mjaclyn
Currently in Wonderland
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2003
- Messages
- 2,011
There are many threads that discuss the disappointments, aggravation and frustrations we experience at Disney. After my recent trip to Sesame Place in Langhorne, PA I felt compelled to open it up to other theme parks.
Frustration #1:
My irritation started before the park even opened because we had signed up for the Breakfast with Cookie Monster and Abby Cadabby. The breakfast was held outside (which I had known when I booked it), but it was incredibly windy and none of the food was covered. NONE. Needless to say, everything that was supposed to be hot was either lukewarm or cold. We ate at metal picnic tables that hadn't even been cleaned. (I wiped off a discarded piece of someone's leftover funnel cake from the day before) They provided small, cheap, Styrofoam plates, plastic silverware and teeny tiny plastic cups. The breakfast buffet (if that's what you'd call it) consisted of scrambled eggs, tater tots, sausage and bacon. There was also some containers of yogurt, prepackaged cereal and some bagels. All for $20.00 per adult and $16.00 for children ages two and up. Yes, age TWO. I still can't believe they have the nerve to charge people that much for so little...and they don't even serve the food on real plates!!! Also, everything had pollen in it because there is a very large tree right next to the picnic area where we ate that was shedding like mad. I had to fish it out of my drink a number of times before I finally gave up.
That all being said, I do have to say the character interaction is GREAT. There were at least five or six Sesame Street characters at the breakfast and they stayed for the entire hour. There was a photographer there to take pictures for a photopass-like experience. Not only did the children get to go up to each character individually, but they went out of their way to sit at the tables and interact with the kids as well. At the end of the breakfast all the children were dancing with the characters to Sesame Street music. (Which had finally started to work after a headache-inducing twenty minutes of skipping)
Frustration #2
This annoyance doesn't have much to do with Sesame Place as it does with the rudeness of its guests. I had parked my double stroller to stake out a nice spot for the parade with plenty of time to spare. By the time the parade was only halfway down the street people were crowding me so much that if I could have gotten out of there, I would have. The worst part was that this one mother sent her three girls (around ages 2,4 and 6) to stand in FRONT of my stroller. The one little girl was waving her hands so hard and yelling so loud for Elmo that I asked her mother very nicely to please have her stand back because she was about to hit my daughter in the face. The mother yelled at her daughter twice to move back but then disappeared to sit on a bench while the girls continued to jump up and down in front of my stroller. I was SO incredibly angry about this. I feel that if you want to get a good spot for the parade, go early and get a good spot. Don't wait until the absolute last minute and then proceed to park yourself in front of my kids. Now, I have no problem sharing a space with other people, but have some common sense! If a person is sitting right up against the curb, don't stand right in front of them or send your children to stand in front of them. It's RUDE.
Frustration #3:
This is partly Sesame's fault but mostly, again, the guest's fault. After standing in line to pay for a drink from the Count's Creations (basically a line of about 10 different slushie flavors where you can mix and match to create a custom drink), I noticed MANY people going straight to the machine to fill any type of cup they had on hand without paying. I know for a fact that Sesame Place does NOT offer free refills. I couldn't believe how many people I saw stealing drinks right in front of the person who worked there!! I say it's partly Sesame's fault because they either need to close off the portion of slushie machines that are out in the open where people can simply come and take without being noticed, or have a team member stand by the exit to make sure it doesn't happen.
Frustration #4:
The food is bad. Just plain BAD. I don't understand why Sesame Place feels they can charge the same amount of money as Disney charges for their counter service meals and serve the equivalent of horrible cafeteria food. The worst part for me was when I ordered a grilled chicken breast for my daughter and the server dropped it on the metal table and then put it back on my plate!! I opted for the fried chicken fingers instead.
I'm sure I can think of more but that will do it for now. Please feel free to vent about anything you may have experienced at a theme park other than Disney. I will absolutely be more lenient and understanding with Disney after what I experienced this weekend. They are WORLDS ahead of SP on so many levels, even when they drop the ball sometimes.
