Any budget tips and hotel info for Sesame Place?

[jeepgirl30]

Okay so not Disney but we just can't afford it this year.

We'd like to do a mini break for DD5 and DS2 but I checked Sesame Place and for a weekend package it was $551. That included hotel, breakfast and tickets. Thats it! We'll drive so airfare is not needed.

Anyone have any great local hotels to recommend? I'd like to stay close and have an easy trip back and forth.

 

[belleandthebeast]

Our AAA sells discount tickets.

 

[dorazio8]

Hello

We went to sesame for fourth of july weekend, and it was great, we stayed at the mariott courtyard, it was a wonderful hotel, and it was like two miles away, we stayed for two days and the park tickets are so expensive. i found it to be more expensive than disney, anyway it was a good weekend. sesame place isnt very big, one day and you are done with that park
enjoy your trip
kim

 

[always quiet]

I live about 10 min from Sesame Place and have several relatives who work there. I have to say that in the past few years, there are a lot more hotels close to the park than there was when it first opened. I would imagine that the prices are more competitive now as well. I know there is a Holiday Inn Express quite close, a Ramada, a Sheraton right across the street. Oh yeah, The Courtyard at the Marriot (I think that's what it's called) just opened last year. For meals, there is an Old Country Buffet in the general area as well, plus a Boston Market and a Burger King. I'd avoid eating in the park........or get ready to pay through the teeth! It's more expensive than Disney!!!!!!!!!!!! If you are staying for a weekend, you might want to look into the 2 day pass....2 days for the price of one non-discounted day.

If you want to ask any more questions, feel free. I'll do my best to answer. I kind of know the area pretty good.

 

[always quiet]

I just did a quick search for a 2 day stay...........let's see if this link works!!

http://online.mcreservations.com/se...=Courtyard by Marriott Philadelphia Langhorne

 

[always quiet]

BTW, a 2 day ticket, for ages 2+ is $39.95 ea.

 

[etail]

We would usually drive from NYC and do a two day pass (sometimes a twilight followed by a full day). We would stay at hotels further away, generally just off the turnpike.

For the parade, we would stake out space and then bring food out from the cafeteria, often sharing since the servings were large. Older kids can sign up to be in the parade, check for signs posted on when they will do the sign-ups. We would eat a late snack and then get dinner afterwards.

We would usually go right from the parking lot at the end of the day rather than left where all the people are headed back to the highway/fast food. One minute down the road there is a mall with a Fridays, some Italian sit down and a Mexican Chi-Chi's to choose from. Usually less crowded and diverse/late enough that you can just walk across the parking lot if one is too long a wait.

 

[Tara]

We did the 1-night package with 2-day passes last year for about $210 at the Holiday Inn Select. Nothing fancy, just a plain, comfortable hotel with an indoor pool. This year (this weekend, in fact), we're doing the same package at Sleep Inn & Suites. We meet up with 2 other couples who also have 1 child the same age as our son, and this year we are getting 2 regular rooms and a suite so we have more room to hang out in the evening. The deal is pretty good -- I think the suite with 2 2-day tickets was $245?

When we stayed at the HI Select, there was an IHOP and Red Robin nearby as well.

SP is a lot of fun for little ones, but wow, is it expensive. And you really start to appreciate Disney's pre-ride experience when you are in the cattle chutes in the blazing sun waiting to get on a ride! And yes, the food is outrageously expensive, so be prepared. Even my husband, who rarely acknowledges how great WDW is until he's actually there was saying "this makes Disney seem like a bargain!"

 

[JoyG]

We went last summer and stayed at The Red Roof Inn in Trevose, PA...there is a red roof inn closer to Sesame Place but it is twice the cost.

The one we stayed at was less than 10minutes away and it was a direct shot, not alot of twists and turns to get there.

Also, the rate we got was great...check out the website, but last summer I think it was like 50 or $60 a night, and they had just remodeled the place, looked great!

The entertainment book has coupons in it, and last year I found discount coupons on ebay. But if I had to do it all over again, I would have paid full price and gone for two days instead of one.

We also did the character breakfast in the morning...LOTS of character interaction there! Characters there were: Big Bird, Elmo, Zoe, Cookie Monster, and the Count...My son got a picture with ALL of them surronding him...it was great.

 

[D L and K's Mom]

We are thinkning of doing Sesame Place next year for DD (she will be 3) the only problem is older DD will be 15 and DS will be 17!!! I know I cna get them to go to Sesame for a day if there is a day for them (its only fair) What else is around? Would we be better off going to Hersey for everyone? Is there more to do there??

 

[cristbaby]

Sesame Place is nice but really only for the little ones. The teenagers will have fun enjoying one day but there really isn't anything else in the area for them to do on their day. Hershey is much more suited for the entire family. Just my opinion and I have lived in the area for 25 years and enjoyed SP with my children when it first opened up. Now I take the granchildren with a season pass whenever they are here.

 

[Tara]

Just a quick follow-up on prices since we went to SP this past weekend...

General parking is $10 per day and "preferred parking" is $13. It isn't a long walk, so general is fine with us.

Locker rental is $12 and you get $5 back when you turn in your key.

For lunch we ate at Captain Ernie's Grill -- 2 turkey sandwiches with fries, 1 bottled water, 1 lemonade, 1 milk, 1 fruit cup with about 4 strawberries and one Elmo cupcake was a shade under $29.

 

[D L and K's Mom]

Thanks for all the great info.....I wish we were going to WDW instead....oh well. Thanks anyway.

 

[princesspumpkin]

I have only one piece of advice - go to Dorney Park! The price is sooo high (compared to what you get for everyone in the family). Dorney has great kiddie areas - as well as the water park with lots of kiddie areas. I've been to Sesame Place , but Dorney gives you more for your money.