Sesame Place or Dutch Wonderland?

[princessmorgan]

Can anyone else recommend hotels near Sesame Place? I've tried some hotels in Langhorne, but my search is coming up a little short. I'm a little hesitant about going after reading the reviews here, but I have a 1 year old and a 3 year old and my one year old is in love with Elmo. That's the only thing she will watch. I want to take her before she grows out of the phase.

 

[MrsR]

I'd choose Dutch Wonderland & Lancaster. Sesame Place is ok but dirty.
I think there is more to do in the Lancaster area.

 

[wdwfanatic80]

If you are in the Lehigh Valley, I have the second the idea of trying Knoebels. Very clean park, free admission and parking, inexpensive ride prices if you buy the tickets. You can get all day ride passes during the week. Great kiddie rides! You can pack a picnic, or buy food there (great food and reasonable prices!) They also have a pool area, which we've never been to , but looks fun. I'm not sure about where to stay, because we've always gone in a day, but it's not far from Bloomsburg, and there are hotels in the area.

have fun wherever you go!

You can camp there....we did it years ago.

If the choice is only between DW or SP I say DW. There is so much to do in Lancaster area! Also DW has a water park area now. I haven't been to either in quite some time, but DW's all around area is better imo. I plan on taking dd to DW soon!!

 

[disneymarie]

I am thinking of doing a quick geta way in June...Where would you go with 2 little ones 3 and 6? I was thinkin S. Place or Lancaster? Maybe willow Valley? WE are in near Lehigh Valley...Early June meid week...also where would you stay near Sesame place?

For the least expensive with water slides, pool, childrens pool area with park ride and picnicing, Knoboles is the way to go.No Entrence fee, tickes or a band onweekdays for riders. Free parking Rachel Ray gives thumbs up for best food and haunted house ride is to dye for.

Another favorite is the Pocono area for activities. There is a newer water park activity place there at a hotel, not sure I can remember the name. Search the Pocono's for tons of things to do.
But we just love knoboles.Your kids would LOVE IT!
di

 

[PA DISNEYLOVER]

I live right down the street from SP. The hotels in the area are the Sheraton, Courtyard Marriott, Holiday INN express, Red roof inn, and I believe a Residence Inn.

Bensalem about 10 min away has another Courtyard Marriott, a Radisson Inn and Mcantosh Inn oh and a Red roof inn.
Stay away from anything in Levittown. The area where the hotel is can be iffy.

 

[princessmorgan]

Thanks for the info about hotels by SP!

 

[Karenj2]

Here's a link to Dutch Wonderland... http://www.dutchwonderland.com/general/padutch_coupon.php

Here's also a link to a general Lancaster County attractions:
http://www.padutchcountry.com/special_offers/coupons_and_discounts.asp

I'm also going to check by our front desk - I know we have a coupon packet for DW, HP, and some other Lancaster County attractions. I don't know if it's any better, though.

Thanks for everyone's thoughts. We'll be down there camping and to see the area including Thomas at the Strausburg railroad. I guess we'll play it by ear.

Where are you going to be camping? My sister, her family, and hubby and I are trying to plan a trip there, and we haven't decided which campground to reserve...

 

[WDWFromTheirEyes]

We are staying at Old Mill Stream Campground.
http://www.oldmillstreamcampground.com/
It is right next store to Dutch Wonderland. We have never stayed before, but the website makes it look pretty nice.

 

[labdogs42]

For those people in the lehigh Valley, these train rides over in P'burg is pretty cool:
http://www.nyswths.org/ We took DS on the Easter Bunny ride and it was cute and fun! I am on their email list and I just got one saying they will have the steam train rides again this summer! They don't have Thomas, but they are close and the rides are fun. Oh yeah, and a lot cheaper than Thomas!

I'm thinking about trying Knoebel's or DW after all of this chat. I looked at Sesame Place last year and the price turned me off.

 

[starann]

I have never been to SP (even though my hubby used to live a few miles away when we were dating!), but I have heard that it is expensive and since they bus in city summer camp programs, it is crowded.

I have been to Knobels when my sons were 1.5 and a newborn and my neice was 8 or 9. My older son loved it....and so did my purse. I didn't have to pay for me or my friend who went with me if we didnt want to go on any rides. It is truely a family style park....the rides are a bot old fashioned, but to my son that was PERFECT! My neice who is a ride junkie LOVED it as well. They allow outside food (and even have paviliions) and have lots of shady areas.

We also did the Thomas Day in Strausburg. Again the boys loved it. It was expensive for a 20min ride, but my inlaws paid for the additional ride and we all really enjoyed it. They also have free activities like coloring and free temp tatoos. AS well as a Thomas Toy tent, but the prices are a bit more than stores (we will bring some new ones from heom next time!)

I haven't been to Dorney in 7 or 8 years, but that used to be a nice place, but expensive.

HTH!