Frustration #1:
My irritation started before the park even opened because we had signed up for the Breakfast with Cookie Monster and Abby Cadabby. The breakfast was held outside (which I had known when I booked it), but it was incredibly windy and none of the food was covered. NONE. Needless to say, everything that was supposed to be hot was either lukewarm or cold. We ate at metal picnic tables that hadn't even been cleaned. (I wiped off a discarded piece of someone's leftover funnel cake from the day before) They provided small, cheap, Styrofoam plates, plastic silverware and teeny tiny plastic cups. The breakfast buffet (if that's what you'd call it) consisted of scrambled eggs, tater tots, sausage and bacon. There was also some containers of yogurt, prepackaged cereal and some bagels. All for $20.00 per adult and $16.00 for children ages two and up. Yes, age TWO. I still can't believe they have the nerve to charge people that much for so little...and they don't even serve the food on real plates!!! Also, everything had pollen in it because there is a very large tree right next to the picnic area where we ate that was shedding like mad. I had to fish it out of my drink a number of times before I finally gave up.
That all being said, I do have to say the character interaction is GREAT. There were at least five or six Sesame Street characters at the breakfast and they stayed for the entire hour. There was a photographer there to take pictures for a photopass-like experience. Not only did the children get to go up to each character individually, but they went out of their way to sit at the tables and interact with the kids as well. At the end of the breakfast all the children were dancing with the characters to Sesame Street music. (Which had finally started to work after a headache-inducing twenty minutes of skipping)
Frustration #2
This annoyance doesn't have much to do with Sesame Place as it does with the rudeness of its guests. I had parked my double stroller to stake out a nice spot for the parade with plenty of time to spare. By the time the parade was only halfway down the street people were crowding me so much that if I could have gotten out of there, I would have. The worst part was that this one mother sent her three girls (around ages 2,4 and 6) to stand in FRONT of my stroller. The one little girl was waving her hands so hard and yelling so loud for Elmo that I asked her mother very nicely to please have her stand back because she was about to hit my daughter in the face. The mother yelled at her daughter twice to move back but then disappeared to sit on a bench while the girls continued to jump up and down in front of my stroller. I was SO incredibly angry about this. I feel that if you want to get a good spot for the parade, go early and get a good spot. Don't wait until the absolute last minute and then proceed to park yourself in front of my kids. Now, I have no problem sharing a space with other people, but have some common sense! If a person is sitting right up against the curb, don't stand right in front of them or send your children to stand in front of them. It's RUDE.
Frustration #3:
This is partly Sesame's fault but mostly, again, the guest's fault. After standing in line to pay for a drink from the Count's Creations (basically a line of about 10 different slushie flavors where you can mix and match to create a custom drink), I noticed MANY people going straight to the machine to fill any type of cup they had on hand without paying. I know for a fact that Sesame Place does NOT offer free refills. I couldn't believe how many people I saw stealing drinks right in front of the person who worked there!! I say it's partly Sesame's fault because they either need to close off the portion of slushie machines that are out in the open where people can simply come and take without being noticed, or have a team member stand by the exit to make sure it doesn't happen.
Frustration #4:
The food is bad. Just plain BAD. I don't understand why Sesame Place feels they can charge the same amount of money as Disney charges for their counter service meals and serve the equivalent of horrible cafeteria food. The worst part for me was when I ordered a grilled chicken breast for my daughter and the server dropped it on the metal table and then put it back on my plate!! I opted for the fried chicken fingers instead.
I'm sure I can think of more but that will do it for now. Please feel free to vent about anything you may have experienced at a theme park other than Disney. I will absolutely be more lenient and understanding with Disney after what I experienced this weekend. They are WORLDS ahead of SP on so many levels, even when they drop the ball sometimes.
