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Spend Sunny Days at Sesame Place
by Lauren Piscitelle

Sweep the clouds away this summer when the family travels to Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. The nation’s only theme park based entirely on the award-winning television show Sesame Street, Sesame Place is where the young and young at heart share in the spirit of imagination and experience Sesame Street through rides, slides, shows and more.

The new Sunny Day Carousel is a one-of-a-kind Sesame Street themed carousel with 36 custom-created colorful, “muppetized” horses and two benches resembling Snuffleupagus. The area is filled with sounds of traditional calliope and organ presentations of the most popular Sesame Street songs, including such favorites as “Rubber Duckie,” “C is for Cookie” and the Sesame Street theme song, “Sunny Days.” This is the perfect ride for anyone who likes a good-go-round.

The only way to get a bird’s-eye view of the park is on Big Bird’s Balloon Race. Choose a Sesame Street character basket and soar high into the sky in this 40-foot high balloon tower ride. Sesame Place’s Vapor Trail is an action-packed steel roller coaster that transports you on a one-of-a-kind twisting, turning mission to the outer limits of the solar system.

Elmo’s World offers you and your child three exciting rides. Strap yourself into a UFO and ride through the stars to Planet Elmo on Blast Off. Hop on the fins of an Elmo fish as it swims its way up and down an imaginary ocean on Flyin’ Fish. Wiggle through a garden of giggles on the back of a beaming bug on Peek-A-Bug.

Come and play at Sesame Playhouse, an area filled with the newest challenging games of skill. For a separate fee, families can play basketball, ring toss, race games and more for as little or as long as desired to earn and trade up for prizes.

At Sesame Neighborhood, interact with your favorite Sesame Street friends at the full-size, outdoor re-creation of the classic Sesame Street television stage show set. Children can “shop” for produce and pretend to total their “purchases” on the cash register at Mr. MacIntosh’s Fruit Stand They can also climb on a fire engine and go inside The Engine House at Sesame Street Engine House No. 1.

Cool off on Big Bird’s Rambling River. This ever-popular attraction is a relaxing, fun-filled adventure that is perfect for all ages. Float in inner-tubes past bubbling, swirling waters, under palm trees with water-filled tipping coconuts and through waterfalls and spraying geysers. Sky Splash allows up to six guests to ride together in a large raft-like tube as they glide under an array of whimsical oversized toys. This popular attraction goes from gentle sky ponds with whirlpool-like jet streams to accelerator slides with speeds up to 20 feet per second. All this adds up to a final plunge into a pool of water!

There’s plenty of fun for the younger ones. Ages seven and under can jump and leap on a springy yellow air mattress at Ernie’s Bed Bounce. They can also frolic in fun fountains or crawl through the water-spraying mazes at Ernie’s Waterworks. On Cookie Mountain, children try to scale the bright blue vinyl cone “mountain” that seems to reach the sky as they climb, slip, slide and have fun. Rubber Duckie Pond offers ages five and under, accompanied by an adult, an activity slide in a shallow pool.

At the 14-acre park, the air is sweet with live entertainment. Sesame Place’s newest neighbor, Abby Cadabby, is the star of the musical show Abby Cadabby’s Treasure Hunt. Abby and her Sesame pals embark on a treasure hunt adventure in search for clues to open a talking treasure trunk. Along the way, they encounter a singing tree, a rhyming rock, a shouting toucan and more. As they find the clues to unlock the trunk, Abby and the gang explore treasures and open their minds to a world of imagination.

In Elmo’s World Live Show, Elmo, Mr. Noodle and Dorothy explore the wonderful underwater world of fishes. The interactive show encourages audience participation as children pretend to be a fish, take a trip to an aquarium and meet a royal kingfish. Filled with songs, surprises and special effects, Elmo’s World Live transports Sesame guests to Elmo’s world of make believe.

The Sesame Street characters along with their human friends go to the beach for an impromptu party in Big Bird’s Beach Party. They imagine all sorts of wonderful and silly adventures and have interactive sing alongs and dancing with the audience. The only parade where children can see all the characters together is the “Rock Around the Block” Parade. The must-see parade is a tribute to music and dance complete with star-studded floats and colorful, larger-than-life inflatables of Sesame Street’s most popular pals. Listen to several styles of music including rock and roll, Latin and jazz as Big Bird and his pals twist, rock and rumba to the beat all the way down Sesame Street. Pay attention because your child might be chosen to dance along! Children will get the chance to hug and pose for a photo with their favorite Sesame Street characters at 1-2-3 Smile with me! and Sesame Street Star Greetings.

All the excitement that Sesame Place has to offer can build up an appetite. Families can dine with the characters at breakfast, lunch or dinner! Breakfast with Elmo and Friends and Breakfast with Cookie Monster and Friends is an early bird breakfast buffet from 9:15-10:15 a.m. Families can enjoy a memorable breakfast with the stars for the cost of $14.95-$16.95 plus park admission, which is $47.50 for a single day general admission and free for children under the age of two. Lunch with Big Bird and Friends is a lunch buffet with plenty of good food and hugs. The cost for the special lunch buffet is $15.95-$19.95 plus park admission. Dinner with Big Bird and Friends includes a family-pleasing buffet for $16.95-$26.95 plus park admission. Reservations are required for all meals with the characters.

Can’t get a reservation to dine with the characters? Don’t worry! Sesame Place offers many alternatives for meals and snacks including Big Bird’s Riverside Pavilion, Sesame Cafe, Elmo’s Eatery, Captain Ernie’s Grill and Sesame Treats. If these choices do not make your mouth water, picnic areas are available outside the park. Just remember to have your hand stamped for re-admittance to the park.

The night sky will be sparkling for the Independence Day Fireworks on Friday, July 4 and Bert’s Birthday Celebration with Fireworks on Sunday, July 27. The sky spectacular is set to a Sesame Street soundtrack to make the celebrations memorable.

For many children, a visit to Sesame Place will be their first experience at a theme park. Here are some preparatory tips from Rhonda Clements, Ed.D., past president of the American Association for the Child’s Right to Play and professor of education at Manhattanville College, to consider before embarking on your Sesame Street adventure:

  • Plan your day, keeping flexibility in mind. View the website with your child and make a list of everything he or she wants to do. Then choose priorities, just in case there isn’t time to do it all.
  • Review the park map and check show schedules. Plan meals and activities around show times.
  • When meeting the Sesame Place characters, suggest the children ask them “yes” and “no” questions. The huggable characters are guaranteed to respond by nodding their heads.
  • Select what “dining with the characters” meal is timed best for your visit. Make reservations two weeks in advance.
  • If you are staying overnight, find a hotel nearby to allow for an afternoon nap. Get your hand stamped for re-admission.
  • Consider what clothing to bring according to how you plan your day. Remember to pack water shoes, towels, a change of clothes and a swimsuit.
  • Bring your camera. Your child will cherish their photos with the characters. There are also opportunities for professional shots that are available for purchase.
  • Have keys and valuables in a small case that you can wear or easily hold.
  • Your child might be eager to meet a character, but clam up when it happens. Take your time. Allow your child to look from afar until he or she is comfortable enough to get a hug and a photo.
  • To save time, buy your tickets online.
  • Each child is an individual. At each stage, a child will experience the park in a unique way. For example, older siblings may love the water rides and will enjoy being teachers for their brothers or sisters.

Everything will be A-okay this summer when the family visits Sesame Place on a sunny day. For more information call 866-GO-4-ELMO or visit www.sesameplace.com.

This article was originally printed in the July 2008 issue of Connecticut Parent Magazine
 

 

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