 

[momsavealot]

Hi! I don't know why but I feel like I should defend Sesame a little bit. Sesame is wonderful if you do it right. Yes, like any park, it's not fun when crowded and hot, so you need to know when to go. The best times are weekdays, after 3pm, and if you can, early or very late in the season. June is the best and I have to say the Halloween weekends are fun (but no water rides). We go at least once a year and my kids (DS5, DS7, DD2, DD8) love it!! There are lots of opportunities for character interaction, Sesame music piping thru the trees, and lots of shows including an air conditioned indoor (pretend) taping of the show Elmo's world. I would recommend getting a group together. Altho it is unofficial, if you buy group tickets which are half the normal price of admission, your group doesn't have to go on the same day. I just get 15 people (which includes adults)(and I'm a family of 6 already) to commit to buying tickets. Pick any day for your "group day" but SP will take them any day during that season. So, each family can go whenever they want. Of course, if you call SP about it, they will say you can't but I have done it for the last 3 years and it's great to pay half-price!! In fact, I think they're even selling the half price tix on Ebay b/c of this loophole. Seriously, if you have young kids who love Sesame Street and don't need the big thrill rides yet, you should give it a chance!! I should also mention that they have a "sunny day guarantee" where if it rains, you get tickets to return whenever you want. And if you stay at a hotel nearby, you usually get the second day free! Just check out the website.

 

[TomLovesBecky]

We just got back from Sesame Place (first time) and don't understand the comments about it being dirty or not worth it. It was VERY VERY clean, cleaner even than Disney if you want me to be honest (not that Disney is dirty but there was not one speck of ANYTHING on the ground or anywhere else at SP). We were very impressed with it, and will be going back for sure. My husband who is so grossed out by just about every public place (stadiums etc.) that are dirty said how clean it was over and over again, and we have tons of pics from the trip showing how clean it is and how much the kids enjoyed it. Never been to Dutch Wonderland but I saw it on TV, one of those TV families went there and it looked kinda small?? Anyway i would recommend Sesame Place and thought it was a great deal, AAA sold us tickets for $46 each for 2 days, big bargain compared to disney (we will be going back there too though, don't get me wrong!).

 

[TomLovesBecky]

oh and we stayed at Red Roof Inn $88 a night with a discount, not sure if it was AAA or Entertainment coupon book, i have both and asked about both and the girl gave me the one that was a better deal. and this was Memorial day weekend too so i'm sure the prices are reasonable most fo the time.

 

[pjtm]

I just got back from Lancaster - did Hershey, DW, and Strausburg. We stayed at Old Mill Steam and loved the whole trip. PM if you need add. info. Would love to help!

 

[disneybridetobe]

For the least expensive with water slides, pool, childrens pool area with park ride and picnicing, Knoboles is the way to go.No Entrence fee, tickes or a band onweekdays for riders. Free parking Rachel Ray gives thumbs up for best food and haunted house ride is to dye for.

Another favorite is the Pocono area for activities. There is a newer water park activity place there at a hotel, not sure I can remember the name. Search the Pocono's for tons of things to do.
But we just love knoboles.Your kids would LOVE IT!
di

I *totally* agree about Knoebels!! The Pocono hotel with the waterpark is Great Wolf Lodge. About 5-10 mins from there is CamelBeach, it's an outdoor water park. Haven't been there so I can't say it's good or not.

 

[java]

We just got back from Sesame Place (first time) and don't understand the comments about it being dirty or not worth it. It was VERY VERY clean, cleaner even than Disney if you want me to be honest (not that Disney is dirty but there was not one speck of ANYTHING on the ground or anywhere else at SP). We were very impressed with it, and will be going back for sure. My husband who is so grossed out by just about every public place (stadiums etc.) that are dirty said how clean it was over and over again, and we have tons of pics from the trip showing how clean it is and how much the kids enjoyed it. Never been to Dutch Wonderland but I saw it on TV, one of those TV families went there and it looked kinda small?? Anyway i would recommend Sesame Place and thought it was a great deal, AAA sold us tickets for $46 each for 2 days, big bargain compared to disney (we will be going back there too though, don't get me wrong!).

Did you go in the water? I am thinking if you go EARLY in the season the water is still ok- But when we were there there was a kid that threw up in a pool- they got nets to clean it up and then just kept that pool open!

Seems like time of year is the deciding factor- the bad times we went were on a weekday in August and weekdays in June.

 

[PIERCEDRN]

Super Grover To The Rescue!
I must defend my beloved Sesame Place... we are season passholders, and live 20min from SP. We LOVE the park and use the same common sense that we use at WDW. We would never go to Disney during the 4th of July weekend or another holiday weekend because it would be crowded and unpleasant. We definitely would never go to a water park on a 95 degree Saturday because invariably would be gross and mobbed. We go three to four times before school lets out during the week, sometimes arriving late or only going on dry rides (early May-June) or shows that our kids adore.
During the summer we will go maybe once as they are busy, and when water parks are busy they are as dirty as the # of people in them. To keep them sparkling, (and WDW does this) they pump up the chlorine levels to dangerous levels, I haven't noticed the chlorine at SP as much.
We return off season again in september when the crowds are gone and have preschool only fun again. Without any bigger smellier kids, the place is cleaner and friendlier. My kids look forward to the fall for trick or treating every weekend in Oct.
If you are an off-season Dis'er who hates crowds like me; don't go to amusement parks when you know it will be crowded, or you will be disappointed.
BOB