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 twelve 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 (with a Langhorne mailing address), it is the oldest of the two Sesame Street theme parks in the United States (the other being Sesame Place San Diego). 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 3 acre and featured play areas and large computer labs where kids could color their favorite Sesame Street characters. Since then, it has expanded to 14 acre 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 "[help] 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.

Alleged snubbing case
In July 2022, the park faced criticism after 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 (Memorial Day-Labor Day). Other rides are only operated during Elmo's Springtacular, The Count's Halloween Spooktacular, or A Very Furry Christmas.

Sesame Plaza
The front entrance.

Sesame City
An area themed to mass transit and a big city.

Big Bird's Beach
Formerly known as "Twiddlebug Land" from 1993 until 2023.

Sesame Island
An area featuring water-based attractions.

Sesame Neighborhood
A full-scale replica of Sesame Street. Opened in 1988.

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.

Elmo's World
Themed after Elmo, more specifically the Elmo's World segment.

Cookie's Monster Land
Named after Cookie Monster. Opened in 2014.

Special Event Rides
These rides only operate during specific seasonal events.

Entertainment

 * Sesame Street Party Parade  - A parade with all costume characters and has dance stops throughout the parade route. (2011–present, anniversary: 2015, 2020)
 * Elmo the Musical! - Magic, mayhem, and music add up in Elmo the Musical - Live at Sesame Place! Join Elmo as it's time to raise the curtain and light the lights, when this brand-new show takes over the Sesame Studio at Sesame Place. (2014–present)
 * The Magic of Art - Abby Cadabby is getting ready for the art show on Sesame Street. Abby isn't sure what to create. Abby asks for help from Elmo, Cookie Monster, Grover and Telly. She then learns art comes in all shapes and sized, with paintings and sculptures. They inspire Abby to use imagination and create your own masterpiece. (2016-present)
 * Our Street is Sesame Street - Elmo, Abby Cadabby and Big Bird! Sing, dance, and clap along as you watch the show at the Sesame Street Neighborhood. (2019-present)
 * Welcome to the Party - Elmo, Abby, Grover, Rosita and Cookie Monster want to put on a show to welcome their new friends to Sesame Street but can’t decide what kind it should be. From a dance show to a magic show to a cookie show, everyone has a different idea! With the help of some new friends, like Elmo’s adorable puppy Tango, our Sesame Street pals realize that by working together, they can put on the biggest, most spectacular welcome show of all! (2023-present)

Holiday shows and parades
The Count's Halloween Spooktacular Shows/Parades: A Very Furry Christmas Shows/Parades: Mardi Gras Shows/Parades:
 * The Not Too Spooky Howl-Ween Radio Show! - A show starring the "Sesame Street" characters that they performed at the WSME theater and our Halloween broadcast. Located in "Abby's Paradise Theater". (2010–present)
 * Who Said Boo?! - A show at Sesame Place where Sesame Street characters went to the Count's Halloween Party but they hear an eerie BOO! Shows in the "Sesame Street Neighborhood Theater" (formerly "Monster Rock Theater"). (2014–present)
 * Elmo the Musical- A Halloween Adventure! - Magic, mayhem and music add up in Elmo the Musical - Live at Sesame Place! Join Elmo as it's time to raise the curtain and light the lights, when this brand-new show takes over the Sesame Studio at Sesame Place. (2014–present)
 * Sesame Street Halloween Parade (2013-present)
 * Our Street on Halloween (2022-present)
 * A Very Merry Sesame Street Sing Along - Visitors can join their Sesame Street friends to listen to various holiday songs sung by Elmo and friends. (2020-present)
 * Sesame Street Christmas Parade (2013-present)
 * Elmo's Christmas Wish (2011-present)
 * 1-2-3 Christmas Tree (2019-present)
 * Sesame Street Mardi Gras Parade (2022-present)

Costume characters
Families can dine with some characters at Dine with Elmo and friends (or one of its seasonal variations). This is not included in the regular admission price and takes place at varying times depending on season. The characters at the dine change seasonally. Many of the Sesame Place characters strut down "Sesame Street" in the "Neighborhood Street Party" parade (or one of its seasonal variations). This features 15 Sesame Place characters, large floats, dancers and music. The park also features character meet and greets that vary through the year. During the holiday season, characters from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer appear in the park, thanks to a licensing agreement between SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, and Character Arts LLC. The characters that feature in the park include:

Sesame Street

 * Abby Cadabby (regular, parade)
 * Baby Bear (random)
 * Barkley (parade only)
 * Bert (regular, parade)
 * Big Bird (regular, parade)
 * Cookie Monster (regular, parade)
 * Count von Count (regular, parade)
 * Elmo (regular, parade)
 * Ernie (regular, parade)
 * Grover / Super Grover (regular, parade)
 * Gonger (random)
 * A Honker and a Dinger (random)
 * Julia (regular)
 * Lightning the Reindeer (seasonal)
 * Murray Monster (random, parade)
 * Oscar the Grouch (regular, parade)
 * Prairie Dawn (random, parade)
 * Rosita (regular, parade)
 * Snuffleupagus (regular)
 * Tango (regular)
 * Telly Monster (random, parade)
 * Zoe (regular, parade)

Other

 * Chocolate Chip Cookie (seasonal)
 * Santa Claus (seasonal)
 * Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (seasonal)
 * Clarice (seasonal)
 * The Bumble (seasonal)

Former characters

 * Hoots the Owl (removed in 2009)
 * Jackman Wolf (removed in 2010)