OT - Thoughts on Sesame Place?

[micheleq]

Hi everyone,

I am thinking of doing a day trip to Sesame Place in early June (on a weekday) with my two DDs, 2 and 4, and probably my cousin and her DS4. I've never been, but my DH went about 10-12 years ago with his siblings and their small children and he hated it. They went on a summer weekend and I am sure it was very busy/crowded.

Would we need another adult so each child could ride all the rides? I am thinking we wouldn't be doing any wet rides the first week of June, but you never know.

Any ideas/tips would be appreicated. My DD2 would actually be about two weeks shy of her 2nd birthday, so her admission would be free (I think!). Last year my cousin and I took DD4 and her DS to Hershey Park for an over night and they had a great time together. This year I want to bring my younger daughter along. She loved everything at Disney a few months ago, and I know she'd love another amusement park.

We've also considered Dutch Wonderland, but that would be an overnight trip, or Great Wolf Lodge, but I think my girls are too young (and too short) to really get the most out of the water park.

 

[shoney]

Sesame Place is mostly a water park. There are a few rides, shows and a quick parade. The first time we went my son was 2 (his brother was an infant) and it was October. He was a huge sesame fan, so we had fun seeing it through his eyes, but there wasn't much to do. We went back several times as the boys got a little older, but always when it was warm. It is fun but does get very crowded. The last time we went I think they were about 4 and 6. They weren't into the characters anymore, so we decided to skip it and go to other places in the future.

We just returned from the great wolf and we had a really good time. This is fun during the winter.

Dutch wonderland, to me, is too small. I prefer Hershey. They have so many kiddie rides, the chocolate factory, etc. We always go at Christmas time.

 

[koolaidmoms]

My kids loved Sesame Place when they were younger. If you go in the summer it can be unbearably hot and crowded (hence possibly the not liking it so much). If I remember correctly I dont' think there was a ton of shade when we went.

It depends on your kids. Mine loved the little kid rides, they were able to do some by themselves. This is really well set-up for little kids to get the most out of it. They are truly mostly little kid rides. If your children are small you can fit two and you in a car for the ones you need to go on with them.

 

[Tinkerbell220]

Last summer, we did all three- Sesame Place, Hershey Park and Dutch Wonderland with my 4 and 2 year old daughters. Hershey Park was by far our favorite park- there are tons of things to do, its clean, and its sort of comparable to Magic Kingdom. I think its definitely worth a trip. I found Sesame Place to be dirty and crowded. The character interaction was great at this age, but other than that, it is nothing special. It is mostly a water park, and I agree with the previous post that there is very little shade. Dutch Wonderland, in my opinion, is comparable to a Six Flags- you can easily do that park in half a day. There are a lot of toddler rides, but after spending the day on the "big rides" at Hershey park, my girls were bored with the toddler rides. Hope this helps

 

[dolfinjuls]

I love Sesame Place! We have been going twice a year the past three years. When you buy a one day pass, you get a 2nd day free. I think that age is perfect. Your almost 2 year old will be free, they're free until they're 2. Last year we went with two 4 year olds and two smaller ones that were about 14 months and 20 months. The two smaller ones couldn't go on the roller coaster, so one of us stayed back with the babies while the others went on the rides. I think the little roller coaster and the flying fish are two people rides. But if you're going, definitely go during the week as it's not so crowded! The shows are great, the characters are great, and the parade is great! If it's warm enough, the younger ones usually love the water too!

 

[DISNEYNV]

I love Sesame Place. If your child loves Elmo it is worth the trip at least once, but it does get crazy crowded and hot in the summer! We went two years ago and are planning on taking DS fir his second birthday in October. They do a Halloween event and it is much cooler and less crowded. We don't do water parks so it doesn't matter that it's not open. This park is great for the five and under set. The parade is awesome and the shows are done well. There are not many rides there though and just one coaster for tbhe older kids.

