Is Sesame Place worth it?

[maps]

Hi all

Does anyone have any feedback on Sesame Place? I'm thinking of taking my 7 & 8 yr olds--are they too old? They're not really into Sesame Street anymore so I'm not sure if this will be too babyish for them.

For reference, we've been to all the Disney parks and Universal/IOA.

Would I be better off taking them to Hershey Park?

Thanks

 

[JoyG]

Well don't compare it to Disney that's for sure!

I think at their age they will enjoy the rides. For a place themed for toddlers they had surprisingly few rides for wee ones.

I took my family when the twins were 3 and my youngest was a baby. I was glad we did it once, but I have no intention of returning.

My guys really enjoyed the parade, character breakfast, and shows. We did a few rides but not many.

Your kids would enjoy the water rides and other attractions, but probably won't get a kick out of the shows and characters.

I haven't been to Hershey yet so I can't compare the two.

 

[minijeanie]

I have to say that your age kids are more suited for sesame place than toddlers.

There is not too much for the younger ones to do.

I think your kids will love it

 

[Pop Daddy]

I dont even know what your talking about, but I say its not worth it

 

[maps]

OK then maybe we'll give it a try. The rides I looked at seemed to be more appropriate for toddlers so maybe I didn't give it a chance.

Thanks for your replies

 

[Minniemouse07]

We live about 30min away and go at least once and as many as 3x each year. Dd will be 6yo this summer and we've gone every year since she was 1yo.

It is NOT WDW. The majority of their employees are local high school and college kids, their shows are eh... but the kids don't think so. It isn't as clean as WDW, but not horrible. The food is REALLY $$$.

That all said, dd LOVES it. The park is about 2/3 water, 1/3 land. The rides are definitely not toddler... teacups, parachute "drop" a pretty decent roller coaster (must be at least 3yo). I don't think my 1.5yo could ride any of them yet, and he's ALL about Sesame Street.

The water stuff is great. Lazy River, Big Ducky water slide (family raft), two different water play areas and a bunch of water slides for varying ages. Even one water "ride" for kids to go on their own... no big guys allowed!

I obviously think it is okay since we've been there so much. Would I travel there on purpose? I don't know. I'm not all that thrilled about Hershey either (although the only time I've been there in the last 20+yrs was this past December and it was REALLY cold!).. so can't really compare all that well.

Not sure if I've helped any, good luck!

 

[lovetoscrap]

Well, I was there once about 8 years ago. Had a good time but we ended up with Cryptosporidiosis (a water borne parasite not killed by chlorine) and I was in the hospital for a week due to severe dehydration. So I wouldn't go back!

Just my $.02

 

[minijeanie]

Hi all

Does anyone have any feedback on Sesame Place? I'm thinking of taking my 7 & 8 yr olds--are they too old? They're not really into Sesame Street anymore so I'm not sure if this will be too babyish for them.

For reference, we've been to all the Disney parks and Universal/IOA.

Would I be better off taking them to Hershey Park?

Thanks

On 2nd thought I think you get more bang for your buck at Hershey Park. Tons of rides and shows, plus it is a really pretty park.

What I would do is go to Dorney Park 1st (allentown, Pa and spend a day there. We go every year. The park is split in half...on the left side of the park is all rides (dry side) and on the right side of the park is the water rides(wet side).You can spend the whole day there. Stay at a hotel in the area and the next morning head on down to Hershey Park. About another hour and fifteen minutes from Dorney.

THe 2 hotels in Hershey are very very expensive. So not worth it. If you want a suggestion stay at the Holiday Inn in Grantville which is approximately 7 miles from Hershey. THey have both an indoor and outdoor pool

What time of year are you planning on going?

Hershey has a tremendous xmas spectacular. Rides are open , xmas lights all over the place, hot chocolate abound. And santa and reindeer are there.
It is wnderful experience. Especially in the cold. I have gone around 10 times with the family.
If interested, pm me & I will give you info

 

[Nancy]

We've doen Sesame Place and loved it. The kids were smaller than but not super small. Lots of water stuff and not a lot of shade. If you go make sure you have good sunscreen.

Also I thought it was very crowded...but fun. We love the water rides and I really enjoy the lazy river.

 

[dvcfamily41801]

My son is 7 and I think he would be way more into Hershey Park than Sesame Place.

