sesame place

[blue heron]

I'm thinking about getting season tickets for our family and I'm wondering what other people who have been there think about it. I haven't been there in about 25 years, I used to take my little brothers and we had a ball. Our boys are just about 2yo and 5 yo. Are the lines long? Is it super crowded? Will they let you buy a ticket and then if you like it credit that money towards a season pass?
Any comments you have are welcome.
thanks

[eepster]

I went to Seasame Place litteraly on opening day (must have been close to 30 years ago now.) It was spectacular. It was cleanas a whistle, the food was yummy, there were educational computer programs (quite innovative at the time.) Etc.

Fast forward about 15- 20 years. My sister and I took my then toddler nephew (now in junior high.) It had grown into a mostly water park and was being run by Busch Gardens. The changing areas were filthy. The food was awful and overpriced, but picnicing wasn't practical. The educational cumpter programs had been replaced with a typical arcade.

We haven't taken DS yet, so I don't know if it's improved again.

We also took DN to the Crayolla factory up in Easton and out to Hershey park, both seemed better run. I look forward to getting around to taking DS to those.

[nova22]

We've been considering it, too. I asked the ladies at my MOPS if they had any experience there and a few of them said their young kids (five and under) had a blast.

I saw on their website that you can get a one-day ticket for about $48, or for the same price you can make it a two-day ticket and come back any time in the season. Sounds worthwhile to me, if you're close.

[huggingmama]

subbing to see what others say... I love sesame place as a kid 25 years ago but am not sure what it's like now. It's around the corner from where my mom lives, so she's been putting the pressure on to take DS. Just not sure he's old enough yet...

[serenbat]

I'm really turned off by the corporate/buy marketed stuff theme.

I prefer "The Land of Make Believe" www.lomb.com (It happens to be near me) and no REAL theme.

Old but real pre-school.

[mrs rockstar]

I LOVE Sesame Place...even had my sweet 16 there (don't ask, I um, did a lot of drugs back then ) and we've gone the past two summers and plan to make it a yearly tradition. Yes, it's crowded. Yes, the food is overpriced and not that great but it's still a good time. The first time we went, our oldest was um, hmm. Not yet two and I was very pregnant, so she must have been about 18-19 months old. She didn't really care about the rides at that point, she just wanted to hang out in the pools and watch the parade. Last summer she was more into the rides at 2.5 years old and her baby sister was not yet one (and so not terribly interested in any of it). I'm expecting both girls (who will be 3.5 and almost 2 this summer) to have a blast this year.

[Eliseatthebeach]

If you can get past all the yuck a children's waterpark will undoubtedly have, it's actually a great trip. We go a few times a year. I get season passes every year. Actually I purchase the Elmo pass (2 day) then go to customer relations after and extend for an extra $50 or something for a season pass for the current year and the following year. So I really only have to do this every two years.
Anyway, my kids love it....there is stuff for all ages. We love the shows and parade too. We pack our lunch in coolers and go out to the car to eat b/c the food there is way overpriced and quite honestly just gross. But I do bring lots of water in a backpack to drink throughout the day.

[momto1girln1boy]

we went to sesame place last summer and the lines were very long and it was a pain cause the water park is not seperate from the amusement park its all together so every time we wanted to go to another water ride we had to get my 1 year old out of the water and put him in the carriage soaking wet and push him to another part of the park. Its really too much walking for a small child, i personally dont recommend it for kids under 4. My daughter who is 5 went in October and the lines were much shorter and she had a great time.

[goodcents]

subbing because i have been thinking about going to

[Bertana]

There's another thread with comments about sesame place, http://www.mothering.com/discussions...t=sesame+place
My most vivid memories are an overpowering chlorine smell around the water rides, and seeing wet rides everywhere b/c kids were wet from the water rides, and then going on 'dry' rides. (picture wet swimmie diapers - yuck!)

Choose the days you go wisely - I went on a Friday and it was PACKED.

We probably will go back, but only when DD is older, doesn't need a nap and can handle water rides without us worrying about her slipping/drowning, etc.

[moonmama22]

Ds has been begging to go to Sesame Place for his birthday - after reading this thread, I'm torn. If we decide to go, what else is around that area, that might be something different to check out? I like going to unique, out of the way type places, and would love to add this to our trip. Is it really worth the trip? We live in CT so it will be a 5-6 hour drive.

[serenbat]

I wouldn't think to drive 5 hours to visit SP- I think the time could be far better spent elsewhere! Crayola - Hershey World - even OLD Roadside America, just to name a few. My family loves New Hope, Peddlers Village, Lambertville, but "some" kids would not. You really are not that far if you do go to Crayola after SP,or Philly (tons to do)- spending the night in the area?

[SpudinPhilly]

eeek - we're going!

I wish I'd read this before committing my whole family to this - my DD's daycare is organizing a day trip there in June on a Friday, and since they could get a group discount, it was a good chance for us to try it out with as a family, at $20 each! Although, having read it's a water park, and that changing areas are a disaster, food, etc., I will at least be prepared for the worst!

[momto1girln1boy]

Originally Posted by moonmama22

Ds has been begging to go to Sesame Place for his birthday - after reading this thread, I'm torn. If we decide to go, what else is around that area, that might be something different to check out? I like going to unique, out of the way type places, and would love to add this to our trip. Is it really worth the trip? We live in CT so it will be a 5-6 hour drive.

land of make believe is a nice place, its great for toddlers!

[_betsy_]

We just got back, and we had a blast.

My almost 2 year old watches SS about twice a week, but she knew every character by name as soon as she saw them. She was PETRIFIED of the characters - they're really big! - but they did great accommodating her - ie, staying out of her way, or only doing a high five instead of a hug.

Park is very clean, though bathrooms were wet and messy - but it was busy and the bathrooms are pretty much all near water slides/rides/pools, so they can't do much about keeping them super dry.

Lots of water rides, lots of rides for the slightly-older kid - my SIL and her three went with us. The 13, 10 and 5 year old had more fun than my 2 year old, who was scared of the characters and not a huge fan ofthe rides. She had fun in the water park areas and Big Bird's Nest (Gymboree-type shapes to play with). Lots of rides for the littler guys, mine just wasn't into it.

Food is expensive, but not that bad (We're just used to NYC area prices, I guess).

We went on a Thursday and Friday and it wasn't terribly crowded, especially considering it's Labor Day weekend. Characters are very accessible. Park is very stroller friendly, but not so huge you really need a stroller (we used it more to cart around our bag, towels, camera and drinks). Character shows were entertaining and not too long. We saw Abby and Elmo's World Live and DD thought those were spectacular!

It was about an hour and a half drive from us, and we'll be going back.


Land of Nod looks great too! We haven't been, but maybe when DD gets older and isn't so scared of the rides it'll be fun.

[J's Mombee]

I gained the title of "Tacky Mama" for only going to Sesame Place in groups (20 or more), then the price comes down to $20 per person (versus $47)... after June 1st, its $38 in a group, and $47 individually...

Anywho:

I have had a blast each time that I have gone:

I took DS for his just over a year old and we spent the entire day in Tweedle Bug Land... he didn't really know who the characters were yet.

I took DS again when he was two years old, and he seemed to love everything so much more. Elmo waved at him, and he played all day.

Whenever we go to SS, we always pack food in a cooler, and leave it in the car. We leave around lunch time and go and eat in the car/ parking lot... we buy some things in the park, but not actual meals.

I am a big fan of Sesame Place, and the staff tends to be really nice also.

[_betsy_]

Yeah, it was really, really nice that the parking is so close!