 

[DISNEYNV]

Oh... I also want to vote for Dutch Wonderland and Hershey park. Another GREAT family park is Knoebels in Elysburgh, PA! This is such a great family park with rides for all ages, good park food, lots of shade, a campground or cabins onsite, and a water park area. I highly reccommend it

 

[JuneBugFL]

I absolutely LOVE Sesame Place! When I lived in Jersey as a kid we would go every summer, sometimes more than once. So that's what my vote would be for.

On the other hand I have been to Hershey multiple times as well and there does seem to be a lot more to do there, as far as my memory goes.

 

[clc053103]

I live 10 minutes away and have never taken my DS there. I agree with PP- dirty and crowded. The weekends are particularly scary. I think Hershey would be a much more fun trip.

 

[RMulieri]

I live near Hershey Park and I go to Knoebels or Dutch Wonderland. Sesame place was ver yexpensive and dirty. Hershey Park is a lot of fun too, but my DD is still little so Dutch Wonderland is perfect for her.

 

[Nicoleclaw]

We have been there probably 8 times in the last 4 years, and I don't find it dirty. We usually get there at opening and don't stay past 2. We might be able to finish the park if we stayed all day, but there are shows and a parade, so it can really take you the 2 days to do almost everything.

 

[micheleq]

Thanks everyone! We are about 2.5 hours away from Sesame Place, so I'm up for trying it out for a day. I figure a Wed. or Thursday in early June, before school is out, would be a good time.

I would like to go back to Hershey with my DH and also go to Dutch Wonderland.

Gotta get in a few little trips since I don't think we'll be going to Disney again until 2010!

 

[AmandaJayne]

never did sesame place but we have been going to hershey since my dd was 2. She and us LOVE it there. There are a ton of things for kids age 2 to ride. Never overlycrowded..have gone all sorts of times of the year...and people are always pleasant. At age 4 my daughter was able to go on a roller coaster that went upside down! she is tall, but so many things to do. It's fun for the kids to see the candy characters walking around.

 

[ryanshana]

I never have found Sesame Place to be dirty. My kids love it! Actually I used to work there (I was Elmo during the "Tickle-me-Elmo" craze ooh the nightmares!! lol One time the had me go up to the gate before it was opened....when the gate opened my life FLASHED before my eyes I grew up 5 mins from sesame and now I live 25 mins away! I love it. My kids love it! Best advice though if you can pack a lunch cause food prices are crazy there. It is more water than dry rides there is a Dumbo like ride, a roller coaster (36" & 3) that is much like Goofy's barnstormer, a bouncy bed, nets, a carousel, a ride like they have a dutch that goes up and down the frogger I think, and others. They are building a new water part that looks pretty cool kind of like the water part at Dutch.

If you want help trying to pick a good hotel feel free to PM there are many that have Sesame Place/hotel rates some have shuttles some do not (shuttle might be nice cause parking I believe in general is 15 and preferred is 18). Let me know

 

[ryanshana]

Thanks everyone! We are about 2.5 hours away from Sesame Place, so I'm up for trying it out for a day. I figure a Wed. or Thursday in early June, before school is out, would be a good time.

I would like to go back to Hershey with my DH and also go to Dutch Wonderland.

Gotta get in a few little trips since I don't think we'll be going to Disney again until 2010!

FYI that is an EXCELLENT idea DH and I always get our season's passes money's worth before the crowds you'll have a great uncrowded time! have fun

 

[brymolmom]

We really like it there - have traveled from upstate NY twice - and will return one more time this summer.

Food is expensive but they have a nice picnic table area in the parking lot - just bring a cooler-full of food and go out there to eat. Parking is pretty expensive.

Two days is a much better deal than one - since the 2nd day on the ticket is free.

All water parks are somewhat dirty - with wet people dripping everywhere, but I haven't found it unusual for a water park.

