Even though my toddler is only two, she’s been lucky enough to visit Disney World several times over the course of her life. Having her come along is a bonus to my job as a theme parks editor (and because she doesn’t need a ticket under the age of three). My daughter loves going on attractions, meeting her favorite characters, and just hanging out in a place that’s, well, pretty magical.
In this spirit, we were delighted to welcome them to a new Experience at a theme park on a recent trip to the Northeast. As a kid who loves Elmo, Abby and the other monsters Sesame Streetmy husband and I jumped at the chance to take her to Sesame Place Philadelphia. We had both been there when we were young (back in the 90’s) and were excited for the chance for our toddler to experience it too.
Located just outside of Philadelphia in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, Sesame Place offers a variety of attractions for all ages, including water park attractions. Sesame Streetthe park offers the opportunity to meet your favorite characters from the show through meet-and-greet experiences, parades, and even character dinners. And since it’s a great day trip for many in the Northeast, the question is, is it worth the trip? Well, after my visit, I have some thoughts on that.
What you should know about Sesame Place Philadelphia
About half an hour from Philadelphia is Sesame Place, a theme park that has been around since 1980. The park offers attractions such as rides, shows, meet and greets and a water park area, all themed to the characters of Sesame Street.
Sesame Place ticket prices
A day ticket costs from USD 102.99 per person, a two-day ticket from USD 112.99 per person. In addition, please note that Sesame Street often has a ticket sale. For example, when we bought ours, there was 50 percent off the initial price – and this offer seems to be pretty common. Children 23 months and younger don’t need a ticket, which is a little different than Disney World, where children under 3 can ride without a ticket. You also have the option to buy an Any Day Ticket, which can be used anytime within six months of purchase and starts at $102.99 per day.
By comparison, at Disney World, a one-day park pass costs between $109 and $189, and there are few opportunities for discounts. Sesame Place is comparatively much cheaper, but keep in mind that this may not be the case if you are traveling with a child aged 2 to 3 who needs a pass for Sesame Place but not for Disney World.
Certified Autism Center
Sesame Place is also a certified Autism Center, meaning that park staff have received training to care for guests with autism and special needs, and several inclusive experiences are available:
Sensory instructions
The park offers a sensory guide for each attraction that shows what effects it can have on the five senses.
Quiet rooms
Sesame Place offers relaxation rooms where guests can take a break from the sensory stimuli of the park.
Driving Accessibility Program
The park’s Ride Accessibility Program is a program that can help reduce wait times for guests with special needs who may not be able to safely wait in line. Visit the Welcome Center for more information.
Sesame Place Philadelphia Review
As soon as we entered, one thing was abundantly clear: This was not Disney World. And that was both good and bad. In comparison, the atmosphere was much more relaxed and less organized than Disney World. When we arrived just before opening, there were only a handful of people standing by to cordon off the park. There was no security, and the store that was supposed to open an hour before the park opened opened 20 minutes late.
But while the organization may not have been on the same level, the more relaxed atmosphere definitely had an advantage. Before we even got through the reception gate, my daughter was already excited by what she saw. Once outside of security, we saw drawings of her favorite characters in the gift shop window and painted on the walls. Excited cries of “Abby!” and “Elmo!” were enough to let us know we were in for a great day for her.
Because of their age, we decided to avoid the water park area of the park, although there are certainly areas there that are appropriate for younger toddlers. However, we focused on the rides and character greets that are scattered throughout the park.
While the park itself isn’t huge, I highly recommend bringing a stroller if you have a toddler. While most theme parks I’ve been to restrict bringing a stroller, I was able to bring our Veer Wagon into the park and it was a huge help as it gave us space to store it and also gave my child, who doesn’t like strollers, a place to sit without us having to hold her the whole time. We ended up setting up a fan and snack tray for her, which helped tremendously to get through a long day without much stopping. Keep in mind that Sesame Place doesn’t allow outside food, so we bought a few snacks for her throughout the day.
We spent a lot of time at Elmo’s World and Cookie Monster’s Land, both areas with lots of rides for young children. For a summer weekday, the crowds were relatively light, with most guests opting for the water park portion of Sesame Place. She loved attractions like Captain Cookie’s High C’s Adventures and the Sunny Day Carousel at the park’s entrance.