We live 5 minutes from Sesame Place and used to be Season Pass holders. We stopped 2 years ago. It was great for us being able to run over in the morning and leave by 12 or go after work for an hour or so, but to spend all day there would be awful. The crowds are crazy. Actually the last year we were Season Pass holders, I did not even activate my pass. We joined the pool in our development this year and last year and that has been great.

I think you would be better off with Hershey Park or Dorney Park even, they have the Wildwater Kingdom if you were looking for something with water stuff as well.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

Well, I was there once about 8 years ago. Had a good time but we ended up with Cryptosporidiosis (a water borne parasite not killed by chlorine) and I was in the hospital for a week due to severe dehydration. So I wouldn't go back!

Just my $.02

Your misread name has never been more appropriate.


Sesame Place is a fun day for that age. Hershey is also great. Sesame is better for water fun. Hershey is better for classic theme park rides.

 

[kaw1218]

For the amount of travel that you would have, I say it's not worth it.

I have had passes every year for the last 11 years.

And as someone else mentioned, it's great when we go for that first hour. After that, the park gets pretty crowded. It gets too hot to wait long for the slides.
The food is bleh....and expensive. But there are about 15 fast food and table service restaurants within 2 minutes(if you want to leave the park)


If your kids like more intense rides, I definately suggest Hershey Park. OR Dorney Park....they have rollercoasters, AND a water park for one price!

If you are still undecided and want to see some park pictures, I still have some in my photobucket from last year. I took them for another DISer.
Just let me know.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Based on the ages of your kids, I would go elsewhere. here's my thinking:

I have 4 kids, DD12, DS10, DD4, and DS15mo. We'll be going to Sesame for 2 days this summer, staying in a hotel and leaving mid-day for a nap. We took the older two when they were younger--first trip when older DS was 1. Last time was when older DD was 6 (she was in the parade). At that point, they were aging out of a lot of the stuff.

The problem I see is, the water activities have a ton of little kids (toddlers) in them. The bigger kids can enjoy them, sure, sut they can't run around in the 1 foot deep water without running over a toddler or three. They probably don't appreciate the characters, either. The roller coaster is on par with Goofy's Barnstormer (They didn't have many other rides when we were there last). Now, my older two have been informed that we are there mainly for the younger two, they know what to expect, and my older two are real good at enjoying it for what it is and appreciating that it's more for their younger siblings.

My vote would be for Hershey Park. This will be our last time at SP, and hope to try Hershey down the road (probably not until 2009, don't ask).

BTW, check their website if you have questions. I think it gives a good feel for the park. Definitely preschool-oriented.

 

[aprilgail2]

I would pick Hershey. Sesame place was a bit dirty for my liking and as soon as all those summer camp buses full of kids pulled in it was unbearable. The park is small and once busloads start coming it is bursting at the seams! Hershey has plenty to do for all ages.

 

[beattyfamily]

We went when my girls were almost 2 and just turned 5. We were very disappointed.

It was basically a water park.

It was nothing like Disney or even Six Flags. It was dirty, crowded, hot and full of rude people. The little parade was a joke.

The only good thing about it was that my kids got to see characters.

 

[maps]

Hi

Thanks again for all the suggestions. We'll be taking a long weekend to Philly in Aug. My husband will be attending conferences all day so I was just looking into some day trips for the kids.

Sesame Place was about 30mins away and Hershey was about 1 1/2 hrs. Haven't checked into Dorney Park yet.

I still have some time to keep waying all the pros and cons but my kids don't seem too thrilled with Sesame Place so I may have to rethink it.

 

[maps]

OK
I just checked Dorney Park and it is about an 1h away so this may be more doable.

What do people who have been there think about taking a 7 & 8yr old?

Thanks

 

[happygirl]

My kids would love to go to Seasme Street Place

 

[czycropper]

I would say take the drive to Dorney. We live in Central NJ so we're about an hour from both parks. My DDs are now 7 & 9, Sesame Place is ok but they love Dorney - our strategy is go to the water park first thing when you get there and then after lunch go to the main park. It does get crowded with some inner city crowds (from NYC) on the weekends but it's not that bad if you just ignore them. We're going in August and then onto Hershey for a couple of days. Hershey is a great park with some fantastic roller coasters!

Have a great time whereever you decide to go!

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

good info here thanks!