Slightly Off Topic: Sesame Place

[Jonathan Swift]

One to two days at Sesame Place is plenty, but do have a plan in case it rains. What usually happens is people will go to the Crayola factory when SP is closed. The trip between Easton and Langhorne is terrible! There's not much else to do in the area, so plan a backup place to go and don't buy tickets in advance.

Great places to eat in the area are Chick-fil-a, Cheeburger Cheeburger, and Red Robin. The Sheraton Bucks County is the most conveniently located hotel, but there are other nice ones that offer a free shuttle, too. There was construction on a new hotel last year that's even closer than the Sheraton, so keep an eye out for it.

 

[tink76]

One to two days at Sesame Place is plenty, but do have a plan in case it rains. What usually happens is people will go to the Crayola factory when SP is closed. The trip between Easton and Langhorne is terrible! There's not much else to do in the area, so plan a backup place to go and don't buy tickets in advance.

Great places to eat in the area are Chick-fil-a, Cheeburger Cheeburger, and Red Robin. The Sheraton Bucks County is the most conveniently located hotel, but there are other nice ones that offer a free shuttle, too. There was construction on a new hotel last year that's even closer than the Sheraton, so keep an eye out for it.

Just curious why the trip between Easton and Langhorne is so bad? We are going to PA this summer and are trying to figure things out.

 

[kaylasmom07]

Bumping this old topic to see if anyone had any more insight on the Magic Queue. Really thinking of getting this for an upcoming trip.

How much time does it save? How much time do you have to wait before riding or is it immediately to the front of the line?

 

[AllieV]

Bumping this old topic to see if anyone had any more insight on the Magic Queue. Really thinking of getting this for an upcoming trip.

How much time does it save? How much time do you have to wait before riding or is it immediately to the front of the line?

I bought the magic queue unlimited for memorial day Sunday. It saved tons of time -- at least four runs. I wouldn't go without it now in the summer weekends. It's good for all the rides in the new cookie monster land too. For that reason I may only buy the $15 one-per-ride ticket. There are so many rides now.

 

[AllieV]

A couple of things more. The magic queue is front of line. If the ride is loading while you're walking up they won't hold a car for you but you'll get on the next one. Flying fish may be 2 because of the way they pre-assign cars although they're always supposed to hold a few spots for walk-ups.

One thing I noticed this year that I hadn't seen before was disability passes like Disney. They were printouts specific to them and the ride attendants read them thoroughly before allowing them in the queue. One family was turned away because their special pass did not include that ride. But I suspect this will get more widely used, leaving the regular line slower.

Each ride has 8-12 cars and some only fit two people. Cookie monster land rides kept being shut down because the gates weren't closing right so the ride wouldn't start. That sucked for people who'd stood in line a while.

 

[kaylasmom07]

AllieV Thank you! We'll be there over the weekend this summer so it sounds like something I definitely need to get. I've been to Sesame Place before but I'd never heard of the Magic Queue, and I have seen how crowded and long the lines can be. Almost unbearable in the summer heat with a 3 year old. Thanks again.

 

[AllieV]

AllieV Thank you! We'll be there over the weekend this summer so it sounds like something I definitely need to get. I've been to Sesame Place before but I'd never heard of the Magic Queue, and I have seen how crowded and long the lines can be. Almost unbearable in the summer heat with a 3 year old. Thanks again.

Yeah there's almost no shade in those lines. Hopefully they've fixed the problems with the gates on the new rides in CM Land (I heard one tech say they had replacement gates on order before the official opening), but to wait in a long line then have it shut down would be awful.

I'd recommend buying it online before you go. Those passes are limited and often sell out before that day. The one-time-per-ride $15 passes go first. They are good for only one water ride, so if you plan to do those, I'd recommend getting a cabana. The ones by the lazy river have a private access area to it without the line.

Have fun!

 

[DisneyBaby823]

Wow, I'm so surprised to see this thread!
I live close to Sesame and have been struggling with whether to get a season pass.
Can anyone tell me if it's worth it to take a 9-month old?
I haven't been to the park since I was a kid myself ... my last year there - Ernie's Waterworks was brand new, otherwise the prior year would have been my last year there; I'd just outgrown the place.

I tried emailing them for information but was STRONLY discouraged by the person replying that the park was for ages 2-13.
I don't know if they just discourage babies that they aren't getting a paying ticket for or if the park really isn't suited for him. He turns 1 at the end of the summer so I thought it would be good for him (and me) to have a place to go all summer, plus, it's much closer than the NJ shores.