Many water rides but in June it might be warm enough to do them - so bring swimsuits and water shoes.

Enjoy!

 

[christa112]

I thought Sesame Place was an absolute rip off!!!! I was very dissappointed, because my friend loved SP. It cost us (a family of 5) over 200 just to walk through the front gate, with a coupon!!!

The lines were outrageous and there is no shade what so ever. We were waiting in line for the Lazy River and I felt like I was going to pass out from the sun and I actually had to get out of line and go sit in the shade.

I also felt the park was dirty. One of the water slides all I could smell was urine, which totally grossed me out.

The lines for food were horrible and the staff was unfriendly and very, very slow.

Needless to say I will not go back, nor will I ever recommend anyone to ever go there.

 

[labst60]

We went once in August of 2006 (DD was 17 months) and have not returned.

We are about 1.5hours away, but stayed overnight (Sheraton across the street) because we got 2 day tickets and had a free night on Starpoints.

DD did have fun, even though she was too little for a lot of the water stuff, but I also left feeling it was dirty, overcrowded, and just not up to "par" with Dutch Wonderland (45 minutes from us), Kennywood (outside Pgh where we grew up ), SeaWorld, Universal or Disney - yet the tickets were nearly as expensive!!

The "character breakfast" was a JOKE!! Seriously, after having been in the park the day before, my expectation were low - but it didn't even meet my low expectations. IF I remember correctly, it was nearly $20 per person- to eat a horrible buffet outside on picnic tables with paper plates - and grab your own table in a rush on your way in!!. And mass CHAOS surrounded the characters (handlers did nothing - didn't keep lines in order - charcters didn't come to tables - what a mess!)

Honestly, I'm not normally one to complain this much, but it was bad!!!

That all being said, our little baby is now 18 months and adores Elmo more than anything - so we may return this summer for the chance to see him "live". I wouldn't be excited about it - but her sister got to go and I know she'd love it... so, we may just suck it up and go.

Funny story - when we told our first DD (now 4) that we may be going to Sesame Place (where Elmo lives, as we described it) again this year - she was absolutely unimpressed (that is for babies, and she is a big girl). So... during the news last night there was a commercial for Beaches Family Resort (with Elmo and friends - a great beach and lots of smiling kids) and DD saw that and told the baby "See... that's Sesame Place where Elmo lives - we are going to go there this summer - I thought it was just for babies but it looks like a lot of fun!!!" Poor girl, I haven't broken the truth to her yet!

 

[JaimeK]

We went twice last summer and had an amazing time! We're planning on buying season passes this year. I definitely did not find it dirty at all.
We got there before opening and went on tons of rides with no lines. Both times we did the character lunch which I highly recommend -- great interaction, no waiting for food and a nice air-conditioned break in the middle of the day!
After 11am it gets way more crowded so that's when we do the shows and parade. We loved the Abby Cadabby show - we were in the front row way way on the side and DS got tickles and high 5s and danced with the characters during it too.

 

[justintime]

I am surprised so many people have found it dirty. I have gone twice a year for the past 3 years, and have never found it to be dirty. I also don't think it is expensive for the tickets. The two day ticket costs the same as the 1 day ticket. I think last year it was $45 for the two ticket. I don't think 22.50 for a day at a park is all that bad, especially since we stayed from opening to closing. The kids didn't want to leave. The thing that is nice about the two day ticket is that you can use them any time in the season. We usually go once and June and once in August. I normally go during the week, but friends that have gone on the weekends have said it is REALLY crowded. Parking is pretty expensive though. The eateries can get pretty crowded, so we normally bring our own lunches and eat them at the picnic tables, so we don't waste a lot of time waiting in line for food. I think I read that they are adding a whole new water area this year, so I can't wait to see what that is like. We did the character breakfast one year (the one that is indoors) and I thought it was overpriced for the food, but I guess you are really paying for the character interaction which my kids loved. I wouldn't do the breakfast again though.