Sesame Place, Philadelphia

[biggroofy]

Anyone been to Sesame Place in Philadelphia? Is it comparable with WDW?

My DD2 is also a big fan of Elmo, wondering if it is worthwhile to make a visit.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

I went many years ago but it is in no way comparable to WDW. It is nice for one day but I found a lot of the people there to be really pushy and cutting in line, that sort of thing. We went once and never again. It could be different now.

 

[Nancy]

NOT comparable to Disney. Sesame is just a big water park. It's great if you want to spend all day in the water, 1 day was enough for us.

It is a cute place, very crowded in the summer, cute little parade (very little) but the kids loved it. Character pictures like Disney but that's about it.

 

[bicker]

There actually isn't any other place that compares to WDW -- it is one of a kind. There are a couple of places that compare to Disneyland, but Sesame Place isn't among them.

One thing I did like about Sesame Place is that it is clearly aimed at young children, so much so that they don't charge extra for adults.

 

[TiggerStac]

I need to agree with Nancy. We traveled from 1.5 hours past Boston when DS was almost 3. It is just a big water park. We went down memorial day weekend and weren't aware of this..and it ended up being a cold memorial day weekend. We were planning on spending 2 days there, but were done in 1 day and traded our tickets back in for a partial refund. We then spent the 2nd day at Six Flags.

We would not go there again...and it can't even compare to Disney. We did a character breakfast...oh my. They had a buffet set up outside and as you were walking to the buffet..the characters were along the street and you could stop and visit them. Very different

 

[Tigger&Belle]

We went years ago and I'm sure it's improved a lot, but the reason that we never went back is that it was SO crowded that we spent most of our time in long lines. Don't know if it was a fluke or not, but I was scared to ever try the place again. My youngest would enjoy the place at his age, but it's kind of far for us.

 

[aprilgail2]

.

We would not go there again...and it can't even compare to Disney. We did a character breakfast...oh my. They had a buffet set up outside and as you were walking to the buffet..the characters were along the street and you could stop and visit them. Very different

We did that breakfast too!! What a joke!! It was terrible. You sat outside on picnic benches under a tent. We had went about 13 years ago and I figured that since my daughter had never went we would give it a shot again about 2 years ago...it was no different. Most water slides were for older kids, no way could my little one( she was 4) do most of them and she is a swimmer! There were so many camps bussed in that it was a mob scene, they ran all over the place in the little kiddie type pool and the workers did nothing to stop them. It was just not the cleanest place either, I was afriad my daughter would be coming home with something from those little pools there. There are a few things to do not in the water but 90 percent are water rides. They had one or 2 shows which were nothing great. I would not travel any distance to go there thats for sure!

 

[pajamommy]

I agree that it is a far cry from WDW! We also found it was crowded and the people were very pushy when we were there. We didn't like it at all. We ended up finding out about Storyland and Santa's Village in NH, and we took the kids there instead.

 

[mcr5298]

I agree with everyone else. There is no comparison to WDW. We live about 30 minutes away. I have a 3 1/2 DD and a 20 month old DS. We have gone several times, since we had a season pass. But my DD was only able to go in the kiddie wave pool and see the shows and parade. The parade has been the same for the last 5 years! They really need to spice it up. The shows were mediocre, although my DD did enjoy seeing all of the characters. As everyone else has said, the majority of rides are water rides for older kids. I look forward to taking my children there when they are 8 or 9. And the crowds are horrible in the summer and on the weekend. Most of the children there are very pushy, and do cut lines. Although I have found it cleaner than Six Flags Great Adventure, it just doesn't give me the feeling that Disney World does. Plus, I've never been one to be happy about walking around in a park in my bathing suit all day!

I see that you are from Canada, biggroofy. The trip might not be worth it right now with your DD being so young. But ultimately, you have to make that decision. Good luck!

 

[noseybuddy]

My kids are teens now so it has been years since I have been there. Only needed one day there and we did enjoy it. It was a total experience for me that I will never forget. I had never gone done a water slide and my kids and everyone were nagging me to do it. So I finally give in and as soon as i hit the water my bathing suit top fell off. I try to grab it and pull it over me as all the little kiddies parents are standing there waiting for them to come down the slide. So be careful what you wear.

 

[phillybeth]

Anyone been to Sesame Place in Philadelphia? Is it comparable with WDW?

My DD2 is also a big fan of Elmo, wondering if it is worthwhile to make a visit.

