Sesame Place Philadelphia
Sesame Place Philadelphia is a children's theme park and water park based on the children's educational television program Sesame Street. It is one of the two Sesame Place theme parks owned and operated by United Parks & Resorts under an exclusive license from Sesame Workshop, the non-profit owner of Sesame Street. Located outside of Philadelphia in Middletown Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, it is the older of the two Sesame Street theme parks in the United States. Sesame Place Philadelphia includes a variety of rides, shows and water attractions suited for young children, and is the first theme park in the world to become a certified autism center.
History
Sesame Place first opened in 1980 near the Oxford Valley Mall and initiated the expansion of the commercial complex in the vicinity. It was designed by Eric McMillan, a Canadian designer, Sandra Hanna of Lambertville, New Jersey and several other designers.The park is open from early May through Halloween for The Count's Halloween "Spooktacular", and mid-November through December for "A Very Furry Christmas". The original park was and featured play areas and large computer labs where kids could color their favorite Sesame Street characters. Since then, it has expanded to with rides and water attractions. The expansions included the construction of Cookie's Monster Land in 2014 – the park's largest renovation to date.
The theme park is described as having implemented features to make it accessible to children with autism, and on World Autism Awareness Day in 2018 was announced to be the first theme park that is a Certified Autism Center. Certified Autism Centers " businesses better serve guests and clients with cognitive disorders, including autism".
In 2007, it became the first theme park in Pennsylvania to become completely smoke-free.
Beginning in January 2021, the park began its year-round operation. The park's previous operating season ran from April through early January; however, 2021 was the first time the park has ever been open during the winter months. Each weekend was a limited capacity event that featured rides, dance parties, and a parade. In 2023, Sesame Place did not continue year-round operation but only closed between mid-January to mid-February.
In July 2022, a family claimed in an Instagram post that the character Rosita snubbed their two young black children by ignoring them as they waved to her. The video went viral as other users posted similar incidents of costumed characters and black children, with those on social media calling for a boycott of the park. The park released a statement that the costume had made it difficult for the performer to see the girls. They later followed with another statement that the performer had not intentionally snubbed the girls, but instead rejected a request "from someone in the crowd who asked Rosita to hold their child for a photo, which is not permitted." On July 19, Sesame Place Philadelphia formally apologized to the family and invited the family back for a personal meet-and-greet with the characters. They also announced that their employees will undergo racial bias training to ensure park guests have an "inclusive, equitable and entertaining" experience.
Attractions
Sesame Place features dry rides and water rides. Dry rides are open during Elmo's Springtacular, the summer season, The Count's Halloween Spooktacular and A Very Furry Christmas. Water rides are open only in the summer season. Other rides are only operated during Elmo's Springtacular, The Count's Halloween Spooktacular, or A Very Furry Christmas.Sesame Plaza
The front entrance.| Name | Manufacturer | Opened | Description |
| Vapor Trail | Vekoma | 1998 | A Super Grover-themed custom Vekoma family roller coaster with several helixes. |
| Sunny Day Carousel | Chance Rides | 2008 | A carousel with Sesame Street-designed horses. It was originally located in Sesame Neighborhood before being relocated to its current spot in 2024. |
Sesame City
An area themed to mass transit and a big city.| Name | Manufacturer | Opened | Description |