 

[AllieV]

I live close to Sesame and have been struggling with whether to get a season pass.
Can anyone tell me if it's worth it to take a 9-month old?

I wouldn't. It's a loud, hot place. There's a new sprayground, but it's more for kids that can walk. Count's Splashdown is a huge wading pool about a foot deep and you can avoid all the heavy waterworks, but it's terribly crowded. And the kid should really be able to walk to enjoy it. No rides would be ok except maybe the bench on the carousel. Some minor rides even have height restrictions. Even at 2 and 3, my kid didn't enjoy it too much. Way better now that he's 6. I do see babies there with their older siblings, but they stay in the carriage or stroller.

Then there's the crowd to consider. I've been there about a dozen times and every time I find the people to be rude, pushy, and self-centered. I've been pushed, elbowed, stepped on, my kid knocked down, cut off for tables, cut in lines. It's a tough environment when you want to keep your baby safe. It could be a bad experience that may turn you off from ever going again. That would be a shame because it can be a really fun place when you're prepared for it.

 

[DisneyBaby823]

I wouldn't. ...
Then there's the crowd to consider. I've been there about a dozen times and every time I find the people to be rude, pushy, and self-centered. I've been pushed, elbowed, stepped on, my kid knocked down, cut off for tables, cut in lines. It's a tough environment when you want to keep your baby safe. It could be a bad experience that may turn you off from ever going again. That would be a shame because it can be a really fun place when you're prepared for it.

To be honest this is the single most reason I've put it off. It's what I feared the park had become. I really wanted a place that would give me the option of getting out of the house for the summer, it's only a half hour away.
But I knew there was no way it was going to be what it was 20 years ago. The area has changed too much.

 

[AllieV]

To be honest this is the single most reason I've put it off. It's what I feared the park had become. I really wanted a place that would give me the option of getting out of the house for the summer, it's only a half hour away.
But I knew there was no way it was going to be what it was 20 years ago. The area has changed too much.

I don't mean to imply that it's dangerous or filled w punks. It's seemingly regular American families who love their kids. They carry balloons and buy lunch and Elmo t-shirts. But it's a dog eat dog world inside those gates. There are no laid back southern folk like at Disney.

Many years ago I lived near philly and the people have not changed since then. They are rude and crass then and now. Memorial day weekend was filled w New Yorkers and the experience was so much milder. Go figure. Who'd have guessed NYers would be easier to deal with than Philadelphians. But that's just my experience.

P.s the Elmo show and the kiddy bands may be enjoyable for a little one. At Christmas they have a special parade and lots of lit trees.

 

[JaimeK]

With a 9-month old I'd definitely wait a year or two.

I've done season passes a few years (I usually get the ones at the end of the summer good for the following year) and we enjoy it! We do the shows, water stuff and maybe one or two rides. It's more water park for us I think

 

[RS438]

Sorry to pull this back; but would anyone advise a Magic Pass for a summer weekday? Looking to go later in August and wondering if the quick pass is worth having on a weekday.
Thanks!

 

[eangel12]

Sorry to pull this back; but would anyone advise a Magic Pass for a summer weekday? Looking to go later in August and wondering if the quick pass is worth having on a weekday. Thanks!

Yes, definitely! We go during the week as locals and waited in line 20 minutes for one ride.

 

[RS438]

Yes, definitely! We go during the week as locals and waited in line 20 minutes for one ride.

Thanks! So good to know.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

Agree on the Magic Pass. Generally if you get there when they open, you'll walk on any ride for the first hour, but by midday the lines really build up. Have a blast, it really is a fun place. Also I recommend doing character dining. The food is bad, but not all the headline guys have meet and greets in the park. At character dining you get Cookie Monster, Elmo, Grover, Count, and Abbey, including a posed pic with Elmo and tableside pics with everyone else.

 

[RS438]

Agree on the Magic Pass. Generally if you get there when they open, you'll walk on any ride for the first hour, but by midday the lines really build up. Have a blast, it really is a fun place. Also I recommend doing character dining. The food is bad, but not all the headline guys have meet and greets in the park. At character dining you get Cookie Monster, Elmo, Grover, Count, and Abbey, including a posed pic with Elmo and tableside pics with everyone else.

Seems to be the way to go; thanks!!! Thankful we learned the "character meal" trick at Disney and will always go that route when possible vs standing in line. Thanks again!