It's not in Philly but about 1/2 hour outside Philly. In a mall parking lot. It is nowhere NEAR the size or quality of Disney. 2 YO is very young for this attraction- most of the rides are water rides, and the employees are local kids who don't or won't control the crowds. If you do want to go, your best bet is first thing Sunday morning.

 

[Dina]

I went a few times as a kid-- it was ok. I wanted to take my kids there, and my next door neighbor (who is a nurse), warned me that if I wanted to go, go very early in the season because there were complaints about unsanitary conditions or maybe it was just a little dirty later in the season (She didn't really elaborate, and since I'm germaphobic-- she said all I needed to hear). If you're not far from there-- I'm told Dutch Wonderland is much better (geared for younger kids). We're trying that one this summer-- I believe its in the Lancaster Area-- that park gets rave reviews for young children.

 

[loveysbydesign]

If you're not far from there-- I'm told Dutch Wonderland is much better (geared for younger kids). We're trying that one this summer-- I believe its in the Lancaster Area-- that park gets rave reviews for young children.

We are an hour from Lancaster and we have been going to Dutch Wonderland every year for the past 3 years. It's very small and not usually too crowded. They've added a small waterplay area and what we usually do is go to the main part of the park til lunch, then head out to our van, get our picnic lunch and eat under the pavilion in the parking lot. Take the cooler back to the van and grab our swim stuff. Go back in the park and change into our swim stuff and do the water part for 2 hours then change back into our clothes and go on a few more rides before heading home. It's a WONDERFUL park for kids under 8...once they're over 8 it gets boring. My ds was getting a little bored this past summer and he was 6 at the time. We actually did the "Winter Wonderland" this year right after Christmas and the kids really liked it, it only cost us like $5.95 each to get it. Not all the rides were open but there were definitley enough open to occupy us from 5:00-8:00 pm. I'd recommend it as a great day trip if you don't live too far away.

 

[buddy&wooz]

If you go, do it on a hot day when your kid is under 5 years old. Otherwise, not worth it IMO.

Dorney Park is much better, but your child may be a bit young.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Dorney Park is much better, but your child may be a bit young.

Dorney Park is a blast with a very fun water area with an interactive water play zone that is worth the price of admission by itself! We've only been once, but I would like to go back there.

 

[loveysbydesign]

Dorney Park is a blast with a very fun water area with an interactive water play zone that is worth the price of admission by itself! We've only been once, but I would like to go back there.

My poor kids are soooo deprived...we live 10 minutes from Dorney (we drive past it at least once a week) and we still take them to Dutch Wonderland which is an hour away because the people there are so much friendlier and the park is so much cleaner than Dorney. I have a few friends who got season passes to Dorney last year and said they will not get them again as last year the people who were at Dorney were so rude and pushy, cutting lines etc. and the park wasn't all that clean. That being said my children are on the younger side agewise- 6 and 3. When they're a bit older I'm sure we will go to Dorney and will probably get season passes...but not until I don't have to push a stroller up and down all the darn hills-LOL!

 

[Jennifer S]

I would stay away from SP w/a two year old. Yes it's a water park but a two year old wouldn't even be able to do half the things there (like to obstacle course type). I never understood why they gear the theme to little ones but the attractions to older ones who have outgrown Sesame. IMHO it's not worth it for you. I even think Six Flags isn't all that nice/clean. I'd pick Hersheypark anyday over six Flags.

 

[princesspumpkin]

I thinnk that SP is a waste of money. Yes, they don't charge more for adults, but I think that they should charge less! It's too expensive, to me. Dorney Park is a much better value, I believe. Go early (before the park opens - just like WDW). You can hit lots of rides and the water park is included. I prefer Dorney to Great Adventure. GA has too many hormonal teens! I know - it used to be my favorite place when I was one!

 

[Papa Deuce]

Anyone been to Sesame Place in Philadelphia? Is it comparable with WDW?

My DD2 is also a big fan of Elmo, wondering if it is worthwhile to make a visit.

Not even close.

But, for a GREAT DAY with rides and a water park...

www.knoebels.com

 

[SillyMe]

Not even close.

But, for a GREAT DAY with rides and a water park...

www.knoebels.com

Shush! Haven't you learned? Do not tell anyone about that "K" place. It's supposed to be kept a secret.

I personally do not like Sesame Place. It gets extremely crowded, unsanitary, people always seem to be pushing and shoving. I guess the worst is because parents seem to let their very young children roam free, and the kids push and shove their way in line...then the parents aren't there to supervise them when they're splashing water in ppl's faces. That was my experience anyway.

For a 2yr old, I vote for that place that's supposed to be PA's best kept secret...Knoebel's.