Sesame Place amusement park can be considered a must-do if you have small children and live in the Northeast. Sesame Place offers little ones a chance to experience their favorite learning characters up close with several character appearances, a street parade, and entertaining shows throughout the day. The park is pretty spread out so there is rarely a long wait for any of the attractions, which makes it a pleasant day, especially for little impatient children.

What’s New at Sesame Place

Sesame Place recently built a brand-new Sesame Street Neighborhood area to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Sesame Street show. Kids can step inside the television set and take pictures in Big Bird’s nest. Plus, they can enjoy interactive features and play in Abby Cadabby’s Garden!

In addition to the launch of the new neighborhood, there is a new Our Street is Sesame Street song and dance show featuring Elmo, Abby Cadabby, and Big Bird. The park also introduced Snuffy, Big Bird’s imaginary woolly mammoth looking best friend, as a new character greeting. 

Sesame Place Autism Resources

As a Certified Autism Center, Sesame Place must provide on-going training for its staff to educate them on the communication, social skills and emotional awareness needed to interact with families who have children with special needs, especially those on the autism spectrum. Staff also pass a comprehensive autism competency exam and maintain certification through training every two years.

“As the first theme park in the world to complete the training and become a CAC, Sesame Place is better equipped to offer families inclusive activities for children with autism and other special needs,” explained Sesame Place park president Cathy Valeriano.

The park has two quiet rooms located in the Sesame Island area for families that need to take a break from the fun. The rooms are equipped with adjustable lighting and a seating area.  

Sesame Place has added an Autism Resources page to its website. It includes two downloadable documents to help with pre-visit planning:

• Sensory Guide developed by the IBCCES that explains how children with sensory issues may be affected by each ride and attraction.
• Ride Accessibility Guide that details the sensory-specific accommodations for each ride, Special Access Program, and restaurants and shops. 

Planning Your Trip

Sesame Place amusement park is open daily from 10 am to 8 pm starting Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, with weekend hours in the spring and through the fall and holiday season.

Where to Stay Near Sesame Place 

If you plan to stay overnight, there are several hotel options right near the theme park including the Courtyard Philadelphia Langhorne, and Sheraton Bucks County Hotel, and Holiday Inn Express Philadephia.

*SHARING IS CARING*

Sesame Place Park Tips

• Plan ahead. If your little one still naps, get there when it opens and then take a lunch break at your car so your little one can get a power nap or get to the Elmo show for an air-conditioned rest.
• People line up for the parade early, but the parade is only about 15 minutes long. The hilly area across from the fire station is an excellent location to set up camp. Starbucks isn’t too far away if you need a caffeinated pick-me-up while you wait! Note: There is a designated area for disabled guests near the Boy’s River Restroom.
• Beat the crowds. The end of the day is peak time for the water attractions. Start there first and then change into dry clothes and hit the dry options. Eat a late breakfast before you arrive and then a late lunch to avoid cafeteria madness.
• Stop at Wawa and pack up your cooler to save money on park food. There are shaded picnic tables in the parking lot (directly in the back right corner as you are walking out of the park).
  
  
    

   

  

Top Attractions at Sesame Place

• Older kids will love Blast Off, a UFO that takes off and bounces down from the sky,  Honker Dinger Derby, crazy high-flying dizzying cars,  and the Vapor Trail, junior coaster located at the front of the park. These attractions are geared towards kids 42″ in height and taller.
• Younger kid favorites include Flyin’ Fish, a creative take on the classic Dumbo style ride, Sunny Day Carousel, with plenty of seating for non-horse riders, and Mini Monster Clubhouse, a shaded, soft play area geared towards preschool and younger.
• Water attractions also delight young and old from Teeny Tiny Tidal Wave, a splash and play wading area for tiny monsters, to Slippery Slopes, a 75 foot long thrilling body slide, to the family favorite lazy tube ride, Big Bird’s Rambling River.

*PIN IT FOR LATER*

When to Visit Sesame Place

• Summertime is the best time to visit Sesame Place, especially if you can get there as soon as it opens! All of the water rides are open as well as plenty of shows, character appearances, and holiday events.
• The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular is also a fantastic time to visit. Children can dress up in costumes and trick or treat throughout the park. They also have hayrides and special shows, with characters dressed in cute costumes. The weather can also be great this time of year – not too hot or cold. As a side note, they also have a really yummy Thanksgiving turkey sandwich on the menu that is worth the price!
• A Very Furry Christmas happens in November and December. While this can be a rough time to visit depending on the weather, it is nice to see the park decked out with twinkling lights and shows offer plenty of charming holiday magic. Check out Groupon for special holiday Sesame Place ticket discounts!

If you love theme parks, be sure to check out our post about Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream too!

**PIN IT FOR LATER!