Her favorite “attraction,” however, was probably the 123 Playground, which was full of kids her age. Sesame Street Neighborhood area of the park. Characters also played a big role and we had the opportunity to meet Ernie, Bert and Big Bird throughout the lands. But while there are many places to meet characters, if you’re coming with a child who is particularly into Elmo, Abby and Cookie Monster, you might want to try the character menu offered in the park – Dine With Elmo and Friends.
Toddler food with Elmo and friends
Because we know how much our daughter loves Elmo and Abby (particularly Abby), we decided to reserve a table at Dine With Elmo and Friends. The eatery is open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, all for a set price per person that includes a buffet and the chance to meet Elmo, Abby, Cookie Monster and Grover.
Prices start at $49.99 per person for adults and $29.99 for children ages 2 to 9. For comparison, a character breakfast at Chef Mickey’s in Disney World costs $54.99 for adults and $149.99 for children (under 3 eat free), so the price difference isn’t actually that big. Having experienced many character dinners at Disney, there are a few key differences to know when attending Dine With Elmo and Friends. First of all, don’t go there for the food. While I’ve enjoyed the meals at some Disney character restaurants, the food here is more like a continental breakfast buffet at a budget hotel. You’re really paying for the character experience, and that’s what worked for us.
Each family is given a table and time to get their food before the characters come out. Each of the characters came on stage, sang and danced before making their rounds to greet each of the tables. The smiles and screams of joy when my daughter met Abby and Elmo were worth the price of admission, and each character took plenty of time for a moment with the children, a photo, and/or an autograph.
After the tables are greeted, the characters sing and dance again, performing and inviting the children (and adults!) to join in and dance. Whether it was singing and dancing along to a song or performing “Simon Says,” the children loved it. At the end of the meal, each of the characters comes down and dances with the children, creating a real dance party.
Overall, the food was okay, but the interaction and time spent with each character was much more interactive than many similar experiences we’ve had at Disney World, which are usually a bit more rushed.
Was Sesame Place worth a visit?
If you have a child who has a huge Sesame Street fan, then my answer is an immediate yes. Some of these characters are full-fledged celebrities to my kiddo and she had a blast seeing them in person and spending some time in the world of the show. Plus, I find that this park, while not just fun for toddlers, is super accessible for this younger age group. At Disney World, we are limited to a smaller selection of rides (especially outside of Magic Kingdom) and the longer lines can limit our options when it comes to a toddler who can’t sit still for a limited amount of time. The shorter wait times and wider selection of rides for young kids made this a great place for our 2-year-old, who was able to take in everything without being overwhelmed by the crowds and options at Disney.
Plan a visit to Sesame Place Philadelphia
However, there are a few things I would consider when planning a visit. The first is, Look out for ticket offers—these seem to be common and can definitely help you save a lot of money when buying tickets. And Plan a full day stay to get as much done as possible. Although you’ll certainly find plenty to do in two days, I’d say it’s pretty easy to do most of the park in one day.
Although we didn’t have a big problem with queues, if you want to go there on a weekend or at a busier time of year, Upgrade your ticket with Abby’s Unlimited Magic Queue. This works similarly to the Lightning Lanes at Disney World and allows you to skip the line at most priority access attractions.
I also recommend Check the size requirements in advanceespecially for the water attractions. Although most of the park is accessible to younger riders, it’s a good idea to know exactly what your child can and can’t ride in advance to avoid unnecessary waiting or disappointment on the day of the ride.
Overall, Sesame Place may not be a theme park worth flying to for an entire trip, but it is within driving distance for many families (about two hours from NYC). If you are looking for a place for a day trip or weekend getaway with younger children, you will find plenty to do at this location!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Morgan Flaherty, contributing writer
Morgan is a full-time writer, editor and mother. In addition to her work as a guest writer for The Everymom on all topics Disney World, Beauty productsand the latest Fashion trendsHer writing has appeared in Well + Good, InStyle, Scary MomByrdie and chick.