| Oscar's Wacky Taxi | The Gravity Group | 2018 | A family wooden roller coaster featuring a crazy taxi ride with Oscar, it is located near the front gate. |
| Big Bird's Tour Bus | Zamperla | 2022 | A crazy bus ride themed to a tour around the city with Big Bird. |
Big Bird's Beach
Formerly known as "Twiddlebug Land" from 1993 until 2023.| Name | Opened | Description |
| Elmo's Surf n' Slide | 1995 | A large raft water slide that stands more than six stories high. Formerly known as "Sky Splash" from 1995 until 2023. |
| Rosita's Seaside Slides | 1993 | Two spiral tube water slides. Single and double tubes are used. Formerly known as "Slimey's Chutes" from 1993 until 2023. |
| Little Bird's Bay | 1993 | A wave pool formed from Ernie's wild garden hose. Formerly known as "Teeny Tiny Tidal Wave Pool" from 1993 until 2023. |
| Abby's Splash n' Sprayground | 1993 | A kids play area with a giant watering can. This attraction was unnamed until 2023. |
Sesame Island
An area featuring water-based attractions.| Name | Opened | Description |
| Abby's Paradise Theater | A covered outdoor theater that currently features Meet and Greets with Snuffy, and currently shows Welcome To The Party. | |
| Bert and Ernie's Splashy Shores | 2023 | A water adventure area with water umbrellas, tipping buckets, spraying jets, water bobbles, and a spraying water tower. |
| Big Bird's Rambling River | 1990 | A slow-moving, waterway winding through Sesame Island. |
| Sand Castle Beach | 1990 | A giant beach-like sandbox and playground. |
Sesame Neighborhood
A full-scale replica of Sesame Street. Opened in 1988.| Name | Opened | Description |
| 123 Playground | 2024 | A colorful children's play area with classic playground elements. Its location was formerly the home of the Sunny Day Carousel prior to its relocation, as well as the classic Big Bird Steps. |
| Sesame Studio | 1980 | An indoor theater currently is primarily used for Sesame Storytime and other special events. |
| Sesame Street Theater | 1980 | A large outdoor theater that is currently used for special events, shows, and meet-and-greets. |
The Count's Court
Themed after Count von Count and features water rides. The special Count-themed dry attractions only operate during special events and are listed below.| Name | Opened | Description |
| The Count's Splash Castle | 2009 | A multi-level, water park attraction features over 90 play elements, including a 1000-gallon tipping bucket. |
| Abby's Fairy Falls | 1983 | Four short vertical water slides that drop into a three-foot pool.. |
Elmo's World
Themed after Elmo, more specifically the Elmo's World segment.| Name | Opened | Description |
| Elmo's Silly Splashy Slides | 1985 | Two intertwining body flumes that empty into a splash pool. |
| Peek-A-Bug | 2006 | A Rock 'n Tug themed to a bug in a garden. |
| Blast Off | 2006 | A tower drop ride in which riders travel to Planet Elmo. |
| Elmo's Cloud Chaser | 2011 | Riders fly around in swings. |
| Flyin' Fish | 2006 | An aerial carousel ride, similar to Dumbo the Flying Elephant. |
| Snuffy's Slides | 1980 | Two long dry tube slides for children 12 and under. This is the last vestige of the Big Bird Bridge system. |
Cookie's Monster Land
Named after Cookie Monster. Opened in 2014.| Name | Opened | Description |
| Captain Cookie's High C's Adventure | 2014 | Pirate ships circle a rising and falling track. |
| Oscar's Rusty Rotten Rockets | 2014 | A whip-like ride, but with hanging garbage can-shaped rockets as vehicles. |
| Honker Dinger Derby | 2014 | A Tivoli Orbiter. Formerly operated at Busch Gardens Tampa as Sandstorm. |
| Monster Mix-Up | 2002 | A teacup ride. Formerly known as Grover's World Twirl. |
| Flying Cookie Jars | 2002 | A high tower ride that affords a view of the park. Formerly known as Big Bird's Balloon Race. |
| Monster Clubhouse | 2014 | A net-climbing attraction. |
| Mini Monster Clubhouse | 2014 | A play area for smaller children. |
Special Event Rides
These rides only operate during specific seasonal events.| Name | Description |
| The Castle Swing | A swing ride. |
| The Count's Fly By | A smaller version of Elmo's Cloud Chaser, themed after the Count. |
| The Count's Cruisers | A carousel-type attraction with 4x4 cars. |